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Top Tile Trends From the Coverings 2013 Show — the Wood Look
Get the beauty of wood while waving off potential splinters, rotting and long searches, thanks to eye-fooling ceramic and porcelain tiles
Tile is big business — Americans bought 2.19 billion square feet of it in 2012. Technologies like digital imaging and ink-jet printing are transforming less-expensive tiles like porcelain and ceramic, giving them the looks of marble, granite, agate, malachite, terrazzo, limestone and wood. One of the biggest trends is the wood-grain tile look, on show in a big way at the 2013 Coverings trade show in Atlanta, which wrapped up the first week in May.
The wood tile trend has been gaining momentum for several years, and now there are more styles and sizes to choose from than ever. First introduced as a modern take on hardwood floors, this trend has inspired all sorts of new dimensions for tiles we've never seen before — the most popular being long narrow planks, as well as different colors, patinas and finishes.
Tile now ranges from a finish that's a dead ringer for dark stained walnut to wood from a well-weathered fishing boat in France. With reclaimed wood so on trend, buying wood tile is an alternative to searching for the perfect hundred-year-old barn wood, and tiles are available in dimensions that wood is typically not. At Coverings this year, I looked through what must have been miles of the latest wood-look tiles from manufacturers all over the world. Here are some of the most interesting.
The wood tile trend has been gaining momentum for several years, and now there are more styles and sizes to choose from than ever. First introduced as a modern take on hardwood floors, this trend has inspired all sorts of new dimensions for tiles we've never seen before — the most popular being long narrow planks, as well as different colors, patinas and finishes.
Tile now ranges from a finish that's a dead ringer for dark stained walnut to wood from a well-weathered fishing boat in France. With reclaimed wood so on trend, buying wood tile is an alternative to searching for the perfect hundred-year-old barn wood, and tiles are available in dimensions that wood is typically not. At Coverings this year, I looked through what must have been miles of the latest wood-look tiles from manufacturers all over the world. Here are some of the most interesting.
Instant aging. Pamesa Ceråmica is taking the wood look to a whole new weathered level, adding the look of years of age and exposure to the elements via digital imaging and ink-jet printing. This particular tile is great for a coastal cottage, a rustic cabin or an updated Shabby Chic space.
Wood-look tile from wall to wall to ceiling. Many designers are driving this trend across the floor and up the wall. The popularity of reclaimed wood accent walls is exploding, and tile is a great way to pull off the appearance of it. Wood-look tile won't snag your linens and upholstery the way weathered wood can, and there's no danger of exposure to old lead paint or toxins from wood pallets.
This is the Fossil Collection from Metropol, a modern interpretation of petrified wood.
This is the Fossil Collection from Metropol, a modern interpretation of petrified wood.
Traditional dimensions. More traditional looks and patterns, like parquet, are easy to achieve with tiles. These are from Crossville.
Marca Corona's Atelier collection gives parquet a modern twist.
Carefully rendered variations in tone and grain really fool the eye.
These Italian tiles are Boards by Astor.
These Italian tiles are Boards by Astor.
Driftwood. This beautiful tile resembles driftwood and comes in 6- by 24-inch plank tiles. It lends a coastal feel in a contemporary way, at once warm and cool.
This is the Natura collection from Floridatile, and the graphics and texture are based on oak wood. The tiles come in a wide range of colors, including blonde, grays, reds and browns. The product would be beautiful on a floor or an accent wall, particularly a fireplace wall.
This is the Natura collection from Floridatile, and the graphics and texture are based on oak wood. The tiles come in a wide range of colors, including blonde, grays, reds and browns. The product would be beautiful on a floor or an accent wall, particularly a fireplace wall.
Weathered painted planks. Vintage looks are a major inspiration for tile trends right now. Trying to get this look with wood could be backbreaking and involve a lot of splinters. These are risks you can avoid by choosing a tile product instead.
These tiles are from Apavisa's Vintage collection.
These tiles are from Apavisa's Vintage collection.
Rich and refined. Large wood-rendered tiles add refined warmth to a modern minimalist bathroom. The size is a game changer — each tile is 1 meter by 3 meters and is 33 millimeters thick.
This tile is the part of the Natural Inspirations Laminam Collection by Crossville.
This tile is the part of the Natural Inspirations Laminam Collection by Crossville.
This chic surfer shack look is composed of Jazz tiles by Keraben.