For the past 30 years, the annual global tile and stone exhibition and conference Coverings showcases the latest releases and trends in the surfacing world. After taking a brief pause last year from an in-person experience, Coverings returned in full force this week in Orlando, Fla.
Sponsored primarily by Ceramics of Italy, Tile of Spain, Tile Council of North America, the Ceramic Tile Distributor Association, and the National Tile Contractors Association, Coverings 2021 opens its exhibit floor to tile and stone manufacturers across the world to debut new product lines and innovations—and PRODUCTS was there to get the inside scoop on future and current hot trends.
Here is a handful of new standout stone and tile products spotted on Day 1 of Coverings 2021:
[ Read More: 21 OF THE HOTTEST NEW TILES FROM THE VIRTUAL COVERINGS SHOW ]
Landscape - Tagina
Blending wood and marble, the Landscape line by Tagina comes in matte or polished finishes in 8 by 48 and 24 by 48-inch sizes. As a company, Tagina aspires to be bold and bring color into residential and commercial settings, but it’s known for rustic designs. The move towards boldness comes from a desire to think ahead and move forward, the brand told us. Landscape tiles can be used in residential and commercial settings on walls and floors.
Anthology - Lea Ceramiche
Anthology by Lea Ceramiche embodies the end goal all stone manufacturers have: to create something impossible to find in nature. Its appearance combines and balances the natural appearance of raw stone with the beloved look of marble. The porcelain stoneware tiles come in three sizes—24 by 48, 24 by 24, and 12 by 12 inches—in 20 millimeters and 9.5-millimeter thicknesses. Anthology comes in four colorways, and as hues get darker, the marble accents in the tiles become more dramatic. The lightest shade, white, blends the marble veining into the stone while the darkest shade puts veining on full display. Anthology also shows the capabilities of Lea Cermiche four finishing techniques that provide different appearances: worn, rough, nat, and rough L2.
[ Read More: TILE TRENDS FOR 2021: LUXE EXTRAVAGANCE, TACTILE TEXTURES, AND MORE ]
Glam - Panaria
The Glam line by Panaria creates tiles offering unmatched design possibilities. It’s due to the printing technology that is unlike many other tiles and stones out there. Panaria told us at Coverings that any image can be printed onto tile—yes, any. The tiles are not fired but use a cold-printed technology. The pictured Greenwall tile from the Glam line is the company’s most popular and seen most often in showers. Though the line is very durable, it has certain limitations: it can only be installed indoors vertically and should not be cleaned with harsh cleaning agents.
[ Read More: WHAT'S THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN CERAMIC TILE AND PORCELAIN? ]
Onyx Aqua Blue Gold - Imola
Imola’s Home collection seeks to replicate natural materials near impossible to find in nature today. Another design in the collection includes the nearly extinct Gris Breche Dumas, but the Onyx Aqua Blue Gold emits an exclusive, luxe aesthetic resulting from its rarity. Thankfully, Imola’s replication makes it easier to score for projects, but the replication can be so difficult to create that this tile reproduction is itself a rarity, the company says. Natural Onyx comes from sedimentary limestone colored by spring water, making it very rare, but also very porous and unreliable. Imola’s alternative provides a beautiful and durable alternative, and one that is becoming very popular.
Vis - LaFaenza
Embodying the elements of plaster and cement, the Vis line by LaFaenza offers up a tactile texture, but its available colorways surpass the abilities of natural concrete. One specific color, military green, is an unusual one for the industry, said LaFaenza, but it’s a quickly growing color trend. To add on a luxurious detail, each Vis tile comes with a gold decor detail, which features the original Vis tile with actual poured gold onto the slab.
