Monthly Archive for July, 2008

What are you making today?

Published on July 28, 2008 in About Us. 3 Comments

Tuesdays and Fridays are the best days to come into Statements. Those are the days when the smell of fresh baked scones and cookies wafts in the air, thanks to the artistry of our hospitality coordinator, Susan Feiker.

Who is Susan Feiker (or SuFi) you may ask? She is the mama of Statements. If it weren’t for her kind smile, comforting spirit, listening ear, amazing baked goods, warm hugs and continuous generosity the Statements crew would not be who they are today.

SuFi came to Statements four years ago wanting a change in her life. She has made Seattle her home for the past 8 years after living in LA off and on for 9 years. It was here in Seattle at Mars Hill Graduate School (no relation to the local church) where she earned her masters of Christian Studies, which she specifies is a mix of psychology and theology studies.

It is probably her degree and her overall caring personality that makes people flock to her kitchen for conversation. “I love people and their hearts. I want people to feel comfortable,” says SuFi about her impromptu counseling sessions that go far beyond the employees and into Statements customers, “…I feel good about it, I love it. I love that they can share their life with me. All are welcome.”

Along with her amazing cooking ability there is a lot you may not know about SuFi. She is an artist who works mainly in the encaustic medium–wax or oil on wood. She also likes to sing, dog sits a cake eating Dalmatian and is also very interested in historic preservation. She is part of the National Trust for Historic Preservation which is probably why when asked if you could be anything she said an archeologist “…like Indiana Jones or Lara Croft.”

Ok back to baking. SuFi has not always liked to bake. In fact she tried to avoid it as a child when her Mom wanted her to help but it just caught up with her. Her scones and cookies are one of the reasons Statements is known throughout Seattle. SuFi’s favorite goody to bake is the cinnamon schemer scone, “….I like getting my hands in the flour and cinnamon and people love them.”

Overall, Statements could not survive without SuFi as she is one of the many who make up Statements family feel. Tuesdays and Fridays would just be another day without her.

Statements got LIT

Published on July 21, 2008 in Our Partners. 3 Comments

It is not common for the words couture, tile and lampshades to be in the same sentence, but when you are talking about LIT www.litshades.com , the couture lampshade boutique that has joined Statements’ new space in Pioneer Square, the three words are inseparable.

LIT is a couture lampshade boutique, starring its creators Dawn and Shawn (yes they think it’s funny their names rhyme) and the Papillion shop dog (with the most personality ever). LIT specializes in custom, contemporary lampshades, made the old fashion way, by hand. Dawn and Shawn use traditional methods as well as new techniques and work in vintage, high-end, and modern materials. The two of them agree, “…making something by hand and knowing that we will be taking the credit for the quality is one of the best things about being a self-employed designer.”

LIT may be relatively new to the design scene, but Dawn and Shawn have been in it for years on both the west and east coasts. Dawn worked on contract for a couple of different architectural firms in Manhattan and Shawn sewed lampshades for about 6 years with a company in the Seattle Design Center. But when Dawn realized she wasn’t compatible with the modern architectural world, “… I have a turntable, rotary phone, film projector and two typewriters.” She walked into the store Shawn was working at one day and said, “Wow, this would be fun,” Shawn realized he had found someone who shared his passion for lampshades and his desire to own his own company became a reality. “Shawn and I are both very quick learners with an eye for detail. If we hadn’t found lampshades, lampshades would have eventually found us.”

In addition to their design experience the pair has had design running through their veins since childhood. Dawn has been reading French Vogue and emulating Sophia Loren, Raquel Welch and Elizabeth Taylor since the age of six and Shawn is an accomplished painter whose paintings can be seen exhibited at various venues in Seattle. They also love, “…anything old, Veuve Clicquot Ponsardin champagne, Shanghai Garden’s hand shaved noodles, old glass doorknobs, you-tubing videos of Galliano’s lines for Dior, staying in and drinkin’, talkin’ and laughing far too much.” Design certainly seems to be a major influence on their lives which is also a major influence for their lampshades. Dawn says they get inspiration everywhere. “We are always looking through fashion magazines, going to galleries, and observing what is going on around us. We love birds, thistles, black and white, lettering, and great linens.” This love of design could also be why when asked if they could see their pieces anywhere they do not give the obvious answers; hotels, movie stars homes, etc yet they simply state: “Elle Décor. Keep looking, it’s going to happen.” And why not Elle Décor? LIT shades are the perfect balance of fashion and interior design, everything Elle Décor represents.

Although LIT is still in the newborn phase of its life, its parents have certainly seen a change in the design industry. Dawn and Shawn have definitely noticed a color transformation from the black and pink color craze finally being over, allowing for more refined color palettes like grays, lavenders and mustard yellows to emerge. Shabby chic has given way to the rejuvenation of mid-century modern. It is their great fashion and design sense, attention to detail, and always looking for the “It factor” which will keep people looking to LIT for what lamps will be wearing on the runway next season.

DIY and Tile News Roundup

Published on July 21, 2008 in Tile Posts. 0 Comments

A question that often comes up with our customers is how to prep a floor for tile installation–particularly when the existing floor is a soft surface material like vinyl or carpet. The Capital’s Jim Rooney breaks down the problem and gives great advice for making sure that your new ceramic tile or stone floor has the support it needs:

Take the proper steps before upgrading kitchen floor

The Times Union reports on trends in metal tile, glass tile, and of course ceramic tile:

Tile in style

They say there is always a silver lining to every cloud, and for the tile businesses in Iowa, that seems to be the case. The Globe Gazette is reporting strong sales of flooring–especially tile because of how it holds up to water damage–in the wake of last month’s floods:

Flooding has meant overflow of work for area flooring businesses

Kazan

Published on July 18, 2008 in New Products. 1 Comment

Metropol, the Spanish company who brought us the porcelain/ceramic line, India, recently came out with a new line in a similar price range. Statements will be stocking Kazan the first part of August. The rectified 10”x20” ceramic wall tiles will be available in Beige, Marron and Blanco with a matching 3”x10” bullnose. And just in case a little extra special touch is needed, there is a 2½”x20” Listelo Volga, a great little decorative piece of tile jewelry in the same color body as the Marron. This deco piece looks as though hints of copper and tin dripped into the glaze, giving the metallic drops a ripple effect. The Kazan line will be a great addition to Statement’s amazing medium priced products, and the hope is that it will be as popular as India.

Sunday DIY Roundup

Published on July 14, 2008 in Tile Posts. 1 Comment

We occasionally have clients ask us about cracking tiles or grout joints. Here is an expert advice column from the Eagle Tribune that addresses just that concern:

Q. I recently had ceramic tile installed on my kitchen floor. The tiles are pavers and are 12 inches by 12 inches. A short while after installation, a crack that is several feet long appeared in the grout. A number of these cracks have appeared, some at right angles to the others. The contractor said the floor was flexing but it seems pretty solid to me. Why are the cracks appearing and what can be done? (click here to read more)

Many owners of mid-century homes are remodeling and looking for ceramic tiles that update the home while preserving some of the original aesthetic. A design column in the Baltimore Sun explains how you can achieve both:

Our 60-year-old house, which we’ve been slowly renovating, contains a guest bathroom that’s in need of new wall tiles. The original floor, still in place, consists of the small black-and-white tiles that were the norm back in the ’40s. And you can guess what color all the fixtures are. We’d like to retain the style that the homebuilders chose for this small but functional bathroom, even though it’s kind of dull. Can you suggest ways of introducing a bit of visual fizz without altering the basic design? (click here for more)

What kind of preparation needs to happen when replacing tiles that have come loose? The Vancouver Province posted this article with advice:

I laid down ceramic tile over our exposed aggregate outdoor patio. These lasted about five years. Now, many of these tiles are lifting and some sound hollow underneath. My question is: What process would you recommend to prepare the surface to create a smooth finish before reapplying tiles? (click here for more)

Health Tip – Pay Homage to the Sun god

Published on July 10, 2008 in Year of Wellness. 3 Comments

We in the Northwest don’t take the sun for granted – simply because we get so little of it, especially during the dark winter months. While this spring has been less than tropical, make sure to take advantage of that sunshine whenever possible!

Getting daily sun exposure is essential for good health, and here are a few reasons why:

Our bodies produce vitamin D when our skin is exposed to sunlight. A staggering number of Americans have a deficiency of vitamin D, and this vitamin is very important in maintaining healthy bones, muscle integrity, warding off many kinds of internal cancers and Type 1 Diabetes.

Sunlight is a natural antidepressant and positively affects mood. This is why many people experience SAD (Seasonal Affective Disorder) and suffer depression during winter months.

Exposure to sunlight can help you sleep better, because it stimulates the pineal gland, which produces melatonin and plays a role in proper sleep (which is also very important for optimum health).

So next time you see Mr. Sun pop his head from behind the clouds, make sure to run outside and say hi for a few minutes! It’ll do wonders for more than just your tan!

It’s Summer…Let’s do some laundry!

Published on July 10, 2008 in Sustainability. 0 Comments

Though it hasn’t felt much like summer yet, once the sun starts shining, think about forgoing the dryer. Line-drying (or using a drying rack) is much gentler on clothing. Repeated drying at high-temps can reduce fabric strength by 25% or more, and the tumbling action of the dryer causes shrinkage (not the heat, believe it or not).

Skipping the dryer is also gentler on your wallet and the earth. Except for the refrigerator and washing machine, the dryer uses more power annually than any other major household appliance. By cutting down usage, you can save up to $135 a year, plus mother earth will be grateful. If you still feel the urge to have toasty-warm towels straight from the dryer, make sure to clean the lint trap regularly and never over-load the drum, for maximum efficiency of the machine.

semi-gauged, gauged and un-gauged tile?

Published on July 10, 2008 in Tile and Stone Care. 2 Comments

So, what’s the difference? Most often when we use the descriptors, gauged, semi-gauged, or un-gauged tile we’re referring to slate tile. Most of our slate falls into the category of semi-gauged which means that it has undergone a grinding process that levels out one side of the tile creating a relatively flat surface. Once installed, semi-gauged tile creates a smoother, more level floor because the thickness of each tile is fairly consistent.

Ungauged tile, on the other hand, is much less refined and varies greatly in depth from tile to tile. By definition, ungauged tile is textured on both sides and has not been machine-altered in any way. It is often hand-split and boxed right at the quarry which means a greatly reduced price for the buyer. So, if you’re flexible with the look and feel of your tile, ungauged slate will save you 50-100% of the cost of it’s gauged counterpart. Although a bit raw in look at feel, unguaged stone offers greater design possiblities during installation because either side can be installed face-up depending on the amount of color variation you desire. Installers should note that unguaged tile generally requires more work to install.

If you want a smooth finish, you’re in the market for gauged tile. When tile is gauged it has been honed on one side creating a surface that has a consistent texture and thickness. Because the manufacturing process requires more effort, gauged tile almost always comes with a higher price tag.

So, there’s your tile lesson for the week. You’re choice between gauged, semi-gauged and ungauged tile will depend on your budget and the design aesthetic you’re looking for. Ciao!

How to care for Alumillenium metal tile

Published on July 10, 2008 in Tile and Stone Care. 0 Comments

Today I received a phone call from a customer who wanted to know two things: how to clean metal tile and how to keep it from changing color over time. Great questions! We get these often and, as a result, I’m writing this article. Here’s the scoop on caring for our metal tile.

Here at Statements, we have two metal tile lines that are 100 percent metal: Alumillenium and Anticati. Alumillenium comes in a variety of metal types and finishes. The color that tends to patina most obviously is the Alumillenium antique bronze which ranges in color from a warm bronzy-brown to a deep green after years of oxidation. If you like the warm tones of the “pre-patinaed” antique bronze there are ways to encourage it to remain true to it’s original color. Adding a layer of paste wax or lacquer to a well cleaned metal tile will protect and seal it from oxidation and discoloration.

Paste wax is a natural product that is most often used to protect and add luster to hardwoods. It is a less permanent, malleable protectant that adds a subtle sheen to the metals surface. The protective quality of paste wax can be compromised by heat, acidic liquids and/or sharp objects that might scratch the waxes surface. Paste wax can easily be reapplied when necessary.

Lacquer is a resin-based varnish that will seal surfaces in a more permanent way. The solvents in the liquid lacquer evaporate leaving a hard sealant that is available in a variety of finishes from matte to high gloss. One thing to be aware of when considering the use of a lacquer sealant for your metal tile: it’s VOC (volatile organic compound) content. If you’re concerned with potential off-gassing in your home or workplace, check the manufacturer’s label and try to buy a VOC free lacquer! For more general information on VOC off-gassing, click here.

In either case, before you apply a protectant to your tile, clean it up. You can use any non-abrasive household cleaner for your metal tile. I recommend using a neutral-pH cleaner with a lot of hot water. If you have trouble removing years of oxidation, you can use a soft metal scouring pad to uncover some of the metals natural brilliance. Always use a test tile with your cleaner and/or scotch pad to see if you get the desired results before moving onto the rest of your tile. Once it’s cleaned up, apply your paste wax or lacquer depending on the level of permanence and/or look you’re wanting to achieve.

What is rectified tile?

Published on July 7, 2008 in Tile and Stone Care. 0 Comments

Unlike your typical factory-edged tile, rectified tile has been cut to size after the firing process. This process creates a precise, 90 degree angle edge and, as a result, can be laid with a tighter grout joint than unrectified tile (as small as 1/16″). If you’re wanting a smooth, sophisticated and continuous look on your floor or walls, choose rectified tile. You’ll find these rectified tile lines (among others!) in our showroom: Buxy, Groove, Broadway II (18″x24″ only), Zebrano, and Bloom II ceramic wall and porcelain floor tile.

Monthly Archive for July, 2008

What are you making today?

Statements got LIT

DIY and Tile News Roundup

Kazan

Sunday DIY Roundup

Health Tip – Pay Homage to the Sun god

It’s Summer…Let’s do some laundry!

semi-gauged, gauged and un-gauged tile?

How to care for Alumillenium metal tile

What is rectified tile?

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