Battersea, London -- (SBWIRE) -- 04/23/2012 -- Surface, leading retailer of tiles, mosaic and stone, has developed an unrivalled reputation for their dynamic product collections that deliver the very latest in design, technology and materials for tiles. Collaborating with some of the world’s leading manufacturers, Surface keeps a continual eye on emerging trends and, from their three retail stores in Islington, Battersea and Surrey, influence what tile schemes, colours and textures find their way into some of London’s most exclusive homes.

Technology is the most influential factor for 2012 and can be summed-up as green, slim and digital. Large formats also continue to dominate with advanced production techniques resulting in the largest format yet: the 800 x 1800mm i Marmi porcelain marble available from Surface. Around the size of a typical table top, this innovation opens up exciting new possibilities for designers and is currently the largest standard thickness tile in the world.

Ultra-slim tiles are expanding. The benefits are numerous from this innovative process which produces porcelain in large sheets up to 3 metres long x 1 metre width and from just 3mm thickness (average is around 10mm). The ultra-thin and lightweight material is also ultra eco-friendly as it uses less raw materials and energy to produce, less adhesive to fix and less packaging and transportation compared to thicker, heavier tiles. From the consumer’s perspective, the lighter tiles are easier to handle and can almost eliminate grout lines from the finished scheme. For refurbishments, they are also a boon as they can be used to overtile the existing finish, for a cleaner and faster job. The technique was pioneered by Italian manufacturer Kerlite, but has now extended to most leading manufacturers who offer popular collections in the option of ultra-slim. Examples at Surface are Stontech SLIM, 4mm thick natural stone porcelain that is considered one of the best on the market and offered in eight natural stone colours. I Bianchi SLIM provides a modern take on classical elegance as it convincingly replicates Italian white marble with all the advantages of slim technology and Le Essenze SLIM interprets six of the world’s most precious woods in porcelain.

Perhaps the biggest leap forward is in inkjet technology, allowing faithful reproductions of stone and marble without any of the performance issues inherent in the natural materials. With many of the world’s most precious marbles, such as Crema Marfil, being over-mined and therefore becoming increasingly more expensive, porcelain reproduction also offers a progressive and sustainable alternative.

A new example that has most impressed the product researchers at Surface is Cumbria from Italian manufacturer Edimax. Available in four natural colours, Cumbria is a true evocation of revered stones from the famous Kirkstone and Burlington Cumbrian quarries. It is an example of a stone that could not be reproduced before now, as it requires the most detailed and variable decoration using inkjet printing. Two mosaic options provide additional elements for designing the perfect interior scheme.

Colours for 2012 are warm greys, browns, mushrooms, taupes and creams that in many cases echo the natural stones and marbles that they successfully emulate. Another continuing trend is texture which provides contrast with smooth surfaces and ranges from the most subtle and tactile to deep embossed patterns that create a purposefully 3D finish.

Examples are the new Pico Collection from prolific and celebrated French brothers Ronan and Erwan Bouroullec. Produced by renowned Italian manufacturer, Mutina, Pico features imperfectly straight rows of dots or dimples in a nature-inspired palette that evokes sand, minerals and cement. The matt texture is made all the more tactile by the tiny dimples which include the option of being spotted with colour. This variation is called ‘Down’ with the reverse pattern of small elevated dots called ‘Up’.

Garland Relief from Spanish-born designer, Patricia Urquiola, is another example from her subtle and beautifully textured Bas Relief collection. Also from Mutina, this artisan produced range is influenced by traces of the past. There are four hand-made styles, all different, with Garland being a new take on a floral motif that is nostalgic but also distinctly modern with its contemporary, digital finish. The floral design is cut into the tile for an eye-catching 3D textured result.

For further information and digital imagery, please contact Tracy Ann Bates at Esprit PR Ltd. On Tel: 01428 714546 Fax: 01428 714812, Email: tracy@espritpr.com