Tile of Spain announces Coverings 2026 schedule

Las Vegas—Tile of Spain announced its schedule of events for Coverings 2026. The show will take place March 30–April 2 here at the Las Vegas Convention Center.

Tile of Spain will return to the Spanish Pavilion and continue its legacy of innovation, craftsmanship and design leadership. Nearly 60 Spanish manufacturers will showcase the latest ceramic tile trends, sustainability advancements and emerging technologies shaping the U.S. market.

At the center of the pavilion, Tile of Spain booth No. 645 will serve as a hub for inspiration, conversation and discovery throughout the four-day event.

Visitors can explore a range of programming, including a ceramic tile trends presentation, live podcast recordings and interactive mood board sessions. The pavilion will highlight Spanish culture, hospitality and design excellence while offering opportunities to connect and learn.

Event highlights

Interactive mood board station
Location: Tile of Spain booth No. 645
Time: March 30–April 2 during show hours
Attendees can create mood boards using ceramic tile from Spanish exhibitors. Participants can share designs on social media by tagging @tileofspainusa for a chance to be featured.

Global tile trends
Location: Room N250
Time: March 30 at 11 a.m.
Coverings will host its annual Global Tile Trends presentation. The session will focus on sustainability, timeless luxury, health and wellness and outdoor living while highlighting new technologies and design directions.

Podcast recording: “The Grout Line: Beneath the Surface mini-series”
Location: Tile of Spain booth No. 645
Times:
March 31 at 10:15 a.m. and 11:15 a.m.
April 1 at 11:30 a.m.
April 2 at 10 a.m.
Hosted by Ryan Fasan, the series will explore Spanish ceramics from technical, economic and design perspectives, including installation methods and innovation.

Tile of Spain Honors (invitation only)
Location: Tile of Spain booth No. 645
Time: March 31 at 4 p.m.
Tile of Spain and Spanish exhibitors will recognize the partnership between Spain and the U.S. ceramic tile industry. The event will feature tapas, refreshments and live music.

Showstoppers LIVE!
Location: Exhibitor booths throughout the Spanish Pavilion
Times:
March 31 at 12:15 p.m. and 2:30 p.m.
April 1 at 1:30 p.m.
Ryan Fasan will interview Spanish exhibitors on-site, highlighting trends, product innovations and key developments at Coverings 2026.

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Portobello America to debut Living Home concept at Coverings 2026

Las Vegas—Portobello America will debut its Living Home campaign at Coverings 2026. The company will also introduce a new lineup of intricately crafted surface collections.

The Living Home concept reflects the idea that spaces are alive and must adapt as people and environments change. The approach supports evolving routines while maintaining warmth, balance and authenticity.

Portobello America’s 2026 portfolio reflects its commitment to translating natural beauty into modern design and technology. The collection features a curated surface system with eight new collections and more than 200 surfaces. These are organized into three design narratives:

• The Natural Language of Nature: Surfaces inspired by nature with refined aesthetics and innovation-led finishes.

• Where Design Turns into Art: Collections that treat surfaces as compositions with contrast, tactility and detail.

• The Design that Belongs: Core collections designed for versatility and long-term use across applications.

The company is also expanding its system with a large mosaic program and three-dimensional relief profiles across all collections. These elements serve as architectural design tools that add texture, rhythm and visual depth.

A strong focus on small formats anchors the new system. These formats act as precision tools for designers and distributors. They allow for seamless mixing across collections and help create layered environments with controlled design outcomes.

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TCNA sets 2027 Handbook Committee Meeting

Dallas—The Tile Council of North America announced the 2027 TCNA Handbook Committee Meeting will take place June 4, 2026, here at the Hyatt Regency. The meeting will coincide with ASTM Committee Week in June, creating expanded opportunities for collaboration and engagement.

“Diverse, strong participation is essential for key decisions shaping the future of standards and guidelines,” said Ryan Marino, director of standards research and development, TCNA. “Coordinating the Handbook Committee meeting with ASTM Committee Week will drive greater participation and create opportunities for more industry leaders to contribute.”

The Handbook Committee Meeting brings together key industry stakeholders. They review and consider updates to the TCNA Handbook for Ceramic, Glass and Stone Tile Installation. Now in its 64th year of publication, the Handbook remains a widely used resource across the U.S. It supports the specifying, selling and installing of tile and related materials.

The meeting will include discussion and review of several proposed updates, including:

• Step-down shower assemblies

• Tile in elevator cabs

• Retroactive movement joint installation

• Additional topics submitted by attendees

ASTM committee meetings covering ceramic tile, cement, masonry and slip resistance will take place throughout the week of June 1. These sessions will give Handbook Committee participants the opportunity to engage in broader technical discussions and standards development.

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Rug opportunities abound for mills, dealers

The Stanton Studio selling system was designed to create opportunities for dealers to increase sales and margins through rug

It’s been said that no retail sales associate should let a hard surface sale go without mentioning the perfect accessory to complete that sale—a rug. Whether a traditional area rug or, more likely, one fabricated from broadloom, the chances are reasonably high the homeowner will add a rug or two during or after the purchase.

Carpet mills are well aware of this scenario and have been putting together programs to take advantage of this trend. The rollout of the Stanton Studio selling system in 2025 was one of the big introductions as it created opportunities for dealers to increase their sales and margins through the sale of rugs. “We have sold higher priced carpet from this for rooms and rugs,” said Doug Schuitema, merchandise manager, DeGraaf Interiors, Grand Rapids, Mich.

Others reported similar results. Carl French, partner at Speers Road Broadloom, Oakville, Ontario, Canada, said Stanton’s system allowed his customers to save time and money while shopping for the perfect stair runner or custom rug.

While not every supplier has a new selling system quite like Stanton’s, most offer custom-sized area rugs from broadloom. “Being able to size, shape and style rugs for specific rooms, stairs or spaces gives retailers and designers a powerful differentiator and often yields higher ticket sales,” said Jonathan Cohen, CEO of Stanton. “We see enormous opportunity in custom fabrication from broadloom, including oversized rugs, unique shapes and fully integrated stair solutions.”

Here’s a look at what other companies are doing.

Anderson Tuftex

Anderson Tuftex’s custom rug program offers customizable rugs that deliver the right fit for any space with choices in size, shape and binding. Any Anderson Tuftex carpet can be cut into rugs from a variety of shape options, including traditional sizes, octagons, U-shaped and stair runners with fully custom dimensions. The program features four-edge finish options: hidden edge, binding, serge and micro-serge.

Couristan is committed to bringing affordable luxury handmade area rugs back to its brick-and-mortar retail partners.

Couristan

Celebrating its 100th anniversary in 2026, Couristan has been a leader in the broadloom/rug business for decades. “We offer hundreds of different broadloom designs, which cover most interior styles,” said Len Andolino, president. “Our dealers can order the consumer a rug fabricated from our broadloom to any size and shape, and we can turn that rug around in a very short amount of time. That flexibility to the consumer is key. We like being able to say ‘yes, we can do that.’”

“We have returned to the original roots of our iconic company, which was founded in the handmade, hand-knotted area rug segment. 2026 will see the continuation of the transition we started a few years ago to return to the better-end handmade rug segment. We are committed to bringing affordable luxury handmade area rugs back to our brick-and-mortar retail partners.”

The Dixie Group

Though all TDG products are available for rugs, its decorative brands of 1866 by Masland and Décor by Fabrica lead the way. TDG has fully functioning rug fabrication workrooms in both East and West Coast facilities.

“We finish rugs with standard binding, serging, hand serging, custom backings, non-skid pads,” said T.M. Nuckols, president, residential division. “We can make any size shape or finish option work. Our dealer portal allows for instant and easy quoting of these rugs. Get your quote 24/7. Finish corner samples are available to show examples of the options to the retail customer. Our ultimate goal is to make buying a custom rug easy for our dealers and their consumers.”

Engineered Floors

While Engineered Floors does not have a custom rug program per se, it does offer rug options for its DW Select program in four set sizes (5 x 7, 6 x 9, 8 x 10 and 9 x 13). The company serges the carpet with the actual fiber in the product to match.

Karastan

Karastan launched its custom rug program, Made to Order Studio, recently. The studio encompasses all of Karastan’s products, including those in the popular Black Label collection. According to the company, this intuitive portal makes designing rugs easy and allows dealers to elevate their custom rug sales.

Some examples include taking shape options ranging from classic rectangles and squares to unique circles and ovals. Finishes allow dealers to choose between machine serging for a tight, colorful edge or poly binding for a minimalist finish. Rug pads can be included with either an attached or cut-to-size option to keep the rug in place and protect floors. Custom rugs are delivered in three to four weeks with status updates available approximately two weeks from order confirmation.

Tarkett Home lets users turn any carpet into a custom area rug through its exclusive Make the Cut program

Tarkett Home

Tarkett Home lets end-users turn any carpet from their collection into a custom area rug through its exclusive Make the Cut program.

“We launched this program in response to retailer demand,” said Megan Simmons, senior product manager – soft surface. “With all the hard surface in the home, consumers are turning to area rugs to add warmth, softness and texture to the floor. The program is easy; all customers need to do is select their carpet style, color and rug size and shape—and we take care of the rest.”

As a finishing touch, every Make the Cut rug is serged with a complementary color of yarn and features an attached non-skid backing. With a wide range of timeless and on-trend styles, Make the Cut custom rugs can add the character, color and dimension needed to complete any room.

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Showrooms that truly shine

It’s been said that “seeing is believing.” Look no further than flooring retail, where dazzling showroom design meets immersive experience. Turns out size does not matter as dealers are redefining store interiors with imaginative and easy-to-navigate layouts, innovative merchandising techniques and creative lighting that emphasize key focal points.

These “showrooms that shine” are not just selling floors—they’re inspiring customers with interior decorating ideas from the moment they walk in. FCNews rounded up six dealers whose locations exemplify these attributes.

Country Carpet
Syosset, N.Y.

Bringing interior decorating dreams to life

Country Carpet’s remodeled Syosset, N.Y., showroom is a master class in design elegance and functionality. The bright, open layout offers clear sight lines to every department, from plush luxury carpets and distinctive rugs to chic window treatments, wallpaper and designer furniture.

A separate hard surfaces showroom across a shared driveway showcases floors such as porcelain, tile, hardwood, resilient and natural stone—all unified by sleek displays with similar wood-veneer finishes.

The spacious showroom and visually appealing, thoughtfully curated design solutions create an inspiring atmosphere.

“The ‘wow’ factor is when you walk in as you can really see the entire showroom,” said Harris Cohen, owner. “You can see almost all the departments and displays, window treatments and fabric displays clearly.”

Thornton Flooring
Sioux Falls, S.D.

Shopping made easy and inspiring

Thornton Flooring’s sprawling 109,000-square-foot showroom, opened April 2024 at the Bakker Landing Development in Tea, S.D., makes shopping an experience. The layout, which showcases products like artwork on walls and features museum-style lighting, blends functionality, technology and comfort.

“Greeting customers is a big deal for us,” said Matt Thornton, owner. “We have a reception space located up front and use as much technology as we can in the facility.”

From café comforts to designer workspaces and visualization software, every detail supports the store’s “easy” theme and brings beauty, innovation and practicality together under one roof.

Custom displays, QR-coded 12 x 24-inch samples and floor space identified by product category make browsing seamless.

“We wanted a space that’s open, inviting and easy to navigate,” Thornton explained.

Nebraska Furniture Mart
Kansas City, Kan.

Bringing style, comfort (and BBQ) under one roof

Nebraska Furniture Mart’s new Kansas City, Kan., store is where home design meets hometown flavor. Inside, NFM’s reimagined flooring gallery turns browsing into inspiration, featuring vertically displayed carpet samples, warm lighting, modern fixtures and curated vignettes.

“Feedback from customers and sales associates alike indicates the space feels more like a design destination,” stated David Chambers, flooring director.

Organized by lifestyle needs and enriched with interactive digital tools, the space makes choosing flooring simple and stylish. The result: more engagement and faster purchasing decisions.

Adding flavor to the shopping experience is the smoky goodness of Blind Box BBQ, a modern twist on Kansas City’s classic barbecue, and the Pressed Pig, a full-service coffee shop and café, both nestled conveniently inside the store.

USA Flooring
Raleigh, N.C.

Smart design makes a lasting impression

Since its founding in 1972, USA Flooring aimed to bridge the concepts of a flooring outlet with that of a full-service store. The Raleigh, N.C., location, opened last June, embraces a similar philosophy as it immerses customers in design inspiration and shopping ease.

Natural light floods the open layout, highlighting curated vignettes and illuminated displays, creating a “wow” factor while supporting product selections.

Customers can gain interior design ideas by viewing product installations, ranging from tile and acoustic wall paneling to cabinets, countertops and carpets.

Balance and practicality are achieved by keeping displays accessible and uncluttered, so it’s easy for customers to browse and compare flooring choices.

“We want people to feel inspired the second they walk in,” said Kris Lloyd, president. “Going forward, we’ll keep updating displays and introducing new product lines as trends change.”

Artisan Floors & Interiors
Cape May Court House, N.J.

Blending function and flair

When you step into Artisan Floors and Interiors, an Abbey dealer, it feels more like entering an art gallery than a flooring store. The sleek, 24 x 48-inch porcelain tile floor guides visitors through open aisles framed by strategically placed walls, offering a full 360-degree view of flooring, tile, kitchen and bath designs.

Expansive front windows flood the showroom with natural light, while ceiling spotlights highlight textures and colors of featured products.

“We wanted beautiful, unimpeded sightlines and a clean, modern layout,” said Paul La Torre, owner.

Since moving into the building in October 2021, Artisan earned rave reviews—including a 2025 gold medal in the Best of Jersey Shore Awards for best carpet and flooring store.

“Nine out of 10 people say it’s one of the best showrooms they’ve ever been to,” said Jeff Morgan, operations manager.

Yoder & Co. Floors
Columbus, Ohio

Where less is more in showroom design

For more than 25 years in the heart of Columbus, Ohio, Yoder & Co. Floors stood tall among big-box and large flooring retailers by focusing on thoughtful and customer-friendly showroom design.

Owners Sheldon and Julie Yoder, whose store is a member of the Shaw Flooring Network, worked with Shaw and an interior designer to create a layout for their 3,000-plus-square-foot showroom, which turns simplicity into a competitive edge.

The showroom features a strategic flow, balanced lighting and accessible worktables where customers can explore samples with ease. Carpet, wood and vinyl plank areas are neatly organized with premium products showcased in high-traffic zones.

“We wanted a space that feels open, calm and easy to shop,” Sheldon Yoder said. “We get a lot of comments about how easy it is to shop and how the showroom is inviting.”

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MILEstone to debut Daydream tile collection at Coverings 2026

Nicole Jordan

Las Vegas—MILEstone will unveil Daydream, a new porcelain tile collection developed in collaboration with Nicole Jordan, design director at PBK Architects in Houston.

The collection marks the fourth installment of the company’s Stories designer collaboration series. Daydream will debut March 30 at Coverings 2026 in Las Vegas.

Stories by MILEstone aims to highlight voices within the American design community through designer-led collections. Each chapter translates a designer’s ideas into a porcelain tile series that reflects the company’s focus on craftsmanship, sustainability and design storytelling.

Jordan brings experience across several sectors including civic workplace aviation and education design. Her work emphasizes equitable and inclusive design principles. Her approach also focuses on wellness safety and flexibility. Those ideas helped shape the vision behind the Daydream collection.

Jordan drew inspiration from biophilic design. The concept explores the connection between nature and the built environment. The resulting collection reflects a calm and balanced aesthetic. The porcelain surfaces aim to bring harmony and tranquility to interior and exterior spaces.

Daydream also joins MILEstone’s carbon-neutral product portfolio. The company said the collection reflects the beauty of natural environments while minimizing environmental impact.

The Stories program originated through MILEstone’s Design Advisory Council. The group includes designers selected for their influence within the American design community.

Each year council members submit collection concepts for consideration. MILEstone selects one concept to develop with its design team.

Previous Stories collaborations include Jennifer Farris of Bandura Design for the Bestow collection, Michele McMinn of Gresham Smith for the Imprint collection and Sarah Rink of Design Cooperative for the Untamed collection.

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Tuesday Tips: The power of silence

Dalton—The World Floor Covering Association (WFCA) released a new “Tuesday Tips” this week. In the series, WFCA experts present short video tips for improving customer service and optimizing staff performance. In the end, it’s all about understanding the importance of doing 100 things just 1% better than your competition.

In this week’s Tuesday Tips, Tom Jennings shares a simple but powerful reminder: slow the conversation down. One of the most effective ways to respond productively when working with customers is to become comfortable with silence.

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