Terrazzo Looks Take Over Tile

Terrazzo is making a comeback. What once adorned school floors and government buildings in the ’70s is now remerging in the form of high-end countertops and large-slab tile. The stone-like material embedded with chips of marble or granite was the inspiration behind many new products showcased at Coverings 2019 in Orlando, FL. Held at the Orange County Convention Center, it was evident that terrazzo looks are a rising trend among tile and stone producers from around the world.

“Classic trends like terrazzo will always remain part of the design cycle, but terrazzo is a particularly fun material, which compliments the bold colors that are also coming back in style at the moment,” says Alena Capra, certified master kitchen and bath designer and industry ambassador for Coverings. “Beyond the playful color combinations available, the material mixes well with the resurgence of post-modern and contemporary design elements.”

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The key terrazzo players at Coverings

Crossville Inc. is one producer who recently started incorporating terrazzo looks into its products. The company produces porcelain and ceramic tile, natural stone and glass tile for commercial and residential applications. Crossville has been a part of Coverings for 29 of the show’s 30 years.

Alaska from Crossville

At this year’s show, Crossville unveiled Alaska, a soon-to-launch, terrazzo-inspired collection. It was the prominent feature at both the company’s booth and in the sponsored dog house that was on display in the Art Tile Courtyard during the show.

Aparici is a Spanish-based tile producer who is also incorporating terrazzo in. The company is known for its bicottura, or double-firing technique. Aparici’s porcelain tile collection, Stracciatella made for a vibrant display in the company’s booth at Coverings.

The geometric patterns feature a terrazzo look. Stracciatella comes in four colors – white, pink, honey and blue – all of which were featured throughout the space.

Iris is another manufacturer who featured a sizeable collection of terrazzo-inspired tiles, including Venice Villa. This collection of ceramic tiles combines the appearance of crushed marble fragments with the benefits of tile, including ease of maintenance and cleaning. It arrives in eight colors and three surfaces for a variety of design needs.

Although Iris is originally based in Italy, the company opened a production facility in Tennessee, giving it the ability to sell collections like Venice Villa in the U.S.

“While terrazzo was an emerging trend at previous Coverings shows, 2019 exhibitors incorporated a newly wide variety of applications,” notes Capra. “Spanning large format tiles, gauged tiles, neutral shades, bold hues, polished and matte finishes, and integrations with shapes and patterns – terrazzo has become an increasingly creative medium, which can pair with nearly any style.”