CROSSVILLE, TN/NEW ORLEANS, LA -- Officials with Crossville, Inc. have announced the company is the exclusive tile sponsor for the first-ever Southern Style Now Showhouse, presented by Traditional Home Magazine. The 15-room house, a Queen Anne Victorian built in 1896 and located on St. Charles Avenue in New Orleans' Uptown District, has received an extensive renovation led by some of the nation's top interior designers.

The remodeled home was debuted yesterday night during a gala event, benefiting New Orleans' Preservation Resource Center. It is now open for public tours until June 12. The Showhouse is occurring in tandem with the first Southern Style Now Design Festival that runs from May 19 to 22 as a celebration of the unique and distinct aesthetic and culture of our nation's southern states.

In addition to providing tile for the showhouse, Crossville is supporting the festival by leading two unique events.

"The Fifth Wall" panel discussion

Lindsey Waldrep, vice president of marketing for Crossville, will moderate a panel discussion on "The Fifth Wall," featuring several notable Southern designers who will share insights on "the secret to stylish slab, mosaic how-to's and more." This event takes place on Saturday, May 21 from 9 a.m. to 10:15 a.m. at the Ogden Museum of Southern Art in New Orleans, LA.

CEU Presentation: Thin Tile

Crossville's Doug Ingham will lead a "Lunch & Lecture" CEU event focusing on the burgeoning porcelain tile panel, also known as the "thin tile" category. The event takes place on Friday, May 20 from noon to 2 p.m. at Stafford Tile & Stone, located at 5234 Magazine St. in New Orleans, LA.

"We're excited to be part of this first-ever showhouse and festival," said Waldrep. "It's great to see our tile collections so beautifully used by a line-up of phenomenal interior designers. Even more importantly, it's an honor to be part of an event that will make great strides in the ongoing renaissance of New Orleans' design community. The festival is bringing in the best of the best, and we're thrilled to be in the mix."

For tickets to tour the Showhouse, visit http://www.traditionalhome.com/neworleansshowhouse. For details and ticket purchases for the Southern Style Now Festival, visit http://www.southernstylenow.com.