The Natural Look

As one of our planet’s natural resources, supplies of natural stone can be limited and, as such a timeless material, it is highly sought after and rarely goes out of fashion.

With that in mind, ceramic tile reproductions of natural stone are an incredibly popular alternative to stone itself, offering a more affordable, easier to maintain option without sacrificing any of the design impact or beauty – and this is largely thanks to hyper-realistic reproduction techniques.

Whether natural or ceramic reproductions, polished white marbles such as Carrara and Statuario continue to be the favoured choice for luxury finishes, and slate is consistently popular in many forms, finishes and shades.

Casalgrande Padana’s new Boulder range is a perfect example of the love of the slate trend. The 300mm x 600mm porcelain stoneware range has an expressive colour palette, featuring four shades – Fossil, Ink, Rust and Cloud – to accurately replicate the textures and rich coppers, greiges and inky dark greys found in natural slate.

And slate is only scratching the surface – there is an available plethora of accurate replications of all the different types of natural stone imaginable.

Probably the most well-known category of natural stone uses the general ‘limestone’ descriptor – a hard sedimentary rock formed of calcium carbonate. This sector is now catered for by an array of porcelain tile production, which encompasses countless types, colours and textures – some of which are specific to a country, or even a region within a country like Caen Limestone from France.

When you think of French Limestone, it denotes sophistication and decadence as well as inviting images of ancient architecture. The material has been used across the globe, and throughout the centuries, as wall and floor cladding both on interiors and exteriors on chateaux, castles and abbeys.

However, the individual qualities that make French Limestone unique – such as its characteristics in both colour and mineral content – are also the very thing that make it difficult to work with. Although limestone can be very hard-wearing as a material, this doesn’t change the fact it is a natural stone – meaning its porous surfaces require substantial care and protection to avoid damage from dirt and stains. Although the charming weathered and worn look of French Limestone is attractive when used in an ancient abbey, it isn’t quite as suitable or practical for application in modern buildings and family homes.

And this is where natural stone-effect porcelain tiles come in to play as a practical alternative to the original raw material. For residential and commercial settings, stone-effect tiles offer the exact same look and feel of real stone but with added bonuses – not least the time and effort-saving cleaning regimes.

Porcelain tiles are perfect for use in high traffic areas due to being endlessly enduring – their hardness and density make them durable and hard-wearing, while their resistance to chips, stains and scratches means that they’ll continue looking good for years to come. Not only are they resilient, they also make effective temperature regulators as they conduct heat efficiently so can  be successfully paired with underfloor heating systems, offering a cool surface under foot in the summer and warm, cosy floors in winter – something that is very useful in bathrooms, kitchens, living areas and conservatories.

Remember to browse our wide range of stone effect tiles for inspiration and stunning designs.