The latest in marble look ceramics from CRL Stone comes in MDi (Minerals, Design, innovation) surfaces from Spanish company Inalco, available exclusively from CRL in the UK.
These 20mm thick large format (1600mm x 3200mm) slabs are said to be eco-friendlier, thanks to water-based inks and glazes, the use of 35-45% recycled materials and 100% re-use of water, saving up to 10million litres of it a year (compared with using it once only). Nearly all the waste involved in its manufacture is also recycled.
Inalco is in Alcora, a Spanish town with a long tradition of making pottery and made particularly famous by the Royal Porcelain & Pottery Factory that opened there in the 18th century.
The body of the MDi material colour matches the surface decoration to provide visual continuity, while the veining is on the sides as well as the surfaces.
CRL Stone says its new products, produced exclusively for it by Inalco, respond to the trend for nature-inspired surfaces in kitchen design with “beautiful, bold patterning” that “exudes a timeless elegance that enables the surface to integrate seamlessly into any setting”.
In fact, says CRL, all the advantages that make the surface so suitable for use in the kitchen also make it ideal for use in bathrooms and outside.
Style-wise, creating a monochrome effect in the modern home is just one of its possibilities. The intense white background meets deep, bold, contrasting veining that looks stunning over large areas of worktops and splashbacks. But it can also be used in conjunction with contrasting shades to move up a gear.
