Cement Tile Creates Luxurious Lido for Hotel

By Bill Buyok, Avente Tile

Cement tiles have the ability to create luxurious, rich designs in any environment; but, the effect is breathtaking and awesome when applied to commercial applications for restaurants and hotels because of their grand scale. The lobby of this upscale ocean-front Caribbean resort opens up to a beach via this lido that welcomes guests and invites them to relax, linger and enjoy the view.

Cement tiles create a luxurious lido for this hotel property.

Cement tile works well with the grand scale of commercial design. 

While it's hard to improve upon the beauty of cement tile, the use of a large sweeping arch in this installation provides a soft, organic curve that plays with the stylized floral pattern. The effect is breathtaking and apropos for the beach setting and view.

Non-rectilinear cement tile installations amplify the tile's eye-catching effect.

The cement tile for this commercial installation provides an opulent tapestry. The sumptuous design is enhanced by choosing a layout that includes a large sweeping arch and grand scale. The Traditional Sosua pattern makes use of rich, complex colors that add to the grandeur. I love the use of Indigo with yellow, gold and suede in this color palette:

• Heritage Sugar Cookie
• Heritage Tibetan Gold
• Heritage Suede
• Heritage Fire Brick
• Heritage Indigo

DESIGN TIP - For a dramatic effect, create a circular rug or large arch with patterned cement tile. This type of layout requires expert installation skills and planning. Because each tile has to be cut, both material and installation costs will be more. However, the effect is nothing short of stunning.

Attention to detail and good planning are key to more complicated tile layouts.

If you want to create a luxurious design or make a statement that will be remembered, consider using cement tiles in your design. The rich colors and detailing in the patterns can't be missed!

Cement tiles in rich colors and detailed patterns make a luxurious statement for this hotel.

If you'd like to see more photos from this commercial installation, then please view the slideshow below, or click to view Sosua Cement Tile Creates Luxury Lounge for Hotel Property.



Cement tiles are a great choice for luxury commercial design. If you are a design pro in the hotel, hospitality, or restaurant design industry, use cement tile to create a custom look that stands out. Need some design inspiration for your next commercial design project? Take a look at these commercial cement tile installations.

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Commercial Cement Tile Design Ideas

Cement Tile Border Pattern Creates Charming Patio

By Bill Buyok, Avente Tile

Cement tiles naturally create an Old World ambiance with their traditional patterns and color variations that occur from being a hand-crafted product. For this Italian restaurant, using cement tiles was an obvious choice not only for their time-tested durability, but also for their effortless ability in helping to create a quaint, yet sophisticated, atmosphere.

This Italian restaurant uses a cement tile border pattern in rows to create charm.

The cement tile rugs for this commercial installation feature rows, or "stripes of pattern," using our Yuna border pattern. While there may not be anything inherently Italian about the pattern, the choice of color and rich detailing create a look from another era.

For a different take on the cement tile rug, consider using border patterns laid in rows.

Using only border patterns, create a cement tile rug by laying the border pattern in rows next to one another. You'll notice the motif changes drastically, depending on whether you're looking at the "stripes" straight-on or at an angle. This effect is great at grabbing the attention of passersby, and we're told, it has also helped pull curious and hungry customers into the restaurant.

A cement tile border pattern can be used to create a rug.

The pattern's motif appears to change based on the angle you are viewing it from.

The changes in the pattern create eye-catching appeal and interest.

The flexibility of cement tile in design is amazing. Notice how well this motif works with the Roman columns and marble architectural details around the windows? Thanks to the pattern and classic color choices used in this bistro project, these cement tiles have effortlessly created an outdoor dining patio and entry reminiscent of an Italian hillside eatery.

DESIGN TIP - Using only border patterns, you can create a cement tile rug by laying the border pattern in rows next to one another. You'll notice the motif will noticeably change, depending on whether you're looking at the "stripes" straight-on or at an angle.

If you'd like to see more photos from this commercial installation, then please view the slideshow below, or click to view Yuna Border Makes a Striking Floor.



With all of the color and pattern customization options available, it's easy to see why cement tiles are a designer's dream. If you are a hospitality, restaurant, or commercial design professional, then handmade cement tile is the Design Line that can work for you! Don't hesitate to contact us. We have the extensive knowledge and skill needed to make your vision come to life. But, don't take our word for it, take a look at these cement tile commercial installations.

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Cement Tile Pattern Sets Theme for Resort Restaurant

By Bill Buyok, Avente Tile

Pattern adds detail and interest and often, very secretly infuses subtle meaning into a design. While color creates the atmosphere, the pattern's motif provides a sense of style and place when executed correctly ‒ especially in commercial hospitality design for restaurants. For instance, a simple fleur-de-lis can help transport you to France.

Patterned cement tiles (like the Geometric one shown here),
help provide a sense of style and place in commercial design.

If you read Arpi's recent post on Interlocking Circles: The Power and History of Pattern in Design, you begin to understand the power (and history) of this pattern and why it can evoke such a powerful spell that creates a sense of time and place with its style. While the interlocking circle pattern has its roots in Islamic culture, its clean form also works well with the Japanese restaurant design showcased in this post.

There are two things I want to explore within this post. The first is how the motif appears to change based on how close or how far away you are. The the other is how the motif for the Geometric (Geo 10) pattern is maintained throughout the restaurant. The repetition of the motif helps maintain a sense of time and place along with other well-chosen design and decorative elements.

This Japanese Steak House uses well-chosen decorative
items that work with the pattern to maintain a theme.

The large, oversized carpets welcome guests and also provide patio-style dining outside. As you can see, a very simple 4"x8" white border is used to frame the rug while providing a seamless transition to the large stone pavers.

The Geo 10 pattern (8"x8") is framed with a simple 4"x8" white border.

The motif of the interlocking circles changes as your perspective and distance from the pattern changes.

The motif of the pattern changes as your perspective and distance changes.

The motif is barely discernible from a distance; but, the detail catches the attention of your eye and draws you near.

From a distance, cement tile patterns catch
your attention and draw you near.

Did you notice the circle pattern on the entry doors above? Inside this Japanese-themed restaurant, you'll find an antique hand-carved door frame.

Design details complement pattern to create style,
sense, and place for successful commercial design.

Take a closer look at the door details, and you'll find the interlocking circle pattern subtly establishes and reinforces a sense of time and place. The large interlocking tile pavers provide a sharp contrast to the smooth circle design while providing interest.

The interlocking circle motif is repeated in other design details.

I hope you enjoyed the brief tour showing how cement tiles and patterns helped to create a successful, cohesive theme for this Japanese Steak House. Because they are so durable, cement tiles are an excellent choice for commercial floor applications, or high-traffic residential spaces.

The use of cement tile in high-traffic areas is quite common throughout Europe and South America where it can be seen on the floors of centuries-old churches, homes and businesses.

Further, with these highly durable products comes longevity. Cement tiles have withstood centuries of wear, which is an important factor for commercial floors. Cement tile's strength lies in its beauty, its skid-resistance, and most notably, its ability to age gracefully since the manufacturing process dictates for the color layer to be 1/8"-thick. I'll be sharing more commercial installations of cement tile over the next few months.

Avente's Geo 10 cement tile pattern in black and white

As you can see, Avente's Geometric line, or Geo Cement Tiles, pay distinct homage to the time-tested and centuries-old patterns. However, with nearly 90 colors in the Heritage Color Palette, you can customize them to fit any color scheme or style. They work equally well in contemporary and traditional styles. With all of the available options and choices for color and customization, it's easy to see why cement tiles are a designer's dream. If you are a hospitality, restaurant, or commercial design professional, our "design line" of cement tile can work for you! Don't hesitate to contact us. We have the knowledge and skill needed to make your design come to life in tile.

See Our Geometric Cement Tiles Patterns

Cement Tiles Add to the Impeccable Details of Tucson-Area Restaurant

By Bill Buyok, Avente Tile. All photos provided by Sally Kane

I must begin this post by saying, thanks! Thanks to a very smart, extremely motivated, and very inspiring entrepreneur, Sally Kane! We just happened to meet because she called to talk about cement tile for her new restaurant, The Coronet, in Tucson, Arizona.

The Coronet is a brasserie style restaurant featuring Old World cuisine and cement tile!

Now, Sally is one of those people who has passion and takes ownership of every part of her project. She's good at what she does; from color choice and tile design, to finding just the right plates and chairs for her bistro, to hiring the right team. She has every detail down. And, we haven't even started talking about the menu.

It was almost a year ago she called to order the Heritage Solid Color Chip Set for her cement tile project. Soon after the color chips arrived, she had decided on the palette: a mix of lovely greens on a classic pattern and border also boldly applied to a geometric pattern. She had "done up" some full size renderings using crayons in the closest match to the color chips. She wanted to know what I thought.

Cement tile renderings by Sally Kane

Sally mentioned she had this painting that would be the focal point of the main dining room and the tile pattern and colors should draw you to the painting; but, not take your attention away. The painting, El Morocco, is by Jerome Carlin and depicts a well-healed family having dinner in a nice restaurant.  

El Morocco by Jerome Carlin is a focal point in the main dining room of The Coronet.

I questioned, “What type of restaurant is this going to be? What type of food, style, and ambiance do you want to convey?” Sally replied, “It will be a French-style bistro. But, don’t box me in. It will honor that style but not slavishly follow the tradition!" I could see it all working together now. The Traditional French floor tile in cool Misty Jade with hints of bold Peapod set against a complex Pearl Grey and defining Jet Black. Yes, the pattern was honoring the style in a new and fresh way. The colors and pattern added to the main dining room's focal point -- the painting. I remember being very impressed with Sally's effortless ability to have all the details of the design working together.

After she placed the order for this commercial installation, I asked if she wanted to see strike-off samples before proceeding with the full order. Feeling confident with her design, she didn't even bat an eye when she replied, "No." She patiently awaited her tiles, which arrived with some damage from the carrier and incorrect trim. We worked to resolve the problems, while Sally patiently allowed us the time to correct her order!

The Traditional Fleur-de-Lis quarter cement tile pattern with Macoris Border tile.

A Geometric Diamond cement tile pattern was the choice for the bathrooms.

Sally was kind of enough to keep me updated with the progress of the work through The Coronet's Facebook Page. I loved seeing the thought that went into the layout, installations, and progress.

The Fleur-de-Lis and Macoris Border in a dry layout.

Sally Kane inspecting the installation.

The Cement tile carpet install is complete!

 And, the progress with the bathrooms and concrete sink. Notice the texture on the Venetian Plaster walls.

A bold geometric pattern for the lavatory was selected.

The pattern used in the lavatory is Avente's Traditional Diamond handmade cement tile.

Finally, one of my favorite effects is the use of plain tile throughout the restaurant. The subtle variation in tone creates a sophisticated, Old World charm that you just don't find in manufactured tile. Here's a great shot that showcases the color variation.

Plain cement tile creates visual interest with their natural color variation.

Well, there is so much more I could share about this amazing woman and the stunning space she has created. All I've done is talk about the tile! The food is already getting great reviews and if you find yourself in Tucson, Arizona, please stop by The Coronet. Sally says, "The Coronet is a brasserie style restaurant with Old World rustic cuisine and a cute, yet full, bar." You are sure to find quiet music, a big patio, good shade, outstanding coffee, and some stunning cement tile! All of us at Avente Tile wish you much success, Sally Kane!