TILE ENVY

Chanel surfing

admin — Fri, 03 Sep 2010 01:37:12 +0000

If you logged on last month you saw an oldie-but-goodie, the trailblazing Ridley Scott Chanel No. 5 ad. Today I got a peek at the most recent Chanel ad. But this time Chanel’s newest Bleu cologne is envisioned by Martin Scorsese-

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Chanel, Scorsese, music by The Rolling Stones, hot young french actors. But the real reason why Tile Envy wanted to share is because of the tile scenes, of course-

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Two good!!!!

Tile Salon- August 2010

admin — Wed, 01 Sep 2010 20:12:37 +0000

After spending August traveling and attempting to get some kids back in school, tile news was the last thing on my mind. However, there were some fun tile stories that were kindly brought to my attention-

From The Decorating Diva-

Pachamama tiles really stretch the notion of leather and tile. Apparently stretching the notion of leather is the specialty of Priante PelleItaliana SRL. And if you’ve been watching tile trends over the past few years you know that leather tile made a strong debut. Its progress has been impeded by installation questions and durability in a standard tile setting- but in the right setting ( media rooms, entry walls, elevators, decorative wall features, etc) it can be just right.

I’ve got a good case of Tile Envy for Argentinian Jorge Simes’s glass tiles. Using a pre-Roman glass technique called eglomise, Simes manages to turn glass into shimmering silk, velvet and linen glass “textiles”. Be sure to click on Joann Loctov’s Decorating Diva article to read more about these gilded beauties.

TREND, USA

Trend USA is known for their glass mosaic Wallpaper collection, but recently added their new customizing feature offering their expert assistance with tile mosaic projects requiring tailored colors and effects. As the current “age of individuality” is upon us in a big way- the ability to create custom features is currently one of the fastest growing design options.

KARIM RASHID, again!

I first noted designers lending their abilities (and their names) to our industry a while ago when Versace decided to try his hand in the tile world. That was obviously a while back. I can’t recall that it was a soaring success in the US, but well-known designers are continuing to offer their sensibilities and signatures to tiles. Now it would appear that Karid Rashim is just getting started. He recently launched his series of metallic mosaics featured in Tile Salon January 2010, and now he’s bringing his signature pink (and others) palette and modern design forms to large format ceramics.

From Trendir.com-

(ambra tiles from artistic tile)

Trendir’s post featuring Artistic Tiles new Ambra series was not my first glance at these amazing tiles. Spotting them recently in a showroom, tactile doesn’t begin to describe how touchy-feely one can be when in the presence of the giant 3-dimensionally bountiful tiles. Perfect for exterior and interior walls, Ambra tiles feature surfaces that can be further enhanced by the right lighting (oh can’t we call!). I highly recommend having a one-on-one with these tiles as the pictures just don’t do them justice.

Summering in Shanghai

admin — Thu, 26 Aug 2010 19:39:21 +0000

For me, Shanghai has always carried visions of exotic China- that of the candied crab apples and vivid colored silks more than the supra-modern, fashion forward world capital it has become. And now to prove that point to everyone- Shanghai is holding their World Expo 2010 which has been open since May and runs through October.

“Better City – Better Life” is the theme of Shanghai’s expo and Shanghai hopes to create their new status in the 21st century as the “next great world city”. Drawing in over 190 countries and 50 world organizations, Shanghai has prepared the largest expanse in history for a world expo, measuring just over 5 kilometers- square. That’s twice the size of my little town of Sausalito!

And of course- the pavilions are the bomb. With countries around the world trying to out-cool one another, there are many definite stand-outs that will certainly be influential for years to come. World Expos have historically set new architectural trends, and I will be excited to see how this robust display of construction-meets-art influences our vision of structures, commercial and otherwise.

Here, a few of the pavilions that have already sent shock-waves through the world of design-

UK PAVILLION

(UK pavilion)

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The first is my favorite, created by Thomas Heatherwick -my new design crush. Heatherwick’s RIBA award-winning UK pavilion called “the seed cathedral” is as good as it gets. From the most amplified of vantage points down to the itsy-bitsiest of details, I can’t stop looking at the thing. And then once you know the story of the how and mostly the why, I challenge you to not have your own Heatherwick crush. Click here for his cool video detailing the cathedral and its more than 60,000 rods stemming from the surface creating a fiber-optic skin that illuminates the interior. The rods, like quills, actually quiver in the breeze. I loooove that.

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LUXEMBOURG PAVILION

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I should whisper this, and only to my closest friends. But I’m not a fan of Frank Gehry. OK I said it. I’d say more, but perhaps many of you wouldn’t log on again. Call it my own personal feng shui thing- but I generally don’t like buildings that don’t exhibit at least one 90′ angle. So I’m including Luxembourg’s Gehry-esque pavilion to streeeetch outside my prejudice and mostly because I’m all about gold right now!

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AUSTRIAN PAVILION

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(austrian pavilion)

The Austrian pavilion was created by famed Viennese architects SPAN & Zeytinoglu. It wasn’t the design that caught my attention, though it was interesting enough. But any structure ribald enough to use 10 million porcelain tiles, has completely got my vote.

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DANISH PAVILION

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(danish pavilion, including bicycles)

Designed by Copenhagen’s BIG-Bjarke Ingels Group, the Danish pavilion takes on a velodrome feel with the spiraling architecture and the provision of 300 bicycles completing the Danish experience.

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SWISS PAVILION

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The Swiss pavilion is a celebration of the red and white Swiss flag on it’s exterior contrasted with the interior based on their “rural-urban interaction”. Adding vegetation to building interior and exterior vertical planes, is currently all the rage. I’ve always been a fan of Ivy covered anything, and this architectural trend has been catching my interest since I first spotted it a couple of years ago. I predict we’re going to see a lot more of this green treatment turning concrete jungles back into, well- concrete/jungles.

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SPANISH PAVILION

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This gets my vote for the most unusual addition to the pavilion entries. Famed Spanish firm EMBT uses a historic and primitive method of construction using woven wicker to its most modern end. Their undulating structure then houses a giant animatronic baby in celebration of their theme "city of children". I'm thinking it's breathtaking in person and not nearly as menacing as it appears in the photos???

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SOUTH KOREAN PAVILION

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South Korea showcased the work of Mass Studies and artist Ik-Joong Kang’s colorful representations of the 24 letters in the Korean alphabet. Between the colorful “tiles” of the interior spaces and the monochrome grey “tiles” on the exterior – I’m feeling the inspiration for a similar tile series- color and monochrome.

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CHINA PAVILION

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Not an architectural stand-out for me but, as a close to today’s feature on Shanghai’s Expo, thought it only fair to conclude with China’s pavilion given they are the ones throwing the party!

If any of you have your own photos to share from your own summer visit to Shanghai- we’d love to share them. Most of the photos shown are from friends a www.dezeen.com.

Mod-Euro tile tour

admin — Thu, 19 Aug 2010 20:57:47 +0000

I’m not big on travel. (I guess half-way into travel month I’d best fess up here.) And that’s not necessarily because I’m a big home-body (which I am) but after starting to board transcontinental flights before I could walk and carrying on like that for my entire youth (Air Force brat), finally staying in one place for college was like a vacation.

However, then I became a tile designer/manufacturer and off I went again. The amazing strata of cultures coursing through the art of tile making is as present today as it was centuries ago. But if you’re ever required to crank out tons of tiles, all roads eventually lead to Rome. Actually it’s Sassuolo, not Rome. But like their cars, Parmesan and pasta- Italy’s tile making expertise is unsurpassed.

I’ve already shared a bit about the colossal Bologna fair in a recent post, so you know Italy is also where it’s at for extraordinary tiles of all sorts. And for me, the one company that embodies tile design at its most creative and exploratory is Ceramica Bardelli. They are best compared to the “collections” section of Barney’s or Bergdorf’s whose articles of clothing are more like sculpture than a mere suit or dress.

At Ceramica Bardelli, they produce a collection of tiles created by a who’s who of industrial design including- Pietro Fornasetti, Marcel Wanders, and Tord Boontje. Like the collections at Bergdorf’s – you’re not going to see everyone running out to sign up for Ceramica Bardelli’s unusual offering of decorative tiles – but I’m most pleased that their showcase of tile collections celebrate the designers along with their pieces.

Here’s just a few teasers-

(fornasetti newsprint)

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(fornasetti architture)

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(van der hilst tulips)

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(marcel wanders iris)

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(marcello chiarenza pesce)

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(ruben toledo papillon)

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To complete this tour of European tiles just click on any of the photos and you can enjoy your travel without the jet-lag. But be sure to get over there at least a few times to experience some of this eccentricity up close, and personal.

KBIS visits Hearst Castle

admin — Fri, 13 Aug 2010 22:49:42 +0000

Hearst Castle is on many travelers’ lists this summer. I know because I get a zillion hits from folks google-ing Hearst Castle. If you are riding along with Tile Envy this month- I thought you might enjoy this great article from KBIS’s online magazine featuring Hearst Castle and the team of artists creating products for Hearst Castle Collection-

Julia Morgan Stone Tile Panel

(click photo for part I)

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Roman Glass Pool Tile

(click photo for Part II)

This story has another segment coming up soon. Please be sure to check back for Part III of this fun look at Hearst Castle, its history and those of us hoping to capture a bit of it for all of you.

Air streamin’

admin — Thu, 12 Aug 2010 19:34:18 +0000

I’ve been missing from the airwaves whilst taking our family vacation visiting West Coast beaches, yummy food stops, and interesting shops. Somewhere in between all that we also managed little visits to some of our prized artisan studios and beloved Tilevera showrooms.

It’s our version of the Beverly Hillbillies; road travel with the kids AND the dogs. Admittedly, our vittles don’t include squirrel and we travel with laptops, not shotguns- but the rest of the look is 100% Clampetts.

I’ve always loved the idea of the grand road trip in search of national parks, petrified forests and regional food fests. Certainly one of the grandest ideals for that U.S. travel theme is the dream of a sparkly Airstream perfectly outfitted to the traveler’s utmost wishes. Glowing stainless on the outside and the promise of the royal best on the inside, travel by Airstream seems to have touched a cord in the overall design community lately.

(veranda view)

(mod pod)

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(sand and ‘stream)

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(kingpin vay-kay)

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(retro rover)

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(wilderness on wheels)

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(art studio/office)

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(travel in your own backyard!)

I could fill volumes with my own daydreams of spectacularly customized Airstreams. One I’m envisioning would be lined with Gracie wallpaper, french doors, down daybed, wifi, hidden speakers and a chef (traveling by sidecar, of course). Bet you’ve got a few wild Airstream visions of your own…

Resort, where?

admin — Thu, 05 Aug 2010 06:53:12 +0000

We’re not complaining, but… we have been very busy all summer. Consequently, vacation travels have been put off until this twinkling end of summer. So I thought why not devote August to travel and get a glimpse of style from around the globe. We can all have a chance to get away even if we haven’t!

To kick off Tile Envy’s travel extravaganza- I’ve got the style.com resort wear top 10 trends to offer up in another of my fav-o-rite fashion/tile posts.

BALENCIAGA & TREND

Mixed Pattern tops the list for the most noticeable trend for 2010 Resort. If you’ve been following Tile Envy, you know I’m a Balenciaga fan. Super mod, bordering on spaceship attire – Balenciaga’s patterns pair perfectly with Trend’s new modern wallpaper mosaics. I’m sold!

STELLA McCARTNEY & WALKER ZANGER

White is always THE summer color, but this year’s resort season it was everywhere. I’ve always shopped Stella McCartney starting with when she put Chloe’ back on the map. She’s certainly no slacker kid from rock-n-roll royalty. I was especially fond of her resort 2010 collection. Clean and modern, it looks great alongside Walker Zanger’s Michael Berman collection.

ADAM & CASA DOLCE CASA

Friends will tell you I’m all about sequins. But this resort trend was not sequins it was Cropped Sweaters. What’s going on there? Sweaters for summer? I’m always freezing so it’s good with me. But back to my favorite- sequins – I realized that I probably love small sparkly mosaics for the same reason I love sequins, starry skies, sparkles on frosting, dew drops, sun on sand…Anyway. Casa Dolce Casa’s Vetro series is a favorite probably because they are sequins in the form of tiles.

CELINE & TRIPOLI TILE

Chartreuse was the accent color this year in resort. That color, more green than yellow (or is it the other way around?) was everywhere in accessories- belts, shoes, bags, etc. I’m liking a touch of it, myself. Touch being the definitive word. Here, paired with Tripoli Tile’s modern porcelain hand made tiles. I’d never heard of this artisan studio in Brooklyn- but I’m sure liking their wares.

LOUIS VUITTON and STONE & PEWTER

All-over Pattern was another way to describe the “pattern is everywhere” resort trend this year. Here one of my favorite Stone & Pewter mosaics uses bamboo and resin to create kaleidoscope patterns from nature. Paired with Vuitton’s “Lucy goes on safari” look- it’s all mmm… good!

CHLOE’ AND TILEVERA

Hot Pants - not exactly a trend that everyone can pull off. But hey, if you’re into them- what better time to strut your stuff than during summer travel? Here Chloe’ has the season’s most elegant version of this resort trend in a shimmery tone that reminds me of our latest metallic hand painted stone series from Tilevera called -Lustre.

PRADA & ANN SACKS

Color Blocks were a big statement this year giving all the pattern a vibrant break. Ms. Prada has always had a great color eye, and here she has fun pairing colors that most of us wouldn’t be brave enough to combine. I loved this look with Ann Sacks‘ Starburst mosaic. Both are unexpectedly perfect together.

GIAMBATTISTA VALLI & ELLEN BLAKELEY

Wedding gowns for this season were anything but traditional. I’m never big on this category – generally full of meringues- but this season it was refreshingly alternative. Giambattista Valli got it right with his sweet, but involved, gown trimmed in modern details. It reminded me of Ellen Blakeley‘s mosaic work- a traditional format with a modern edge.

Tile Envy is traveling the entire month of August. What a relief we all know what to wear!

Last of July news-

admin — Mon, 02 Aug 2010 06:23:49 +0000

I just discovered the latest colors from Emery et Cie from July. So as we pass from July to August – hope you enjoy these signature color groups.

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(be sure to check out all the colors at emeryetcie.com)

August is here and on it’s way is travel month. Stay tuned!

Tile Salon – July 2010

admin — Thu, 29 Jul 2010 06:36:34 +0000

It’s Tile Salon – July 2010 and I’m pleased to say that I think I’m getting better at digging up monthly tile news. Key word- better. Now this doesn’t mean that there’s more of it- but it’s just not as grueling trying to find it.

And speaking of news, Uncle Rey has been so over me this month as I’ve requested a bunch of his assistance just to get facebook and twitter set up for Tile Envy. Regarding social networking, the gap between what he knows and what I DON’T KNOW- knows no bounds. But if you look just to the right you’ll see the latest icons you can click if you’d like to follow me on either or both. (I’m still figuring out what that means)

For now, all the best tile news for July 2010 happens to fit in perfectly with my “art month” -

From Inhabitat -

Anonymous utility buildings dot our cities, keeping the other buildings humming — but they’re almost never part of the aesthetic fabric of the urban scene.

Inhabit featured this unique addition to the cityscape of Roombeek. Named Stadshaard – dutch for “city hearth” – the building is the towns’ power plant providing light and heat while whimsically clad in 1 square meter Delftware tiles. Created by design firm Cie in collaboration with artist Hugo Kaagman, it is a celebration of the city’s delftware heritage.

(the building)

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(the tiles)

(the installation)

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(tile detail)

From Yanko Design-

Yanko Design featured these tiles from designer Yigit Ozer, proving there’s more to tile than being square.

Like an M.C. Escher drawing that has no end, neither will your design ideas with the Versatile Wall Tiles Collection by designer Yigit Ozer. This design concept is essentially a wide V shaped tile that has just the right proportions to allow for a multitude of pattern ideas to be arranged.

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(some of the possible patterns)

From designboom-

We’ve seen the combination of “stone and moss” laced into many a lyric and poem, however, I believe this is a first for the tile industry.

‘mosstile’ by italian company benetti stone is a vertical maintenance free garden.
it is made using a stabilized tile of lichen placed over top of an ecologically sound resin base,
ready to be installed on any kind of surface. it does not require irrigation or fertilization,
nor does it need to be pruned. ‘mosstile’ can be placed in rooms without natural light as
it is not dependent on any particular environmental conditions.

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benetti stone and moss tile

From Mocoloco -

Work by Québécois ceramicist Pascale Girardin can be found in a variety of high-profile spots all over North America, but for this month only a themed selection will be available in a pop-up shop in Old Montreal.

This was my favorite bit of news from July. First, I love these pop-up shops that have been the recent rage. But when I got a look at Pascale Girardin’s work, especially these special edition commemorative tiles celebrating retro Quebec, I had to do more research and have now become a new fan of the artistic ceramics from this celebrated artist.

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I was so pleased to see that this month’s tile salon complied with my art month theme. I’m surprised with the level of artistry that has been bubbling up this year. With a bit of digging, I think it’s clear that there are some truly artistic notions that are making their way into the world of tiles.

Keep calm and wobble on!

admin — Mon, 26 Jul 2010 20:51:33 +0000

This mantra probably rings true for all of us these days as we are reeling from the disaster caused by those lousy financial crooks on Wall Street. Don’t get me started!! So when I saw this post from If it’s hip, It’s here, I knew it was just the medicine for those times when one can feel a bit wobbly.

Here, the Gowanus Studio Space 2010 Jello-Mold Design Competition features some of the most creative Jello creations this side of mom’s lime-marshmallow surprise. Mmmm….

This year’s winning “entree’” by artist Shelly Sabel-

(aspic ascension – tastes like heaven)

Choosing to impress the judges who may religiously imbibe on a strong Bloody Mary to get their Sunday’s rolling, Shelly created her tomato aspic with a superior twist. OK, I’m having a bit of fun with this- but how can I not given the subject matter??

You’ve got to click here to check out the entire competition and meet all the winners and see all the fun. The creativity only begins with Shelly’s winner.

And if that’s not enough Jello fun for this hot, hot summer- how about cooling down in San Francisco where you’re always sure to need a sweatshirt and blanket even in the midst of July?

(san francisco skyline in Jello)

Here, Liz Hickok’s famous and ongoing Jello-by-the-bay reproduction in electrifying Jello shades is being filmed for future viewings.

(mission district being filmed)

I encourage you to read all about Hickok’s shaky San Francisco concoction- click here. The quality and magnitude (there I go again) of her work deserves more attention.

All that jiggling and no earthquake required!!