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The Road to TISE: Rising 2020 Surface Trends
Designers share what's next for tile and slabs
Amara Holstein
January 24, 2020
Writer about all things to do with architecture, art, design, travel and books.
Photo by Jessica Glynn
This story is from our Trade Program email series.
Like the rest of interior design, tile and other surfaces are moving in a bold and organic direction. Veins swirl through marble backsplashes, classic subway tile breaks the mold for a new decade, and thinner countertop edges offer a sleeker look. Whether a home is all about bright maximalism or understated elegance, there will be surfaces to suit — and to help set overall trends.
This story is from our Trade Program email series.
Like the rest of interior design, tile and other surfaces are moving in a bold and organic direction. Veins swirl through marble backsplashes, classic subway tile breaks the mold for a new decade, and thinner countertop edges offer a sleeker look. Whether a home is all about bright maximalism or understated elegance, there will be surfaces to suit — and to help set overall trends.
Embracing asymmetry. Clients want to relax in their spaces, and surfaces are softening to match. “It’s about a loosening up of those perfect geometric patterns, getting a little more abstract, having maybe a random size or random color repeated,” says Denise Morrison, whose eponymous firm is in Newport Beach, California. “It’s OK to let go a little.”
Outside influences. “I think nature-inspired tile will be big,” says Krista Watterworth Alterman, owner of Krista + Home in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida; she mentions palm leaves and other tropical fronds as examples. Materials also play a part. Morrison creates an organic feel with natural stone, such as marble slabs with big black veining “and lots of movement,” she says. Alterman has used sculptural recycled-paper tile, and Cathy Lo, a partner at Banner Day Interiors in Oakland, California, likes cement tile and quartzite slabs as well as marble tile inlaid with metal in modern patterns.
Houzz Product Picks: Susan Jablon Black Linear Blend, Ivy Hill Oracle Sprig Ceramic Mosaic, Abolos 3D Hex Stainless Steel and Ceramic
Outside influences. “I think nature-inspired tile will be big,” says Krista Watterworth Alterman, owner of Krista + Home in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida; she mentions palm leaves and other tropical fronds as examples. Materials also play a part. Morrison creates an organic feel with natural stone, such as marble slabs with big black veining “and lots of movement,” she says. Alterman has used sculptural recycled-paper tile, and Cathy Lo, a partner at Banner Day Interiors in Oakland, California, likes cement tile and quartzite slabs as well as marble tile inlaid with metal in modern patterns.
Houzz Product Picks: Susan Jablon Black Linear Blend, Ivy Hill Oracle Sprig Ceramic Mosaic, Abolos 3D Hex Stainless Steel and Ceramic
Bold is back. Striking colors and patterns are showing up anew in spaces. “Field tiles in earthy jewel tones are beautiful,” Lo says, and she has used hex tile in a kitchenette in a bright poppy pink. Alterman embraces sunset pink and fern green. “I love the concept of tile as art!” she says. “We recently did a big statement in an entry with metallic tile. It sets the tone for the whole space when you walk in the door.”
Subway tile redux. “Subway is a classic for a reason,” Lo says. “But for some play, we use white subway tiles with variation in texture, and instead of a traditional one-half offset layout, we’ll do a more modern one-third offset pattern.” Alterman also uses subway tile for its beloved shape, but “it no longer has to be plain white,” she says. She recently used jet-black subway tile on a project, “and the look is pure luxury.”
Subway tile redux. “Subway is a classic for a reason,” Lo says. “But for some play, we use white subway tiles with variation in texture, and instead of a traditional one-half offset layout, we’ll do a more modern one-third offset pattern.” Alterman also uses subway tile for its beloved shape, but “it no longer has to be plain white,” she says. She recently used jet-black subway tile on a project, “and the look is pure luxury.”
Touchable surfaces. Tactility is also important. “We’re using tile and stone with a raised aspect to them,” Morrison says. “There’s a lot of earthiness to everything. It’s a throwback to the stoneware feel of the ’70s with a handmade and 3D effect.” She likes to use leathered slabs to create a subtle undulation, and a matte or heathered finish.
Elegant edges. “It would be great to see more modern edge-trim pieces, rather than the bullnose or pencil liner,” Lo says. “A squared edge with finish glaze on one end can be a nice modern edge. And I’d love to see something thinner, maybe a half inch or even a quarter inch. Is that crazy?” Morrison echoes this sentiment. “The only place for a big chunky countertop now is a powder room, with a 6-inch front edge for exaggerated effect,” she says. “Otherwise, we’re tending to see three-quarter-inch or 2-inch edges max.”
Elegant edges. “It would be great to see more modern edge-trim pieces, rather than the bullnose or pencil liner,” Lo says. “A squared edge with finish glaze on one end can be a nice modern edge. And I’d love to see something thinner, maybe a half inch or even a quarter inch. Is that crazy?” Morrison echoes this sentiment. “The only place for a big chunky countertop now is a powder room, with a 6-inch front edge for exaggerated effect,” she says. “Otherwise, we’re tending to see three-quarter-inch or 2-inch edges max.”
Photo by Christopher Dibble
Bonus placements. Think beyond the standard for surface statements. “Ceilings are a great place for design elements,” Alterman says. “I love tile in unexpected places, like behind shelving or for a head-to-toe tiled statement wall.” Lo has “seen textured tile in a closet, and I can imagine using a wood tile on a bedroom wall.” As for the kitchen, she says: “We’ve been taking the backsplash all the way up, not just behind the range but on all the walls of the kitchen.”
More Houzz Product Picks: Moroccan Mosaic & Tile Menara Tiles, Ivy Hill Duchess Lena Marble and Brass Tile, Bedrosians Penny Round Mosaic
Bonus placements. Think beyond the standard for surface statements. “Ceilings are a great place for design elements,” Alterman says. “I love tile in unexpected places, like behind shelving or for a head-to-toe tiled statement wall.” Lo has “seen textured tile in a closet, and I can imagine using a wood tile on a bedroom wall.” As for the kitchen, she says: “We’ve been taking the backsplash all the way up, not just behind the range but on all the walls of the kitchen.”
More Houzz Product Picks: Moroccan Mosaic & Tile Menara Tiles, Ivy Hill Duchess Lena Marble and Brass Tile, Bedrosians Penny Round Mosaic
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