Art, Fired Earth & Stone Tiles

WEDNESDAY WEARABLE ART

2010-07-07T07:00:00.000-07:00

I don't think this outfit will ever show up on a red carpet, but it should!!! Absolutely amazing wearable art that is made from porcelain fragments from the Ming and Qing dynasties by artist Li Xiaofeng from China.

He cuts each piece to size, polishes the edges, drills tiny holes and laces all the pieces together with silver wire. If you live in earthquake country, like I do in California, next time you find your china on the floor here is something to create besides a mosaic table top for the back yard.

His works have been displayed at Virginia Miller Galleries in Florida. Visit them online at virginiamiller.com for more information.

WEDNESDAY WEARABLE ART

2010-06-30T06:00:00.000-07:00

"Bold, rich and unique" is how many clients describe BonTon Handmade Tile. Based in Minneapolis, Mary Anderson created a line of ceramic tile with exclusive hand mixed glazes. All tiles are made to order custom designs using old world techniques. Tile styles include: Art Deco, Art Nuevo, Contemporary and Traditional. For more information on tiles or purses, go to BonTondesigns.com.

I love the designs of her purses. Just like Mary's tile designs they are fresh and unique works of art.

So for handbag aficionado's here are some new choices for you.

Love the look of purple/blue mosaic with a deco from Landmark Metalcoat (landmarkmetalcoattile.com). There are many more to choose from, so please visit BonTon Handmade Tile at their website or Facebook Fan Site. Prepare to add BonTon to your list of suppliers for that bathroom renovation that you've planned for the future!!!

For kitchen and bath designers, here's a new way to advertise your business whenever anyone asks about your purse!! Happy Wednesday and visit the BonTon FB fan page and boost them over their 400 fan goal by 4th of July.

TILE TUESDAYS AT DWELL

2010-06-29T07:00:00.000-07:00

New patterns in either ceramic or concrete or both can be found at ogassian.com. The organic flow from walls to floors with the same design in different sizes and materials is stunning. The design concepts of Daniel Ogassian are individual works of art for those searching for that bold expressive signature.

The architectural impact on an indoor or outdoor wall of this cast concrete pattern is amazing. Paired with hexagonal flooring in cast concrete in the same 16" size, or even larger hexs would be such a unique custom look. Blend the concrete or ceramics into your choice of colors.

Add a concrete cast sink in the same or complementary color and you have an unforgettable combination for yourself or your client. A Los Angeles based artisan, Daniel Ogassian also designs furniture.

DWELL ON DESIGN

2010-06-28T11:16:00.000-07:00

Enjoyed my visit to the Dwell on Design Show at the LA Convention Center. Since this show was all about sustainability, I honored the adventure with a ride on three subway lines to get there.

The first Heath Ceramics pattern is Little Diamond Mix shown in Campari Red, Paprika and New Chamois.

I've always love the visual effect of this pattern from ancient times until now. Roman artisans worked this pattern below into a church floor.

Found some great new layout patterns by Heath Ceramics called Dwell Patterns. Heath believes modern design can be functional and expressive, bold and organic.

This is a Wide Hex Twist shone in Canvas Sage and Vanilla Bean. There are very few patterns for pickets and I love this twist. If used for a kitchen back splash or bathroom wall it would be fun to cut a few pieces of milk glass or mother of pearl to occasionally drop in for layered texture and reflections. Go to heathceramics.com for more tiles and patterns.

Another favorite find at the show were these great wall pouches. Vertical walls on a roof top garden or patio walls can be used for cooking herbs or flowers bring a whole new look to outdoor art. For more ideas and products have some fun at rootpouch.com.

NEW PRODUCTS

2010-06-03T08:00:00.000-07:00

I love finding new products that make your life easier. Using Laticrete's epoxy grout was the only way to have a stain resistant grout and generally no need to re-seal, bad news was that it is gritty and clean up with vinegar made it impossible to use on marble or travertine and it's inflexibility ruled out using it with glass. That leaves ceramic, porcelains and some granite tiles. Now there appears to be a new product that is a lot more versatile.

Doing some research into GroutBoost and would like some feedback, especially with my Facebook friends who are in the stone business. I know everyone has a favorite brand of grout and this is an additive that you use instead of water and can be mixed with Laticrete, Custom, Mapei or Tec. Do you get the consistency that you want when it's mixed? Does it clean up with water well? Has anyone used it with slate or sandstone? My favorite sealer is Bulletproof by StoneTech but it's not on GroutBoost's approved list so I'm wondering why. I prefer to use products that I know won't change the look of the stone and that one is a personal favorite. Hopefully GroutBoost has been out long enough that someone is a real fan or did you try it once and decide it's not for you? Please let me know.

TILE TUESDAYS

2010-06-01T08:00:00.000-07:00

The fun of making lots of new friends on Facebook allows me to see new products (at least they are new to me) that are amazing. I love the pottery and tiles that come from this factory near Naples, Italy. May just be the excuse I need to visit the Amalfi Coast for the first time in years!! Romeo Cuomo's factory hand paints with such beautiful colors that making a choice is going to be almost impossible!! You can find Romeo on Facebook or go to his website http://www.officinaceramica.com. The ceramic infused lava-stone tables will dress up any patio, breakfast room or sidewalk bistro!!

There are so many sizes, shapes and patterns to choose from for the tables... I honestly can't pick just one as a favorite!! Poppies, lemons, oranges, sunflowers... The same is true for the dinnerware or tiles!! Check them out and find something special for your clients.

MEMORIAL DAY MONDAY

2010-05-31T22:14:00.000-07:00

On Memorial Day I'd like to spend some time celebrating a few generations of service in my family.

My great-great great grandfather Keen served under Old Fuss and Feathers Winfield Scott during the Indian Wars. General Scott was later the Secretary of War at the beginning of the Civil War.

My great great grandfather Winfield Scott Keen was a drummer boy in the Civil War. Taken prisoner toward the end of the war he spent several months in Andersonville Prison before returning home to finish school, marry, move to California in a covered wagon and have a family.

Great Grandfather Joseph Burke didn't have a war to serve in and instead served as the sole assemblyman from Orange County around 1913. It was a time of strawberries and orange groves in Orange County and very few people.

My grandfather, Russell Burke was a sailor in World War I. Luckily for him he never made it out of San Diego. He lived to watch the Dodgers and play golf and had his first hole in one at the age of 80.

My dad, Gene Clarke, passed away last month at 87. He was a proud member of the Naval Air Force and was a gunner in VPB 146, he's on the far right. He rarely spoke about it until after his retirement and Baa Baa Black Sheep re-runs were on TV in the 80's. The aviators from TV and my dad's squadron were in the same theater and he began to tell some of the stories of his days on the real islands in the South Pacific rather than the fake ones in the Channel Islands! It took 52 years and an act of Congress and they were finally given their air medals aboard the USS Kitty Hawk by Vice-Admiral Bennitt.

To the hero's in my family, I salute all of you!!! Thank you for your service in creating this country, preserving our country and bringing peace to the world.

CHANGE YOUR CLOCKS, CLEAN YOUR STONE FLOORS

2010-03-15T11:59:00.000-07:00

Since it's automatic to change all of your clocks and the batteries in your smoke alarms every year at this time also check out your stone and tile. If you have marble, limestone or travertine floors it is time to have them professionally cleaned and re-sealed. I'm reminded of story several years ago when a bank manager called from Chicago about the dark, ugly stains on his limestone floor. Bank customers came in from the snowy outdoors with salt on their shoes and there was a huge stain spreading under the free standing counter where they stopped to fill out their paperwork. For some reason the bank manager didn't think stone floors needed to be regularly cleaned and re-sealed and the floor had been down for four years! A stone cleaning professional was called in and he removed the stain, cleaned and re-sealed the limestone and gave the regular cleaning crew valuable tips on how to maintain the floors. Needless to say, the bank now has a yearly appointment with professionals for cleaning and resealing.

When cleaning your stone floors, vacuum first and then mop with a mild stone soap. I like to use steamers, they use less water, clean very well and dry faster.

There are several ways to check your counters and grout. With a slightly damp sponge, squeeze out some water drops on your stone counters or floors. If the water beads up, your seal is holding, if the water is absorbed into your stone it's time to re-seal. In the shower or tile counters if the water darkens the grout, it's time to re-seal.

Attention Commuters: Stop to Enjoy the Tiles

2010-01-29T20:00:00.000-08:00

By BEN GOLDBERGER

Published: January 29, 2010

The city’s latest effort to liven the drudgery of commuting as part of its Arts in Transit program was unveiled at the Belmont C.T.A. station on Thursday.

José Moré/Chicago News Cooperative

Tiled mosaics at the Belmont C.T.A.station on Thursday

David Csicsko, a Lakeview artist, designed the tiled mosaic mural of bright, multicolored faces riding the train that stretches across the main staircase of the hub for the Red, Brown and Purple Lines.

Mr. Csicsko said his idea was “to really make it about diversity and celebrating all of the people who come in and out of this station.”

He said he also found room on the mural for depictions of his dog, President Obama at age 8 and “the Goddess of Belmont, who watches over all the club kids as they do crazy things at night.”

Most commuters passed by, oblivious, but Kasey Dieb, 17, a Lane Tech student, said the mosaics made the station “much more welcoming.”

José Moré/Chicago News Cooperative

David Csicsko, a Lakeview artist, designed the tiled mosaic mural that stretches across the main staircase of the hub for the Red, Brown and Purple lines.

AZUL MARY

2009-12-10T09:43:00.000-08:00

Found this new onyx slab called Azul Mary, amazing gray with brown and gold accents. Wonderful in a bathroom to go with so many gold or gray stones for the floors and walls. Glass accents in all the colors of the slab would make this a stunning addition to any home.

THE GOOD, THE BAD AND THE UGLY OF LAS VEGAS STONE - PART 2

2009-12-09T13:53:00.000-08:00

This was the first time that I had visited the Wynn and the Wynn Encore and to be perfectly honest I was not impressed with the floors. They seemed schizophrenic to me, the mosaics were modern and the marble surrounding them was classic. It looks indecisive, if you wanted to go modern, do that, and if you want the classic look, go there.

The overall look fails when you add in all of the wall treatments and lighting, nothing makes it's own statement when the flooring is so confused. If you used a solid marble without the surrounding grid lines the mosics would pop out and be interesting. The yellow grids pull your eyes away from the mosaics which adds to the lack of clarity of an overall vision.

This cafe demonstrates the confusion in the design vision. I understand that in Vegas, the casinos only make money when poeple are gambling and so you don't want them taking leisurely breaks. So the fact that this cafe is so jumbled may be on purpose, I just find it visually uncomfortable. Cues for the design should come from the modern mosaics in the back because that is your initial sight line as you walk by, the iron base tables work with the mosaics but not the red and cream fabric cane chairs. Red leather and black iron chairs would blend with both the mosiacs and the lighting giving the whole room a pulled together look and would be far more inviting for a drink or snack before heading back to the tables.

The new Wynn is the same look the only difference seems to be the butterflies instead of flowers. I realize that massive amounts of planning, installation costs and heart went into the design of the Wynn Casinos. I just think it fell short of what could have been done in the common areas. The rooms, suites, restaurants, nightclubs and bars all have their own unique visions and I'm not including those in this critique.

I'm just still trying to figure out what came first, the rugs or the mosaics? That's my chicken and egg question for the week!!

TILE TUESDAYS - NADEAU COLLECTION

2009-12-02T00:07:00.000-08:00

Recently I came across a new source for custom mosaics in Phoenix, Arizona. The animal print tiles are my favorite find in a long time. What a great way to accent a bathroom or dressing room and carry the print into fabrics or floor coverings.

The options of using a mosaic like this are endless, you could do one entire wall and the other walls with white or black subway, square or long modern tiles and insert liners of the matching zebra. The surrounding floor or countertops can be black absolute or white thassos depending on the architectural choices that you made in the rest of your house.

Another choice of the animal prints is the cheetah, this is a softer look and can be mixed with gold or noce travertine or black Brazillian slate tiles or slabs. You can keep finishes honed or mix it up a little with polished black granite or polished Jerusalem Gold.

Any pattern can be made in any stone you may choose and the lead time is less than the shipping time from any foreign port. Visit http://thenadeaucollection.com/ for more information.

THE GOOD, THE BAD AND THE UGLY OF LAS VEGAS STONE

2009-12-01T12:05:00.000-08:00

Recently I visited Las Vegas and found some beautiful uses of stone and some that were less than appealing. The Red Rock Casino won my personal award for the best use of stone. The designers and installers have every resource at their fingertips and usually a decent budget so I hope to see some great work. The use of onyx in the back bar is beautiful and backlighting really shows off the stone.

To incorporate this into your own home bar, you can use tube lighting under the bar top. I have also seen kitchen islands done in onyx that were lit from underneath, what a beautiful way to have shimmering light at night. Just remember that onyx is very soft and scratches easily, I would never reccomend using it on the floor unless it was tumbled material.

This quartzite table makes an interesting architectural statement. The top is polished and the underlighting picks up the mica flecks in the stone. This piece is incredibly heavy so the choice for leg supports is really important. I think that this kind of design poolside for a bar or island for your outdoor kitchen would be a unique look as no stone would be the same. For pool landscaping, quartizite is avalable in tiles, random flagstone and pool coping, the good news is that quartzite does not retain heat like some other stones which makes it perfect for the outdoors.

More later on the Good, the Bad and the Ugly of Las Vegas Stone.

STONE TILE FINISHES - PART 2

2009-11-16T06:16:00.000-08:00

LIGHT CHISEL - Used primarily for exterior cladding on buildings and landscape walls. Could be used at the lower part of a building or column and honed or bush-hammered for the upper part. Another choice would be for interior walls adding texture to the same stone used on a honed floor.

HEAVY CHISEL - Also know as pineapple finish for it's resemblance to the skin of that fruit. Mostly used for exterior building cladding and landscape wall applications. This is a great choice for the back of a fountain, the flowing water down the heavy chisel is wonderful.

SPLIT LINE - On a rough surface, lines are etched into the stone. A modern look can be created by installing the stone with the lines on the vertical.

SPLIT FACE - The Getty Museum is an example of split face and honed travertine. Over 108,000 square meters of Classic Roman travertine from the Lippiello family quarry at Bagni di Tivoli were used at the Getty Center. The Roman Coliseum was clad in travertine from the same area, you can visualize the huge Coliseum clad in brilliant stone when you look at the Getty Center perched on the hillside. When a stone is split along its natural bedding plane the backs of the stone vary in thickness and make intallation impossible. In order to create a uniform thickness, an automated guillotine was created by Mariotti to cut the backs off the stone. The honed tiles on the ground are actually the backs of the split-faced wall cladding.

TUMBLED - Travertine is the most common stone that is tumbled. Backsplashes are painted on tumbled Botticino or Crema Marfil marble, so sometimes a match of the material is more of a design choice. Double thick pieces are placed in a cement mixer with rocks to knock off the sharp edges. The tumbled pieces are sawn in half to make the tiles. Some of the pieces are left intact and used as pavers. The travertine tiles are full of holes which is the nature of the stone, however, these holes are filled with grout. Because of the breakage in the tumbling process the larger tiles of 18" X 18" are hard to find and expensive. I don't recommend tumbled travertine on the floor, especially in high traffic areas, the grout fills are soft, can crack and then fill up with dirt. The maintainance may outweigh the design choice in the short run. Tumbled is fine for walls and backsplashes.

STONE TILE FINISHES - PART 1

2009-11-15T19:35:00.000-08:00

POLISHED - The most common factory finish for marble and granite, some limestone, travertine and quartzite. The marble and granite are buffed to a high gloss finish. Travertine is softer and very few will hold a high gloss finish and will show traffic patterns over time. Quartzite has a few colors that can be polished and some come in solid surface slabs in addition to the tiles. It takes twice as many buffing machines to polish granite as opposed to marble. (Photo is polished silver shine quartzite.)

HIGH HONE - Finish between polished and honed. Found on travertine, limestone and quartzite. Not a high reflective polish but more reflective than honed.

HONED - Smooth dull finish available on tiles and some slabs. Some clients don't like the shine of granite and honing the stone may make the counter top surface more acceptable. Honed black granite is a softer look than the polished and is perfect for arts and crafts decor. Polished would be perfect for traditional or modern. Honed granite can sometimes appear dusty, always have a small piece honed before you make a final decision. Limestone and travertine are most commonly produced honed. Brazillian slate comes in both tiles and slabs in a smooth honed finish.

SAWN - Diamond saws are used to cut the stone, in a sawn finish the raw saw teeth marks are left in the stone. The best examples of sawn finishes are found on the back side of slabs. If the stone went through the next step with polishing heads the stone would be honed.

NATURAL CLEFT - Slate and quartzite come in natural cleft. Both should be sealed before grouting, it will save hours of cleanup time. Natural cleft if great for outdoor patios and pool areas. Quartzite does not hold heat the same way that slate does so pool areas stay cooler underfoot. Slate is not recommended for outdoors in snow or freezing temperatures it has a tendency to flake off the surface. Natural cleft slate comes in lots of thicknesses from 1/4" to 1". Gauged slate is where the back is ground down and ranges in thickness from 3/8" to 5/8". You pay more for the Gauged, but it is much easier and cheaper to install than the natural. Flagstone can also be included under natural cleft, the difference is the irregular shape of the pieces as opposed to the tiles. Flagstone comes in crates that cover 200 to 240 square feet.

BRUSHED - Factory finish where course wire rotary brushes are used on stone to slightly dig out some areas. This is also know as an antique finish as it resembles the wear patten on old reclaimed stone. The limestone shown on right is Jerusalem Gold.

ACID WASH - Muriatic acid is used in different strengths to wash the stone. The acid dissolves crystal veins and soft spots on the face of the stone creating an antique finish very similar to the brushed. I've found this process to be most effective with Crema Marfil, Emperador Light and Dark and Rojo Alicante.

BUSH-HAMMERED - A mechanical hammer hits the stone's face to create a dimpled surface. Textures will vary from very subtle to rough. Bush-hammered surfaces are used as building cladding, outdoor floors for non-slip finishes and interior textured walls.Combining finishes in the same stone or similar ones will build textures into your designs; honed floors, bush-hammered steps and split faced walls will change the direction of your room's design from ordinary to spectacular. Slab edge finishes can also be three dimentional, chiseled edges on honed solid surfaces can maintain a rustic look for a commercial lobby or residential outdoor kitchen.

SANDBLASTED - There are several grades of sandblasting available from light to heavy. Sandblasted granite can make a beautiful fountain with water rippling down the rough surface. If granite was used outside or in a lobby area with pedestrian traffic where slipping was an issue, sandblasting the stone could fix the problem. Re-seal with an enhancing sealer and the color should come back up in the stone. I've seen sandblasted counters on outdoor and indoor kitchens to remove the gloss of polished granite. I always recommend that you have sample pieces done to make sure you are happy with your fininsh choice. Work with your fabricator and/or designer to get samples of different finishes.

FLAMED - The most interesting flamed stone is Jerusalem Gold, which when flamed turns pink with gold undertones. This is another finish for granite that creates a rough texture that makes granite slip resistant. If slabs are badly scratched, flaming will make them usable for outdoor applications or cladding. Flaming may not work on standard 3/8th" tiles, they have a tendency to crack under the heat, it is best to use this on slabs. This is also known as a thermal finish. To have this finish on tiles they should be purchased that way from the supplier, factory or quarry.

JERUSALEM STONE

2009-11-03T12:47:00.000-08:00

Jerusalem Stone in all of it's various shades and finishes is one of the most versatile limestones to use for both interior and exterior floors and walls. On the top level of the quarry is the bone colors moving down to the gold and then the grey. Combining the colors is easy as they blend together so well. The tiny fossils found in all the stones add to their movement and character. Working with well supplied distributors will make it easy to use split face on the walls and match a chiseled edge pattern on the floor. Stones from the same quarry will also allow you to match solid surface slabs and wall treatments.

The bone color is a warm beige with hints of gold and grey. This particular stone may not work for a modern look as the most common look is a chipped edge or brushed finish. The only way to make this a more modern look is with straight edge cuts and modern shapes, bricks laid on the vertical or thinner elongated pieces in an edgier pattern. The other way to create a more modern vibe is with the use of glass or metal or both in the design. When figuring out the overall design of your kitchens and bathrooms have several favored choices of wood stain chips with you when you shop in order to visualize your final project. Jerusalem Bone is available in various shades and other names are Hebron Fossil Cream or White, Jerusalem Cream, Pearl and Karina.

The most popular color choice of the Jerusalem limestones is the gold. Ranging in hue from light to dark it a a perfect blend with many wood stain colors and granite counter tops. Most of the Jerusalem limestones cannot be highly polished but should have a high hone if you want a shiny finish. The tiles are available in many sizes from 4" to 36." The larger tiles will become thicker as the size increases. The smaller tiles will be 3/8" and the large 36" tiles could be up to 3/4" thick. Antique reclaimed pieces could be up to 1" deep. When doing a renovation make sure what depth the butting floors are before deciding what tile size you may choose. Thresholds can be made from leftover slab pieces at your fabricator. Different shades of Jerusalem Gold are Cannan Gold, Antique Gold, Ramon Gold, Benjamin Gold, Galil, Halila and Hebron Gold. If you are buying from several sources make sure that you get samples of the suppliers latest shipment in order to match not only the colors but also the type of veining.

The grey Jerusalem Stones weren't widely used in the US until the late 1970's when the limestone was used for building cladding. The movement in the stone was more interesting than local materials. In Jerusalem the buildings are made from the gold and bone hues, the grey is not widely used for exteriors giving a price break for those early buildings. The Jerusalem quarries foresee at least another 100 years of supply. Recently archaeologists believe that they have discovered the original quarry from before the time of the Romans that the stones of the wailing wall were cut from.

The Benjamin Grey and Ramon Grey compliment the Carrara marble that was shown in earlier posts. The Gold limestones blend very well with the Calacatta Gold.

There is also a salmon colored Jerusalem stone available. The pink stone is created when the gold limestone is flamed. More on finishes later. My favorite place to shop is with Abe Judah at Jerusalem-stone.com they have an incredible selection of tiles, sinks, slabs and trim pieces.

TILE TUESDAYS -- MICHELLE GRIFFOUL STUDIOS

2009-10-20T23:59:00.000-07:00

Michelle Griffoul is a third generation artisan working with bronze and creates amazing clay tiles that range from an underwater shower experience to a coffee cup backsplash all of which have that little bit of wimsey.

One of my favorite items to include in a shower was a fish or critter on the floor near the drain. Just something to give the homeowner a chuckle before starting their day.

From Michelle's web site, which I recommend visiting, is her bio below and lots of ideas for unique ways to make your home special. http://www.michellegriffoul.com/

"For over thirty years, Michelle Griffoul has thrown, pushed rolled, torn, pit fired, raku fired, high fired, low fired, sun baked, flocked, painted and otherwise stretched the acknowledged limits of clay. The consummate clay artist, she is a classically trained potter with the eye of a painter and the production skills and sensibilities of a manufacturing engineer.

While receiving her B.A. and M.F.A. in ceramics, she spent a year at the International School of Ceramics in Florence, Italy. Through numerous gallery shows and public art commissions, Michelle became recognized as a master of the ceramic arts. This led to the creation of her current ceramic tile design and production studio.

With her sense of design and glazing techniques, Michelle continues to surprise clients by breaking through the traditional boundaries of tile."

I love her critters and placed them in showers, patios and bathroom floors for that little extra touch.

Michelle's bronze line is well priced and comes in several different colors to blend with fixtures and stone choices. They are solid metal from a lost wax process that was taught from one generation to the next and Michelle shares the beautiful results with all of us. Any of her clay pieces can be ordered in a huge range of colors so next time you want to really have some fun and let your playful side out, visit Michelle Griffoul Studios.

LAGOS AZUL & LAGOS GOLD

2009-10-19T23:30:00.000-07:00

Lagos Azul is known by two other names: Nova Blue and Lagos Blue. Lagos Azul is from the lower part of the quarry and Lagos Gold is the upper level of the quarry. It's not unusual to have bits of Lagos Gold in your Lagos Azul slabs and visa versa. The quarry for this stone is in Spain.

This is a beautiful limestone that blends well with any of the Carrara region marbles that I talked about last week. There are many trim pieces available, from pencils, crown molding to 5" baseboards that can also be used around a shower dam. Lagos Azul and Lagos gold both come in 2cm and 3cm slabs for counter top material or bathroom walls. The Lagos Azul tiles come in 12", 16" and 24." Sometimes you can find an 18" tile but the 16" is more common. There are also mosaics available in 3/8" and 1/2" and bricks that are 3" x 6".

There are many insert and back splash mosaic designs that can be also be used in the floor. Walker Zanger has several borders that include both Carrara and Lagos Azul in the design. There are also hexagons that are perfect for the floor of the shower or can be used as a rug insert on the floor. There are so many straight edges in a bathroom that it's nice to add a curve or a hexagon to change things up and soften all the sharp edges. If you are working with a master bedroom suite with dressing rooms you can use the Lagos Azul as counter top material in the closets.

Another option that gives a different look to the bath is to use the Lagos Gold in combination with the Calacatta Oro. The two stones complement each other very well. I've always found that natural stone colors seem to enhance each other differently with other stones rather than tile. The slab material of Lagos Gold can be used for wall cladding or shower walls. It's a sunny look with the Calacatta Oro. Lagos Gold tiles can found in 12" and 16."

Lagos Gold and Lagos Azul will also make a beautiful checkerboard floor for an entry or kitchen floor. The Lagos Azul baseboard is a stunning finish to the project.

There are also intricate circular medallions that are made with Lagos Azul, Lagos Gold and Calacatta. These medallions can be used for entry ways, hall ways or bathroom floors. Medallions are not recommended for shower floors.

The biggest problem with stone is the different thicknesses during your design phase. Tiles that are 24" can be 1/2" to 3/4" thick, so if you want the larger tiles you have to look at the level of the hardwood floor or carpet you are butting up against. Sometimes the use of a stone threshold can solve the height difference and your fabricator can make one for you.

Some of my sources do not recommend using Lagos Azul or Gold outdoors as it cracks over time when exposed to heat and cold. This is another stone that you need to visually match up your pieces as the grey and gold ranges can go from very light to dark. If you are using the internet or are ordering from a distance pay for sample from the current batch to be sent to you.

BIANCO GIOIA & STATUARY WHITE

2009-10-16T05:55:00.000-07:00

There are several more slab choices from the Carrara region and the following two are readily available. The first is Bianco Gioia, a white background with the veining of a Carrara. This is a great choice for bathrooms, it's a softer look than the more dramatic Calacatta and in a honed finish can be stunning when blended with glass and touches of metal. The metals you choose as liners or deco pieces should match the fixtures and hardware throughout the bathroom or kitchens. One of my favorite places to shop for metal is Landmark Metal Tile, their website is moving and will be back up soon at http://www.landmarkmetaltile.com/. The metal is an overlay on light weight material so it will not rust and can be used in the shower. They have about 20 colors to choose from in several different finishes. Their tiles range in size from 1" to large decos for back splashes and lots of trims to choose from.

If your bathroom renovation is on the second floor you should hire a structural engineer to find out how much weight you can add before you slab an entire shower. A cubic foot of marble weights 144 lbs, two shower walls could add 1000 lbs, add in the floor materials, counter top and tub surround, that's a ton of material, literally.

Another slab choice is Statuary White or Statuario, this is the quarry that gave birth to so many beautiful white statues of the past. When they find a block with very little veining it is put aside for the sculptors.

This slab guarantees that your island will be a focal point and complements any stainless appliances. The surrounding counter tops can be Statuario, Lagos Azul, Basaltina, Soapstone, Black Granite, Benjamin Gray or Brazilian Gray Slate. What I love about all the choices is that you can piece together something special and unique just for your kitchen. To all my old retail clients I always recommended that they choose the slab first, all the other colors and materials will flow from your slabs. You can always paint cabinets or change out the floor or back splash, but you'll probably move before you change your counter tops due to the expense and difficulty. So please, love, love, love your slabs because you'll be living with it for years to come!

Have a great weekend and I'll be back on Monday with other choices for surrounding counter tops, floors and back splashes.

Most of the slab photos come from Sevak at Modul Marble in Los Angeles.

CALACATTA & CALACATTA ORO

2009-10-15T21:23:00.000-07:00

One of the most dramatic looks from the Carrara region. The veins are all grey in the Calacatta. When the gold is part of the stone it is called Calacatta Oro. Oro means gold in Italian. The background color of the marble is white which adds to the contrast. This is why I recommend choosing your slab material first, to blend in trims, mosaics and tiles you need to find materials with a white background.

These are book matched slabs and they can be used with either of the long sides matched for shower stalls or this match for long kitchen counter tops. These slabs are close to 60" high so that you can get two counter widths and back splashes or laminate pieces. Book matched slabs are generally more expensive than regular slabs, but there are ways to mitigate the expense. Chinese marble has the same white background and the materials made in China are less expensive. If you blend in mouldings and mosaics made from those materials your overall expense might be similar to non-book matched slabs.

The gold in Calacatta Oro lets you use light gold in the floor and wall materials. Jerusalem Gold also known a Halila complements the marble. Jerusalem Gold is a limestone that is available in polished, honed, brushed and tumbled. From the same Jerusalem quarries is another strata that is called Benjamin Gray and is a great blend with the Calacatta.

Another great choice is Lagos Blue or Azul and Lagos Gold from Spain. This limestone has more movement in the stone than the Jerusalem limestone.

The finishes available on the Calacatta slabs are polished or honed. Personally I recommend marble tiles on the floor be honed or brushed to make them less slippery. Mosaics come in all different sizes and textures. For floors, walls and shower floors there are Calacatta penny rounds, hexagons, bricks and squares available. To change up the classic look you can use glass or metal trim, mosaics or tiles. There are silver glass ovals or rounds from Sicis that can transform the classic to the extraordinary.

A source of some of beautiful kitchens and bathrooms using Calacatta and Calacatta Oro can be found at Velvet and Linen http://brookegiannetti.typepad.com/, please visit and enjoy.

CARRARA MARBLE #2

2009-10-14T12:01:00.000-07:00

Carrara marble in general has a very light grey background color with small veins. It is a softer look than Callacatta which is far more dramatic. I prefer a honed finish on Carrara for several reasons. First of all is promotes the softer feel. Secondly, it disguises the etch marks that show up from wine, vinegar and lemon juice. Last but not least is that if you need to have the stone surface restored, it's easier and less expensive to bring it back to honed rather than polished.

Carrara Bianco is sometimes called Venetino. There are trim pieces also available and are necessary if you are transitioning from slab which is 2cm or 3cm to tiles or mosaics which are 3/8 of an inch. You can use a bull nose pencil or a chair rail for horizontal definition or a pencil to finish off the edges. A great source for edges in a variety of stones is LM Natural Stone http://www.stonemoldings.com/. The have so many choices and finishes that your project will be amazing.

When matching up tiles and mosaics there are many choices. Personal favorites are 3 x 6 bricks in the Venezia Antiqua Rex line at Tile Shop http://www.tile-shop.com/ they also have a couple of matching trim pieces. Also in the Venezia line is Lagos Azul that compliments the Carrara for use on floors or walls. Mosaics are available in several shops, just be aware that the Chinese marble mosaics that are called Carrara are actually a white background color, not grey and do not blend in as well as the Italian.

One company that is creating very interesting mixes of stone and glass trim for a more modern look is Voguebay http://www.voguebay.com/. The range in glass tile sizes is amazing. They also carry a range of gray basalt tiles that blend beautifully with Carrara. It is a solid gray with very little movement in the stone.

CARRARA MARBLE

2009-10-13T06:00:00.000-07:00

When I was eleven, I stood in front of David for the first time, it was a memorable moment. I would love to visit Michelangelo's David more often, but in the meantime I content myself working with Carrara marble. The beautiful gray and/or gold veined marble has been quarried since the time of the Romans. The sculptors who shopped in the Carrara quarries in their day included Michelangelo, Giotto, Donatello and Bernini. When you visit Trevi Fountain or Piazza Navona the marble fountains you see are from the quarries of Carrara.

There are several different grades of Carrara and then other types that are quarried from nearby hills. Calacatta and Calacatta Oro are very popular to use for kitchen and bathroom counters and slabs to put in shower stalls. Because there are so many different shades of Carrara marble I want to encourage you as designers and/or consumers to pick out your slab first and then get the tiles to match. Over the next few days I'll show pictures of the different kinds of Carrara marble and give leads for matching tiles and trims. It's sometimes like a jigsaw puzzle putting all the pieces together for a final unique look but for me that's where the challenge is and the fun.

LESSONS LEARNED

2009-10-12T16:52:00.000-07:00

Over the last month I have learned why you should have thirty entries banked before you start your blog. I had lots of good intentions and then life happens. My 87 year old Father had a stroke and is now thankfully doing much better. Then there are doctors appointments for my Mother and older sister that I need to be the driver. Life goes on and now I'll do my best to return to the blog that allows me to talk about my favorite subject, tile and stone.

The tile below is one of my favorites and the bio is taken from Barbara's web-site. I have great admiration for women who look at their lives and decide to follow their bliss. It inspires me to do my best to showcase their work. Please check out baschmidtartstiles.com.

B.A. Schmidt Arts & Enterprises, Inc. is a family business. It was founded by Barbara Schmidt in 2000. Until that time, Barbara had worked first as a social worker and then for over 20 years as an attorney with the Federal government for both the Securities and Exchange Commission and the Commodity Futures Trading Commission. Although during the day she investigated and litigated securities and commodities fraud, she actively developed her artistic skills in her spare time. She studied painting and drawing at night at Northwestern University and at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago. She filled sketch book after sketch book of portraits of commuters that she drew daily on the train ride into the city. She also took classes at The Art Center of Highland Park in Highland Park, Illinois and the Evanston Art Center in Evanston, Illinois. Barbara has a B.A. from the University of Illinois (Champaign-Urbana), an MSW from the Jane Addams School of Social Work at the University of Illinois (Champaign-Urbana) and a JD from De Paul University College of Law. (Chicago)

FLOOR DESIGN

2009-08-28T18:13:00.000-07:00

An often overlooked design element is your floor. After the walls which are easily changed with paint, wallpaper or texture, your floor coverings constitute the most square footage in your interior design. The "green" choice is a well chosen porcelain tile or stone which never has to be replaced as long as you own your home.

Choosing the size of tile is sometimes a challenge. The best way to make a decision is to use 1/2" blue painters tape and space it out on your floor at 12" then 18" and then 24" intervals and take photographs of each and/or leave each size down for a few days. Go with the size that "feels" right. You live there, you walk there, you'll know! Don't let the salesperson at the tile shop talk you into some other size that isn't right for you. In later posts, I'll get into floor layout patterns and tile rugs, the blue tape test is the best way to outline your floor design too. Since your floor covering is a major investment it's well worth the time to lay it out. From my experience only about 10% of clients can actually visualize a design without aides so don't be surprised that you can't, you're in the majority!

Your tile choices, either porcelain or stone are guided by the architectural style of your home and your life style. If the changes to your floors are due to a kitchen renovation I recommend that first choose your granite counter tops and let the color choice flow from there. It's easier to fall in love with a granite and then pick your floors than the other way around, trust me.

If you couldn't live without Van Gogh, the fabulous granite pictured below but you had already ordered green slate tile for the floor, you might have to pass it up. Van Gogh demands center stage as the focal point of your kitchen or bathroom. I love this one, but it needs to be balanced with a neutral floor to really shine.

THE BEGINNING

2009-08-27T14:04:00.000-07:00

The other day I went to see "Julie and Julia" which inspired me to begin this blog. Since there is no way that I could negotiate my way through 524 recipes (even though I have the book), I don't have a passion for cooking. However the fact that Julie is now publishing her second book and also signed a movie deal after her first year was rather intriguing.....

I love tiles, the texture, the whimsy and the overall look, that is my passion. Now, I work mainly with designers, they have a color vision which I translate into the best stone, glass tile or porcelain that meets their needs. I'm the first to admit the I wouldn't have a clue if a chenille or twill would work on a couch but I can tell you if limestone or travertine should go on your floor.

Whenever you find this blog and choose to join in, Welcome. If you have any questions or comments, please feel free to express them. This is a forum for everyone and we can all have fun making our homes unique.

For now I'll leave you with one of my favorite art tiles by Sandy Culp. This is Pear Pair which is a perfect touch of whimsy for any rustic kitchen.