Ask many homeowners and they may well tell you the kitchen is the most important area of the house. With the growing popularity of islands, open plan dining spaces and indoor-to-outdoor transitions, kitchens are increasingly becoming spaces for socialising and family time as much as for food preparation. As such, decisions on how to design and fit out kitchens are becoming more complex and more consequential, with many different factors at play.
Of course, kitchen tiles need to be durable to cope with heavy domestic traffic and potential impact from heavy objects, they need to be slip-resistant and easy to clean, but they also need to be attractive and on-trend, with colour, size and design becoming ever more crucial considerations.
Fortunately, today’s manufacturers are well aware of these challenges, introducing collections for varying requirements and aesthetic preferences. In this feature, we highlight just a few options available from some of the industry’s top names.
Travertino Navona White by Atlas Plan
This year, Atlas Plan, the Atlas Concorde brand specialising in the production of large ceramic slabs, unveiled Travertino Navona White, a new white marble-effect porcelain tile surface designed to create refined, bright and timeless spaces. Characterised by an elegant warm white background with delicate tone-on-tone veins, this new surface stands out for its ability to combine natural aesthetics with high technical performance, making it a versatile design tool suitable for contemporary kitchens with a sober and essential design.
The real value lies in the large Atlas Plan slabs, the manufacturer says, available in sizes 162x324cm, 160x320cm and 159x324cm, designed not only as cladding but also as structural elements of the project, capable of defining the identity of the kitchen environment thanks to impeccable visual continuity and a clean, harmonious aesthetic.
In the kitchen context, Travertino Navona White maximises the potential of large slabs for covering worktops, backsplashes, doors, central islands and walls. Even in the presence of complex volumes, niches or open compartments, Atlas Plan surfaces guarantee precision of application, enhancing every design detail with natural elegance.
Creative Concrete P Brick by RAK Ceramics
Another important decision for the kitchen is the splashback. While it primarily serves a functional purpose, this area has traditionally been used for a slightly more playful aesthetic, often utilising more decorative, small format tiles. For one example, we might look at RAK Ceramics’ Creative Concrete P Brick range. Available in a range of colours including Coral, Lavender and Mint, this range comes in a single brick size of 6.5x26cm, which remains a very popular format in the UK.
According to the manufacturer, the simplicity of this tile is vital to its appeal, allowing designers to exercise their own creativity: “At first glance, concrete may seem ordinary, but within its robust surface lies the foundation for an extraordinary narrative. The Creative Concrete P collection is a diverse and modular masterpiece that starts with the raw beauty of concrete, then transforms it into a rich tapestry of variations.”
Coverlam by Grespania
One trend seeing more and more interest is the seamless look, where worktops, islands, floors and even furniture maintain a consistent aesthetic throughout. Spanish manufacturer Grespania’s Coverlam range of technical stone slabs is designed to help achieve this effect. The ultra-thin, large format pieces can be used in several different kitchen applications and boast a wide array of design options. They are stain-resistant, heat-resistant, UV-resistant and durable, and their large format means there is reduced appearance of grout lines, further enhancing the seamless look.
www.grespania.com
www.rakceramics.com
www.atlasconcorde.com
