Significantly few imitations can be compared to the real thing. However, porcelain stoneware, which can mimic various designs, has multiple benefits, including resistance to staining, scratching, and overall toughness. Combine that with an affordable price and a lower carbon footprint, and what you get can be a tile that may cause you to take a second look before deciding on the marble.
The International Exhibition of Ceramic Tiles and Bathroom Furnishings, also known as CERSAIE, was held in September in Bologna, Italy, and showcased numerous variations in porcelain stoneware. Wood might have been the most commonly used material in tile, but nowadays, many imitations include wallpaper fabric, concrete, resin, wood, and terracotta.
The tiles are available in a wide range of colors and sizes, ranging from smooth to textured, from mosaic-inspired tiles that are small to ones that mirror the current trend toward oversized styles. Here are a few of the most intriguing stoneware porcelain options this year.
Casalgrande Padana Spa1. Resin effect. Does it make sense for an entire surface to be replicated in tiles? Yes, if the exterior mimics the shine, color, and typical strokes when placing resin. Likewise,
Large-format tiles result in a minimal interruption in the tile’s surface’s smoothness
A good example is the Casalgrande Padana’s Resina collection, shown here on the wall and the floor. It blends the strength of ceramics with the visual beauty of a uniform surface. Cotto d’Este2. Wallpaper effect. This idea is brilliant: an extremely durable “wallpaper” that can be cleaned with a simple sponge and regular detergent. Much like their paper counterparts, wallpaper-effect tiles come in various designs, including figural designs to abstract decorations, and are available in different hues ranging from bright to subtle.
How do you create tiles that mimic the appearance of paper? The latest technology blends the stoneware with fiberglass, which makes it possible to make tiles as big as 60 by 80 inches or more but just a bit more than 1 inch wide. Wonderwall is a product by Cotto d’Este and is a prime example. Marazzi Ceramiche3. Fabric effect. Are you looking for an actual curtain? It’s a panel of fabric that is affixed to the wall? It’s coating on the stoneware’s surface that displays warp and weave like the real thing.
This is the principle that lies behind the Fabric collection of Marazzi Ceramiche. The Basket collection includes interlacing threads made from ceramic and in the style of natural fibers. The Fold series has microtexture geometries, and the Tailor tiles’ graphic designs mimic patchwork cloth.4. Marble effect. Marble-effect tiles have two distinct advantages over the real thing. The first is its environmental impact since no land has to be mined for it. It’s also significantly lower in cost.
The top ceramic tile production companies are firmly committed to celebrating the natural beauty of marble by creating high-quality varieties. Ceramica Sant’Agostino is one of them; their Pure Marble series features imitations of Covelano white, Cote d’Azur, Palissandro Sky marble, and white Onyx. The company uses digital tools to re-create the characteristic veins and texture of the marble.RicchettiRicchetti’s Marble Boutique collection, especially its Statuario white, also creates a powerful impact, as seen on this wall.5. Stone effect. Even the appearance of a stone-built structure in the countryside could be recreated. For instance, in Serenissima’s Pierre de France collection, its tiles are reminiscent of the colors and textures of older stone.6. Wood effect. Like the wood effect, porcelain stoneware won’t scratch when you move furniture or when your child’s toy car has lost its rubber wheels. It doesn’t require specific, delicate cleaning products to preserve its color, patina, or any other special finishes when placed in damp areas like bathrooms or kitchens.
Although wood-effect stoneware is widespread, new versions like the Woods collection from AbK Pay mainly focus on the finishes. Alongside being available in six colors that look like natural hardwood floors, the range has a surface made of ceramic that is nearly matte.7. Concrete effect. Concrete’s use brings us to think of an industrial, edgy environment. Stoneware collections like Beton Chic now create the atmosphere from Ricchetti’s Manifattura del Duca range. The tiles mimic the look of concrete and are available in various sizes and colors, ranging from ivory to gray shades, which vary from light to charcoal.8. Colorful concrete. In the latter half of the 19th century, concrete tiles were often used to cover kitchen and bathroom floors and other surfaces. They comprised a base layer of durable concrete, and the top layer was of marble dust, white concrete, and different colors. The result is stunning. However, it is an intricate process that can only be completed manually. As the Abbazie collection from Del Conca shows an identical look, it is achievable using porcelain stoneware tiles laid in slabs that measure 8 inches by 8 inches. The group is available in an extensive range of colors and styles. Ceramiche Keope9. Terracotta effect. The effect is seen in Tuscany and Umbria, particularly in farmhouses across the Mediterranean region. Terra can be a popular choice to use for flooring. It’s gorgeous and in a range of colors, and shapes depending on on the clay type.
Within the Alpha series, Ceramiche Keope has incorporated the traditional colors of terracotta with the qualities of stoneware porcelain.
