Minoli Design Trends Report 2023 – Trend 02

In this, the second of the published extracts from Minoli’s Design Trends Report, we explore Trend 02 – The Splendour of Stoneware – and how designers are turning to porcelain tiles that emulate the look of quarried and cut stone as the surface solution of choice.

Cutting edge manufacturing techniques take porcelain stoneware to new levels of realism and bring new dimensions in texture and tone. Not only are we seeing unprecedented representation of the irregular markings found in natural stone but also new surface treatments that enable a greater diversity of finishes, for use inside and outdoors.

Leading designers have sought inspiration from the most unique and expressive Italian stoneware. From the mellow tones of limestone, to the glitter and graining of granite and the playful pebble-patterns of sedimentary rock, ingeniously developed surface treatments will allow architects and interior designers to incorporate stone-effect porcelain as never before.

While natural stone can often be seen as the most authentic solution for period buildings, traditional homes and new builds, in today’s house building and corporate construction markets, more savvy developers and designers are turning to porcelain tiles as the viable and desirable contender.

Over natural stone, porcelain tiles are more durable, stain and fade resistant, easier to clean and maintain, do not require sealing, are more uniform in production and so easier to install. With crisp rectified edges and exact calibrated sizes, porcelain products can be fitted with greater precision allowing for highly technical designs to be realised within commercial properties and private residences.

We’ve seen a renaissance in the specification of stone-effect surfaces from those seeking to fuse contemporary design with more classic environments.

Marvel Travertine celebrates one of the most prestigious and iconic architectural materials, and captures the aesthetic appeal of natural stoneware with such realism, but with all the functional benefits of technically advanced porcelain. In three sublimely subtle tones, Marvel Travertine creates a calming and contemporary canvas against which to feature furniture, fixtures and fittings. In Cross Cut and Vein Cut finishes, this collection has a dual identity providing two sensuous surfaces for different design directions.

Further extending the already established and frequently specified Boost Series, Boost Mix is inspired by the pebble patterned Ceppo Di Grè stone from the north-western shores of Lake Iseo in Italy. Distinct and dynamic in design, Boost Mix comes in three mesmerising, modern shades ranging through warm and light, to cool and dark colourways. Beautifully balanced to work with complementary products in the wider Boost collection, Boost Mix brings multi-toned combinations and contrasts with its vibrant and varied appearance.

We’re also seeing designers experimenting with mixed surfaces from different but complementary ranges. The broader colour palettes available allow for new colour matching opportunities, so creating blended schemes or bold breakpoints, that yield spaces with different atmospheres and stylistic accents. More intricate patterns from ranges such as Norway can be installed alongside softer, limestone-effect designs, for example Norway Vit paired with Epik Shell, or Norway Svart delivering a distinct step change against Coast Light.

At the forefront of stone-effect production innovations for 2023, these latest colourways and new finishing techniques allow for more distinct variation between surfaces, adding a greater dimension of depth to designs.

Next week, we’ll publish more extracts from the Minoli Design Trends Report, and you can also view or download the full report in advance, from our brochure page here.