Architects and designers are always looking for innovative, new options to enhance the look and feel of a residential or commercial space. While many products provide a suitable range of color and texture options, trends such as surfaces that imitate other materials are creating opportunities for architects to design inventive new spaces.

A recent example of playing with texture is Walker Zanger’s Studio Bera & Beren collection, porcelain tile that mimics fine-grain Portuguese and Spanish limestone. These floor tiles are smooth and sleek while wallcoverings highlight texture and dimension. The stone comes in 12” x 24” natural and structured finishes in both standard and larger sizes.

Natural stone surfaces are also growing in popularity, especially when used on accent walls and other focal spaces. Companies like Eldorado Stone have introduced Whitebark Cliffstone, a contemporary, versatile ledgestone palette that combines grey and earthen tones with lighter hues. With dimensions measuring 1.25”-6” high x 4”-22” long x 1”-2” deep, the collection is warm and inviting.

Another favored technique by architects is mixing and matching high-performance materials throughout the space, from utility rooms to foyers. Launching this spring, the Dinant series by Wilsonart Quartz, available in 63” x 120”, is a complex black and gray background with white veining throughout the slab. The high-quality quartz is resistant to scratching and staining and is virtually maintenance-free.