Dustin’s Staff Pick : Classic Stone Slate in Montauk Black

October 31, 2012 //

You can’t see it but it sparkles subtly

This month has been busy for stone. We’ve had so much coming through the samples department from all over the world. This from our Classic Stone Series is my current favorite. Slate originates from shale that was deposited in clay beds. It is a fine-grained material that is cut into smooth sheets and used on roofs, as tile or in furniture. All natural building materials have some shade variation – the movement through this reminds me of storm clouds. The quartz and hematite deposits in it add a subtle sparkle. If you’d like a sample piece to consider for your commercial project, contact samples@designanddirectsource.com.

Categories Staff Picks, Uncategorized

Csilla’s Staff Pick : CW and Cascade Series, Divet

September 18, 2012 //

Cascade Series, Divet : A new custom made shape available in any color.

We frequently use our capability to customize for our customers and this is my favorite result so far. From our CW and Cascade series, we offer “Divet” . It’s soft oval relief highlights the deep colors of our CW series and the fluid-like transparent glazing of our Cascade Series. The best part is that any color is achievable for this tile – we just need a pantone, paint chip or other color swatch. It’s already affordable (starting at $7.50/SF) but it mixing it in as an accent for field tile of the same color can create a sophisticated look on a small budget.

Tags Cascade Series, Custom tile, Divet Tile

Categories Staff Picks

Megan’s Staff Pick : Eastern Stone Green Onyx

September 18, 2012 //

Green Onyx can have many colors

I’ve been in love with all the different types of Green Onyx we’ve sourced for a recent project. The customer will have their pick of true greens, mint, emerald but this one is my favorite. It’s like looking into a hot spring pool, with swirls of differing deposits. This piece came in with such a range of colors : rose, cream, rust, brown, caramel, and then of course the greens.

Even though our Eastern Stone Onyxes can be customized from slab to tile to mosaics, I can’t imagine cutting this beauty up!

Categories Staff Picks

Stevanie’s Staff Pick : Umi Series “Row”

September 18, 2012 //

“Row” features rustic, “aged” color.

All of our Umi Series tile have a look about them which evokes nature. The color palette for “Row” especially has those soft spring, winter white, summer heat and autumn leaves.

An exterior tile, it would look amazing in plazas, gardens, or courtyards.

The color variation of many of the Umi series styles allows them the feeling that they are an organic piece of the atmosphere in which they are placed.

Categories Staff Picks

Suzanne’s Staff Pick: Cev Series, Build metallics

July 26, 2012 //

These gold bricks don’t cost a fortune.

For as long as I’ve been working with Ann, metallic tiles have usually been almost prohibitively expensive (particularly real metallic tiles!) for large projects. Relegated to small accents or woven in among complement tile, it doesn’t hit it’s full brilliant potential. ”Build” metallics from our Cev series break the mold on this, offering multiple metallic options at a very low cost. Within this series there are golds, silver, pewter, burnished, gunmetal and we’ve even done custom metallic colors in both glossy and matte. There are also a variety of sizes available. Here’s our latest match in a 2×8 :

Cev Series, “Build” in gunmetal 2×8

Tags cev, gold tile, metallic tile, pewter tile, silver tile, subway tile

Categories Staff Picks

Rena’s Staff Pick : Ascot Series “Hourglass”

July 26, 2012 //

Hourglass’s unique shape, print and colors allow for many installation options.

When we first got this tile in, it seemed to me that something with such a shape, which also had so much going on, could only be used as an accent. We’ve seen that it’s not at all true. While it looks amazing as built-in headboard accent like this:

Hourglass as a headboard accent wall.

It also can be a utilitarian floor, like this:

Scratched steel look

Hourglass’s versatility makes more simplistic accents possible as well:

Simple Black and White

Tags ascot, deco tile, shape

Categories Staff Picks

Sarah’s Staff Pick : Marrakesh Series, Cement in “Serengeti”

July 26, 2012 //

Cement “Serengheti” comes in any color combination you’d like, this classic combo is stocked domestically.

We’ve gotten in so many decorative floor tiles lately for sampling and projects. Many porcelains mock classic Cement tiles (like our new “Ilse”, “Umberto” or “Anslemo” Deco Floor) but our Marrakesh Series is completely authentic. The process involves pressing cement, sand, color pigment and marble powder into the mold then backed in regular cement and pressed with 2000 lbs of pressure. This gives the cement tiles a greater wear layer of color and design. The designs on our website are domestically stocked however, if there is time in your project, you can get custom colors and many more designs. Email me or Stevanie for the full design and color listing.

Marrakesh Installation – one of the many options.

Categories Staff Picks

Megan’s Staff Pick : Eden Series TI

July 24, 2012 //

Eden Series, TI features unique texturing

Our sample department features thousands of tried and true, colorful, porcelains and ceramic tiles – the sort you’d see in any commercial or public bathroom. But even before I began my degree in textiles (2 more years, woohoo!), I found myself drawn to the tiles with different textures and especially those that look like cloth. TI from the Eden Series has a texture like rough woven cloth pressed into porcelain. This particular line has complementary textured tile which can stand alone or be used as trim. Both can be used on floor and wall.

Eden Series, TI, bar install

Tags Eden, Megan, textured tile, TI

Categories Staff Picks

Stevanie’s Staff Pick : Architectural Reclaimed Wood

July 24, 2012 //

This piece had natural blue-ish purple tones, could be an amazing accent piece.

Reclaimed Pacific Ocean pier

Last week, I had the pleasure of visiting our reclaimed wood facility and seeing the full process behind how our new products are developed and produced.

One of the things that is so very “pacific northwest” is to be hard-core recyclers and sustainability focused, our guys take it to the ultimate level. Every bit of waste wood and sawdust from production is recycled, the shop is wired for maximum electrical efficiency using 3-phase power for most major equipment, the furniture products are produced in such a way as to allow for easy recycling at the end of use as well. They truly consider the entire lifespan of everything they produce.

There is careful consideration of matching up reclaimed wood (which have a variety of character profiles based on origin and/or first usage) to the end product; I saw wood reclaimed from Pacific piers, from fallen urban trees, and large support posts from old buildings as flooring, casework, ceilings, commercial furnishings, and custom accent pieces.

Some of the pieces are entering into not just secondary but tertiary usage. We are very excited by the response thus far to our reclaimed wood program. It’s incredible what had been considered “waste” can become.

Marble – look Spalted wood slab

For additional information, please contact me : stevanie@designanddirectsource.com

Wine bar. Our team can develop nearly any concept in reclaimed wood.

Spenny Wood, custom arch and ceiling.

Tags reclaimed wood, spennywood

Categories Staff Picks

Megan’s Staff Pick: Italian Stone Collection

July 9, 2012 //

Green Cipollino is my absolute favorite.

Ever since we brought this stone in for a specific project, I’ve been carrying it from samples and back wishing that I could have a garment that looked like this. It’s like Oregon’s foamy pacific ocean green just after storms; it reminds me of my Oregon coast childhood home.

Categories Staff Picks