Spanish Style 2015

As you are reading this I'm probably winging my way across the Atlantic, heading to the Passport to Creativity 2015 event courtesy of  Tile of Spain.  We will be exploring Seville and then on to Valencia to attend Cevisama, Spain's international tile trade fair showcasing the latest in tile products and design trends.  Follow me on FaceBook, Instagram and Twitter for live reports and I'll be recapping all right here upon my return. For now, here's a sneak preview of some of what we'll be seeing (just to get you in the mood).

Color palettes include monochromatic color schemes where one hue is carried throughout with subtle changes in texture and pattern.  This is a great way to tie a room together creating a harmonious whole. Looks like "greige" strikes again here!

But if you're not so subtle there are lots of bright color choices too!  I'm loving the originality, not to mention the forgiving nature of this new porcelain tile!  Organically inspired tile is taking a cue from nature for a very authentic wood look.  In addition,  there are lots of choices for mosaics.  The point is all the elements are there for you to make a unique and very personal statement with tile.

Click here for more info about Tile of Spain and where you can get the latest tile.

Getting Creative at Cavastone

Time to switch from "turkey talk" to tile!  Hope you had a great holiday.  If you haven't found the new Kitchens for Living page on Facebook, please check it out and give me some love (ok I'll settle for a like). Today I'd like to highlight  a local resource that you should definitely know about if you live in South Florida.Cavastone is located in Boca Raton.  I've worked with them before but I was recently in the neighborhood so I decided to make a pit stop and check out the latest in the world of tile.   The showroom is stunning, sophisticated, and well lit which allows you to view the products to their full advantage.  I was most impressed with the options they have for porcelain tile but there is also a large assortment of granite and marble slabs.The tile above is gorgeous! It's a natural semi-precious stone accented with silver! Makes me think of a decadent boudoir or dressing area. Digital printing technology allows for an infinite number of options when it comes to porcelain tile.  They've got the natural look down!  The nice thing is if you ever need more it can be made for you. Those large sizes (see top) also come in 25" by 25" in case your abode is not quite that large. This dimensional look is also a big trend, used for walls in both interior and exterior applications.  You can find all Cavastone info right here on the Kitchens for Living Local Resources page. If you've got a great local resource clue me in.  I'd love to hear about it!

Spain Takes the Stage at Cersaie 2014

Tile of Spain, a collective of 90 Spanish ceramic wall and floor tile manufacturers, recently showcased new collections and innovations at the Cersaie 2014 show.  Held last month in Bologne, Italy, Cersaie is THE yearly international exhibition of ceramic tile.I love to note the trends at this show as they are a barometer of what we’ll be seeing here in the near future.  It’s not only the tile itself but how it’s being used that intrigues me and can offer us a wealth of design ideas.Tile has been used in building as far back as 3000BC in ancient Greece.  First used to replace thatch roofs, they were desired for their fire resistance.   Today tile finishes are vast, varied and constantly reinvented through the advent of new technologies affecting both performance and aesthetics.This year Spanish manufacturers, reflecting the latest design trends, showed vintage styles, hexagon shapes, three dimensional profiles and more.Here are some of my favorites from Tiles of Spain showcased at Cersaie 2014Porcelanosa (above) makes a complete contemporary statement with this combination of tiles.  I especially like the subtle injection of Old World suggested by the matte black floor tile. Other than the fact that chevrons are always cool, I love the gradient shades of grey shown here by Equipe Ceramicas, so original!  The grey and white are also neutral and easy to design around.Think pink! A lot of chick-pad-pink from Unicer (above). It's all tile, the white, the print the textured and the matte.  Would you?If you're going to use tile in the kitchen, go big! It really makes a statement.For more ideas check out the Tile of Spain USA Inspiration Gallery.