With this collection, we explore a relatively new but seemingly popular element in interior design: wood look tiling. Despite their convincing hardwood aesthetic, these images actually feature ceramic floor and wall tiles from Ariana Ceramica Italiana. Some of the obvious benefits relate to cleaning and maintenance, their environmentally friendly appeal and their ability to accommodate under floor heating. Being a more sustainable product than wood that is still illegally harvested from forests in the developing world, it is conceivable that as the popularity and subsequent production of the wood look tile increases, the cost will decrease and even in their infancy, they are proving to be a generally less expensive product than traditional hardwood floors.
This depiction of a modern bathroom with distinctly Provençal touches successfully conveys its feminine yet rustic theme through the incorporation of the wood look tiles, which, for functional reasons, are better suited to bathroom and kitchen spaces than traditional hardwood flooring and in the interest of consistency, may prove to be quite desirable. In this case, as in several others within the collection, variation in styling is achieved through the use of contrasting grains, as can be seen by comparing the floor to the wall.
Reminiscent of ornate parquet flooring, these wood look tiles significantly contribute to the greater aesthetic of this classically styled space. In addition to acting as a focal point, they provide an alternative to what would be a very expensive foray into hardwood flooring and in a more romantic sense, breathe new life into an art form that risks being lost to the ages.
