“When you consider the size of a country like Italy relative to the U.S., the sheer number of Italian tile manufacturers is astounding,” says architect Katherine Chia, of New York City–based Desai/Chia Studio. Chia, a former RECORD Product Reports juror who attended the Cersaie exhibition of ceramic tiles and bathroom furnishings last year in Bologna, noted some dominant themes at the show, including tiles that imitate stone, concrete, and wide-plank wood flooring; morph into 3D shapes or mod ’50s designs; feature funky color combinations; combine different materials (including glass and metal); and work as an exterior facade material. “Cersaie offers U.S. architects a tremendous resource in the tile market,” adds Chia. “The benefit of attending the show is the ability to see and touch the material for yourself—there are subtle details in many products that can’t be captured accurately in a photograph.” Below are a few of her finds from the show. For more information about Cersaie, check out www.italiatiles.com. —R.F.C.

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		When thick terra-cotta pieces are fired, oxygen does not reach the center, leaving that part the natural gray of the original clay. Vertically cut, the tile features a gray surface and terra-cotta-colored striping on its edges. Named Terra Serena, this listello is designed for finishing and decorative applications in outdoor or indoor areas. EX: Incorporated, New York City. www.exinc.org    [Reader Service # 213 ]
		The Esprit Nouveau collection from Viva Ceramica has a mod ’50s attitude, including two types of dimpled white base tile that can be fitted with wildly patterned inserts. Sucré Salé, also from the collection, features an egg-shaped pattern floating on boldly colored backgrounds. Viva Ceramica, Hastings Tile & Il Bagno Collection, Freeport, N.Y. www.hastingstilebath.com [ Reader Service # 214 ]
		Arhea, a partner with Bi Marmi, offers the Textures Collection in materials ranging from stainless steel to marble. Shown above are Medmoma tiles combining white marble and bronze. Bi Marmi, Bisceglie, Italy. www.bimarmi.it [ Reader Service # 215 ]
		Xilo, another tile from Viva Ceramica, is a through-body porcelain that offers strong resistance to acids, scratches, frost, and dirt. Xilo is offered in five colors (black shown) and a pattern that imitates the strains of exotic wood. [ Reader Service # 214 ]
		The Progetto L14 collection, from Ceramiche Lea, is a modular tile system in four basic sizes. The Spy 3D tile is shown here in Paprika, one of nine matte and seven glossy colors. d.sherman@ceramichelea.it (U.S. manager). Ceramiche Lea, Chicago. www.ceramichelea.it [ Reader Service # 216 ]
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