8 New Colors of Neolith

Neolith, the company that makes sintered stone products, has unveiled eight new models in their New Classtone Series, available exclusively in North America. Dedicated to sustainability, this product is all natural and 100% recyclable. Available in 1/4", 1/2" and 3/4" thicknesses, the New Classtone Series is also lightweight, waterproof, scratch resistant, easy to clean, bend resistant, and UV and high traffic resistant. But most impressive of all is the fact that the material is embedded with neoLEAT, a technology developed by neolith R&D&I. This technology makes the material ultra-hygienic by preventing the spread of bacteria such as listeria, monocytogenes and salmonella. Of course it does not have to be used only on kitchen counters or islands or in bathrooms...it can be used for flooring or wall cladding in any room!

Alexandra is a lovely soft veined material in cool greys and whites.

The Arabesque model features stronger, lace-like veining...

Calcatta Royale has medium veining in what appears to be warmer greige tone.

The Calista model is reminiscent of Silver Travertine with its gentle striations.

The Colorado Dunes model features grey and black geometric veining shot through with occasional traces of gold which recalls the jaggedness of the Rockies.

Niagara is a beautiful, dramatic black product that mimics Nero Marquino marble.

And finally, Whitehaven features an irregular pattern recalling cut geodes.

Happy designing!

Schluter: The Product You Never Knew You Needed

When I am hired to design a bathroom for a complete remodel, clients are always surprised at how many decisions there are to make. Of course that is why a client hires me, to take care of or guide them through the myriad choices and elements to consider. And one of the unexpected aspects of a bathroom remodel for clients is how tile edges are going to be finished. If a tiler puts a tile on the wall without thinking about how it is going to be edged, the raw, unglazed edge of the tile will be seen. And no one wants that. It is visually unappealing but it also exposes the corners to chipping and breaking.

In "the old days," a tile edge at the shower or bath tub was finished with what is known as a bullnose tile. Instead of being a flat tile, a bullnose tile has a slight rounded edge which returns to the wall.

A bullnose tile still has its uses and can look charming in certain bathroom settings, but clients now want bathrooms that are more contemporary, more sleek, and in these cases, there is a great way to edge tile that fits that bill.

There are a few companies that make metal edge strips but the premiere manufacturer (and they pretty much own the market) is Schluter-Systems. They are now the industry leader, so much so that when people speak about these metal edges for tile, they refer to them as Schluter, much the way people ask for a Kleenex when needing a tissue.

Founded in 1966 by Master Tile Setter Werner Schlüter, the metal edge idea was born in 1975. At first it was a simple "L" shaped piece of metal...one edge tucks behind the tile during installation and the other visible side hide the unglazed edge of the tile.

As you can see by the images below, there are many uses for a Schluter edge...they come in different finishes to coordinate with a color scheme or shower and sink hardware. They can be used to edge a niche, a wall, a shower entrance, anywhere an unglazed edge of tile will be seen.

There is a Schluter edge with a finer profile, appropriately called Finec, for those who don't want to see as much of the metal finish.

A square edge called Quadec provides better coverage around the edges of niches.

For a softer look, the Rondec is gently curved.

For a different type of design, there is the Schluter Diadec which is angled at 45 degrees, and the Indec which is indented allowing for a unique look.

The Schluter Designline offers the chance to insert a decorative band of metal or color in any design scheme.

And for even more design, the Quadec-FS is an in-wall double-rail strip profile featuring a recessed section to which field or accent tile is bonded.

Of course not just for bathrooms, a metal edge Schluter strip can be used anywhere one can install tile. They are extremely useful in kitchens to edges a backsplash and I have even used them on fireplace breasts to edge tile.

Finally, Schluter is not just for walls. The Schiene profile for floors is ideal for creating elegant transitions between same-height floor coverings.

If you have a bathroom you've been yearning to remodel, contact me and we can put Schluter to work for you!

Happy designing!

Timberwall: Peel and Stick Rustic Walls In Minutes!

I love when I discover new products and Timberwall, a company based in Canada, has developed a way to get that coveted modern-rustic look quickly and easily with peel and stick wood products.

Some products come in peel and stick planks like the Barnwood item shown below in Driftwood Grey and Heritage Brown.

Their Landscape product seen below in Arctic and Urban comes in varying thicknesses so the resulting application is raised in some spots creating a more organic feel and adding even more visual interest with depth and shadows.

I'm crazy about their Mosaic series which comes in a Basketweave pattern, shown in Oak Brown and Oak Grey...

...and the Chessboard pattern in Ash Brown and Oak White. The mosaic series is sold in sheets which makes application even easier.

I'll be specing this for my next client who wants an organic-urban touch...
Happy designing!