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TILE HAS MOVED FAR BEYOND THE BASICS.The use and combination of different materials cou-pled with new technology is giving homeownerstremendous opportunities to use tile to express theirstyle in interesting new ways.

The new developments also have freed tile from itstraditional uses in kitchens and baths. With productssuch as wood, leather and cork, tile has moved intoliving rooms and foyers, bedrooms and basements. It

has traveled from countertops and backsplashes tofloors and walls. And mosaics and shell tiles haveopened new opportunities for creating accents andcontrasts through the use of tile.

Design NJ asked nine tile experts for their take onthe 10 biggest trends in tile. Here’s what they hadto say.

Tile Takes OffThe experts look at the biggest trends

BY ROBIN AMSTER

in the know

2 Water-Jet Cut Tiles

Water-jet technology features an industrial tool that usesa very high-pressure jet of water or a mixture of waterand an abrasive material to cut a variety of materials.

1 Glass and Metallic Mosaic

The combination of glass and metal mosaic tile is reasonably new. Thetechnology has advanced in how the tile is produced, so it results in allkinds of textures and shapes. The metals are generally brushed stainlesssteel or copper mixed with glass or stone. Many homeowners are doingtheir backsplashes this way, and they’re going to a smaller (3-by-3-inch)mosaic for the entire backsplash, not just as an accent. The glass-and-metal mix can be used also as accents in a bathroom as long as it’s outof direct play of water.

Michele Wyman, design associate, A.W. Eurostile, Ocean and Shrewsbury

The popularity of water-jet tile has grown in the past few years with moreelaborate, intricate patterns. The water-jet process allows more organic andcurvilinear patterns. One of the nice things is there’s no need to be intimi-dated by the square-foot price ($80 to $100). You can work these designsinto your budget and your needs. A backsplash, for instance, uses a smallquantity of tile yet it makes or breaks a kitchen. It’s jewelry for the kitchen.

Josh Levinson, president, Artistic Tileheadquarters in Secaucus, stores in Paramus and Shrewsbury

Marble, among the most ancient of stones, is a growing design trend,and part of its popularity is because water-jet technology enables us tocreate beautiful organic forms that resonate with homeowners lookingto use it in a fresh, modern way. Interior designer Paul Schatz designedthe Miraflores Collection (for New Ravenna Mosaics), which uses water-jet technology in a subtle and intricate way. His designs are extraordi-nary examples of how we can merge technology with handcrafting,definitely a trend that has become more meaningful as consumers seekto customize their spaces to reflect their personalities.

Sara Baldwin, founder and creative director of New Ravenna Mosaics(featured at Mediterranean Tile & Marble, Fairfield and Bernardsville)

This combination of glassand metallic tile is beingused to stunning effect.

COURTESY OF A.W. EUROSTILE

Water-jet technology is being used to create elaborate andintricate patterns in tile.

ZAZEN FROM THE MIRAFLORES COLLECTION BY NEW RAVENNA

4 Ledger Stone

Ledger stone, also called ledgestone, is a horizontal slab of stone.

3 Leather and Cork Tile

Leather can be recycled and turned into panels of anysize, including large-format tiles. Cork, a renewablematerial, is popular also. They’re both a whole newtake on tile. Design-wise, leather and cork can workinto almost any aesthetic. In flooring they can readcontemporary by using large panels or more tradi-tional by using planks. Both can be used on walls also.The only place not to put either is in wet locations.

Nicole Sakosits and Marissa dePierodesigners, Stratta, The Tile Boutique, Wyckoff

Ledger stone has been around forever, but its use in interiors isnew. It has the look of stacked stone on fireplaces. We’re now du-plicating that look in more contemporary ways. For instance,ledger stone can be done with glass, porcelain or natural stone. Itcan be used for fireplace surrounds, backsplashes and, in a grow-ing trend, as an accent wall in a shower or behind a vanity. A lotof contemporary designs use a natural element as a contrast, soif you have a highly polished look and clean lines, then throw inledger stone as a contrasting natural element that pops.

Michele Wyman, A.W. Eurostile

Recycled leather can be transformed into tiles of any size andwill work with virtually every design aesthetic.

BY ECODOMO, COURTESY OF STRATTA, THE TILE BOUTIQUE

Ledger stone — horizontalslabs of stone — is nowbeing used in interiors.

COURTESY OF A.W. EUROSTILE

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Rectified tile is ceramic or porcelain tile that is mechanically finishedon all sides for a uniform, precision look.

Rectified tile has clean, sharp edges versus the pillowed or bevelededges of conventional ceramic or porcelain tiles. You use less groutand the tiles are stronger and sturdier. Rectified tiles give the look ofmarble, limestone or other stone. They have a compact, streamlinedlook; a clean, contemporary feel versus traditional tile.

Antonella Romano, Designer Stone & Tile Emporium

You can take any seashell in na-ture, flatten it and roll it into tiles.These tiles — often calledmother of pearl — have gonefrom small squares to ovals,hexagons and other shapes.Some shells have natural purpleor brown tones, but they alsocan be tinted any color. They’rean accent that adds a bit of de-tail and glimmer. Use them witha basic subway tile, for example,or pop in a straight line of shellsto add sparkle. And they’re notjust for shore homes.

Nicole Sakosits and Marissa dePiero, Stratta, the Tile Boutique

Nearly 20 years ago, a 12-by-12-inchtile was considered large. Now 24-by-24-inch tile almost looks small.We’re now doing more 18-by-36-inch tiles and also full slabs of natural stone. With large-formattile, it’s important to note the development of porcelain. Tech-nology has allowed for larger panels for a more monolithic look.There are now 5-by-10-foot slabs of porcelain manufactured tolook like natural stone. They can be suitable for floors, walls orcountertops. One thing people generally dislike about tile orstone is grout, which is difficult to maintain. To address that, theindustry has developed more stain-resistant grout, but thelarger-format tile requires less grout.

Josh Levinson, president, Artistic Tile,headquarters in Secaucus, stores in Paramus and Shrewsbury

7 Traditional Styling

We’re seeing a return to the traditional when it comes to tile; the more clas-sic looks are back. Transitional tile is generally larger format with cleaner lines.Traditional, meanwhile, still has cleaner lines but it’s warmer. And you can doboth transitional and traditional in larger format, 12-by-24-inch tiles. Tradi-tional can mean natural stone like marble and limestone, handmade tilesand handpainted terra-cotta tiles. The arabesque shape — in glass and stonewith beautiful colors and crackled glazes — is a particularly big trend.

Avra Karak, owner, Monmouth St. Tile, Red Bank and Sea Girt

We’ve seen tremendous growth in custom design. A clientwill see a stone mosaic and ask if it can be made in glass.We say sure and get out our custom prism glass samplesfor them to choose colors. Whether it’s glass, stone or ce-ramic, almost anything can be cut out — from a willowbranch mosaic to a 2-by-12-inch chevron pattern. The op-tions are endless.

Ann Salvia, design sales consultant, Mediterranean Tile & Marble

Wood-look tiles are proving to be a trend with real legs.Each series of “wood” has a specific look.

RECLAMATION PORCELAIN TILE, CROSSVILLE PORCELAINSTONE, COURTESY OF GARDEN STATE TILE

Seashell tiles have gone from small squares toovals, hexagons and other shapes. Theyprovide accents with a touch of glimmer.

COURTESY OF STRATTA, THE TILE BOUTIQUE.

The arabesque shape isparticularly popular fortraditional tile styles.

COURTESY OFMONMOUTH ST. TILE

5 Wood Tile 6 Seashell Tile

Many thought wood-look porcelain tile would be afad. But this product — with a rustic or reclaimedlook — seems to be exploding and will continue togrow. The technology allows you to take inspirationfrom the natural product and then manipulate it bychanging the color. Each series of wood tile has a spe-cific look. Take Brazilian cherry; you can keep the samegrain but have it in gray, taupe or white, for example.There used to be very few styles. Now there are hun-dreds; any kind of wood you can imagine.

Christopher Fischer, product team manager, Garden State TileWall, Dayton, Dover, Farmingdale, Roselle Park and West Berlin

Wood tiles have different qualities. There’s through-body tiles [the color and texture run through the en-tire thickness] and glazed tiles [a hard finish in aparticular color is applied to the surface of machine-made tile]. Through-body tiles show much more re-lief; you can put knots in the tile so it actually feelslike bark. Wood-look tiles can be used on floors andalso for walls. Imitation cedar tile used on the ceilingand walls, for instance, will re-create the look of asauna in a bathroom. Wood tiles also can be water-proof and frost-proof. After Hurricane Sandy, we’redoing a lot of basements and first floors of beachhouses with these tiles.

Antonella Romano, owner Designer Stone & Tile Emporium

Large-format tiles are aperfect fit with the cleanlines of contemporary andtransitional style.

MIRAFLORES COLLECTIONBY NEW RAVENNAMOSAICS, COURTESY OFARTISTIC TILE

The clean, sharp edges of rectified tile impart a compact, streamlined look,contemporary versus traditional.

COURTESY OF DESIGNER STONE & TILE EMPORIUM

Homeowners are looking to customize — exemplified by this fireplacesurround — when it comes to styles in tile.

IRONWORK SERIES BY PRATT & LARSON, COURTESY OF MEDITERRANEAN TILE & MARBLE

8 Rectified Tile

9 Large Format Tile

10 Custom, Custom, Custom