To give our new Reclaimed Terracotta Collection the attention it deserves, let’s take a step back and refresh on what Terracotta really is. Terracotta, ( also terra cotta or terra –cotta) with a literal translation of “baked earth” is a clay based, glazed or unglazed ceramic. Each Terracotta tile is formed by hand to it’s desired shape and then dried. Once dried, the Terracotta tile undergoes a 1000 C/ 1832 F firing process. Depending on the iron content of the material, the color of each terracotta tile can range from dark brown, yellow, red, or orange to even pink and grey shades. The origins of terracotta are found in southern Europe (Italy, France and Spain are all synonymous with the form) but also in Mexico and California. Historically, terracotta has been used for sculpture and pottery as well as for basic bricks and general construction. Country Floors is known as a supplier of beautiful tile and marble from central Europe and is proud to present our new Reclaimed Terracotta Collection. This collection features antique reclaimed terracotta floor tiles from central Europe dating from the Austro-Hungarian Empire and range from 100 to 200 years old. Each of our tile is salvaged from […]
It’s official, the color of the year has been selected and according to Leatrice Eiseman the Executive Director at Pantone Color Institute “Marsala enriches our mind, body and soul, exuding confidence and stability. Marsala is a subtly seductive shade, one that draws us into its embracing warmth.” Marsala’s name is inspired by the tasteful, rich and sophisticated wine reflecting the earthy colors from red to brown. This earthy tone is a great fit for interior design and has been an inspiration in fashion. Marsala can be used as a dramatic setting for interior decor but at the same time provide a calming, warm ambience. At Country Floors, the earthy, organic natural tones of Marsala have been an inspiration for the newest Reclaimed Terracotta Collection and for some more upcoming collections in the terracotta department for 2015. Check out our Terracotta Collections and let Marsala inspire you on your next design venture.
There comes a time in the design process where a project shouts out for the unique. And if you are looking for an inspirations, we suggest you pay close attention to this recent project, the interior designers that stand behind it and the Country Floors details that transformed the idea to a tangible result. The house is a Tudor style, stone castle built in 1907 and in need of a complete restoration. Along with the client’s architect, Doug Wilk – Mitchell Wilk Architecture – the goal was to incorporate all the original elements of architecture and design reflecting the true character of the house. The interior of the house was completely gutted and numerous additions were made. Working close with the client’s architect, the interior designers Peter Balsam and Jayne Goldstein helped formulate the structural and aesthetic changes by designing the interiors of every room in the house. In your mission statement “Interior design is not simply about decorating, but the idea of creating an environment and a lifestyle.” When you have a consultation with a new client, what are the most important aspects to complete this mission? When consulting with a new client, our goal is to accumulate as […]
It was hard not to notice that this year, 2014, the industry was all about the cool neutrals. A prime example was the classic marble white. This ultra-chic must have was revamped with new finishes, textures, and thickness. Offering a crisp clean slate, from wall coverings, floorings, backslashes to counter tops, white marble seems to be the choice for homeowners and designers. A quick look at Country Floors new arrivals 2014 portfolio reveals; sophistication, simplicity, softness, luxurious beauty, classics to traditional and modern to bold finishes. Aspen white honed or polished collection Evokes imagery of snow covered dense forestry and lushly contoured mountain slopes. The classic white color value is slightly less formal due to the softly honed finish. This allows for sophisticated yet simple applications. Calacatta gold modern honed and modern polished collection This collection is bold, modern and sophisticated. Originating from Italy, this luxurious marble goes from traditional to modern with it’s distinctive bold grey veining, non-traditional mosaic and moulding options. This beautiful marble is sure to change any room from ordinary to noteworthy. Silver Clouds polished collection This collection represents a mix of refined marble and design element, ranging from traditional to contemporary thru a very unique […]
Get inside the mind of an award-winning interior designer, Lauren Levant Bland. She recently won 3rd Place for Kitchen of the Year, K+BB Design Award, featuring Country Floors Talya Collection as an eye-catching backsplash in this newly renovated kitchen. Learn what inspired Lauren Levant Bland to design this beautiful award winning kitchen in our one on one Q&A. What was the source of inspiration for this kitchen project? My clients recently relocated from New Jersey to Virginia. They loved a lot of things about their new house, but the kitchen wasn’t one of them. It was outdated, dark, and there was an awkward layout for both cooking and entertaining. Like many people, they like to spend a lot of time in the family room and kitchen, so they wanted to design a space that was beautiful, functional, and that connected those spaces in a pleasurable way. I decided to create twin islands, each with their own prep and cleanup spaces (a sink, trash, and dishwasher in each) so that the kitchen would function just as well for a big group as it would for their immediate family. Creating a dramatic focal point with the cooking area, which is flanked by […]
Best known for it’s white background and dramatic grey veining attributes, Calacatta marble is the go to for any designer trying to capture a luxurious and elegant style. Originating from Italy, this rare and high-end marble has been around for centuries. Country Floors has taken this traditional marble and transformed it into two modern collections, Calacatta Gold Modern Polish and our latest Calacatta Gold Modern Honed. Instead of the traditional 1×1 or hexagon mosaics, Country Floors implemented a modernized version of mosaic and moulding options. The two Calacatta marble collections are perfect for any project seeking that bold, sophisticated and effortless show stopping design. The ultimate placement for such a beauty is typically for an entry way, countertop, backsplash or wall to floor drama.
The manner in which various Interlocking Stone Elements maybe be utilized in the world of interior design has been discussed quite a few times in this space. Not only have those thoughts included pattern, but they have also paid attention to other key parts of the design process such as texture and color. Dimension Water Jet Collection is not your average tile and mosaic. This gorgeous elegant collection is based off of four design elements: color, texture, pattern and form. With it’s curvaceous forms interlocking with one another they create intricate geometric patterns. From neutral colors to finishes of honed, multi and polish this product is soft, subtle and absolutely stunning. Suitable for kitchen, bath or entry way the unique mosaic tiles will have you wanting to plan out your next project. Curious about how these tiles are created? Well the process, just like the tile itself, will intrigue you. Based off a computer generated drawing the water jet machine uses abrasive particles and ultra high pressured water to cut the material to the precise shape and size of the design. This technique not only offers a unique design element but also endless possibilities surely to impress just about anyone. […]
Skyline Pave Antico by Country Floors is a dramatic re-adaptation in the pairing of stone and style. The result is the harmony of horizon and terrain as rarely seen. Our useful friends at Wikipedia say that “a skyline is the artificial horizon that a city’s overall structure creates. Skylines serve as a kind of fingerprint of a city, as no two skylines are alike”. Grabbing the concept that a metropolitan horizon is as unique as a human fingerprint, we can perceive a parallel to the totally individual character that each piece of natural stone possesses. As seen at the top of this post, the view of Seattle, Washington nicely exemplifies the individuality of the peaks and valleys of its skyline. In juxtaposition, below you can see the blessedly unique features that natural stone, as delivered by Skyline Pave Antico by Country Floors, brings to any interior design plan. This interesting collection is composed of four wonderful sizes in the Palacio Versailles pattern that are “a statement… a statement of design… a statement of who you are. This stunning yet classic selection of sizes and shapes, combined with the unique characteristics of this stone will add intrigue to every room”. As always, thanks for reading about Skyline […]
Glamour, Glass and Marble, with the latter two giving us the former, is epitomized by the Glamour Collection from Country Floors. Let’s take a quick peek at the subject of glamour overall and the Country Floors collection in particular! Glamour is never easy to pin down. Here are two fairly random perspectives . As always, we should hear what Wikipedia has to offer; “glamour is the impression of attraction or fascination that a particularly luxurious or elegant appearance creates”. They also add that, “for glamour to be successful it nearly always requires sprezzatura – an appearance of effortlessness”. Which takes us seamlessly to the next view. A second perspective presents the late Lauren Bacall, as seen above, and her eternally effortless style. Born as Betty Joan Perske in The Bronx, New York, Ms. Bacall elevated both glamour and cool to heights rarely reached since. Of course, Bogart didn’t hurt on either front! Today, in the early Fall of 2014, Country Floors feels that the pairing of elegant marbles with stylishly rendered glass yields an irresistible product; that collection is of course the Glamour Collection. As you can see, both at the very top of this post and immediately above, is that the […]
Shape, Texture and Stone meld together to provide the homeowner and designer interesting options in terms of both visual appeal and practical usability.In fact, the essence of combining shape and texture, using stone as your medium of choice, creates a real sense of organically derived pattern. Of course, here in the late Summer of 2014, the use of pattern in interior design plans is all too au courant. To the idea and importance of texture, the ubiquitous site Apartment Therapy recently offered its readers ten ways to add it to a room. One of those ways was the tile shape and they observed that “small variations in tone make these tiles textural”. Interestingly enough the tile shape that this excellent site was commenting on was a hexagon. The image at the top of the post and the image immediately above both provide an excellent appreciation of the power of texture. As a part of the Country Floors Touch Tone Collection these stone tiles unite texture with two essential shapes, the square and the hexagon. The ability of this Collection to work multiple stone finishes across single sheets of hexagons and squares bring together classic combinations. Form and feel are realized […]