If you missed the recent "Coverings: The Ultimate Tile and Stone Experience" convention in Orlando but want to know the latest in these decorative surfaces, you're in luck. Kitchen and bath designer Jamie Goldberg offers musings on the latest trends and her favorite finds. -- Erika Lenkert

What new trends did you spot?
While old-school granite with grand, sweeping movement showed up, as expected, I saw some intriguing newer materials and styles, as well. These somehow looked more relevant for today's relaxed comfort and contemporary homes.

Textured layering was one of the dominant themes, with wall tiles stacking together in intriguing ways. Subtle patterns also appeared everywhere, with tiles that resembled linen, grass cloth, etched glass, even wood. Mosaics remain popular and current, but with some interesting new twists on what we've seen the last few years.

Coverings amply demonstrates that while there's nothing new under the sun, even materials a millennia old can look fresh when applied with new vision.

What were your favorite finds?
Venetian Floors' Palladian Line (pictured above). Small, smooth shards of marble interlock into 12-inch seamless tiles that can cover indoor or outdoor floors and walls. They're luscious for luxurious baths and pool areas.

Stone Mosaics. Delicious to look at and touch, these pebbled mosaics feels like a gentle foot massage. They're perfect for roll-in showers and creating indoor-outdoor room connections.






Ergon Engineered Stone. The materials are certified recycled, but there's nothing recycled about their style. Ergon works for floor and wall and has a soft, natural look that meshes with rustic or contemporary looks. Plus, it earns you green, as well as style, points.





TCL's Earth Naturals and GranitiFiandre's Nihon. Both of these lines from the same international tile concern, offer gentle lines that recall linen, hemp and grass cloth. They work indoors and out.


(The image above is Flax from the Earth Naturals collection.)


Ragno USA's Revision. It looks like wood. It lays like tile. And it's perfectly OK getting wet in shower stalls. (Try that with ebony or mahogany!) Revision works well with that spare Swedish, Asian or Saltbox Cottage style that feels old and contemporary at the same time.

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