For my money, the Keraben Group’s stand was the highlight of Cevisama. This was not so much because the group’s three participating brands – Keraben, Metropol and Casainfinita – out did the competition in terms of product innovation, but because the new ranges on display were so achingly sellable; and the stand’s design and carefully choreographed theme added extra layers of theatricality and style.
The idea of the stand was to showcase all the group’s latest tile surfaces, formats, finishes and ideas inspired by the world around us, in the Keraben Grupo Resort. The overarching concept was Slow Life, an idea that encapsulates the importance of wellbeing in today’s fast-paced world.
The design appeal, quality and resistance of ceramic tiles and their potential for personalizing living spaces was combined with skilful interior design create settings that allowed the ceramic tiles to exert a subtle, soothing sensory influence.
The resort comprised various different interconnected spaces in which various types of homes were represented to fit in with different types of visitors and their varying lifestyles: an ultra-modern apartment, a Mediterranean-style juice bar or and a Japanese-themed restaurant.
Inspired by urban settings like Manhattan, Icon Apartments showcased some of Keraben’s latest ideas for wall and floor tiles: collections like Boreal, Chic and Romance, which all combine to create a unique backdrop.
Metropol Mediterranean Villas was a stylish area with a fresh Mediterranean flavour, where visitors could experience the latest products by Metropol. Here the Timeless, Stoneage and Inspired ranges succeed one another, with the restrained avant-garde flair synonymous with this brand.
The group’s high-end designer brand, Casainfinita, delivered the essence of Japanese Zen at the Casainfinita Ishi Hotel; an elegant deluxe space where the different areas offered an ode to wellbeing. Collections like Khan, Touch and Terranova were seen here, showcased in all their splendour.
Regarding the products; Keraben tapped into most of the current must-have design trends. Romance is a porcelain tile collection that faithfully emulates the wood of wych elms. It recreates the patterns, dynamism and colour of the tree trunks; while faded knots and marks give the range’s surfaces a warm cosy appearance, with a stylish sensitivity conceived to bring a romantic feel to settings.
Boreal (left) is a stone-effect collection that reflects the essence of hand-worked basalt stone. Its resulting appearance unites beauty with contemporary appeal. The collection brings a striking visual appeal to minimalist settings or lofts decorated with aged leather sofas, exposed brick walls and old beams, evocative of the 1950s New York industrial style. The Mixit collection (right) introduced the new 1,500 by 370mm wall tile format, featuring a design inspired by hand-engraved stone, with a subtle relief pattern made up of irregular grooves. This lends each of the tiles an individual natural beauty.
Chic (left) is a sophisticated modern collection, based on a combination of Victorian aesthetics and functional design. Keraben’s design team took Victorian wallpaper as their source of inspiration, creating wall tiles with a skilful combination of colour and texture. Its décors feature patterns that include a texture reminiscent of the weave of a fabric and natural motifs evocative of the gentle motion of small delicate leaves. Timeless (right) is inspired by the oak trees found in Mediterranean woodlands. The collection brings a modern look to settings, with certain classical influences thanks to its sober pattern and colour spectrum, based on oak wood’s warm colours.
Inspired’s new large formats (left) conserve the very essence of the collection’s stone appearance and contemporary minimalist style. The collection also features new decorative wall tiles that stand out for their strong design appeal. Another new stone-effect range, Stoneage (right) offers a blend of past and present in a stone-effect collection with fine veins and contrasting hues that deliver both movement and natural beauty. The collection is also available in the new Antislip Shoeless Plus: a non-slip finish with an unbelievably silky feel. This will sure prove a total winner.
Khan (left), a new collection by CasaInfinita, was inspired by the Italian stone Pietra di Cardoso. This is a very dynamic range with subtle veins and contrasting shades. The collection comes in formats suitable for walls and floors, with a choice of décors for creating strongly evocative settings. It is available in different colours and shapes, including herringbone mosaics; one in dark shades of grey and another with diagonal veins delivering a strong design statement. Touch (right) is a tile collection inspired by cement. The smooth surface invites touch and is perfect for bringing a genuine urban look to settings. This minimalist urban-look living spaces are still very much in fashion, and Keraben’s cement-effect tiles are perfect for modern looking settings where a sensation of spacious luminosity is required. Offering a new take on slate, Terranova (above middle) is another new tactile range, with a subtle structure and good use of texture. This CasaInfinita design features new large formats and porcelain wall tiles perfect for settings with an exclusive air.
Keraben
CasaInfinita
Metropol Ceramica
A new post by Joe Simpson, Diary of a Tile Addict, February 2018.