New & Old Cement Tile Patterns Heat up the Strip

By Bill Buyok, Avente Tile.

Greetings from Las Vegas! This week I'm in Las Vegas making my yearly pilgrimage to Coverings 2014, an annual tile trade show.

Avente Tile Owner, Bill Buyok, in front of the Cuban Heritage Tile Mural at the Tropicana.

As I conclude my final post on playing with pattern in tile design, I'm excited to share a unique wall installation of our classic, popular Cuban tiles and our newest line of cement tile offered by Aguayo Cement Tile. That's yours truly seated at a wall installation of our popular Cuban Heritage Design 140 1A 8" x 8" Handmade Cement Tile at the Tropicana Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas. Avente Tile supplied this unique installation when the resort completed a remodel a few years ago.

A wall tile mural installation at the Tropicana of Cuban Heritage Cement Tile

Guillermo & Tania Collection

Guillermo and Tania is the sixth collection of unique cement tiles offered by Aguayo Cement Tiles that are created by artists from the Dominican Republic. These unique tiles showcase the artist's skills and elevate cement tile to functional art. This collection, created by artists Guillermo Gomez Lama and Tania Marmolejo, features eight different designs - each presented in three colorways. All tiles are in the 10-inch square format. The collection features new, contemporary designs that are ideal for commercial and residential spaces.

Guillermo & Tania Collection is a new cement tile line from Avente.

 One of may favorite new patterns from Guillermo is "Asterisk" in a bold blue colorway.

Asterisk is a new, contemporary cement tile pattern

Lama is a visual artist, graphic designer, paper lover and obsessed with both patterns and the production process. His work's influences are based on vibration and repetitions of experimental electronic music, mosaics, and the patterns of human behavior. His work is also influenced by the art of lithography and giants in that field, such as Andy Warhol and Peter Gee.

The influence of Lama's graphic design background and lithography are apparent in this cement tile pattern.

Also, I love the flowing, organic patterns of Tania, and a personal favorite is Bloom. The motif creates a three-dimensional effect as the petals converge on each bloom.

Tania Marmolejo's Bloom cement tile pattern

For this project, Tania uses the line as a design element. She uses an eclectic mix of Swedish textile designs and Caribbean themes, such as tropical gardens and the sea.

Wave is a new cement tile pattern by Tania Marmolejo

I'm looking forward to the show and celebrating 25 years of Coverings. I've been attending the show for over a decade.

Coverings 2014 is at the Las Vegas Convention Center

If you happen to be at the show, stop by Booth #19002 and say hello! 

Aguayo Cement Tile Booth #19002 at Coverings 2014

You'll love the new patterns; but, you'll also be able to see some of our classic patterns that are as popular today as they were when Aguayo first introduced them over a decade ago. We'll also be sharing more of the Guillermo and Tania collection here, and it will soon be available for purchase at Avente Tile.

Designing with Tile: Fireplaces & Hearths

An ever-increasing back-to-basics philosophy is leading homeowners towards the path of refreshing and renewing the look of their living areas. Be it a fresh coat of paint, updated flooring, dramatic lighting, and so on, the need for a soothing environment trumps even the most prudent of budgets.

Happily, along with this desire for something new and different, fireplaces are also enjoying their place in the renewal process with the limitless decorative possibilities of handmade cement tile, porcelain tile, glass tile, ceramic tile, and mosaic tile.

An inviting fireplace with charming handpainted tiles

The increased awareness of tile’s long-lasting beauty has not only made kitchen and bathroom backsplashes a showpiece, but the same theory has held true for fireplace hearths and surrounds as well. With a surge in home remodeling projects and newly built homes, homeowners are looking for something different and more personalized to their taste, character and lifestyle. Designers, bloggers, and design-oriented publications have dutifully observed this trend, and have embraced the use of decorative tile fireplaces.

Tile offers flexibility to the architect and designer like no other material with its expansive color palette, sustainable properties, and timeless patterns and designs. Let's first look at handcrafted cement tiles, which provide both long life and distinctive beauty.

Using a gray-scale color palette, or any other monochromatic color scheme, creates a look that is understated, yet beautiful. Consider a two-tone color scheme (shown below) if you'd like to pair cement tile with natural stone. Although not one piece will stand out over another, all aspects of the space work together to create a cohesive design.

The gray and white tones of the Yuna traditional cement tiles frame this fireplace and perfectly coordinate with the marble hearth and mantle.

Further, the versatility of cement tile as a building material is not restricted solely to indoor spaces. You can transfer the same rich and silky feeling of cement tile to the outdoors where you and your guests can experience a new environment.

Remember, although cement tile can be used outdoors, it cannot be used in frosty environments. If your project is located where frost or freezing temperatures are common, then you should use a porcelain or vitreous tiles for your project. Here are some wonderful examples of indoor/outdoor tile fireplaces.

Outdoor living area with a fireplace featuring a ceramic tile Pomegranate mural.

Spanish style fireplace with imported ceramic tiles.
Image via Studio H Landscape Architecture.

The firebox was built off the floor so the fire could be visible from the bed.
Moroccan tile from Urban Archaeology. Image via House Beautiful.

A mid-century modern, two-sided fireplace featuring tile by Heath Ceramics.
Image via Apartment Therapy.

Hand-painted Albacete Spanish ceramic tiles are right at home with the terracotta floor pavers, stone molding and black granite mantle and bench.

Bruce Palmer Interior Design used glass mosaic tiles by Walker Zanger to create a contemporary fireplace. Image via Houzz.

Which type of tile would you use for your next indoor or outdoor fireplace or hearth project? Do you prefer to make your fireplace a focal point of the room, or would you rather it blend in?

- Written by Arpi Nalbandian, Tileometry

Thanks Tile Heritage Foundation

There are few things I like more than seeing stunning tile installations, new tile designs and meeting creative tile artists! Let's just say I had a pretty stellar day last week when I was combing through the daily emails and found this curious email from the Tile Heritage Foundation.

SUBJECT: Tile Heritage WINNER! You are the recipient of two wonderful tile panels

Dear Bill,

HAPPY NEW YEAR! It’s our pleasure to let you know that your name has been drawn from the group of December 2013 THF Matching Fund Donors, "Fund the Founder's Legacy." You are the recipient of the two wonderful tile panels pictured below!

Sheila A. Menzies, Executive Director
Tile Heritage Foundation

Moonlight Mural Panel #1

Moonlight Mural Panel #2

Thank You THF & RTK Studios

Much to my surprise, as a donor, my name was included in a drawing for this pair of tile panels. What a thrilling surprise! Thank you Tile Heritage Foundation! What a joy to get such a lovely book-ended pair of exquisite tiles. Sheila explained that the Moonlight Mural panels are the creation of Richard Keit and Mary Kennedy of RTK Studios in Ojai, CA. They are both terrific and prolific artists with a curriculum vitae that includes royalty and Hollywood's A-list.  

 

Bill Buyok won this pair of tile panels from the THF in a drawing.

Thank you Richard and Mary - your kindness and support of the THF in this expression of art is greatly appreciated and will be fondly included as part of my Spanish-style home in Los Angeles. Yes, I already know where I want to incorporate this pair of tiles into my home. More on that later.

Donate to the Tile Heritage Foundation

As you might have guessed, I have long supported the Tile Heritage Foundation because of their tireless efforts to both preserve tile as an art form and to inform the public about ceramic tile. To find out more about this great and very generous organization, read a previous post I wrote called, Thanks to the Tile Heritage Foundation. They provide services and information through their staff, library, and collections. Currently, the THF is hard at work developing a web-accessed archive and index of their collection. Keeping these treasures in the public eye for posterity is part of strategic goal for this organization and one that I strongly support. I encourage you to Donate to the THF today!

Thanks again to the Tile Heritage Foundation, Sheila Menzies, and Richard Keit and Mary Kennedy of RTK Studios for providing me with so much joy! Receiving the Moonlight Mural tile panels made for a truly tileicious day! - Bill Buyok, Avente Tile

Christmas Greetings from Avente Tile

This home's entry is cheerfully decorated to welcome Christmas guests.

As I get older, I realize how much faster time seems to be flying by when one day it’s Halloween, and the next it’s Christmas Eve! The cooking and baking are on full-speed, decorations are hung, and all we’re missing are the guests to make our home warmer with the sound of children running around, the shared laughter amongst friends and family, and of course, opening the treasure trove of carefully chosen and wrapped gifts. If you haven’t already joined, Pinterest has served us with great inspiration for holiday foods and decoration ideas.

Avente Tile's Christmas and Winter Pinterest board

Christmas, a product of both secular and religious traditions, is one of the most celebrated holidays around the world. In our home, we've integrated many global Christmas elements over the years from opening English Crackers (not the kind you eat, but the kind you pop open), serving Buche de Noel, and of course, serving Anooshaboor (Armenian Christmas Pudding) to our guests. Combining elements from various cultures has become our tradition. 

Avente Tile's Deer in Moonlight Hand-Painted Ceramic Tile Mural

Here are wonderful examples of how Christmas is celebrated worldwide:

• Belgium: The children believe kindly Saint Nicholas will bring them their presents. They also believe he rides a horse so they leave him hay and carrots and water for his horse.
• Denmark: The Christmas feast is celebrated at midnight Christmas Eve. Everyone looks forward to dessert when a special rice pudding is served in which a single almond is hidden. Whoever finds the almond will have good luck for the coming year.
• France: In France, children place their shoes by the fireplace in hopes that le Pere Noel (Father Christmas) will place gifts for them.
• India: Houses are decorated with strings of mango leaves, lights are placed on the window sills and walls, and a star is hung outside.
• Iran: Iran, formerly Persia, is the land where the Three Wise men are believed to have lived when Jesus was born.
• Russia: In Russia, Babouschka brings the children gifts. Tradition says that she failed to give food and shelter to the three wise men, so she now searches the countryside for baby Jesus, visiting all children, and giving gifts as she goes.
• Spain: A traditional Christmas treat is turron, a kind of almond candy.

What are your family traditions? I’d love to hear the different things you do or prepare for the holidays.

From all of us at Avente Tile, we wish you and yours a very Merry Christmas. May the holiday season bring you the joy, warmth and fulfillment of being surrounded by family and friends, such as we are. For you, we are truly blessed and grateful! 

Fresh-Picked Gourmet Garden Ceramic Tiles

Fresh-Picked Gourmet Garden Ceramic Tiles

Summer Harvest Mural 8" x 23"

The sight, taste, and smell of freshly picked fruits and vegetables, from either your own garden or from your local farmer's market, appeal to the inner chef in all of us who love to eat and share our latest culinary creations.

With summer's bounty also come the planned, and sometimes impromptu, gatherings and get-togethers. You can keep the memories and feelings of summer alive throughout the year with our ceramic Gourmet Garden Ceramic Tiles and Fruit, Floral and Vegetable Garden Murals.

Beautiful glazes and intricate relief designs are just a few of the wonderful traits our collection of ceramic Gourmet Garden tiles and custom murals offer. With their hand-painted relief details, available either in a matte or gloss finish, these richly colored tiles boast sophisticated designs inspired by nature's bounty.

You can combine our individual garden tiles with solid colored ceramic or stone tiles, rope borders, pencil liners, or you can opt for our Garden Tile Murals for an increased visual impact for your kitchen backsplash. No matter which option you choose, you'll be adding long-lasting, beautiful and aesthetic value to your space.

Gloss Vegetable Garden Tiles
Our Gourmet Garden Gloss tiles create a classic kitchen theme of fresh-picked fruits and vegetables from the garden or the local farmer's market.

Matte Gourmet Garden Tiles
The matte finish of this collection of matte tiles perfectly accents tumbled stone, like travertine or marble.

Fruit Basket Hand Painted Tile Mural
Our Ceramic Tile Fruit Basket Mural brings to life the classic theme of freshly picked fruits. Measuring 18"x18", hand-painted ceramic tile mural is accented with a border of rope liner for added visual interest.

Relief Hand-Painted Bouquet Mural
Our relief hand-painted ceramic tile Bouquet Mural includes the rope trim and looks perfect when paired with natural stone, such as travertine or granite. The intricate details in this mural make it a work of art.

Featured Tile

Gloss Vegetable Garden Tiles	Matte Gourmet Garden Tiles
Fruit Basket Hand-Painted Tile Mural	Relief Hand-Painted Bouquet Mural

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Pinterest: Vibrant Harvests, and Garden Tiles

"The glory of gardening: hands in the dirt, head in the sun, heart with nature. To nurture a garden is to feed not just on the body, but the soul." - Alfred Austin

Our Pinterest board selection for this month was inspired by our own garden harvest of hearty eggplants, luscious grapes, and juicy plums. Together with summer's bounty of purple fruits and vegetables, and our collection of Gourmet Garden Ceramic Tiles, we thought we should pay homage to all that nature offers.

For more ceramic tile design inspiration, check our pages on houzz.com, our boards on Pinterest, and browse through dozens of our Ceramic Tile Design Ideas portfolio page where you can find a large collection of projects showcasing our handmade and hand-painted ceramic tile, cement tile, decorative tile, mosaic tile, and so much more. Let us know how we at Avente Tile can assist you!

Merry Christmas from Avente Tile

May the holiday season bring you joy and fulfillment, and the warmth of being surrounded by friends and family!

Deer in Moonlight Ceramic Tile Mural

Tile Mural Ideas for Kitchen Backsplashes

Avente Tile welcomes a new perspective to tile on our blog. Guest post provided by Area Floors, providing personal flooring and counter top solutions in Portland, Oregon.

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Designing a tile mural for your kitchen backsplash can be overwhelming. With so many colors, shapes, sizes and materials to choose from, it's easy to lose sight of the forest for the trees. Yet it's also an opportunity to really let your creative side shine.

Of course, picking out a mural tile and putting a border around it is easy enough, but why stop there? The most show-stopping backsplashes combine a variety of techniques, textures and shapes to create a wholly unique work of art. Here are three design ideas to consider when planning a kitchen mural:



1. Choose a relief centerpiece.

Relief tiles - those with a raised design - add texture and dimension to your backsplash, creating a mural that pops off the wall. For example, when turned horizontally and finished in bronze, the Cumbria Mural from Sonoma Reserve gives this kitchen an Old World touch. To increase the impact of the mural, the designer added "matting" using 1x1 adobe-colored field tiles. A light-colored border helps the piece transition into the "quilted" field, which softens the effect and helps the relief centerpiece stand out.



2. Set your mural into the wall.

Another way to maximize the impact of your kitchen mural is to set it back into the wall, creating a shadowbox effect. Here, a gentle arch over the top provides a nice contrast to the 1x1 square mosaics, while the bottom border adds utility by creating shelf space for spices. The monochromatic framing around the inset - created with hemp-colored glass tiles - helps anchor the centerpiece.



3. Surround your mural with a basket weave.

Arched tiles in a broken joint pattern create a basket weave effect that adds texture and interest to the mural. When paired with 2x2 black onyx tiles in a modern design, these white arched tiles create a striking contrast in both color and style, drawing the eye to the center of the mural.

Designing a backsplash mural is about more than just choosing a color palette. With the wide range of artisan tiles available today, there's no end to the stunning combinations you can create.

A Customer Shares their Tile Mural Backsplash

I'm excited to share a kitchen backsplash installation from an Avente Tile customer in Seattle. The customer's home kitchen was being remodeled. She decided to use Avente's Summer Harvest Tile Mural for the backsplash. The email included a photo and went like this:

"I have attached a picture to share with your artist to show how beautifully the tile mural turned out in our kitchen remodel. Thank you for your excellent service and product. We are thrilled with the results."

Fruit and Vegetable Tile Mural for Kitchen Backsplash
Photo credit: Avente Customer

I'm impressed with the results too! There are three things I really like about this installation. First, the contrast in finish. The mural really "pops" because its matte finish helps set it apart from the sheen of the glossy field tile. I typically see these murals installed with natural stone, tumbled marbled or travertine. The mural's standard "twig tile frame" was replaced with bright pencil trim that really highlights the installation. My compliments to the installer for the nicely mitered corners on the frame. Well-executed installation always shows in the details. Finally, I commend the use of color in the field tile - well done! I like seeing this mural with something other than beige or neutral colors - it provides a fresh look.

The Summer Harvest mural is 23" long and 8" high. Each mural is hand painted and made-to-order just for you. Colors can be slightly customized to work more intimately with your space. For instance, the grapes can be purple or red.

Summer Harvest Tile Mural with Twig Border

Tile murals are artwork, so make sure you find something that speaks to you! If you are considering a tile mural for your home, take a look at our tile murals. Make sure to read our tips on how to to create a striking mural backsplash.

Fruit and vegetable tiles are a classic kitchen theme and one of the best ways to create an impact is with a tile mural. A tile mural is art. They look best framed (with tile of course). Not only do tile murals provide a stunning look, they simplify the design process and installation – especially, if you are a DIYer. Why? They provide a starting point for color and are the focal point of the room. Once you find a tile mural that you love, the remaining color choices, counter material and cabinets will all play supporting roles that start from here. Tile murals simplify the tile layout because the remaining backsplash ufses ield tile laid with a consistent pattern.

Our customers have great ideas and find ways to put a fresh spin on a classic look. In this installation, I like the use of different finishes between the mural (matte) and the field tile (gloss). I also like the use of color in the field tile. Thanks to our wonderful customer for sharing their installation with all of our readers. I hope it helps you find some inspiration.

Create an Outdoor Living Space with Tile

Outdoor living rooms are one of the most popular amenities in today's back yard. More Americans are entertaining outdoors than ever before. And why not? Learn how you can create the perfect intimate outdoor room with a wonderful view! Sip your favorite rosé, roast pork tenderloin on the grill, and enjoy the sunset with friends.

This is one of my favorite outdoor living rooms in California. It uses beautiful tile, natural stone, and stained concrete around a cozy fire and eye-catching mural.

Notice that high walls on two sides really help the patio feel like a room. Natural stone, like flagstone (shown here) or slate maintains the built-in garden color scheme.

The strategic use of flagstone on seating areas, the mantle, and for edging along the patio is stunning. This also provides the right balance between beauty and cost. Stained concrete is a great choice for most of the patio floor and gives a natural look at a fraction of the cost.

The pergola provides a transition from the house to the open outside living area.

A well-designed space needs a focal point. In this room, the fireplace commands your attention! I love the warm, deep-red sangria color tiles around the hearth. It's warm and inviting even if the fire isn't lit.

You need to grace your outdoor living space with fine art. The Pomegranate Tree Mural is the piece de resistance in this outdoor living space. The tile mural provides the artwork in this outdoor living room and maintains a stylistic nature theme.

Chosen for durability and color, the outdoor kitchen countertop uses a high quality hand-painted vitreous tile resistant to chipping. Blue Celadon is a great color for outdoor living spaces because it harmoniously blends sky and earth tones. This color pairs nicely with the brown tones of flagstone. The natural beauty of hand-painted glazes are ideal in an outdoor setting because the colors vary from tile to tile.

The best part of living in an outdoor space is enjoying the view. And, you can't beat this view of the hills from Los Angeles's Echo Park retreat.

Sit back, relax and enjoy! Tile creates the perfect outdoor living space.

Read more more about this project at the Casa Lucretia blog.

Photos courtesy of Tom Chatt.

Kira’s Meadow Mural

Avente's new line of Sculptural Relief tiles includes a nature-themed mural with flora and fauna in a contemporary design called Kira's Meadow.

Kira's Meadow Mural - Fireplace Mural

Kira's Meadow is easy to install and comes mesh mounted. Each mural is custom made with a unique blend of small, medium, and large elements. Priced per square foot of mesh-mounted tile, you can have a truly unique and artistic mosaic for a backsplash, fireplace, or wall.

Sculptural Relief Kira's Meadow Mosaic Tile Grouping  

You can order Kira's Meadow Mural on online; but, feel free to let Avente Tile assist you with your plans to ensure your mural is laid out perfectly within your home that complements your design.

Two Deer Murals with an Arts & Craft Feel

These unique tile deer murals have an "Arts & Craft" period feel. The murals are created on a terra cotta floor tile also referred to as Metropolitan Quarry. Each tile is hand-painted with a resist design and covered with differed hand-mixed glazes. During firing, the resist burns off and the colors separate. The result is stunning and leaves a slight relief on each tile. Each tile is created using renewable energy power.

Deer in Moonlight
4-Piece Mural - 16" x 16"
Rosewood Colorway

Deer in Moonlight
10-Piece Mural - 16" x 40"
Rosewood Colorway

Custom tile designs in custom colors and shapes are also available from Avente Tile. Please note that glaze colors vary because of clay materials and firing techniques. This gives your custom hand-painted tile murals a unique look and lasting beauty.

Three Great Garden Murals

Three new fruit-and-vegetable-themed murals are available. Completed in relief, these handcrafted murals display exquisite attention to detail. These murals, made in the United States by an artisan that understands the craft of tile making, show the importance of detail learned through painting.

The murals come in a matte finish and perfectly pair with natural stone like travertine or granite. The intricate details create artwork that is timely, lasting, beautiful and functional.

Summer Harvest Mural 8" x 23"

Plentiful Basket Mural 20" x 26"

Fruit Basket Mural 18" x 18"