Dara Shashoua reports on the latest trends in tiles and stone from Coverings 2014 in Las Vegas.
Recently, I was very lucky to be able to attend Coverings 2014, the American tile and stone show. Oh, and I should also add that it was held in Las Vegas. The design elements used in Vegas could be a story all on their own! There were a lot of trends that I noticed that were still very strong in this huge international marketplace and some of these have only just begun to surface in our relatively small market in Australia.
Pattern
Whether it was mixes of multiple patterns, or simple repeated patterns, they were everywhere. Usually based upon a 200 x 200mm tile, they were made from either porcelain, ceramic or concrete. However, the methods used for creating these patterns could not have been more different. There was laser printing from the Brazilians, encaustics from the Mexicans and amazing concrete-like lantern shapes from the Italians.
Texture
Very similar to pattern, but these tiles were reminiscent of pressed tin in their appearance. There were also lots of 3D tiles that you just had to touch. Texture is now used in a lot commercial applications such as hospitality and corporate fit-outs.
Metallics
Shiny objects! Who doesn’t love something shiny and shimmery? As the technology within glazes is improved, we have seen a lot more metallic finishes being applied to textural ceramics. Mirrors are also becoming a lot more popular for their faceted reflective properties. Whether it’s a subtle sheen or a gold infill in a semi precious stone slab, metallics are here to stay.
In conclusion, there are so many wonderful finishes you can achieve by using tiles, mosaics and stone. Why not think out of the box a little more? Instead of wallpaper or paint, use a textured tile. After all, it’s easy to clean and will never fade. Want a piece of art? Try hanging a slab of an stone instead. Texture and pattern are definitely making a comeback, especially in regards to homes that have a design element to them. Don’t be afraid of colour or texture.
— Natural stone and design specialist Dara, recently opened her beautiful first showroom, Byzantine Design, in Melbourne’s Prahran.
