Tuesday, May 7, 2013

Coverings 2013 Floors Attendees with New Tile, Stone Designs





Coverings 2013 lived up to, and exceeded, all expectations as THE Ultimate Tile + Stone Experience. The four-day event, which concluded last week, was set in Atlanta for the first time in the show’s history. With that, more than 900 exhibitors from over 50 countries packed the aisles of the Georgia World Congress Center with the latest, most innovative stone and tile products.

If that weren’t enough, the organizers of Coverings also offered a wide-ranging conference program comprising more than 70 informative seminars and demonstration sessions targeting every segment of the industry, all free of charge, and many with CEU credits. Session topics included Social Media, design, exterior façades, stone fabrication, installation methods, and more. There was definitely something for everyone, and everyone was definitely engaged!

Of course, Coverings and its exhibitors have always aimed to please their attendees. This edition of the show did that, and more, with everything from micro-mosaics to large-format tiles. Texture was definitely a trend this year, as was the vast selection of attention-grabbing vibrant colors, or the subtle statement of shapely white tiles. Here’s just a sampling of what was available on the show floor. I’ll delve deeper into patterns, textures and sizes in future posts, so enjoy these beauties in the meantime.

Fiandre Architectural Surfaces
Porcelain tile that mimics polished stone from Fiandre Architectural Surfaces.



Shizen Collection from Bedrosians Tile and Stone.
The Shizen collection from Bedrosians Tile and Stone.


Coatings by Sandberg
Coatings by Sandberg features an aviation industry inspired coating.


New shapes and textures from Interceramic.
New shapes and textures from Interceramic.



LATICRETE International, Inc.'s Strata_Mat Uncoupling Membrane
LATICRETE International, Inc.'s Strata_Mat Uncoupling Membrane



Marmi Natural Stone
Galala dimensional stone from Marmi Natural Stone.



Tiles Couture
Handmade cement tile by Tiles Couture.


Within the last couple of years, and more so for the 2013 edition of the show, Coverings stepped up its efforts with its social media presence. As a result, the indisputable nerve center of the show was Coverings Central. This interactive and vibrant area was strategically located on the show floor. Home to many Quick Fire sessions that addressed both social media and complementary industry topics, these 20-minute sessions highlighted the synergy between the tile and stone industries and social media. It went above and beyond its purpose by engaging attendees within the various Social Media channels, as well as helping those who needed a bit of help in getting started.

Coverings Central
Coverings Central, the show's social media hub.

Now, what would Coverings be if it weren’t for the beautiful tile and stone designs? More importantly, what would those products be without proper installation? Here are a couple of places where design and installation was the belle of the ball!

Installation Design Showcase: Now this was the place to be if you wanted to see masterpiece-worthy collaborations between NTCA Five Star contractors and Atlanta-area design firms. These partnerships produced beautiful designs and with highly skilled installation techniques. This year’s vignettes include a bar/lounge, hotel lobby, inpatient room in a women’s birthing center, and a master bathroom – all created, from start to finish, right on the show floor.

Installation Design Showcase: Bar/Lounge
Installation Design Showcase: Bar/Lounge. Image courtesy of Coverings.

Installation Design Showcase: Bar/Lounge
Design Firm/Designers: Margaret Nysewander, LEED AP, ASD Inc., and Michael Neiswander
Installer: Rimrock Designs, Inc.



Installation Design Showcase: Hotel Lobby
Installation Design Showcase: Hotel Lobby. Image courtesy of Coverings.

Installation Design Showcase: Hotel Lobby
Design Firm/Designers: Foreman Rogers, ASID, IIDA, tvsdesign, and Allison Isaacs, AIA tvsdesign
Installer: Rod Owen, C.C. Owen Tile Company, Inc.


SCAD Tiled Bench Exhibit: Coverings teamed up with the Interior Design Department at the Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD) where through a 10-week course, talented students learned how to design and tile six benches. These gorgeous benches were displayed for all the attendees to see as they passed through Halls B and C. After Coverings, the benches were moved to their permanent locations on the SCAD campus.

SCAD Tiled Bench Exhibit
Students of the Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD) created tile benches.


I hope you’ve enjoyed this brief glimpse of what Coverings 2013 offered. With so many new installation products, as well as new tile and stone designs unveiled at the show, I’ll be highlighting something new in future blog posts.

Lastly, did you know that plans are already underway for Coverings 2014? It’s already set for April 29-May 2, 2014, at the Las Vegas Convention Center in Las Vegas. Make sure to include the show in your 2014 plans!

Coverings is sponsored by several associations, including Ceramic Tile Distributors Association (CTDA), Tile of Spain/Spanish Ceramic Tile Manufacturer's Association (ASCER), Ceramics of Italy/Confindustria Ceramica, National Tile Contractors Association (NTCA) and The Tile Council of North America (TCNA). The show is managed by National Trade Productions.

For additional information, please visit www.coverings.com, or contact National Trade Productions, Coverings Show Management at 703-706-8257. 

NOTE: Unless otherwise noted, all images are the property of Arpi Nalbandian. Please contact her if you would like to use these images.

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