INUS, the total living brand of IS Dongseo (CEO Kwon Min-seok), a comprehensive construction and building-materials company, has begun displaying and selling premium large-format tiles in earnest at its INUS Bath Gangnam flagship store.
The premium showroom at the INUS Bath Gangnam flagship store features a collection of thin, large Spanish premium tiles measuring more than 2 meters, with a range of striking textures on display. Going forward, INUS plans to continue exhibiting and selling new large-format tile products in the premium showroom.
The trend drawing attention in the interior industry this year is the harmony of “naturalness” and “luxury.” Consumers want a feel that is upscale yet not excessive and looks natural. The same applies when choosing tiles. As the high-end interior trend driven by remodeling gains popularity, more and more consumers are looking to upgrade their living spaces. Tiles, which shape the overall image of a space, are becoming larger and thinner to meet this demand.
INUS, too, named “large-format tiles (large thin-slab tiles)” as one of the interior trends to watch in 2020. For a long time, tile sizes were standardized and produced to fit a limited range of dimensions. However, advances in digital printing and improvements in ceramic manufacturing technology have made it possible to produce large-format tiles up to 3 meters in size. Large-format tiles have attracted attention as eco-friendly materials with outstanding durability and heat resistance, establishing themselves as a trend not only overseas but also in the domestic furniture and interior market.
Using large-format tiles in interior construction allows for a more natural and upscale expression than ordinary tiles. Because a single tile can cover one side of a wall, the seams between tiles are reduced, allowing for a clean finish. In addition, the design patterns of the tiles continue seamlessly, delicately and perfectly expressing the texture of the natural stone being reproduced. As naturalistic tiles come into fashion this year, large-format tiles are increasingly in the spotlight.
Large-format tiles are being used in a variety of ways, not only for interior walls and floors but also as exterior cladding. The strong stain resistance of large-format tiles comes from heat treatment at over 1,200 degrees following surface glazing, which makes them ideal for use as exterior cladding. They barely corrode from sunlight, air oxidation, or moisture, making them easy to maintain and repair.
An INUS official said, “Because large-format tiles are thin yet large, they can be used like wallpaper, making them an appealing material for stylishly styling large areas of space,” adding, “INUS will continue to present consumers with premium large-format tiles that offer great value for money and can be used in a variety of interior applications, including walls, floors, and tables.”