EFFECT CERAMICS & PORCELAIN


THE INDUSTRIAL REVOLUTION


Peter Vann, Director of Ceramique Internationale, explains the enduring trend for an industrial look in porcelain and ceramic tiles.


Emerging in the 1970s, the trend for industrial interiors was brought to life when designers transformed abandoned factories, mills and warehouses into new functional spaces and, rather than cover up the characteristics, they chose to embrace the original design features of a building. And so, the industrial décor trend was born.


Although, at first, they were the reserve of commercial spaces, such as restaurants and bars, it wasn’t long until consumers wanted to bring these industrial elements – including exposed brick, brushed concrete and metallic effects – into their own home.


However, natural wood and concrete require sealing and are highly susceptible to moisture and staining, making them difficult to work with. This is where tiles come in. Thanks to innovations in digital printing, tile manufacturers can create hyper-realistic replications of raw, rustic materials to capture the industrial effect with all the added benefits of porcelain.


The hardness and density of porcelain tiles make them durable and hardwearing: ideal for use in high-traffic areas. They are resistant to stains, chips and scratches, meaning that they’ll stay looking good for years to come.


With this new tile technology in play, the industrial trend is easier than ever to achieve and certainly isn’t going anywhere fast. In fact, the trend just keeps evolving, and one of the most prevalent industrial styles we’ve seen come out of the last decade is floor-to-ceiling concrete.


The trend for seamless floor-to-ceiling concrete-effect tiles is extremely popular, as it not only captures the minimalist unfinished charm of an industrial space, but also creates an illusion of space by drawing the eye across the room and creating a clean, uncluttered look. The larger format tiles used, the better. Grey concrete- effect slabs in a 600 x 600mm size or bigger are perfect for nailing the look – perfectly demonstrated by the Casalgrande Padana Eco-concrete Grigio range.


But, using concrete isn’t the only way to capture a chic warehouse look – wood and metal effects are also frontrunners in the enduring trend for modern industrial tiles. Unfinished wooden surfaces add a rustic edge, while metallic copper and bronze pair well with brushed concrete and wood effects to complete the look flawlessly. As such, we’re now seeing manufacturers produce collections that simplify the blending of these materials for customers, by doing it for them.


The new Mist collection, by Italian producer Marazzi, is a great example of how to scale the effect with mainstream


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market appeal for the UK bathroom. The glazed ceramic tile range replicates a softly tactile concrete effect with its plain tile – in cool shades of on-trend blue, plus beige, white and grey – and pairs these with a décor tile that echoes parquet-style wood in multi-tonal geometric diamond shapes.


And to take the blending one step further, Marazzi has manufactured this mixed-material wall collection to co- ordinate seamlessly with the Treverk Charme range – a monochromatic wood-effect tile in long thin planks of 100mm x 700mm, perfect for creating industrial-look flooring with a stylish edge.


Alongside these natural material effects, metallic accent tiles can create industrial focal points and, thanks to technology progressing, we are now seeing the colour spectrum expand beyond classic silver and gold to include more rustic shades such as copper, zinc and iron. These metallic feature tiles are now achieving significant cut-through as they create high visual impact as a contemporary accompaniment to the stripped-back look of flat concrete or wood.


Combining different material-effect tiles is an effective way to achieve the industrial look without it feeling too cold or harsh, as it allows the customer to neutralise colour palettes – for example, introducing a wood-effect will warm up cool grey concrete.


To this end, we expect to see a lot more layering of materials and textures, and the introduction of warmer shades of greige, tan, taupe and brown, as the industrial trend continues to develop into a softer, more homely modern industrial.


www.tilesandmosaics.co.uk www.tomorrowstileandstone.co.uk


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