Posted in New ranges
17th November 2023
While natural stone can sometimes be seen as the authentic solution for period properties, traditional homes and even new builds that seek to fuse classic and contemporary styles, continued refinements in the design of stone-effect porcelain tiles enable more seamless applications of this seminal material.
The latest collections feature sublimely smooth and delicately structured surface treatments, so remarkable continuity can be achieved across walls and floors, inside and outdoors. With fine graining or more pronounced patterning, and unprecedented modularity of size and finish, uninterrupted installations of porcelain stoneware, throughout built environments, are set to become more prevalent going forwards.
The popularity of porcelain stoneware has been fuelled by the expanding availability of different natural material finishes including those that replicate the look of limestone, quartzite, granite, sedimentary rock and sandstone with remarkable authenticity. To broaden their appeal further, many of these original surfaces have also been reinterpreted carefully with more contemporary characteristics, so offering versatile variations that are more attuned to today’s modern, minimalist and dynamic design directions.
These expanding portfolios offer broader spectrums of colour. Beyond the more organic sandy beige, graphite grey and blackened basalt tones, the array available includes those with paler palettes of ivory, silver and pearl, warmer shades of coffee and caramel, and layered or pebble-patterned designs that contain ferrous flecks or coral inclusions, for instance.
The most transcendent advancements are however within the wider collections that, across a family of complementary sub-ranges, offer different surface designs but with coordinating colourways. When working with these extended series, a designer’s creativity is less constrained, even when there’s a set preference for a stone-look.
With common dimensions, thicknesses and colour themes, different surface treatments and styles can be mixed so enabling a plainer wall tile to be paired with a patterned floor type or visa-versa, or for a smooth indoor floor choice to harmonise with a structured outdoor paver, offering greater slip resistance and durability, for example. These mixed but matched combinations are particularly effective when an overall homogeneous finish is sought, but with blends of different finish and tone to add definition or to differentiate zones.
An excellent example with an expansive overarching catalogue of natural and man-made material finishes is the Minoli Boost Series, which now comprises Boost, Boost Natural, Boost Mix, Boost Stone, and for launch in 2024, Boost Balance and Boost Mineral. This provides architects and designers with a comprehensive and compatible solution for finishing any type of internal or external space, whether residential or commercial.
Exploring the stone-effects of the forthcoming Boost Mineral range, the design is inspired by Belgian rock quarried in the Ardennes region, formed by the sedimentation of minerals that have sculpted its surface over time. The result is a stoneware with a textural touch, a compact base colour and an extremely even grain.
Boost Mineral is focused around five natural and nuanced colourways ranging from off-white and pearl, through mid- and smoky greys to a deep tarmac tone, which all marry meticulously with other designs in the wider Boost world.
Similarly, with crisp rectified edges, sizes are also aligned with the others in the overall series, including standard-sized tiles, larger formats and extra-large slabs offering uninterrupted floor to ceiling coverage in a Matt finish. Plus, there are up to five different dimensions of Structured exterior specification paving, giving numerous options for complementary solutions for inside and out, with traditional square mosaics and linear brick décor pieces to complete the set.
Installing stone-effect porcelain to deliver seamless surfaces throughout built environments, and between interior and exterior living spaces, is a trend that will only accelerate with these ever-expanding series.
We will be publishing full details and specifications of these new ranges for launch in 2024 in due course, along with timelines for sample availability and ordering. In the meantime, if you would like to register your early interest or request to be informed when samples become available, please contact our showroom or account teams:
Minoli Oxford – 01865 778225 / showroom@minoli.co.uk
Minoli London – 020 7474 2934 / thesurfacewithin@minoli.co.uk
Corporate Clients – Please contact your account manager directly / developers@minoli.co.uk
Outdoor Specific Product Enquiries – 01865 778225 / outdoor@minoli.co.uk