New Round Mosaic Tiles

Penny round tiles in ceramic, glass and metal have been pretty popular for a while so it only makes sense that resin tiles join the party.

VOGUEBAY showed a new collection of glass and resin tiles this past week in Orlando at the Coverings Show. The resin and glass combination is modern and will add great visual interest to any room.

Another combination I spotted was from a smaller Artisan Tile maker who combined marble mosaics with round metal accents. This combination is more to my personal taste. It could work in many design schemes.

April 29, 2010

Coverings 2010

As I walked the floor at the 2010 Coverings at the Orlando Convention Center I spotted some great tiles and stones. My favorite part was being able to see many large slabs of granite and marble in the trendy Antiqued finishes. Oftentimes the terms to describe the stone finishes are interchanged making it confusing so I have described some of the finish options.

A Leather finish is not the same as Honed. This finish adds texture to the surface. Additionally, it closes the pores and retains the color better than honing. A good analogy is to say a leathered finish is like a matte finish on a photograph whereas a polished surface is like a glossy photograph. Leathering is preferred to honing for blacks and other very dark materials.

A leather finish with a polish is called Caressed. This finish starts with a leathered slab and “polishes” the high spots. This of course closes the pores more than the leathered finish, but not as much as a polished finish. This gives the stone an elegant sheen.

Another great finish I saw was Brushed or River-washed. The slab looks as if the softer portions of the stone have been eroded by a natural stream over many, many years. Some of the slabs I saw at the show had large “ripples” running through them. The unevenness was great to touch but may not be a good choice for a countertop because items like wine glasses may become unstable.

If you want to see an antiqued piece of granite in person, stop by the showroom and see the new raised bar display.

February 12, 2010

Around the Web

I can’t easily post while I’m out of town, thanks to the generosity of Brizo, so I have compiled some interesting posts from around the web.

There’s a great post from HGTV.ca Style Sheet Blog on small dining spaces. The photos are quite lovely but what really caught my eye was the folding table that doubles as a picture frame. These tables are not a new idea but the way the legs disappear when upright is nice and the poster insert adds a modern touch.

Staying on the modern theme, Modern Home Interiors features a sleek glass vanity by Antonio Lupi. The Briliante vanity features 20mm thick glass top and sides with an integrated bowl. A small storage cabinet situated below the vanity holds bathroom necessities. The Dama mirror is featured above the vanity.

I personally need much more storage in my bathroom and I could probably never keep the glass clean.

Michelle from My Notting Hill talks about mosaic tile as art. With large format tile the trend for interior floors, we often don’t think about putting beautiful mosaics anywhere other than the bathroom or the kitchen backsplash.

Her blog features some new patterns from New Ravenna Mosaics and Stone – which I am a huge fan of.

For an in-depth look at the history of Mosaic Tile Linda Merrill posted a great article on the Surroundings Blog.

These days it’s best to invest your money in the areas of your home that will get the most show. Showing off your expensive taste is best done without trying too hard, unless you are a Hip Hop Mogul, but instead investing in a few special pieces.

I highly recommend checking out the Magic Rug. These gems from Sicis combine the beauty of hand-cut, artistic Italian mosaics with the flexible format of a throw rug. The glass mosaic is mounted on a polyurethane base that can be attached to the floor or left as a movable object. Seemingly endless possibilities include florals, classic patterns, and contemporary motifs in a variety of formats—including circular, square, and oval—can be customized with 80 colors and an assortment of effects (iridescent, transparent, or opaque)

December 14, 2009

2010 Color of the Year: Turquoise

Pantone has officially named 15-5519 Turquoise as the 2010 Color of the Year.

For the last few years various shades of aqua, cerulean, teal, and ultramarine have been tremendously popular so this color choice doesn’t seem to be much of a stretch. The true turquoise shade that they have chosen does seem to have more depth and a higher concentration of green than the icy aquas we have been seeing.

Leatrice Eiseman, executive director of the Pantone Color Institute, says there was no runner-up to turquoise in her mind because people crave escapism and freshness after a tough year. The shade is on the cusp of blue and green, which makes it both inviting and serene — characteristics associated with blues — and invigorating and luminous, which comes from green, she says.

Pantone’s color for 2009 was mimosa yellow, intended to carry a hopeful, optimistic message. Eiseman says the public is shifting gears as the economy shows some improvement: They are ready to fantasize a bit about the beach resort.

Whether envisioned as a tranquil ocean surrounding a tropical island or a protective stone warding off evil spirits, Turquoise is a color that most people respond to positively. It is universally flattering, has appeal for men and women, and translates easily to fashion and interiors. Here are a few pictures for inspiration.