Stiles: CAST IN STONE

You’ve got to give it to him, the third little piggy was a bit of a design prodigy. Relying on the enduring appeal of stone, he built a house that was huff-proof, wolf-proof, sustainable, and timelessly elegant. Swine number three knew that stone is completely immune to fleeting shifts in design trends.

The visionary little piggy understood that stone has two crucial attributes: visual impact and an ability to imbue spaces with a sense of permanence and authenticity. Indeed, incorporating natural stone into interior spaces has long been a hallmark of renowned designers.

Celebrated Dutch designer, Marcel Wanders, remarks that designers are “too attracted by ‘new’, but nothing ages more quickly than ‘newness’. All my objects reflect a marriage between past and present.” His perspective underscores the lasting value of traditional materials like stone in creating designs that transcend passing trends. Similarly, Le Corbusier, a pioneer in modern architecture, believed that “The home should be the treasure chest of living.” His philosophy aligns with the use of enduring materials such as stone, which contribute to a home’s lasting beauty and functionality.

While real stone can sometimes be impractical or costly, stone-look tiles have emerged as a viable solution, offering all the beauty and durability of natural stone, without the upkeep. Whether you’re aiming for the rustic charm of slate, the earthy warmth of travertine, the texture of terracotta, or the sleek sophistication of marble, stone-look tiles bring a lasting style to any space—and yes, they’re still wolf-proof.

Johan Drom van Tonder, Chief of Operations of tile retailer, Stiles, says that stone-look tiles now represent a large proportion of their sales. “Stone-look tiles,” he says, “embody timeless elegance, much like the stone palaces of Caesar and the awe-inspiring cathedrals of Rome, reminding us that true beauty never fades.” Some of the top selling tiles at Stiles include stone-look slabs, floor tiles and tiles with a subtly embossed surface texture.

ROCK SALT

For absolute character, look no further than the Rock Salt range from Florim. Inspired by the aesthetics of large rock salt blocks extracted from underground mines, this collection includes three slab designs. Each carries the natural charm and tactile materiality of salt crystals with different colour variations enriched with desaturated, deep, and defined veins. The Rock Salt tiles include White Gold , Danish Smoke and Celtic Grey

SLATE WAY

For a stone look tile with colourful and textural appeal, browse the Slate Way range by Pamesa. These tiles mimic the microcrystalline, fine-grained texture of rocks formed hundreds of millions of years ago, as sedimentary silt washed into ancient seas. The Slate Way Green tile  has mottled patches of green, emerald, brown, tan and grey and can be laid on both indoor and outdoor wall and floor surfaces. The Slate Way Ocean tile favours shades of blue, turquoise and sage.

CARVED MARBLE

The Simpolo Supra range by Stiles delivers a glamorous, vintage look ideal for opulent spaces. These vitrified porcelain tiles have marble designs with a carving effect in Burberry Dove , Burberry Beach , Argentine Root  and Grey Amazon

GORGEOUS GRÉ

The Tuscania Ceramiche Gré tiles include porcelain tiles from the Ceppo di Gré range. These tiles have a conglomerate stone look, typical of Italian rock, that is characterized by the presence of large “pebbles”. The Gré tiles are reminiscent of the aesthetics of ancient Greek architecture with an embossed texture. The range includes white and natural  tiles with both matt and slip resistant finishes.

DECORATIVE DOLOMIA

Inspired by one of the most celebrated materials in architecture, travertine, the Dolomia Stone collection from Tuscania Ceramiche displays rich veining, earthy tones, and unique textures.

The Dolomia tiles are available in shades of grey, white and almond. The vein cut tiles mimic the effect of cutting the travertine block longitudinally adding drama and sophistication by highlighting the  stone’s linear veining patterns. The semi-polished tiles  have a slightly embossed texture creating a sense of movement and life in the stone.

Visit any of Stiles’ showrooms to view these products in person or visit their website: stiles.co.za to find out more.

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