Tile market offers rich variety

Here are some of the newest trends in tile:

•Metal: Metal leaf in gold, silver and copper, etched into stone and under glass, gives tiles depth and dimension and is “one of the most evolving tile trends coinciding with the luxury tile market,” said Nancy Epstein. Her company, Artistic Tile, introduced a new 12-inch gold-stone tile in various patterns at the recent Coverings trade show in Chicago. They haven’t yet priced it, but consumers may call (212) 727-9331 for more information. Other Artistic Tile products begin at $5 per square foot and go up to $125 per square foot.

•Fashion: “Fashion’s influence on the home has transcended to tile,” said trend spotter Maxine Lauer, principal of Sphere Marketing, a retail-trend forecasting firm in Waterford, Mich.

She cited textures including velvet, silk, denim, lace, alligator and snake skin. Animal print patterns including leopard and tiger turn up on durable high-end ceramic tiles that can be used for wall accents, flooring or countertops.

But unlike fashion trends, tile styles need a longer wear-by-date. “Tile is still white and beige for most people, who expect longevity from their tile because they are making long-term investments,” Epstein pointed out.

•Bigger is better: Gaining in popularity are rectangular tile shapes in a new larger size, 12 by 24 inches, laid together with smaller ones of 6 by 24 inches in a horizontal, stacked look. They come in large and small mosaic format, in combinable stone, glass and ceramic.

•Glass: Vibrant and colorful glass tiles are a chic alternative to ceramic, with or without semiprecious stones. Shapes can be traditional or modern, cracked into tiny chips or squares and other shapes. The earth oxides, including copper, cobalt and chrome, in tiles made with recycled glass by Oceanside Glasstile make them glowing accents for stone and ceramic. Oceanside’s prices range from $28 to $70 per square foot for mosaic and field tile, and from $10 to $30 each for decorative accent tile.

•On the rocks: Technology is making another kind of tile more accessible and affordable. GranitiFiandre’s Geologica’s new line of manufactured stone, made with porcelain, has the look and feel of the real thing without the hefty price-tag and installation and maintenance problems.

Customers who purchase the company’s manufactured stone can expect savings starting at 10 percent from the price of quarried stone. For those who prefer the real thing, the Green River Stone Co. mines 50-million-year-old slabs of stone, measuring 49 inches by 98 inches, laden with fossils. For tiles of this size, which can be used for a custom backsplash, counter top or wall mural, prices start at $250 a square foot and can go as high as several thousand dollars, depending on the detail and intricacy of the fossil slab.

•Hip to go round: “It’s cool to be a circle,” said Lauer, noting that geometric-shaped tiles are today’s trendy alternative to the traditional square. Some tile makers such as Majorica are creating Asian-inspired circles-within-circles designs.

•Animal magnetism: Epstein’s Artistic Tile company offers large-format, 18-inch-square leather and cowhide tiles suitable for interior walls and floors. A magnetized backing on the panels makes them a snap to change.