Totalook: interview with the designer
Three tile and grout color combinations for designer floors
For an aesthetic result able to satisfy even the most refined tastes, porcelain stoneware tiles alone are not enough: it is the tile and grout color combinations which really make the difference. Unfortunately, the choice of grout color – whether using a traditional cementitious or an epoxy grout – is a choice that is often put off until the delicate laying phase, in the belief that it is essentially an instrumental aspect, part of the installation; on the contrary, this material is a key element in the overall floor installation. There are numerous types of grout, not just in terms of the formulation and chemical composition – the technical characteristics – but also as regards the color. Let’s imagine then that we have found the perfect tiles: which color should we choose for the grout? We’ll take a look at three cases, the three most common colors, with examples, possibilities and tips for designer floors which set themselves apart with their harmony or their boldness depending on our design inclinations.
What color grout to use with white tiles
We’ll start with the purest shade: so, what color grout to use with white tiles? The initial possibilities we are faced with are extremely polarized: white or black. Two diametrically opposing choices, not only in terms of the color spectrum but also aesthetic intentions. First, we need to ask ourselves what results we wish to achieve with our floor: continuity or detail. White grout – remember that a matte finish should be favored – helps make the floor uniform: the grout joints between the tiles provide less of an impact, lending the floor homogeneity and visual scale. It is a choice which should be favored above all to emphasize the realism of the lighter tones of stone-effect porcelain stoneware and whitewashed wood. Reducing discontinuities is the best way to emphasize the natural and harmonious flair of the flooring.
On the other hand, darker shades of grout – from grey to black – emphasize the shape of the individual tiles and creates bolder contrasting interplays. A design solution whose exercise in style lies in opposites. As regards striking contrasts, Tele di Marmo Selection by Emilceramica is the collection of marble effect tile which investigates the most sophisticated developments of the black & white combination. A theatrical and versatile catalog which highlights the most noble of stones in a declaration of binary intentions: positive and negative in a single creative offering. From the glossy White Paradise to the depth of Nero Marquinia’s blacks, passing through the mellow and mineral geometry of Arabescato Corchia, each tile is a work of art. The artistic soul comes out in full force with the Tarsia decoration: the sinuous nature of rose petals and the textural power of marble, an interplay of consistencies and meanings which do not cease to enthrall the eye of the designer.
What color grout to use with gray tiles
One of the most delicate tile and grout combinations is that which plays on shades of gray. A color which stands in the middle of the black and white binary, opening up our perceptions to infinite nuances and possibilities. So, what color grout to use with gray tiles? Here is a tip to make sure you can’t go wrong: gray grout, ideally slightly lighter than the shade of the tile, in order to avoid weighing down the overall color scheme by creating shadows. While the tone-on-tone combination is a classic – a guarantee of harmony which cuts across all interior design styles – on the contrary, a grout which is much lighter or darker than the tiles (right up to the extremes of black or white) emphasizes the individual tiles, both in terms of their shape and decoration.
The cutting-edge trends suggest a new aesthetic possibility: full contrasting color. The wide range of grouts on the market, as well as additives, makes it possible to create a wide range of shades of grout: brown and blue are some of the most popular choices to provide an aesthetic appeal previously limited to the tiles themselves. A new level of refinement and design which goes as far as to take into consideration even more audacious colors and effects such as gold and glitter. This provides the opportunity for experimentations which often offer an innovative point of view to reinterpret the best-loved materials from a contemporary and sometimes irreverent point of view. Here is a starting point for combining grouts with stone-effect floors without limiting yourself to traditional shades of gray: Oros Stone is Ergon’s offering inspired by the geometries of quartzite. A sincere stone of great creative expressiveness, suitable for projects with a genuine architectural bent. Light is the characteristic element of the collection: Oros Stone tiles are embellished with microcrystals which create unexpected interplays of reflections between the veining and sedimentation of the stone. The six colors, available in three different finishes, create a versatile and contemporary catalog, rich in compositional possibilities.
What color grout to use with beige tiles
If you are wondering what color grout to use with beige tiles, tone on tone shows how much a simple solution can never descend into banality. Directly synonymous with elegance and harmony, beige is a predominant color in some of the most popular interior design styles, from traditional to cottagey/rustic and even Mediterranean, right through to some of the most contemporary and minimalistic ideas. An excellent solution for providing a touch of modernity to beige tiles is to choose a grout in a slightly darker shade than the tiles in order to provide light and depth. Harmony, realism and continuity describe the overall aesthetic yield of a fully realized beige floor, in which the grout joints do not take center stage but are instrumental in emphasizing the beauty of the tiles themselves.
If the choice focuses on stone tiles, choosing a grout color which matches one of the tile’s veins is always a winning choice for floors which are elegant and at the same time modern. The elegance and modernity of stone are the foundations of Elegance Pro by Ergon: the collection which brings the architectural potential of sandstone within the confines of the most sophisticated interior design. In seven graduated shades and three different finishes, the catalog offers a wide and varied range of design possibilities. The collection stands out for its refinement and expressive sensibilities, as well as its levels of technical performance. Shield technology adds innovative antimicrobial qualities to the tiles. Guaranteed protection, robustness and looks. Here are the main ingredients for tile and grout color combinations to ensure a harmonious floor in every room.
26 October 2022
Magazine
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