Cevisama 2005, which was held February 8-12, drew the largest attendance in the show's history, with more than 90,000 visitors during the five-day show. These figures represent an increase of four percent overall, with a ten percent increase in foreign attendance. Visitors from the U.S., Spain's largest foreign customer, increased an amazing 77.5 percent. This year's show also covered a larger exhibition area, thanks to new pavilions which increased the total available space by more than 50 percent; total exhibition space for the show totaled more than 83,000 square meters. Visitors to the show had an opportunity to see the newest ceramic tiles and bathroom furnishings from 1,125 exhibitors, whose products will set design trends for the industry throughout the year.

Metallic Finishes and Accents Gaining Popularity
One of the main stylistic trends evident at Cevisama 2005 is the continued proliferation of metallic finishes and accent pieces, suggesting a strong resurgence of the modernist aesthetic in contemporary design. Metallic finishes such as stainless steel, iron, and weathered iron, and all other types of metal continue to gain popularity, in particularly the weathered steel look commonly known as corten. Some outstanding examples of the Corten look include Apavisa's new line, Metal Tech, Diago's Metal, and Tau's popular Corten, which added a new color, beige, to the series. Tau also debuted a stunning new metallic series, Titanio, which remarkably simulates a highly polished chrome finish through a unique new metallic glaze.

Wood Looks Becoming More Realistic
Another noticeable trend this year is the increasing number of ceramic lines designed to imitate the look of hardwood flooring. Because of advances in technology which allow for greater depth of color and texture, these tiles are no longer merely pale imitations of their natural counterparts, but a viable alternative in many applications where wood is to be avoided, such as wet areas, fireplaces and stovetops. Throughout the show, a variety of manufacturers showed ceramic tile with finishes imitating every imaginable variety of hardwood, from common species like oak, birch, and cherry to exotic woods such as wenge, teak, and koa. Rustic finishes, designed to simulate the look of distressed wood, were especially poular this year. Some manufacturers eschewed the realistic approach in favor of postmodern designs such as highly colored woods and exaggerated textures. Some of the outstanding wood looks this year were Wood Tech from Apavisa, Forest by Azuvi, Alpina by Colorker, and Diago's Natura and Vita collections.

Stone Look Products Continue Dominance
Ceramic tiles designed to imitate the look and feel of natural stone have been a dominant force in recent years, a trend that continues this year, as evidenced by the nearly endless array of stone look designs on display at Cevisama 2005. In addition to the ubiquitous marble and limestone designs that most companies offer, many manufacturers are attempting to copy more complex varieties of stone, such as granite, travertine and rapolano.

Regional specialties such as Borriol are also gaining in popularity. There were many outstanding new stone looks at the show, such as Stone Tech by Apavisa, which features a realistic slate texture. Diago debuted Petra and Alaska, two new stone look series. Aran and Monterey were two new glazed porcelain lines from Ceracasa, which also debuted Milos, which features a very realistic slate look, and Luxe, a glazed porcelain line with a convincing marble texture. Colorker introduced Terra Nova, a glazed porcelain series featuring a realistic marble look. Ikom, a new full-body porcelain line from Pamesa, features a realistic limestone look in three different colors; the company also introduced Silica, a new series featuring a slate look. Keramia introduced several new stone look series, including Marmora, an extruded porcelain line with a marble appearance, and Tibet, a very realistic slate look series which will be launched at Coverings. Alcalagres introduced several through-body porcelain stone look series, including Lifestone, a 3/4-inch thick series in five colors, Natura, which offers a slate look available in three colors, and Bavaria, a travertine look available in three colors. Roca introduced several new formats and colors for its popular Rock & Rock line, including a 24-by-48-inch large format tile.

Glass and Mosaic Tile Lines Continue to Grow, Color Palettes Expand
Another noticeable trend at Cevisama 2005 is the continued growth in the number of glass tile and mosaic lines. These ancient tile materials have been reinvented for the 21st century with bold, modern colors and unusual shapes and design elements, resulting in product lines that range from classical designs to the most outrageous postmodern fasion statements.

Color palettes continue to grow more diverse, from the ever-present pastels and shades of beige and gray, to minimalist black and white designs, to retro colors such as lime green, gold, and rust, and everything in between. More than ever before, any look a client or designer wants can be achieved with ceramic tile.