Home Improvement

You want a shrub in that dry corner, but no shrub will work. You want something that looks different. You want superlow maintenance. I've got just the right perennial for you: Baptisia is a quick-growing, uniquely blooming wildflower native to areas from the U.S. Central Plains to the East Coast. It...

When someone works in a vintage shop whose fanatic following includes set designers for Mad Men, youd expect the person's home to be something of a knockout. Self-professed thrift queen and part-time Casa Victoria employee Nicole Paulus...

Isnt it funny that so many of our young children ignore their presents in favor of the box? And why not? A box isnt just a box. Its a fort, a rocket ship, a car, a boat ... And the same idea goes for outdoor playscapes. Jungle gyms can be a fun addition to a yard, but the importance of free...

Tile of Spain's exhibit at Coverings 2013. Image courtesy of Tile of Spain. Ceramic tile use throughout Spain is prolific. Not only can it be seen on the floors and walls of Spanish churches and palaces, but ceramic tile also plays an integral role in the everyday functioning of modern homes, hospitals, educational centers, hospitality and commercial applications. At Coverings 2013, held recently in Atlanta, the Tile of Spain marked its 26th year in exhibiting Spanish innovation at the annual tile and stone show. The Tile of Spain international brand represents 125 ceramic tile manufacturers belonging to the Spanish Ceramic Tile Manufacturers’ Association (ASCER). Tile of Spain's pre-Coverings catalog of the 43 ceramic tile and stone manufacturers slated to exhibit at the show. Collectively, the advanced ceramic tile technology and architectural/design solutions presented during Coverings by 43 Tile of Spain members made an unforgettable, awe-inspiring impression for any visitor of the expansive pavilion. Further, true to their eco-friendly stance, Tile of Spain’s Spanish Pavilion booth was constructed of 100% recycled cardboard and organic dyes. “Made by the company ECOWALL, it was created with modular cardboard pieces joined together by small connectors. The use of ECOWALL reduced the costs of transportation, building, storage and is environmentally friendly,” Tile of Spain noted. Now, here are some of the highlights of the ceramic tile products seen at the Spanish Pavilion. Apavisa’s new Vintage collection is a handmade, contemporary collection reminiscent of days gone by. Also from Apavisa is the three-dimensional Archconcept series (shown here) that continually defies imagination. www.apavisa.com Grespania showcased the marble looks of its Numancia (shown above) and Icaria porcelain floor tiles in 60x60cm and 30x60cm sizes. Java, Daino and Nepal wall tiles were introduced as well. www.grespania.com Keraben showcased its Maderia series, part of the company’s Home Collection, which takes its inspiration from natural wood. Available in nine shades, Madeira features a gently rippled surface. www.keraben.com Taking center stage at the La Platera booth were the Copper (shown above), Crosscut and Pietra Roma collections. Using digital technology, these ceramic tiles mimic the look of natural stone. The Incanto line, which combines 12 different graphics of stone, concrete, wood and marble, was also on display. www.laplatera.com Levantina featured its 3mm-thick Techlam series of ceramic tile. The large yet lightweight panels (measuring up to 1000x3000mm), offer versatility in size, color, durability, and installation flexibility, including as a cladding system (ventilated façade). www.levantina.com Onix presented its FuseGlass 1"x1" mosaic tile which artfully combines textures and effects. Onix offers a wide selection of colors, ranging from the neutrals (white, beige, grey) to striking blacks, golds, silvers and browns. All of ONIX's new collections are made of 98% recycled glass. www.onixmosaico.com From Pamesa was the debut of the Thule series of inkjet wall and floor red body tiles. Its Reef series of porcelain tiles, available in six colors and three formats, were also attention-getters! www.pamesa.com Inspired by wood and marble, the Tarima and Sande series by STN Ceramica had visitors gawking. The show-stoppers -- Hexagon (shown above), Orion and Planet wall tile series -- each offered additional inspiration with their various surfaces and textures. www.stylnul.es I hope you enjoyed this brief walk through the Tile of Spain Pavilion. For more information about these and additional Spanish tile manufacturers, please visit www.tileofspainusa.com. Remember, Coverings 2014 will be held April 29 through May 2 in Las Vegas at the Las Vegas Convention Center. Hope to see you there! Finally, for additional sources for Spanish, Moorish and Arabesque ceramic tile designs, color

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I'm decompressing after a four-day-and-night immersion in creativity at #ICFF, #WantedDesign, and the showrooms at the A&D building and in SoHo. [I've documented a snippet of the panoply of color, texture, and form in videos on my Twitter feed, @kbculture, should you care to take a look.] This kitchen, a space of stillness and distinction, is a fine tonic to the recent hubbub. There's something about the pull between the empty, open height of the room and the dense materiality of the burl and marble island that brings me back to earth—aesthetically speaking. roseuniacke.com

Mirror was used everywhere in the house in the 1980s. Today it's making a strong comeback on kitchen backsplashes. Today's mirror treatments are so varied that it's easy to find a style that can work in your home. From traditional to antiqued, mirror can add light, space and bling. Take a look at some...

When Stan Adamik and Jason Charney moved from a clapboard Cape Codstyle house in rural Pittsburgh to a modern loft 10 minutes from downtown, they faced a dilemma: how to make their traditional furnishings work in a more urban setting.Rather than force their loft into a traditional...

I bet I know what youre doing right now. Youre looking for ideas for your garden, hoping to find that one inspiring photo that starts your creative juices flowing. The one that results in an ah ha! moment and breaks a stubborn case of designers block. I encourage my students...

From pale, soft buttery yellows to bold, zingy citrus hues, yellow is a happy color that can bring energy and warmth into a space. It's an especially smart color choice for those who live in cold climates or where sunshine is in short supply you can fake it with a hot, sunny hue on the wall. But...