Exquisite Inspiration

The 2011 Annual Kips Bay Decorator Show House featured 23 of the industry’s most creative and prominent decorators and designers in Manhattan.

Kips Bay is one of New York’s most beloved events. Artistic Tile products were prominently featured in both bathrooms of the home, as well as the kitchen and butler’s pantry.

Here is a peek at our favorites!

Smoke Stone cut into a Stilato Pattern and brilliantly installed in a chevron pattern.

Designed by Joy Licht, Cayley Barrett Associates.

La Leaf Glass in a Custom Treble pattern is featured behind the cooktop.

In the main kitchen, Artistic's Toldeo Classique in Crema Marfil and Calacatta Gold grace the walls of the backsplash.

The treble pattern is featured in Bourbon Street Carmel adorning the backsplash of the kitchen's pantry.

All products available through Decorative Materials. Photos courtesy of Artistic Tile. All three backsplashes designed by Regina Bilotta, Bilotta Kitchen.

Moroccan Magic

If you couldn’t quite seem to fit in that spur of the moment trip to Morocco this season, let our recent Moroccan inspired vignette transport you.

Our interlocking and organically inspired Fez Mosaic in four distinct colors of glass creates a whimsical pattern of its own. Lights bounces and plays across the subtle texture.

Calacatta Gold Marble from Artistic Tile created a neutral backdrop to build from. The floor of Ocean Blue Vein Cut Marble, also provided by Artistic Tile, speaks to the surge of on-trend vein cut material.

Wet Style’s dramatic F Collection vanity in Wenge and Be Collection Sinks bring the vignette to life.

And we all know, tile installation is a crucial component of the finished product! So choose your installer wisely. Thank you to Lambert Tile & Stone, “Dan The Tile Man” Lambert, for making this such a stunning vignette!



'Tinis and Tile

In case you missed it, below is a preview of what was recently unveiled at Decorative Materials Denver!

Artistic Tile’s Cloud Vein Cut custom cut to 6”x24” and installed in a herringbone pattern paired with Ziva Leaves 16”x16” in Bianco Carrara. The icing on the cake is certainly the rectangular integrated sink from Vitraform that appears to effortlessly float!

Decorative Materials new Velvet Porcelain in 16”x32” reflects the latest European trend of large format. Trust us, we’ve recently been there and checked out the latest and greatest! Velvet is available at our Denver warehouse in three shades.

Jerusalem Petite Wave 3”x12” creates dramatic texture with the saw cut and chiseled finish. Petite Wave is also ready for pickup at our Denver warehouse.  

Thanks to everyone who joined us and for those who missed it, be sure to stop by!



A Successful Love Triangle

In case you missed our Continuing Education Seminar: The Client, The Contractor and You: A Love Triangle, presented by Josh Levinson, President of Artistic Tile at our Denver showroom, we’re presenting the high points in a three-part series-

Techniques to Take You From a Failed Love Triangle to a Happy Trio!

No one wants a failed marriage or a spurned ex- so do what you can to avoid pitfalls!

Our first topic from the love doctor is “Product and Contractor Selection”- How to Find that Match Made in Heaven!

1. Set Up Your Client and Product on a Speed Date

In order to choose an appropriate product, you need to first evaluate the clients’ lifestyle. Ask them (and yourself) these quick questions: Do they entertain? Do they have kids or pets? What are their expectations about the product? Are they wiling to care for it appropriately? Considering the answers to these questions will lead you the best marriage of product and client and move you closer to a satisfied client/ designer/ installer love triangle!

2. Love Your Sub and Your Clients Will Love You (and the Product!)

How do you find an installer who is your soul mate? Take the expert matchmaker’s advice: conduct interviews, check references, review portfolios, ask about their training, and determine their experience installing these specific materials. Remember, the lowest quote isn’t always the best quote.

3. Show, Don’t Tell, and Collaborate

Precise layouts and sketches help explain the designer’s vision to both the client and the installer. Set up a date between the installer, the designer, and the client to go over product layout, the transition of materials, electrical outlets in relation to borders, and placing unsightly cuts in least visible corners. Dry lying of product ensures proper placement and blending. With vein cut materials, pay attention to the orientation of veining in the design. Client involvement at layout is absolutely critical.

4. Harmonious Relationships

Wet stone will look darker than samples- make sure the client and contractor know that product must be dry for the end user to evaluate the look properly. Materials must be clean to ensure proper bond. Dirt is a bond breaker.

5. Trust: The Bond of Every Relationship

The client has to find a designer and contractor that they trust and express their vision fully; the designer must translate their design inspiration to the contractor completely, and the contractor- the steward of this project- has to bring it to reality.

Stay tuned to As The Tile Turns for the next segment, Get to Know Your Contractors Products.

Stay Educated & Informed- Continuing Education Next Week!

Join Decorative Materials Denver to sharpen and enhance your tile knowledge through Continuing Education!

Wednesday, May 4th, 2:30pm: Genuine Stone: A Natural Choice for Sustainable Design

An introduction to sustainable design and the sustainability movement, and descriptions of how genuine stone makes an appropriate, natural material design choice that will contribute to a sustainable design solution over a project's life cycle.

The course presentation length is one hour. This course is IDCEC approved and will afford ASID and IIDA members 0.1 CEUs under the Welfare Designation.

START DAY TWO WITH A BRAIN BOOST!

Thursday, May 5th, 9:00am: The Client, The Contractor and You: A Love Triangle

This seminar covers the learning objectives of product selection and design, installation preparation and layout, as well as proper choice of setting materials and installation techniques, all aimed at enabling the design professional to work more closely with their client and the contractor to ensure successful tile and stone installations.

The course presentation length is one hour.

This course is IDCEC approved an will afford ASID and IIDA members 0.1CEUs under the Health and Safety Designation.

Josh Levinson, President of Artistic Tile Wholesale Division, is a frequent presenter to the trade. Years of practical knowledge gained through job site visits, quarry tours, factory inspections, and educational seminars have made him a sought after resource.

RSVP to kristenw@decorativematerials.com or 303.722.1333. Presentations will be held at Denver showroom.

A $12 filing fee per course (via check or credit card) will apply to participants interested in applying for NCIDQ credit.