The 2018 Spring Summer Italian Tile Trend Report | by Kristin Coleman

Cersaie may be the biggest tile moment of the year but Italian manufacturers continue to innovate and launch new products throughout the year, particularly in preparation for important North American tradeshows like Coverings and ICFF.

These are five of the spring’s most prominent tile trends as seen in hundreds of collections from Italy’s premier brands, balancing tradition with innovation and aesthetics with functionality.

 

COLOR CRUSH

Thanks to the design industry’s return to decoration, Italians’ predilection for color is more on-trend than ever! Instagrammable pastels and soothing earth tones continue to be popular while the use of cold glazing and inkjet printing allow for the creation of ultra vivid and saturated hues on large ceramic surfaces
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INDUSTRIAL

From concrete, asphalt and corten to large sheets of plywood and OSB, tile companies continue to experiment with the look of humble construction materials. Industrial is a prevalent trend.
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HERITAGE

In a country where tradition is a cultural hallmark and companies are passed down through generations, it’s unsurprising that heritage plays a big role in tile design. From patterns inspired by centuries-old, handcrafted techniques such as intarsia, pietra dura and maiolica to styles with deep Italian roots such as terra cotta and terrazzo, brands are reinventing the past in new and interesting ways.
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HIGH CONTRAST

When it comes to black and white, Coco Chanel said it best: “Their beauty is absolute. It is the perfect harmony.” This may be the reason why companies are turning up the contrast, offering designs in the most classic of color palettes to create surfaces that pop. Some companies are inspired by the expressiveness of rich black marble with distinctive white veining while others  focus on graphic patterns in polar colors.
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MOVEMENT

It’s astounding how many different ways manufacturers can imbue static objects with life and personality. From three-dimensional surfaces and beveled edges to diaper patterns and op art, Italian tile offers a bevy of options to create movement in a space.
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June 2018