I’ve had the good fortune to work on two great kitchen renovations this spring, which has given me the chance to get familiar with the latest and greatest in the world of stone and tile. If you’re considering updating your own home, whether to make it more appealing for buyers or for your own enjoyment, hard surfaces like flooring and countertops are a great place to start. One of the suppliers I work with, Harkey Stone and Tile, was gracious enough to share their insights on tile trends here in Charlotte. Here’s the inside scoop, and some products that make me swoon:
Wall Tile
Wall tile is the most common choice for kitchen backsplashes and bath/shower surrounds. Depending on the surface area you need to cover, it can be a relatively simple and affordable area to upgrade. According to Harkey, the majority of their customers are installing subway tile or natural stone in the kitchen. Glass tile and glass/stone mosaics are also popular. On the other hand, painted mosaics (you know those ones that depict fruit baskets or pastoral scenes) are on the way out – very dated! Here are some more on-trend choices:
Rectilinear natural stone tile from Walker Zanger has a very current look. It can be oriented vertically or horizontally.
“Dome” shaped tile, or tile that has a 3-dimensional quality is also becoming popular. This photo shows a backsplash done in Speartek natural stone in a herringbone pattern.
Here’s a close-up of the dome shaped tile on a sample board. This one is from Pietra Art.
These large (12″x36″) wall tiles by Porcelanosa come in a variety of textural patterns, and can be used in the kitchen or bath.
Countertops
Granite still reigns supreme for kitchen counters, and is also a common choice for bath vanities. Highly patterned granites with a lot of tonal variation and movement are most popular. The Harkey rep told me they’ve also seen a surge in interest in marble, probably due to the gleaming all-white kitchens featured in shelter mags everywhere these days. Marble sure is pretty, but it’s expensive, porous, and high maintenance. A great alternative to natural stone is engineered quartz, which is just as durable as granite but more environmentally sensitive (many of the quartz products contain recycled content; also it’s not mined the way granite is.) Another Earth-friendly countertop material, Vetrazzo, is made from recycled glass bottles. It’s GORgeous but kind of pricey!
Cambria is one of the manufacturers of engineered quartz. It comes in an array of colors and patterns, some of which mimic the look of granite.
This pretty product from Vetrazzo is made using recycled glass.
Floor Tile
Are you ready to rip out that wall-to-wall carpet? Hardwoods are one way to go, but you might also consider tile. Tile is scratch-and-dent resistant and easy to maintain. The Harkey rep shared with me that larger porcelain tiles (up to 2 feet in length) with minimal grout lines are very popular these days. The large tiles present a very clean and contemporary look, and come in many new styles and patterns. Some of them mimic wood grain or slate, with a very naturalistic effect. Here are a few I’m drooling over:
These porcelain tiles by Megatrade are patterned to look like slate, and come in a large 12″x24″ size.
Here’s what the slate-patterned tile looks like installed. Photo via megatradecorp.com.
These porcelain tiles from Porcelanosa have a bamboo pattern, and also come in the larger 12″x24″ size.
This photo shows an installation of the bamboo tile – in this case used as a backsplash. Image via porcelanosa-usa.com.
“Plank” sized porcelain tiles by Castelvetro bear an amazing resemblance to wood. They’re approximately 6″x38″.
It’s hard to believe this is actually tile! Image via archiexpo.it.
If you’re interested in any of the products featured in this post and you’re in the Charlotte area, Harkey Stone & Tile in Plaza Midwood is a wonderful, family-owned neighborhood resource. They couldn’t be more helpful or pleasant to work with! I’ve also provided the manufacturer name for each product, so you can check what is offered through your local dealer. With so many great new options out there, you’re sure to find something you adore!