Ciao!

When it comes to gifts, I like experiences. I’d rather receive a weekend away with my wife than a new I-Pod, or a night the movies than a new tie. And I’m of the same mind when it comes to giving gifts as well. Here are a few of my favorite ideas for experiential gifts: [...]

I often get to work in our showroom with designers and their clients, and in the process I learn about more of the project than just the tile part. On occasion, I’ll hear a client talk about using vinyl in the project. You never hear anyone say, “Oh it looks so good!” or “I love [...]

Everyone from do-it-yourselfers to architects to commercial tile installers is considering whether buying tile online is the right way to go. After exploring the subject in our own business and talking with others who have experimented with buying and selling tile online, here are five tips for a successful tile purchase online. Check the return [...]

Among the tile collections at Surfaces, Terra Verre‘s stood out. In a sea of tired stone-look porcelains, Terra Verre has created a truly unique line of glass, stone, and ceramic tiles with a contemporary look in colors that seem handpicked for the Northwest. Pictured here is the Freeway mosaic in Autumn Brown. Incidentally, I also [...]

Part of our business is to attend trade shows a few times each year. At Surfaces, Coverings, and Cersaie, our manufacturer partners gather in one place and present their latest collections. More important, these shows are a marathon of meetings, quick hellos, and other interactions with the who’s who in the tile industry. It’s a [...]

If you haven’t yet experienced the Pioneer Square First Thursday Art Walk, I’d encourage you to consider it for this Thursday. Our showroom at 314 Occidental Ave will be hosting 5 local artists featuring a range of mediums and styles. Within a three block radius you can find dozens of galleries, studios, and even open [...]