In her trends presentation at Cersaie 2023, Christina Faedi, tile consultant, art director and founder of Infinite Possibilità, presented her three trends in the context of movies, which have an impact on trends across many industries.  

 Mission Impossible 

 The industry is going through a lot of change, with a drive to continually improve and produce new technologies and products. The goal is not only high-quality products, but also to answer the call by designers and homeowners, who want top-quality products that are safe. 

 Faedi described this trend as synthetic nature, where the ceramics of tomorrow must deliver aesthetics hand in hand with performance. 3D technology creates effects that look like open holes and cavities, in a detailed replication of natural materials that offer great performance because it is still a tile. 

Multicoloured marbles on display at Cersaie, where green is matched with browns and rust-inspired tones. Image: Cersaie.it

Newer finishes show relief patterns with the use of matt and gloss finishes, or the effect of old floors worn smooth by foot traffic over time. Colours vary from dark onyx tones with lots of veining to tone-on-tone effects. 

 Small tiles are presented in brick shapes, which are installed in a triple module layout that delivers an interesting surface effect, in either matt or gloss finishes. 3D patterns on wall tiles create light and shadow. Form follows function, as the use of small strip tiles is ideal for covering rounded surfaces and cylinders. 

Jeanne du Barry 

The decadence of Louis XV shown in white marble and gold veining, ideal for luxurious spaces in conjunction with wood- or metal-effect surfaces. Image: Calagatta Gold from Tagina

The film is set in the decadent court of pre-revolutionary Versailles, telling the story of Louis XV and his mistress, Madame Jeanne du Barry. This is a luxury world of gold, crystals, mirrors and brocade. 

 The tiles are very thin, like a second skin. Stone-look patterns are volcanic with gold veining – even white marble is shot with gold veining. Wall tiles feature floral patterns or a brocade-type design. 

 There is a strong nod to craftsmanship with features of oxidation, patterns reminiscent of cloudy skies, and seascapes in greens and greys as well as very creative multi-colour marbles where green is matched with browns and rust-inspired tones. Green is very prevalent in the marble-look patterns and in onyx, stone and alabaster. Some wow factor is shown with semi-precious stone inspiration and big slabs with metal effects.  

 Barbieland 

 Long live pink! Embracing the WGSN Colour of the Year, Apricot Crush, this trend is inspired by houses in Palm Spring, lots of pink tones, violets and pastels. Kit-kat tiles are displayed in a matt finish, with combinations of both matt and glossy finishes for floors. 

 The WGSN Colour of 2024 is Apricot Crush, tying into this trend’s colours of earth, sand and spices, and with nature’s terracotta inspiration in varying shades. Shapes are 1990s-style circles and squares, with shapes that remind one of a computer keyboard while hexagons remain popular. 

“If you can dream it, you can make it.” – Christina Faedi 

 Full acknowledgement and thanks go to…

Cersaie TV for the information in this editorial.