Dezeen promotion: Italian tile brand Ceramiche Refin has launched Cortina, a porcelain stoneware tile collection designed to resemble traditional wooden planks from Italian alpine huts.
The Cortina ceramic tile collection intends to marry the strength and smoothness of porcelain stoneware with the appearance of wood.
The tiles have a blend of patterns found in a variety of tree species, including larch, fir and pine, that have historically been used to cover Italian barn interiors.
"This new line, with all its endless shades, transfers the traditional charm of mountain chalets to interior design environments, instilling in every context a flicker of that distant warmth," said Ceramiche Refin.
The Cortina ceramic tile collection resembles wood The tiles are designed to look like authentic wooden planks and have similar markings to those that appear on wood that has been worn by time and weather.
The collection comes in four shades including Almond, a white colour; Honey, a warm yellowish shade; Natural, a hazelnut-based hue; and Tobacco, a brown shade.
It is the result of in-depth research into wood fibres carried out by the brand's research team, which travelled to northern Italy and worked closely with the local craftspeople in the Belluno area.
The team analysed the wooden boards found in traditional chalets, focusing on their use in luxury contexts, and developed an understanding of woodworking techniques.
The tiles have marks upon them to appear as though they...