Hospitality at its core is about creating a welcoming space. When entryways, kitchens and bathrooms have stained stone, tile and grout, they are far from welcoming. Be sure to protect all your jobs with a quick application of a penetrating sealer, because as the saying goes, an ounce of prevention beats a pound of cure.

With the hospitality design sector in a seemingly constant state of change, tile and other alternative material manufacturers need to stay up-to-date on current trends in colors, shapes, finishes and sizes to meet the demands of the architectural and design community.

Contemporary Stone & Tile Design magazine had the opportunity to talk with Mercury Mosaics owner Mercedes Austin about her 20 years of experience, how she got started and some of the experiences she has had working with customers.

Additional space and storage ranked as top priorities for Katie Katzman when renovating her dated kitchen, as well as to have views of the picturesque lake in the backyard of her Michigan residence.

Set in the Texas hillside on the outskirts of Austin, TX, a newly constructed residence reflects its surrounding habitat with regional limestone featured extensively on the exterior design. And while the native material is also the showcase of several interior applications, the retired homeowners opted to diversify the palette by incorporating additional materials into their living space – making it unique and colorful.

Charmean Neithart loves interior design and all things houses. For the last 18 years, she has been designing homes throughout Southern California for a varied clientele. “The collaborative nature of projects with clients is my favorite part,” said the senior designer at Charmean Neithart Interiors in South Pasadena, CA.

Working within an extremely small footprint in an original 1951 home, Sheryl Steinberg, Allied ASID, LEED Green Associate, of Sheryl Steinberg Interior Design, LLC in Bethesda, MD, was tasked with creating an open, modern, bright, efficient, usable, roomier bathroom that reflected the owner’s modern style.

A novice to tile work looking at a new tile installation today might comment, “When did LEGO* pieces start being used to install tile?" Yet we see these little plastic devices being used more frequently for porcelain and stone tile installations. What are they and why are they important for our industry?

The Valley Vista residence in Encino, CA, the residential winner in the 2019 Ceramics of Italy Tile Competition, is clad almost entirely in Italian porcelain tile. “Encino is increasing its elegant status,” said Jamie Rezaie, partner for the DI Group in Beverly Hills, CA.

As the conversation progressed, I could hear hope and excitement from my client’s voices,” said Dawn D. Totty of Dawn D. Totty Interior Designs, after receiving a perspective client call from the popular online home site, Houzz.