So what is coming? Tiles continue to get bigger, particularly floor tiles. Strong florals were everywhere even more than last year; very, very flowery and very bold. These will be used to create accent panels and feature walls. One visitor described them as “Wallpaper style tiles”.

If tiles are not pretending to be wallpaper they are masquerading as stone or slate. Woodeffect tiles have been available for some years but this year these were not confined to the floor; there were wood-effect wall tiles as well. There was also bamboo, real bamboo mosaic!

Although natural tones still predominate there were also a lot of strong colours and plenty of metallics. Manufacturers are using new direct injection production technology to achieve fleck or petrol/irridescent-type effects, These tiles looked really strong in darker shades and many of them change with light direction. The mosaics on show included metallics in incredibly vibrant colours such as greens and oranges.

The showstoppers were massive ‘showpiece’ type tiles, created just for the show and digitally produced photographs on tiles including ducks and giraffes!

TTA would like to thank the following for their reports from the show - Tubs & Tiles, Pavigres UK Ltd, Shackerley Holdings, Nicholls & Clark, Tiles UK Ltd, AG Ceramics and particularly Remondo Benacci and Gordon Watt of Cosmo Ceramics who sent us a very detailed report. You will find details of these companies on the TTA website at www.tiles.org.uk You will also find a report with illustrations.

For further information contact a TTA member tile supplier or look on TTA website at www.tiles.org.uk.