Go Green with Tile

Project Pick:
Create a Mosaic with Gourmet Garden Tiles

The green of Saint Paddy's day, springing the clocks forward, and the warmer temperatures have us thinking about Spring and the outdoor garden. Our Gourmet Garden Matte tiles create a classic kitchen theme of fresh-picked fruits and vegetables.

The matte finish works well with tumbled stone, like travertine or marble. The slightly uneven edges create a charming and slightly rustic feel. Each tile is exquisitely hand-painted in relief. The backsplash shown uses 4"x4" tiles in a checkerboard mosaic pattern, and is framed with a charming twig border created by the same artist. Create your own mosaic backsplash by choosing your favorite vegetables or colors!

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Pinterest: March Turns Us Green With Envy

"Green is the prime color of the world, and that from which its loveliness arises." -- Pedro Calderon de la Barca

The color green not only symbolizes money (U.S. currency), but it also symbolizes safety, regeneration, and honor, among other things. Did you know:

• Green, blue-green, and blue are sacred colors in Iran, where they symbolize paradise.
• As the emblematic color of Ireland, green represents the vast green hillsides, as well as the country.s patron saint, St. Patrick.
• Green is regarded as the color of eternal life in Japan.
• In the Aztec culture, green was considered to be royal because it was also the color of the quetzal plumes used by the Aztec chieftains.
• The Chinese believe jade stones represent virtue and beauty.
• The Portuguese believe green represents hope because of its association with spring.
• In the highlands of Scotland, people wear green as a mark of honor.

So you see, March is not only synonymous with the color green and Spring, but it also represents royalty, virtue, life, and honor, too.

In honor of this wonderful month of March, we've selected a sampling of ceramic and cement tiles that would fit in perfectly with your current or upcoming projects!

Classic Provence Handmade Cement Tile

Mission Espanola Handmade Cement Tile

Yucatan Dark Green Hand Painted Ceramic Tile

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Did you know? Go Green with cement tiles!

While we are celebrating the green, did you know that cement tiles are considered a green product?

• Cement tiles are completely handmade and never have to
  be fired in a kiln, which means that the amount of energy
  used in our manufacturing process is very low.
• Because no firing is required, no pollution-creating fossil
  fuels are used during the tile production phase.
• Harmful chemicals that may affect the environment are never used.
• Plentiful local materials like sand and aggregate are used to minimize transportation of raw materials.

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

Gourmet Garden Vegetable Tiles

One of my favorite things about summer is fresh vegetables and fruit. Living in Southern California, I’m lucky to get great produce year-round at the farmer’s market. But nothing beats the fresh-picked oranges, lemons, lettuce and tomatoes offered by my neighbors. Our Gourmet Garden Gloss tiles and Matte tiles capture the feeling of having fresh picked fruits and vegetables in your kitchen.

Hand Painted Summer Harvest 8" x 8" Tile

These beautifully hand painted relief tiles make you feel at home. Their slightly uneven edges create a charming uniqueness. The rich colors add warmth to your kitchen.

Our Gourmet Garden line features vegetable-themed tiles that are hand painted with either a gloss or matte finish. They pair well with tumbled marble, travertine or light-colored stone.

The glossy finish is often used to accent ceramic field tiles; but, it also creates a nice contrast that pops when placed with matte tiles, as you can see in this installation.

Hand Painted Vegetable Tile Installation (Gloss)

Because each tile is hand painted, the fruit and vegetable colors can be slightly customized. You can choose purple grapes instead of burgundy. Or, just yellow squash instead of Italian. Notice the differences in coloring between the Hand Painted Summer Harvest tile in matte featured (top of page) and the gloss finish in the installation photo above? If needed, the tile background can also be modified to work with your field tile or counter.

Hand Painted Eggplant Tile (4"x4" Gloss)

The backsplash below uses 4"x4" vegetable tiles in a checkerboard pattern and framed with a twig border created by the same artist. The matte finish accents natural tumbled stone, travertine or marble. The slightly uneven edges of each hand painted fruit and vegetable tile creates a rustic and charming touch.

Hand Painted Vegetable Tile Installation (Matte)

Our Gourmet Garden tiles create a classic kitchen theme: fresh picked fruits and vegetables.

Hand Painted Tomato Tile (4"x4" Matte Finish)

Tiles are available in a 4"x4" or 8"x8" format. Accent tiles are also available in 3"x3" and 2"x2" sizes. We recommend using Gourmet Garden Matte tiles with our Celtic Cedar 4" x 4" or Celtic Botticino 4" x 4". Or, pair with your own natural stone tiles in earth-tones. These hand painted relief tiles provide the feeling of fresh fruits and vegetables in your kitchen each and very day.