If I had to put my money on just one tile design trend for 2019 it would be “fusion.” By this I mean ranges that combine the tone, colours and textures of two or more natural materials into one new composite creation. The most productive area seems to be concrete plus another material: typically metal, fabric, wood, or stone.
And it is easy to see why these material melanges are proving so enticing to today’s tile designers. They allow the neutral, industrial, masculine appeal of concrete to be softened and enlivened by new colour nuances, delicate textures, and interesting patterns.
One great example is Fiandre Architectural Surfaces’ new Magneto collection, which was launched at Cersaie 2018. Here materials from the past are combined, and delivered with excellent technical performance, plus extraordinary tactile and visual effects.
Magneto is a new, contemporary, and metropolitan take on cement, in which the basic material is contaminated with metallic and oxidation effects to alter its appearance and create an alluring balance of materials and colours. Think of it as a concrete:metallic fusion.
There are six colour options: Gold, Rust, Corten, Arctic, Silver, and Carbon. Here the timeless attraction of worn material is complemented by an achingly trendy colour palette featuring both cold or warm shades. Multiform hues and contrasting colours personalise each individual piece in an evocative play of light and shadow that imbues this collection with a strong character and unmistakable personality.
Available in 1,200 by 600mm, 1,200 by 300mm, and 600 by 300mm formats in both natural and structured finishes (the latter in 600 by 300mm only), Magneto suits both retail contracts and residential applications, and is capable of adapting to both large and small spaces, and diverse interior styles.
A new post by Joe Simpson, Diary of a Tile Addict, December 2018.