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Laying The Ground Work Wood imitation and large format tiles are the current trend du jour D by Laurie Jones Designing with tiles can be traced as far back that have been brought in from sources as the Ancient Greeks when colour, motif and pure elegance were just as important as they are today. The only significant difference in tiles from the centuries-old displays to modern choices is technology. Manufacturers can now create almost any look imaginable. Trends in tile take time to develop, but once identified, they tend to evolve and last well beyond the time of origin. Dal-Tile of Canada Inc. has a number of options for architects, interior designers and consumers. "Dal-Tile has seen a number of trends this year and there are several choices that we anticipate will remain popular," says Lori Kirk-Rolley, senior marketing director at Dal-Tile. "For instance, porcelain tile that realistically mimics the look of hardwood allows for the beauty of wood, but offers the long-lasting durability and ease of maintenance of porcelain. This provides unlimited application options, including high traffic areas and rooms exposed to moisture." Other tiles reflect high-end sophistication with texture, dimension and movement. "Mosaics and wall tiles create visual relief by utilizing highs and lows, bringing depth and dimension," says Kirk-Rolley. She adds that high-definition glass accents in kitchen backsplashes, shower walls and accents on floors are exciting. "We're seeing glass combined with other mediums like stone and metal, as well as different types of glass from solids to frosted looks." As manufacturing capabilities continue to evolve, largeformat tiles for floors and walls are gaining popularity. "These larger tiles allow for unique design options. Black, white and grey create a monochromatic base for bold accent colours." Gemstar Group continues to offer high-end tile products for their commercial clients, with occasional residential applications for mixed-use units. "We've done several installations with large format, porcelain tiles," says Frank Rossi, president. "This includes sizes from 18- by 24-inch to 36by 36-inch tiles. The larger tiles have less grout joints, are easier to maintain and look like large slabs, almost like pseudo stone. The through-body colour for porcelain tiles is beneficial because there will be no chance of the colour wearing for decades, or during the life of the building." Rossi says he has brought in new tiles that are designed to imitate wood planks. "Some of them are so real looking I have to touch them to be sure they are indeed tile. These are porcelain-based but do not have through-body colour." He adds that the tile has a layer of the image placed on it before it is kiln-fired. Considered a boutique product, Rossi says there will always be a market for these specialty options. "I even installed this in my cottage because we have a fireplace in the Muskoka room, so the wood look is perfect." Olympia Tile & Stone keeps growing every year, to the point that the company now has a warehouse with over 1,000,000 square feet. "We have exclusive products in our inventory around the world," says Connie Barillari, manager of product development. "The trend over the last couple of years has been towards larger format tiles, which is popular with architects. We have a new product called Micron 2.0, which has tile sizes up to 48- by 48-inches in matte and polished finishes. It is a fullbodied porcelain tile and desired use for heavy traffic applications." Barillari says another product that has been very popular is the plank look. "Our latest offering is called Wow, and that is literally what people say when they see this tile." Another choice for a modern option is the Design Industry, which would fit perfectly into loft units. "The plank sizes for Design Industry range from 10- by 60-inch to 12- by 24-inch," says Barillari. "The beauty of this line is that it imitates the plaster that was in old warehouses. It looks like limestone, and can be used both on floors and walls." Adding to the wood format tile options is the Larix collection. It is so realistic that one designer said "they felt like they could get a splinter when walking on it," says Barillari. Taking a cue from Cersaie 2012, Italy's largest tile trade show, Ames Tile & Stone Ltd. is offering selections of tile that embody the wood grain and concrete look. "This year we can look to a pallete of warm greys," says Curt Higham, Ames product specialist. "These [tiles] go hand-in-hand with a wood or concrete look as both pair beautifully with shades of grey." Ames Tile & Stone now carries product lines such as Concrete Project and Block. Similarly, tiles emulating natural wood are becoming increasingly popular, with series such as Plank and Root rivaling traditional hardwood and generating excitement among designers. "We can expect tiles with a wood grain or concrete appearance to be at the forefront of this year's trends," says Cheryl Broadhead, interior designer at BYO Design. "Because of new technologies, we are no longer limited by the shorter product life cycles and maintenance issues associated with materials such as wood," says Higham. "Porcelain can now mimic the intricacies of these materials down to the finest details. As for the season's colours, the trend of neutrals continues." Above: Block series from Ames Tile & Stone. Below: Olympia Tile + Stone's ceramic wall tiles from Flexible Architecture. Tiles p24-29Tiles.indd 25 october 2013    /25 13-09-13 3:37 PM

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