Kitchen & Bath Design News is the industry's leading business, design and product resource for the kitchen and bath trade.
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46 | Kitchen & Bath Design News | August 2015 Product Review 1. Armstrong Floor Products adds to its Alterna engineered stone fooring collection with fve new designs: Whispered Essense and Regency Essence provide a concrete- infused collection that pairs gray tones with iridescent motifs; Enchanged Forest is a structured concrete look infused with a wood grain; Rossini Marble has veining found in marble underscored with warm beige; Urban Gallery mimics the linear texture of an organic fabric, and Artisan Forge provides the rustic look of weathered metal. Circle No. 212 on Product Card 2. From TheSize Surfaces , Neolith expands its Fusion product line with fve patterns, including two granite-inspired shades. Using Neolith's Digital Design decoration injection technology to imprint rock-like features, the product line blends together natural elements with features innate to sintered compact surfaces, allowing it to be used for countertops, fooring, wall cladding and more. Available in 6- and 12-mm thicknesses and a 3200- by 1500-mm size format, the compact surface can be cut-to-measure. Circle No. 213 on Product Card 3. Daltile ofers its River Marble to create a fowing visual impact, complete with veining and organic color palette to resemble marble. The porcelain tile is available in large-format tiles with a choice of matte or polished fnishes. Five nature-inspired colors are ofered in four plank and rectangular sizes that complement classic and contemporary styles. Circle No. 214 on Product Card 4. Made in Italy, the Industry Line from Nemo Tile comes in various shapes and sizes. Its Mosaico Rounds work for a shower foor, as its small surface area creates a slip-free ground that is durable and easy to clean, the company notes. Petrolio presents a change from the bright whites popular for bathrooms and is a glazed porcelain. Circle No. 215 on Product Card 5. American Olean Tile 's Creekwood brings warm, natural tones and grain of wood to moisture-prone, high-trafc areas. The porcelain tile features linear graining, the look of small knots from Reveal Imaging and a pressed surface with wood-like undulations for even greater realism. Available in four colors, the tile has pressed edges that allow for minimal grout lines between the 6" by 36" planks. Circle No. 216 on Product Card 6. Designed to mimic the look and feel of crisp fabric surfaces, Crossville 's Ready to Wear porcelain tile collection can be dressed up or down for any style. The line ofers subtle texture in versatile colors and sizes and is an American- made product. Containing recycled content, the porcelain tile is Green Squared Certifed. Circle No. 217 on Product Card 7. Ofering a green alternative to poured Terrazzo, Eco-Terr fooring and countertops from Coverings ETC are made of recycled natural stone aggregates and come in both tile and slab formats. A non-porous fnish prevents microbial growth and does not allow moisture to accumulate to help maintain a mold-free environment. With zero VOC materials, the fooring and countertops are available in a variety of contemporary colors and may help contribute towards LEED credits. Circle No. 218 on Product Card 8. Dekton by Cosentino brings its total ofering to 23 colors with the introduction of eight new colors: Borea and Makai add on-trend wood looks; Keon evokes the color and texture of concrete; Kelya and Entzo expand the company's natural stone- inspired hues; and Ventus, Korus and Galema are solid hues designed to create statements in neutral palettes. The ultra-compact surface features UV resistance; high resistance to stains, abrasion and scratching; and low water absorption. Circle No. 219 on Product Card 9. Artistic Tile 's Astra Porcelain Collection is inspired by the sinuous veining of agate and captures the natural beauty of semi-precious minerals. With light and dark bands fowing in natural waves across the surface, the porcelain avoids repetition for a natural appearance. The high-honed porcelain passed the DCOF AcuTest and may be used in wet or dry, indoor or outdoor spaces. Circle No. 220 on Product Card Fanciful Flooring Today's tile trends for fooring are all about authentic looks – looks not resembling tile, per se, but rather wood and stone. Whether rustic and weather-worn or classic and elegant, the desire for porcelain and ceramic tiles that mimic natural elements is the main driver in the surging market. Through the use of advanced technology such as digital imaging, tile can take on the look of a diferent material altogether. Aged wood, sophisticated marble and time-worn stone are all looks that are in high demand in today's kitchens and baths, but often, the real thing cannot stand up to the rigors presented by everyday life. Instead, designers are relying on ceramics and porcelains that provide the delicate looks while wearing like iron. Safety also continues to be a concern for fooring – especially in wet areas of the home – and the latest crop of products takes all of that into account. Non-slip, long-wearing products are a given in this category, and those attributes are now paired with the most authentic looks to date. On these two pages, Kitchen & Bath Design News looks at some of the latest tile fooring oferings on the market. 1 2 3 4 5 6