Porcelain floor tiles have long been used as low maintenance floor and wall coverings for kitchens, mudrooms and bathrooms. New styles and sizes have helped to bring these tiles into more areas of the home. From fireplace surrounds, to living room walls and floors, these new modern tiles are bringing their ease of cleaning and hot new styles to new levels of use.
Styles and Finishes Available
Porcelain’s non-porous, through color body is combining with new technologies in manufacturing to give entirely new looks to tile. Leather tile has long been a popular look for living room walls and floors, but its maintenance meant that it wasn’t always practical. Now, tiles such as Walker Zanger’s Matouche and Akdo’s bring the look and feel of real leather to a dense, low maintenance tile. These tiles have a texture and sheen that mimics true leather tiles and can compliment any space.
By applying layers of glaze, and etching the surface of the material, tiles with the look of linen and fabric are also available. These tiles come in a wide array of colors, and can give a feel under foot of a cloth floor, or the look of a textured wall paper to the wall.
One truly new unique tile is Akdo’s Glow. Lasers etch the surface of the tile, giving it both a unique texture almost reminiscent of a soft burlap and a multi-faceted sheen that is reminiscent of glass. Glow will catch and reflect back any light in the room for a warm soft look.
Metallic glazes, which can wear and patina over time, like true metal tile can give an industrial look to floors or countertops. In colors like steel, copper and bronze, as well as rust, metallic glazed tiles offers a smooth, shimmering surface that will reflect use and wear to help personalize a space.
Unique Tile Sizes
Oversized tiles have been increasingly popular of late, due to the fact that the larger the tile, the fewer the grout lines, and the cleaner the look. New sizes of tile include 24x24”, 12x24”, 6x24” 1x24” and 16x36”.
Rectangular shaped tiles can be off set, in a running bond or broken joint pattern, or stacked, one on top of the other for a more modern look. Try using a 24x24” tile on the floor and a 6x24” tile of the same style, but different color on the walls. Or use a mixture of 12x24” and 6x24” tiles on the floor, all in the same color for a unique patterned look. Thin 1” strips can be used to outline the larger tiles and create a design on the floor that is reminiscent of area rugs. Some of these new tiles are available in mosaics as well, to use the same material over an entire bathroom, including a shower floor.
Ideas for Modern Tile Use
The ways to use these new and unique tiles is truly endless. Try using Glow on the floor of a bathroom, while glass tiles are used on the walls and in the shower. Use a fabric inspired tile on the floor of a living room or family room to set off furniture, curtains and throw pillows of unique texture and design.
Leather inspired tiles can be used on the floor and walls of a study or library for a warm look, while rust colored metallic tiles could be used on the hearth and surround of a fireplace to reflect the glow and light of the flames.
Wherever they are used, new modern tiles will add texture, interest and warmth to a home. Visit local tile showrooms to see these tiles in person and feel their texture today.
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