I'm putting my travel schedule together for 2010 and one of the highlights will no doubt be attending Coverings this year. Coverings is the trade show for the tile, stone and flooring industries and it takes place in Orlando from April 27th through April 30th this year. I'm very much a tile guy, and Coverings is a feast in every sense of the word.
Coverings is an international show and the world's best and most interesting producers and manufacturers show off their wares during those three days in April. The Italians are well represented of course and for me, it's the Italian companies that push the envelop farthest.
The last time I attended Coverings, I had the distinct pleasure of spending some time with the sales and marketing team from Petracer's Pregiate Ceramiche Italiane. In English, that means "Petracer's Precious Italian Ceramic." They are aptly named.
Petracer's is based just outside of Modena in Emilia-Romagna. Modena is renowned for it's basalmic vinegar of course, but it's also a hot bed of Italy's tile industry.
Petracer's tile has a unique aesthetic and I say they produce the most authentically Italian tile in the business. There's a distinctive look to Italian decorative art and Petracer's captures it perfectly. There's a spare and clean feel to the aesthetics I'm describing. Petracer's look whispers instead of shouting. And when it does raise its voice, it's a joyful sound indeed.
Look at some of their offerings here. What do you think?
Ooh, love that red alligator. I think it's whispering quite loudly!
ReplyDeleteIt is pretty cool. Although in looking at that zebra again, I'd have to call that a full-throated yell.
ReplyDeleteIs there such a thing
ReplyDeleteas a loudly quiet "bling"?
That white tuft with gold buttons tile makes me feel restrained and decadent at the same time.
Patrick! Happy New Year and yes, I think there is such a thing as loudly quiet bling. Petracer's offerings are hardly subtle, but there is some essential quality to them I love.
ReplyDeleteI didn't think about this until reading this post, but I'll finally get to meet you. Coverings has invited me to moderate a panel on Thursday afternoon. I'm really looking forward to it (even more so now)! I got so wrapped up in Cersaie, it will be interesting to see what's in store stateside. The panel will feature the four architects in my book and we'll have a signing afterwards. Will be good to be on Saint Pete Paul's turf! Thanks for sharing the beauty of these materials: there's just no shortage of eye candy where home design is concerned, eh?
ReplyDeleteExcellent! And no, there is no shortage of eye candy at Coverings. The Italian producers are always ganged into one area of the floor. Needless to say, it's a highlight to hang out with the Italians.
ReplyDeleteSo if your panel discussion is on Thursday, I will be sure to be there. This will be great! I think the gang from New Ravenna will be at this show too. I have to introduce you. I wonder who else from the blogosphere will be in Orlando for that one.
Is that tile in the first photograph? It looks like tufted white patent-leather! I'm mad for it! Set phasers to STUNNING!
ReplyDeleteThat sure is tile. In person, the stuff's really decadent, almost too much but Petracer's knows how to pull back at the last second to keep themselves from falling over the edge of bad taste.
ReplyDelete