Whether you’re revamping your home with a new look or starting from scratch, the marble look is timeless.
Marble is the epitome of luxury, creating a beautiful finish to any room with beautiful swirls in shades of earthy reds, chocolate, and grey. Deciding between natural marble or man-made tile can be a conundrum, but when it comes to price, look and longevity, porcelain tile is hard to beat. For a wise investment, John Ryan from Tonic Tile Lounge suggests using tiles instead of traditional marble: “Tiles are more cost effective and durable, meaning they’re easy to maintain without compromising on style.” Over the years, advancements in technology have made it possible to manufacture tiles that look exactly like marble but are much more durable than natural stone. Tonic Tile Lounge’s biggest supplier, Imola, has been manufacturing ceramics for nearly 150 years. The tiles achieve a natural, authentic look marbling through a unique manufacturing process known as dry-fix technology.
As part of the manufacturing process, a machine distributes quartz powder on strategic areas of the tiles to create the stone veins and brilliancy of marble, giving it a depth not previously achieved.
John unreservedly believes tiles are the superior choice: “The fact is that through this new technology, you can achieve the same top-end marble appearance without breaking the bank.
“Tiles are less expensive to buy, manage, handle and install and unlike natural stone or marble, are not porous and do not require ongoing maintenance,” explains John.
With tiles available in big formats (1200mm x 2400mm and 1600 x 3200mm) they are not only amazing for showers to avoid grout lines, but also utilised as bench tops and splash backs.
Natural marble is formed over millions of years. Marble can be a softer, porous material meaning it’s prone to stains and therefore requiring ongoing care and protection to retain the lustre and beauty.
The non-porous nature of tiles mean there is no need for sealing or refinishing.
“Tiles will stand the test of time, will be more friendly on the budget and will look amazing well beyond your expectations,” says John.
Tonic Tile Lounge is a New Zealand owned and operated business that is Aotearoa’s purveyor of exclusive European tiles. The boutique designer showroom is based at 254 Richmond Road Grey Lynn, (next to Homage and Bauhaus).