Villa tile collection by Greg Natale for Kaolin Surfaces

The article 'Tile Style' showcases four distinct home renovation projects in New Orleans, each born out of the necessity and opportunity presented by Hurricane Katrina's devastation. The first project details the Terry family's Lakeview home, which suffered over 6 feet of flooding. Instead of a simple renovation, they opted for a complete redesign to create their dream home, prioritizing a comfortable and attractive space for cooking and entertaining. Interior designer Susan Scheinuk, in collaboration with Henry Simon of Top’s Appliances & Cabinetry, transformed their kitchen with high-end appliances, honed limestone countertops, black-and-tan backsplashes from Stafford Tile & Stone, and travertine marble floors, complemented by contemporary natural wood elements and floor-to-ceiling storage. This redesign reflects the family's active lifestyle and Scheinuk's vision for a sleek, modern, yet functional space, representing a significant accomplishment in rebuilding after such widespread destruction. The second project features the Fabacher family’s kitchen in Old Metairie, rebuilt on a higher elevation after Katrina. Their design was inspired by the renowned Southern architect A. Hays Town, incorporating Spanish, French, and Creole influences. The kitchen boasts antique French lanterns, old cypress interior doors, and brick and pine flooring, achieving a truly Southern architectural feel. Susan Scheinuk also assisted the Fabachers, who were deeply involved in the design process, ensuring the kitchen was centrally located with easy access to the backyard, outdoor kitchen, sitting area, and family room. Key features include custom cabinets from Marchand Creative Kitchens, a Kohler French cast-iron sink, granite countertops from Intrepid Stone, and a custom-built cypress-molded hood over a Wolf range. The design emphasizes a flowing, comfortable, and inviting space, culminating in a home that the Fabachers describe as fabulous. The third section highlights interior designer Natasha Shah's sophisticated bathroom makeover. Motivated by a necessary plumbing overhaul, Shah transformed her 1960s-era bathroom into a timeless sanctuary using a black-and-white color scheme, drawing inspiration from famous New Orleans restaurants. The design blends traditional New Orleans architecture, such as an exposed brick wall, with contemporary elements. An oval black-and-white footed tub serves as a focal point, complemented by silver fixtures from Kohler and black tile from Ann Sacks Tile & Stone for the stand-up shower. Black marble countertops from Tuscan Stone Imports complete the clean, sleek aesthetic, with a minimal pop of color from yellow flowers. Shah’s design emphasizes balance in materials, fixtures, and space planning, creating a sophisticated and relaxing environment. Finally, the article presents Andree Batt’s master bathroom, conceptualized as an 'everyday luxury' spa-like oasis in Lakewood South. After their previous home was flooded, the Batts built a new house, and with architect Tim Terrell, created an open-space master bathroom. Batt custom-designed the room with a unique pebble flooring extending throughout the space, aiming for a tranquil, spa-like feel. The color palette is inspired by sea and sky hues, incorporating natural-colored stone and green tile accents in the large walk-in shower and over the sink, with assistance from close friend Beth Kohnke of Beth Kohnke Designs. Furnishings from Hazelnut, co-owned by Jay Batt’s brother, Bryan Batt, were carefully selected to enhance the peaceful and calming atmosphere, culminating in a truly tranquil space. #HomeRenovation #KitchenDesign #BathroomDesign #NewOrleansHomes #PostKatrinaRebuild #InteriorDesign #ArchitecturalStyle #LuxuryHomes

Zellige tiles, characterized by their glossy finish, rich texture, and handcrafted imperfections, have transitioned from a trend to a timeless design element, offering a unique depth and character that machine-made tiles cannot replicate. While traditionally favored for kitchen backsplashes and bathroom walls, designers are now exploring innovative applications throughout the home. This article showcases ten creative ideas for integrating zellige tiles, demonstrating their versatility and enduring appeal. One approach involves creating playful stripes in a shower, as exemplified by Nicky Mudie of Violet & George. In an eaves bathroom with a challenging layout, a soft blue glaze was combined with contrasting chocolate brown and oxblood tiles to introduce a bold, graphic element. This vertical stripe design transforms the shower into a statement, adding drama, character, and an unexpected touch of fun to the space. For rooms requiring a focal point, zellige tiles can be used to frame a fireplace. Amy Dublin-Nash of Lisa & Leroy utilized zellige to anchor a narrow room, highlighting its handmade feel and the way light reflects off its glossy surface, creating visual dimension. This application offers warmth and texture without the bulk of a traditional mantel, resulting in an elegant and intriguing focal point. Jennifer Acito of Dama & Wood rethought the classic subway tile backsplash by opting for zellige. She desired a traditional yet elevated look to complement pink millwork. The handmade tile's uneven lines and tonal variations provided warmth and texture, grounding the kitchen with a backdrop that is both timeless and modern. The subtle imperfections balanced the playful color palette, adding a layer of sophistication. Color-blocking with zellige tiles in a shower, as conceived by the Brownstone Boys, turns a functional area into a focal point. By using shifts in color and texture, architectural intention is brought to the space, counteracting narrow proportions and drawing the eye. Jordan Slocum notes that the color block creates visual drama without feeling overly busy, thanks to the tile's restrained palette, clean lines, and subtle tonal variations that interact beautifully with light. Amy Vroom of The Residency Bureau extended zellige tile beyond the backsplash in a Seattle kitchen, covering entire walls in rich green. This full-coverage approach used the tile's texture and warmth to soften the overall look and introduce a handcrafted element. By wrapping the walls, the zellige cohesively ties together countertops, cabinetry, and wood finishes, creating a modern, polished, yet warm and personal kitchen. In a bathroom, Erika Marini of Fixe Design House used a deep zig-zag zellige design behind the vanity to achieve a playful balance between minimal and maximal. This graphic pattern complements the home’s Mediterranean-coastal aesthetic, creating a layered and lively yet refined space suitable for both children and adult lounges. Abbie Naber of a.Naber Design utilized cobalt blue zellige to line floating shelves in a color-drenched kitchen. This bold feature stands out against the untiled walls, connecting to a tiled bar top and contributing to a monochrome, hacienda-inspired feel. The deliberate choice to limit wall tiling ensures the shelving detail remains a distinct and stylish focal point. Ashley Chavis of Grant & Little introduced a playful checkerboard border using zellige tiles in a shower. This approach added a whimsical touch without overwhelming the 14-foot walls, maintaining a textured, organic, and timeless aesthetic. The checkerboard pattern, a signature of their work, integrated seamlessly into the client's space. In a Madrid primary bathroom, Richy Almond of Lind + Almond created a dramatic tone-on-tone effect with custom zellige tiles developed with ZIA. The subtle variations in size, tone, and texture of each tile make the surface appear alive and tactile, resulting in a rich, warm, and modern space that respects traditional craftsmanship. Finally, Vaughan Design and Development reimagined the traditional checkerboard for a kitchen backsplash by cutting zellige tiles into irregular shapes to create a dynamic zig-zag effect. The glossy, handcrafted surface enhances movement. Holly Vaughan explains that soft greens and off-whites were chosen to balance the bold pattern and complement the apple-colored cabinetry and pink-paneled walls, achieving a cohesive and striking design. These diverse applications underscore the enduring appeal and adaptability of zellige tiles in contemporary interior design. The tiles' inherent imperfections and light-reflecting qualities contribute to their unique ability to add character, warmth, and visual interest to various spaces, ensuring their continued popularity in interior design projects. #ZelligeTiles #HomeDesign #InteriorDecoration #TileDesign #KitchenDesign #BathroomDesign #FireplaceDesign #AccentWalls #HandcraftedTiles #TimelessDesign

This article provides a comprehensive guide to the best tile manufacturers and brands, balancing style, price, convenience, and quality. It delves into the diverse offerings of 23 prominent companies, ranging from small artisan producers to large-scale distributors, to assist consumers in selecting the ideal tiles for their home improvement projects, specifically for bathrooms, kitchens, and general flooring. Ann Sacks, founded in 1980, offers unique and sophisticated tile designs, having expanded from the Pacific Northwest to numerous metropolitan areas across the United States. Susan Jablon, established in 2000, specializes in custom mosaic glass tiles, providing distinctive options for various home areas. Arizona Tile, founded in 1977, is known for its wide range of unique porcelain, glass, and natural stone tiles, including granite, marble, limestone, travertine, slate, and onyx, serving primarily the Western United States. Florida Tile, Inc., with headquarters in Kentucky, has been manufacturing porcelain and ceramic tiles, along with natural stone, decorative glass, and metal tiles for half a century. Pavé Tile, Wood & Stone, Inc., a Massachusetts-based company started in 2000, imports premium handmade terra-cotta tiles from France, Italy, Belgium, and Spain. Hakatai, in business since 1997, specializes in importing and distributing glass tiles, including recycled options, and has expanded to include stone and metal tiles. Clayhaus Ceramics, a Portland, Oregon-based studio, focuses on uncommon and thoughtfully designed ceramic tiles. Bedrosians Tile & Stone, a manufacturer and distributor with over half a century of experience, offers a wide selection of tiles through its showrooms across many states and a robust online store. Modwalls, an online-only company from Aptos, California, designs and manufactures ceramic and porcelain tiles with a modern aesthetic, featuring colorful subway tiles, glass, and unusual shapes. Bisazza, headquartered in Italy, is renowned for its architect-quality mosaic tiles and collaborations with internationally known designers. Mercury Mosaics, based in Minneapolis, creates artistic mosaic tiles with inventive shapes and rich colors, offering sample packs for customer evaluation. Del Conca, an Italian company with a factory in Tennessee, introduces innovations like the Del Conca Fast Collection for grout-free porcelain stoneware plank installation, alongside a wide array of Euro-style tiles. Mission Stone & Tile operates online, providing unique tile offerings such as scallop-shaped and hexagonal white tiles with free shipping on most items. Nemo Tile + Stone, originating in New York, presents a broad selection of porcelain, ceramic, stone, and engineered flooring surfaces through its showrooms in several East Coast states. Marazzi, an Italian-rooted company, supplies various porcelain and ceramic tiles for commercial and residential applications, distributing through independent retailers and large home improvement centers. Florim USA, an American subsidiary of Italy's Florim Group, combines Italian craftsmanship with modern production, notably being among the first U.S. companies to adopt HDG technology for tile manufacturing. StonePeak, an Italian company with a U.S. presence, provides high-end ceramic and porcelain tiles and was the first U.S. manufacturer of large-format tiles. Oceanside Glass & Tile, established in 1992, focuses exclusively on glass tiles, including art glass, for high-profile projects. Villagio Tile & Stone, based in Scottsdale, Arizona, features luxurious tumbled stone and travertine. American Olean, a subsidiary of Mohawk Industries, offers cost-effective tile options for various home areas and is a popular brand at Lowe's. Daltile, manufacturing in the U.S. and Mexico, offers a vast range of glazed, unglazed, ceramic, porcelain, and natural stone tiles, widely available at dedicated sales centers, Lowe's, and Home Depot. Eleganza Tiles, a California-based company with branches in other states, specializes in floor, wall, medallion, natural stone, and resin borders, and innovative prefabricated porcelain tile countertops. Merola Tile acts as a wholesale distributor of porcelain and natural stone tiles, with many of its products available at Home Depot. #TileManufacturers #HomeImprovement #InteriorDesign #Flooring #KitchenDesign #BathroomRenovation #MosaicTiles #NaturalStone #CeramicTiles

Orvi Surfaces has introduced its Palacio collection of tiles, which recently earned the European Product Design Award in the "Home interior products/materials and surfaces" category. This collection is distinguished by its intricate integration of wood, metal, and stone, meticulously balanced to form geometric patterns. The design approach for the Palacio collection focuses on achieving a balance between luxury and understated elegance. The founder of Orvi Surfaces, Sanjeev Agrawal, highlighted the significant effort involved in understanding the distinct characteristics of each material and the techniques required to combine them effectively. He noted that Orvi Surfaces was among the pioneers in incorporating high-quality metal inlays into stone and wood, and is now working on developing designs that have global appeal. Agrawal is part of a broader movement within the Indian design sector aimed at revitalizing traditional crafts, such as stone inlay, through contemporary design innovations. He expressed concern that traditional Indian crafts were often practiced in outdated ways, lacking modern design sensibilities. To address this, Orvi Surfaces collaborates with international designers to infuse traditional craftsmanship with contemporary aesthetics, thereby giving these crafts a platform in the modern market. An example of such collaboration is Orvi's previous work with Italian designer Matteo Cibic on the Filo collection, which featured objects crafted from marble and brass. Agrawal emphasized that combining traditional craftsmanship with contemporary design and advanced technology is crucial for the survival and evolution of these traditions, which is a core principle behind the establishment of Orvi Surfaces. The collection’s aesthetic is designed to draw the eye across varied textures and shades, from the straight lines of wood grain to the reflective surface of polished black elements, and the subtle shimmer of brass. This careful composition allows the materials to interweave seamlessly, creating a cohesive yet diverse visual experience. The development process involved overcoming challenges related to the compatibility and handling of different materials to ensure the structural integrity and aesthetic harmony of the tiles. This commitment to both material understanding and design innovation underlines Orvi Surfaces’ strategy to bridge the gap between historical craft techniques and modern interior design demands. By engaging with global design perspectives, Orvi Surfaces aims to elevate Indian craftsmanship and position it within an international context, ensuring its relevance and appreciation in contemporary homes. #OrviSurfaces #PalacioCollection #TileDesign #Craftsmanship #MaterialInnovation #InteriorDesign #LuxuryTiles #GeometricPatterns #IndianDesign