Susan Oosthuizen
Cersaie is the International Exhibition of Ceramic Tile and Bathroom Furnishings, where the latest news and tile design trends are shared with the global market. Held annually in Bologna, Italy, Cersaie is the foremost international event for designers of ceramic and other surface coverings and bathroom furnishings, with over 110,000 visitors attending the show this year.
Amongst the visitors to the show was our own Susan Oosthuizen, who has been assisting Johnson Tiles’ clients with selecting and designing tiles for 9 years. She shares her insights from the show and what trends to watch out for in 2020.
SQUARE PATTERNED TILES
Encaustic and geometric-inspired patterns with single prints on tiles were a stand-out for me. These smaller 200x200mm square format tiles present a wonderful opportunity to bring a fresh take on traditional cement-inspired designs. Merging old-world charm with modern design.
CEMENT-LOOK TILES
Cement-look tiles are still a very strong trend, with a move towards using it in combination with other niches such as wood-look adding warmth to this industrial aesthetic. Other popular combinations are colourful encaustic patterns or using cement with metallic applications adding new impetus to the look.
BOTANICAL/ BIOPHILIC TILES
It was very clear that botanical, or biophilic inspired patterns are on the rise, with florals and strong colours featuring in a number of the displays. Naturally, green is a strong theme in this trend, particularly in the softer shades of mint and sage used with pastel pinks and light blues.
CLASSIC MARBLE-LOOK
Marble slabs in various designs and colours were again a popular feature at Cersaie. I found it very interesting to see marble used in combination with cement, adding a glamorous edge to the industrial feel. Bolder veining in the marble patterns was also an interesting development. Susan concludes; “The opportunity to attend such a prestigious show is a great honour. To be witness to the cutting edge of design in our industry and to bring those ideas back to South Africa is very exciting. I look forward to meeting with our clients and helping them bring these trends to life in their tile collections.”
