2012 Trends Post: Tiles (Guest Post by Paul Anater of Kitchen and Residential Design)

When I decided that no 2012 trends series would be complete without a tile post, my go-to guy was Paul Anater, editor and publisher of the incomparable Kitchen and Residential Design blog, also a friend and Blogger 19 "godfather."

I knew that Paul had his finger on the pulse of this dynamic specialty, and that he was working with the top trade show for that industry, Coverings, to keep us designers and design writers informed.

I attended Coverings a few years ago and found it to be well worth the time. If I can squeeze it into my schedule this April, you'll see me there again. (The fact that my stepdaughter attends college in Orlando makes it even more appealing!)

There are so many incredible new innovations in tile, beyond just the great-looking designs. It's truly an ancient medium that is ideal for our new era, too. But please let Paul inform you in his own words and share some great images with you, too!

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The last few years have brought with them something close to a revolution when it comes to what’s available in the world of tile. The ability of tile manufacturers to print more and more different patterns has led to a great variety of products. These can lend any room a distinctive and long-lasting feel that will be in style for years to come.

Stone looks

The first big trend to come out of Europe and be picked up by manufacturers in North America is tile that looks like stone.

Whether it’s the look of slate, granite, onyx or the grey-green marble shown here from Aparici, the same look can be had in tile. In tile however, you’ll get the maintenance-free characteristics of ceramic tile without the hassles of natural stone.

Wood looks

One of the other big trends is the idea of tile standing in for wood planks. Stand ins for true planks still abound, but tile designers are starting to theme the wood they’re imitating.




This series from Peronda invokes repurposed shipping crates and pallets. The result is an interesting and edgy take on green design.

Format changes

Recent years have seen a move to tiles that are larger, thinner and less likely to be square. Using these large formats brings with it a completely different appearance as this room from Grespania shows. It would be a different room all together if there were 12-inch squares on the walls and floors.




In keeping with that different format approach, some manufacturers are introducing wall tile that dispenses with right angles like this series from Apavisa.



The same manufacturer, Apavisa, has been experimenting with the idea of dispensing with wall tiles that are flat. The effect is spectacular and is about the last thing anybody would expect a tile wall to look like.

Artisinal tile

And through all this modernity, at the same time there’s been an explosion in artisanal tile, such as these hand-cut mosaics from New Ravenna.




And how about these Art Nouveau beauties from DuQuella Tile?




Still more

The world of tile is exploding. Tile’s showing up not just on floors but on building facades, interior walls and structural elements.

Though North America tends to lag behind the rest of the world when it comes to innovations in ceramics, that’s beginning to change as more international brands come into the markets on this side of the Atlantic. North American manufacturers, too, are climbing onboard when it comes to the innovations we’re seeing coming out of Europe.

Get there!

One of the best places to see what’s new in the world of North American tile is the trade show Coverings [JG: Industry professionals only; free admission] Coverings is an international showcase of North American tile and stone and this year it’s being held in the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando, FL. The show runs from April 17th through the 21st.

Guest Post: Kitchen and Residential Design Blog

Gold Notes continues its first anniversary celebration with a guest post from another of my favorite designers and bloggers, Paul Anater of Kitchen and Residential Design. Paul offers his perspective on trends, as Amir Ilin of European-Kitchen-Design did in this spot yesterday, and I think you'll enjoy reading it, as I did. Paul is not only a terrific talent; he has also become a terrific friend.

Thanks for contributing! I'm honored and touched.


Paul prognosticates...

The last year featured a tremendous upheaval in the way the entire financial sector works. People seem genuinely concerned about the near term, but still pretty confident in the prospects for the long term. Predictably, all of this uncertainty has a lot of people turning inward and seeking comfort in their routines and in their lives at home.


And predicts...

So generally, I'm predicting a continued march toward home as things kind of recover, but not really. I see it every day as a kitchen and bath designer. I'm fielding calls from people who want to increase their comfort as much as increase their equity, and I'm noticing a reticence when it comes to paying top dollar for luxury goods that were a standard item a year-and-a-half ago.

With that said, I see the high end of the market moving away from obvious consumption. There seems to be a conscientious attempt to pull back from the appearance of wealth. So far as kitchen and bath design goes, I see a continued move away from the "Tuscan" styles that have dominated new home styles and interiors for the last ten years. Truly modern styles were beginning to make some inroads before the economic trouble started, but I see them making another retreat as people seek comfort and familiarity.


Paul takes on Peacock

There was a third big direction out there -- but in a nascent form -- when all the trouble started. I see it becoming the de facto look of this decade. For lack of a better term, I call it Peacock-light, so named for the kitchen designer and cabinetry manufacturer Christopher Peacock.

Here's a Peacock original.
This kitchen would cost well into the six figures.

Peacock's original designs are strictly high end, but his signature aesthetic, (sort of an early 20th century manor house crossed with an East Hampton casual flair), is trickling down all over the place. Peacock's aesthetic is pure nostalgia and represents a longing for a time in the past when life was simpler. Like all nostalgic movements, it's not based on a real time, but a dream time.

This neo-manor house aesthetic allows for an ability to hide modern kitchen technology inside the trappings of tradition. What it does, too, is seek to recreate the service kitchens of old. In that regard, it's a perfect disguise for ambitious consumption.


And tweaks it for the new economy

This is Peacock-light, shown here in mid-market Medallion Cabinetry.
This kitchen would cost between a third to half of what a Peacock original would cost.

Expect to see more of this style in the coming year and in the years to follow. Wood stains will remain dark and will be broken up with light painted finishes. I don't see a move away from brushed nickel finishes on cabinetry hardware or plumbing fixtures any time soon. Glossy finishes on counters will start to fade as people strive to emulate the matte and honed finishes available on natural stone surfaces like marble and soapstone.

Here, a honed finish is achieved with Silestone's Leather series countertops.
Butler's pantry designed by Roos Kitchens & Bath Design Studio in Ellicot, Md.

Paul concludes...

So there's my prediction. I see an embrace of an aesthetic sensibility that conjures images of solid tradition... while still leaving room for a 60" Wolf range.

Many thanks to Jamie for allowing me the use of her forum, and many congratulations on the anniversary of Gold Notes.