Porcelain tile that looks like wood opens up a new world of design possibilities
Wood is beautiful. It’s just a fact.
It’s hard not to be drawn to it’s warm, earthen tones, mesmerizing grain patterns, and the natural feel it creates in a design.
But chances are, you would never think of putting wood panels in a shower, or even a bathroom. Not if you want a look that lasts. After all, even coated and varnished, wood’s porous nature means it will eventually succumb to moisture, making it swell, warp, or stain. The same is true of kitchens, exterior spaces, and even flooring. Wood is high-maintenance, and just not worth the risk for most designers.
But times have changed.
Today, we’re seeing more and more wood looks in design. It’s virtually a renaissance, with wood designs showing up in both interior and exterior designs: wood flooring, wood paneling, wood countertops, and more.
And it’s all due to porcelain.
Modern porcelain manufacturing techniques have been something of a revolution in the world of design, changing the game by emulating the look of virtually any surface, from marble to wallpaper, with a remarkable degree of accuracy and durability. And, of course, this is especially true for wood.
Today, porcelain tile makers are able to indelibly imprint panels with a large number of varied grain patterns, so that repetition is minimized. Depending upon the manufacturer and process, even wood-like textures can be added, completing the illusion to the point where it is difficult to tell that the panels are not really wood.
Not only does this “cure” wood of its greatest drawback, but it has allowed manufacturers to get creative with tones, colors, and patterns as well.
Of course, the design community has responded just as you would expect them to when handed an even bigger “box of crayons.” They are setting their creativity loose and exploring wood like never before.
Here’s a sample of some of the wood look porcelain products we carry.
FLOORING
AVALON PARQUET
If there can be more, there will be more. With four different colors, you can zig and zag from wall to wall with Parquet. Perhaps you want that dark, burnt look of an aged treated floor. Or maybe you’d prefer a lighter, whitewash tone that brightens the entire room. The durability will last forever, and the look will be just as timeless.
AVALON ASTORIA
Astoria is a great example of just how versatile wood-look porcelain panels can be. It is available in five different tones, each with its own set of grain patterns. It’s great for flooring, but you can use it on walls, countertops, or basically anything, indoors or out. And you can mix and match tones for even more versatility.
AVALON BALAU
Balau is also available in five earthy tones, but it comes in larger panel sizes, and features grain texture that makes it virtually identical to real wood. With Balau, not only can you mix and match tones, but you can also mix and match panel sizes, creating looks that are truly unique.
Yaki is wonderful example of how creative porcelain products can be. It’s designed to mimic wood, but not just any wood. Rather, Yaki is made to look like wood that has been slightly burned using the Japanese “Yakisugi” method of preservation.
AVALON Raven
Our newest line, Avalon Raven, brings rich texture and a variety of shades to our collection. The pale tones and captivating oak patterning make Raven the perfect option for just about any space. The best part is, this new line can define warm and elegant spaces both indoors and out.
AVALON YAKI
Yaki is a wonderful example of how creative porcelain products can be. It’s designed to mimic wood, but not just any wood. Rather, Yaki is made to look like wood that has been slightly burned using the Japanese “Yakisugi” method of preservation.
COUNTERTOPS
LAMINAM LEGNO
It’s easy to be captivated by the three different wood tones and their rich grain patterns, but if you go looking for a seam in Legno by Laminam, you won’t find it. That’s because Legno comes as a full-size slab. And it is remarkably strong, even for a porcelain surface.
WALLS
AVALON GRAIN
Grain offers yet another intriguing view of wooden texture created with extruded porcelain. You could even call it “edgy.” Grain comes in black or white colors, and depicts the rough cut and somewhat weathered end of wood logs cut into square ornamental tiles. Here, in Grain’s texture, you can see ring patterns complete with sawmill marks, and even the cracks and splits of natural wood, all wrought in textured relief upon the porcelain tiles.
AVALON SELVA
Like Grain, Selva also features a wood grain pattern overlaid with a rough and rustic sawmill texture. These four neutral tones of Selva come in a long, thin tile size, making it ideal for mixing and matching tiles to create a unique pattern design for your space.
ORNAMENTA ARTWORK WOOD
Perhaps the best example of how creative porcelain wood-look products have become is Ornamenta Artwork Wood. Available in eleven different colors, including bright primary and trending colors, Ornamenta is not so much about replicating the look of wood as it is about paying homage to it. The large square tiles of Ornamenta depict a flat-color, illustrated version of wood grain that allows designers to play with textures and colors like never before.
And there’s more…
Of course, these products listed here are just the tip of the proverbial iceberg. There are a wealth of wood-look and other porcelain options on the market, and more designs being released all the time. It’s not surprising that porcelain is Opustone’s fastest-growing category of surfaces.
Which is all the more reason why you should explore on your own. We encourage you to discover our vast array of magnificent, creative, and unique porcelain products. Why not visit one of our gallery-style showrooms and see for yourself? We have locations in Miami, Fort Lauderdale, West Palm Beach, and Jacksonville.
In all likelihood, you will find that porcelain makes virtually everything possible, and inspiration abounds.
Have any questions? Want to know more? Send us a message. We’d love to hear from you!
