Mannington Mills garnered five
first place nods (and one runner up mention) to emerge as the big winner in
this year’s NFT Styling Excellence Awards. Voted on by showgoers
at Surfaces and online, the awards honor the best high-style products in
flooring.
In recent years, mosaics have exploded onto the market. The
selection of shapes, textures and colors is continually expanding, and each
year it seems that tile manufacturers work hard to tweak overall product
quality as well. And with new product development comes more inspiration for
creative designs.
Laminate flooring has been undergoing something of a makeover in the last few years. It is increasing becoming an upscale product. In fact, there is wide agreement that high-end laminate is one of
the industry’s hottest categories.
An assortment of tile — including various shapes, sizes and
colors — was essential in creating the vibrant design of a four-story residence
in Santa Barbara, CA. While the walls throughout the home extensively make use
of colorful, customized, ceramic pieces, the floors feature decorative cement
tiles.
The architects labored over the types of materials used on the project, paying
close attention during the finish material research to find materials that met
performance requirements, “green” building material requirements and the demand
for aesthetic qualities.
Today, metal tiles are being used as
decorative applications to create subtle texture and interest as accent pieces.
But accent pieces do not necessarily have to be limited to small accent dots or
liners, they can be used on a slightly larger scale too.
Stone tile has been a favorite among homeowners and
designers alike for decades. The unique characteristics found in each variety
bring originality to both interior and exterior applications. Ceramic tile manufacturers have seized this opportunity by marketing stone-look
tiles as an alternative.
It’s official: The residential floor coverings
market is in a bit of slump. There is no denying that. But there is also no
denying that flooring retailers who understand how to pick up contract work are
the ones who best navigate this rocky terrain.
The design pendulum historically swings quickly when a new trend takes
hold as everyone rushes to be part of it. But then, ever so slowly, it
begins to swing back to create a more balanced use of design elements.
The architects selected glass
tile for the project because it was a minutely scaled material that could easily wrap around
the ellipse-shaped facade. Additionally, the
metal filaments in the Bisazza tile and the Kaleidoscope glass tile glimmer in
the sun and contribute a sense of movement and depth to the mural, according to
the architects.
Unfinished hardwood floors offer a wide array of features and benefits
likely to appeal to the discriminating buyer. These go well beyond the
natural beauty of solid hardwood. They include installation issues.
Cork flooring may be popping up in some places like tiny bubbles
shimmering up a champagne flute, but is it time for manufacturers in
the category to pop open a bottle and celebrate? That depends on who
you ask and where they are located.
The popularity of large-format tiles is growing. More and more tile collections
are offering bigger sizes, with special trim packages to entice customers. Increasingly the mantra in the segment is becoming "The bigger, the better."
Rather than
sticking with the tried and true, laminate makers are aggressively venturing
into uncharted territory. They’re testing the waters with low-gloss finishes
and planks in assorted lengths. They’re fine-tuning stone textures and
tinkering with micro-bevels. Some are even planning to
expand into new segments of the business.
The use of
large-format porcelain tile to clad exterior facades is starting to gain
momentum in the U.S. One reason for this is the green building movement. With
ventilated facade systems offering energy savings, these products are becoming an increasingly valuable
choice for designers.
At this year's Cevisama show, ceramic and
porcelain tile resembling stone, wood and textile were once again seen in
abundance. But despite the feeling of deja vu, it was also apparent that the technology and sense of design is becoming more sophisticated with each passing year.
Architects and designers are using mosaics for a range of applications
— and the variety of colors, textures, shapes and sizes available
enable them to create something reflective of their clients’
personalities.
