Elle Decor is now the premiere design magazine of Hachette Filipacchi since they announced that Metropolitan Home would no longer be around. (not another one!).
However, there is still one more Met Home issue - December 09- so be sure to run out and get the last of a magazine that I have long loved for it's practical and not so practical glamour as well as it's American appeal.
But while looking online for tile news, I discovered a great Elle Decor article (written by Mellisa Feldman) featuring a review of this year's Cersaie in Bologna, Italy. If you're a big tile fan, like I, you've probably sojourned a few times to this world expo for the tile industry. It is predominantly dominated by the dominating Italians :)
Walking through the many buildings filled with tile manufacturers, it's hard to find a tile that isn't just another "me, too". But for the discerning eye, there are always a few innovators each year. And it's those innovators that make the visit worth the travel. (not to mention the food, fun, and fashion of Italy)
Bigger is Better
This year, the innovators were all about large format tiles, again. Only this year it would appear that large format has become de rigueur. These tiles were presented in wallpaper prints, hand paintings, and bunches of color. This trend has been brewing for several years- but now colorfully patterned, large format tiles appear to have arrived bigger and bolder than ever.
Here's a few examples of some of the stand-outs-
Medley/Collage
A few years ago, Tilevera launched our series Medley/Collage filled with bold patterns and colors meticulously hand painted on 12x12' limestone. It was another one of my crazy things to do in the tile world- but given the fashion industry's return to Pucci, Lily Pulitzer, etc., I had this notion that we were all heading for this trend sooner or later.
So, I was excited to see that this year's Cersaie was filled with this same highly graphic take on tile design. I'd like to think Tilevera was first with this trend- so let's just say we were- and stick with that!
For proof - here's some of our Tilevera Medley/Collage that we launched at Coverings 2006-
We'll let you be the judge as to who got here first!! But in the meantime, I think as an industry- we should all just really enjoy this joyous romp through color, pattern and decoration. (I am!)
And let's start filling those kitchens and baths with FUN!