In Valencia for Cevisama

Valencia is a marvelous place to attend an event about tile. Renowned for it’s tradition of handcrafted tile, the city is also creating bold new designs that are taking ceramics back to their historic place of great public art.

This sophisticated balance of tradition and modernity is mirrored in the city’s architecture which includes ancient treasures and now the exquisite family esplanade by Santiago Calatrava known as Prince Felipe Science Museum.  A wonder of engineering brilliance and exquisite design, it exemplifies the city’s amazing grasp of past and future.

Family roots are deep and strong in Valencia.  Pride in their creativity and professionalism keeps family business surviving and thriving.  So what is new in tile from Spain is that it continues to innovate; what is incredible about the culture in tile is the level of quality from artisanal to industrial.

Please view these highlights and if you want to know more, please call.

Inspired by beautiful Valencia, Design and Direct Source is now in the process of ordering samples of the best new products from Cevisama.  We look forward to sharing them with you!

ANN SACKS: I Love This Tile

During my thirty year career I have had the enviable task of searching for the most beautiful tile and stone in the world.

But only last year did I discover the tile love of my life,Montpanrasse – Glazed Brick. Pictures here are certainly worth more than a lot of words; Happy Valentines Day and thank you for sharing this favorite with us.
-Ann Sacks

MONTPARNASSE | GLAZED BRICK

Ace Hotel Palm Springs Montparnasse blend installation. Design by Commune.

Pictured here: matte grey and matte black
Available colors: black, super black, cream, white, grey blend, grey green, green grey light, and terra cotta
Finishes: matte, semi-matte, and glossy.

Sizes: 1″x1″, 1″x4″, 2″x2″, 2″x8″
Mosaics: 1″x1″ and 1″x4″(custom blends available)
Starting at $6.75/ SF

HAPPY VALENTINES DAY!

Contact samples@designanddirectsource.com for pricing and sample orders.

Time to Indulge Your Love of Tile

While we are far from out of the woods with respect to the economy, there is a low rumble out there telling us that gorgeous tile is coming back!

It may be sprinkled in comparison to the past, but I think that the return of projects using beautiful ceramics is a reflection our optimism and enthusiasm for the future.

Featured below is the Black Butte series including lines: Oceanic, Solar, Ezo and Noir Bouquet.  Using a variety of glazes and a dry line technique, the Black Butte series is a finely crafted work of art.  Also, Noir Bouquet and Ezo are both available with 40% recycled material.

Black Butte | Oceanic | Dots

Black Butte | Solar | Comet

Black Butte | Ezo | Turquoize

Black Butte | Noir Bouquet | Gun Metal on Black Matte

TILE TRENDS: It Takes a Village

Long before Americans began to consider the consequences of extensive transportation, Europeans were organized to manufacture and consume locally. Europe’s local purchasing practice has not only been motivated by resource conservation (remember that petro costs double what it does in the States) but a tradition of appreciating regional variety.

Go to a restaurant in Verona and you will likely be offered a red wine made from grapes of the very same district. Drive just an hour south to Bologna and instead you’ll be given a Bolognese bottle with your tortellini. Similarly, the mushrooms, cheeses, and pasta shapes are all representative of local habits and traditions. Families produce and vend their wares within their community, preserving a distinct culture that is valued for its authenticity.

Helio Series Glazed Terra Cotta

The same holds within the industry of tile, both artisanal and industrial.

France, for example, is famous for villages in which the terra cotta is extracted just meters from the studios, using a communal quarry. Local tile makers with a long trade history are employed to craft the terra cotta into the village’s particular tile variety. This is a healthy manufacturing system that sustains both the community’s economy and tradition.

The Mid Century line from the Ravenna Series mixes old world charm with refined simplicity.

DESIGN AND DIRECT SOURCE is proud to carry a wide selection of tiles from these traditional regions, in support of local custom. Please call or email for further information.

TILE TRENDS: Thinner, Bigger, Greener

I have just returned from the international tile and stone exhibition and there is a lot of exciting news to share.

Technology and creativity have been linked to provide products that are more sustainable than ever and are perfect for economical and efficient hotel renovations.

Take special note of the newest porcelain panels which range in size up to three feet by ten feet and only 1/4 inch in thickness.
Just a few years ago these large scale tiles were limited in color and finish, but today they are bursting with creative palettes and subtle stone and metallic designs.

Applied directly over substrates such as plaster, gypsum, concrete or even existing tile, this system provides an almost grout free surface that looks fresh and clean.

Exactly what does this new opportunity mean to designers, developers, and contractors?
…No need to remove existing tile that is structurally sound but “dated”.
…No need to disturb the wall behind the tile or the plumbing.
…Savings to the environment by using half of the raw materials for manufacturing, half the energy in transporting, and substantially reducing the strain on our landfills.
…A beautiful installation which requires far less maintenance ( another environmental plus!).

Pricing starts at approximately $6.25  per square foot.

Samples are arriving soon!
Please call or email for further information.

Saved by Sealers

Not long ago a healthy fear of Terra cotta and limestone was perfectly justified. Oils and acids could ruin a beautiful installation and commercial specifiers were reluctant to consider these subtle products for restaurants or hotels. The net affect was often a more institutional look than the designer desired in exchange for the security of a stain resistant floor.

All that has changed over the past 15 years as sealers have become a remarkable asset to tile installers and property owners. Sealers that protect and enhance or protect with no discernible change in color or sheen have opened up incredible new creative opportunities.

Recently I had an opportunity to use the best advancement in this category that I have ever seen. In a perfect “apples to apples” comparison of sealers with the following result:

Seven years ago I installed my own working kitchen (and it really IS a working kitchen) counters and a kitchen sink fabricated out of Burgundy Grey Limestone from France.

While I loved my counters and never complained of some “etching” and sensitivity to acids, I was aware that the surface (even sealed) had some drawbacks typically associated with limestone.

Six months ago we chose the same stone for our new office kitchen (also a working kitchen with many chefs!) and this time I used a sealer that was sent to me by David Simone of Quality Marble Care, a family business with a stellar reputation in tile and stone contracting.

After six months of intensive use and differing approaches to clean up, the counter still looks lustrous and is free of etching. We will probably do a simple “updating” of sealer at the end of the year (which takes just a few

minutes), but I would say that this sealer is a big hit.

Being able to appreciate your tile and stone forever requires partnerships like this one. If you are interested in learning more you can contact David Simone at 800.495.1966.