'Outrageous' Outdoor Spaces Start with Ceramic Tile

<h2 style="margin: 10pt 0in 0pt"><font size="3" color="#990000">’Outrageous’ Outdoor Spaces Start with Ceramic Tile</font></h2><p><span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 200%; font-family: ‘Verdana’,’sans-serif’; letter-spacing: 1pt">(ARA) – The latest rage in home improvement is an ‘outrage’ – the new a.k.a. for the still-booming trend of expanding outdoor living spaces.</span></p><span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 200%; font-family: ‘Verdana’,’sans-serif’; letter-spacing: 1pt"><p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal">Long gone are the days when homeowners were satisfied with a simple deck, a beat-up grill and some basic patio furniture. The "Outrage" trend brings living rooms, baths, home spas, full kitchens and even meditation rooms into the great outdoors. Stone fireplaces, built-in grills, water features, multiple levels for patios and decks, hot tubs and even flat-screen TVs – all the luxurious appointments of indoor life are finding their way into outdoor environments.</p><p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal"> </p><div style="text-align: center"><object classid="clsid:D27CDB6E-AE6D-11cf-96B8-444553540000" codebase="http://download.macromedia.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab#version=6,0,29,0" width="425" height="282"><param name="movie" value="../images/banners/17a.swf" /><param name="quality" value="high" /><param name="menu" value="false" /><param name="wmode" value="" /><embed src="../images/banners/17a.swf" wmode="" quality="high" menu="false" pluginspage="http://www.macromedia.com/go/getflashplayer" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="425" height="282"></embed></object></div>  <p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal">Demand is high for building and decorating materials that blend luxury and beauty with durability and weather resistance. Appliances need to withstand climate changes and exposure to the elements. Furniture needs to be trendy, tasteful and able to stand up to Mother Nature. Flooring, in particular, must blend beauty and strength.</p>  <p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal">Ceramic tile, long favored for indoor areas that require a perfect balance of looks and durability, is emerging as a preferred outdoor building material. Ceramic tile transitions smoothly from indoor to outdoor living spaces, offering the ability to endure extreme temperature changes and other natural forces. Plus, new innovations in digital printing and gorgeously designed products from producers of Tile of Spain<span>  </span>make it a high design choice.</p>  <p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal">The "Outrage" lifestyle focuses on turning homes into a personal oasis. Ceramic tile reminds consumers of the luxurious experience they find in upscale spas and resorts, where ceramic tile is often the material of choice for common areas. What’s more, technological advances have produced tile that evokes the look of some very hot decorating trends.</p>  <p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal">For example, Tile of Spain manufacturer Apavisa makes a Lava series tile that resembles industrial poured concrete (an up-and-coming design look). Unlike concrete, however, the tile is resistant to extremes of heat and cold, won’t crumble or crack, and will look newly installed for years to come. The look is ideal for outdoor pools, hot tubs or cabanas.</p>  <p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal">Meditation rooms are cropping up in homes and offices around the world. Manufacturer Roca has developed a Zen tile that looks like the raked sand of an Asian garden. A perfect foundation for an outdoor retreat, the tile transitions easily indoors as the floor of a personal meditation sanctuary.</p><p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal"> </p><div style="text-align: center"><object classid="clsid:D27CDB6E-AE6D-11cf-96B8-444553540000" codebase="http://download.macromedia.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab#version=6,0,29,0" width="425" height="282"><param name="movie" value="../images/banners/17b.swf" /><param name="quality" value="high" /><param name="menu" value="false" /><param name="wmode" value="" /><embed src="../images/banners/17b.swf" wmode="" quality="high" menu="false" pluginspage="http://www.macromedia.com/go/getflashplayer" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="425" height="282"></embed></object></div>  <p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal">While decks remain a key component of the "Outrage" trend, environmental and durability concerns have homeowners looking for building materials other than wood. If a composite deck, made of recycled materials, isn’t to your liking, it’s possible to achieve the look of wood in a durable ceramic tile. Grespania’s Escandinavia series resembles wooden planks, grain and character included. Easy to maintain and clean, this tile delivers the charm and look of wood with the added environmental perk that no trees need be cut to create it.</p>  <p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal">For more ideas on how to incorporate ceramic tile into your "Outrageous" outdoor living space, visit www.spaintiles.info.</p>  <p><span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 200%; font-family: ‘Verdana’,’sans-serif’; letter-spacing: 1pt">Courtesy of ARAcontent</span></p></span><p><span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 200%; font-family: ‘Verdana’,’sans-serif’; letter-spacing: 1pt"></span></p>