If there’s one thing that can be that can be said about the 30th anniversary of the Cersaie tile and bath show, it's that the offerings on display were both remarkably exciting and somewhat expected.
Counting more than 900 exhibitors across 20 halls within Bologna's expansive trade grounds, Cersaie was filled with stacks of the finest ceramic and porcelain tiles--not to mention the most advanced bath fixtures and furnishings--currently available to designers.
It was more than than we could ever hope to see, let alone digest, in the unforgiving window of three days. Every booth represented the chance to make a new discovery--and there were plenty. It's not an exaggeration to say that my camera and pen never took much of a break during my time at Cersaie (espresso breaks notwithstanding).
Yet, for the sheer number of new collections and updated lines on display, it appears that the same trends that have been moving the ceramic tile industry as of late are here to stay. Wood and concrete looks were de rigueuer, and neutral colors continued to dominate. And while many of the products on display were well-suited to the modern, monochromatic aesthetic espoused by many, we in the press corps did occasionally find ourselves gravitating towards products that dared to blaze their own trail—or at least attempted a new take on the same old trend.
Here’s a look at some of our favorite ceramic and porcelain tiles from Day 1—our Day 2 recap is available here, and our Day 3 recap is available here. Let us know what your favorites are in the comments below, or at our Facebook and Twitter pages. And look for more Cersaie coverage in our January Tile and Stone special section.
Alabastri di Rex from Rex Ceramiche is a beautifully colored porcelain line that captures the look of natural stones and minerals. The largest sizes are offered in 12 patterns, while the smaller-sized tiles are available in 24 patterns. It is offered in 80 x 180, 80 x 80 and 60 x 120 centimeter sizes.
While wood looks were everywhere, manufacturers added some subtle twists to their collections to make them stand out—here, Cisa Ceramiche’s MyWood line of plank tiles incorporates décor tiles that look like reclaimed crates.
Mutina had not one but two impressive designer collections on display. Here, Tex, designed by London design studio Raw Edges, finds its inspiration in textiles’ textures. The collection is available in 10 different colors, each of which contains a group of three shades.
Here’s another shot from the Voyage collection, which draws inspiration from nature and craft tradition--"refined hand-painted fabrics, ancient embossed glasswork, beautiful ceramics, rare historical lithographs, ornamental panels," says FAP. Bonus: the entire line meets Ecolabel qualifications.
We closed the day with a look at Fabric from Cottoveneto. Designed by Elena Stratella, these mosaic tiles are perfect for warming up even the coldest of spaces.
See more photos from the #Cersaie tradeshow at the Interiors & Sources Twitter page.