Artisanal tile collection by Bert & May

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

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

Lee Thornley, founder and creative director of Bert and May, a design-driven lifestyle brand specializing in tiles and wood, discusses the company's core principles of simplicity, durability, and sustainability. Thornley's vision for Bert and May stemmed from early childhood observations of design's restorative power and his subsequent foray into hospitality in the early 2000s. He restored a country house in Cadiz, Spain, transforming it into the renowned luxury boutique hotel, Casa La Siesta. This experience highlighted the critical balance between aesthetics and practicality in design, revealing that effective design must also be functional. His hypothesis proved successful, igniting his passion for sourcing reclaimed materials and antique fittings, and identifying a niche in the market. Following the success of Casa La Siesta, Thornley began selling reclaimed materials online. In 2010, after meeting the owner of a tile-specializing family business, he partnered with them, rebranded the company, reopened the factory, and officially launched Bert and May in 2013. The brand has since become a prominent destination for artisan-made tiles, attracting a global following and collaborating with high-profile entities like Soho House. Bert and May's commitment to simplicity, durability, and sustainability aims to shift the perception of premium design. Thornley advocates for investing in high-quality, long-lasting materials, emphasizing that homes should not be treated as disposable seasonal collections. The company's team, including design staff in London and York and production in Spain, focuses on developing unique colors and finishes, often drawing inspiration from nature. The tile-making process is artisanal, involving hand-pouring pigments into metal molds, pressing colors onto a cement backing, and a gentle, natural drying process that contributes to softer hues. Despite the pervasive influence of the digital age, Thornley encourages individuals to trust their own visual preferences rather than blindly following online trends. He believes that embracing individualism and imagination is crucial for businesses to thrive, especially during periods of global uncertainty. Thornley maintains that Bert and May has a responsibility to promote conscious creativity and consumerism, urging consumers to choose products that are built to last. He emphasizes that by reclaiming materials, the brand demonstrates how these elements can enhance and endure in the right home. Thornley concludes by stressing the importance of creating a home that reflects personal identity and family values, advising individuals to seek professional help if needed but ultimately to personalize their spaces. #BertAndMay #LeeThornley #TileDesign #SustainableDesign #ReclaimedMaterials #HomeInteriors #ArtisanTiles #InteriorDesign #DesignPhilosophy

The influence of fashion on interior design, particularly in the realm of tiles, is becoming increasingly pronounced, with trends from the catwalk frequently transitioning into home aesthetics. This convergence reflects a broader cultural shift towards viewing living spaces as extensions of personal style, much like clothing. Designers and manufacturers are actively drawing inspiration from current fashion collections, incorporating popular colors, textures, and patterns into new tile designs. This dynamic relationship ensures that home interiors remain fresh, contemporary, and aligned with prevailing aesthetic sensibilities. One significant aspect of this trend is the adoption of specific color palettes. Just as fashion seasons dictate popular clothing colors, these hues are quickly mirrored in tile offerings. For instance, if a particular shade of blue or green dominates runway shows, it is likely to appear in new tile collections, offering homeowners the opportunity to infuse their spaces with fashionable colors. Beyond color, textural elements are also making a strong appearance. The demand for tactile surfaces in fashion, such as woven fabrics or distressed leathers, translates into tiles with varied finishes—from matte and honed to textured and relief patterns—that add depth and sensory appeal to walls and floors. Pattern is another key area where fashion's influence is evident. Geometric prints, abstract designs, and even floral motifs that are prevalent in textiles and apparel often find their way onto tiles. These patterns can range from subtle and sophisticated to bold and statement-making, allowing for diverse design expressions. The concept of mixing and matching different patterns and textures, a common practice in fashion, is also being embraced in tile design, enabling designers to create unique and personalized spaces. This approach encourages experimentation and creativity, moving beyond traditional uniform tile installations. The durability and longevity of tiles, combined with their aesthetic versatility, make them an ideal medium for translating transient fashion trends into more enduring home features. While fashion trends can be fleeting, tiles offer a way to incorporate these styles in a more permanent and impactful manner. Manufacturers are continually innovating with materials and production techniques to replicate the intricate details and sophisticated finishes seen in high fashion, pushing the boundaries of what is possible in tile design. This includes advancements in digital printing technology, which allows for highly detailed and realistic reproduction of complex patterns and textures. The integration of fashion into tile design not only keeps interiors current but also empowers individuals to express their individuality through their living environments. It encourages a more thoughtful and deliberate approach to material selection, where tiles are not merely functional elements but integral components of a cohesive design narrative. As this trend continues, the line between fashion and interior design is likely to blur even further, leading to more innovative and stylish tile options that reflect the cutting edge of aesthetic trends. This ongoing synergy ensures that the home remains a canvas for personal expression, constantly evolving with the broader world of design. #TileDesign #InteriorDesignTrends #FashionInfluence #HomeDecor #AestheticTrends #SurfaceMaterials #DesignInnovation