Designer’s Corner

Comprehending the use of tile and stone in design is one of the great challenges in formulating the style and look of a home. One of the key elements in determining the direction of design is how strict you want to follow the architectural style of your home.

In today’s design world transitional design is  the most popular and it allows the homeowner to create something unique within the context of the architecture. Transitional design blends the contemporary with the classics creating a design that places the style of the home harmoniously in the present  reflecting the likes and dislikes of the owner.

The bath and kitchen have become the stars in the design world. Today, let’s look at the use of tile and stone in the designing of a bath and in the next discussion we can look at some ideas for kitchens. I looked through my portfolio to show some of the ideas one can do in developing the baths in your home. In making decisions for clients, listening to their needs, wants and appreciations directs me to the right products for their ideal bath.

Here are some ideas from past projects.

 

 

 

 

 

The owners of this bath had different thoughts about design. One loves traditional and the other loves contemporary. In this case transitional design is perfect for blending the classics of carrara marble and the beauty of contemporary glass.

 

 

 

 

The contemporary curved glass wall with the carrara is unique.

 

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Handmade ceramics mixed with glass and a beautiful granite slab that looks like marble.

 

 

 

 

 

 

In the shower the granite was used on the bench and on the shower curb to bring it into the shower room.

The use of the frameless glass doors helps to show off the lovely handmade tiles and glass liner.

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This bath reflects a contemporary Tuscan style with the use of granite on the counter (Persa Blue) and travertine and black marble on the floor and backsplash and shower design.

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The use of a wainscoting in this bath in gray and warm toned limestone creates a classic room.

 

 

 

 

 

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In the same Tuscan home the master bath follows the look with travertine and granite marble inserts.

 

 

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A Tuscan jewel box powder room with golden travertine and mosaics of travertine and limestone with a hand-blown vessel sink.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Details of the wainscotting showing the details of the mosaics in contrast to the large golden travertine tiles.   ___________________________________X___________________________________

Powder rooms are the jewel box of the home. It is the one place to really go dramatic and have fun like this contemporary powder room with porcelain and glass and a granite floor!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Details of the porcelain next to the glass vessel sink and the floating clear glass counter.

 

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Here is an example of ceramic and the mix of glass mosaics and hexagon tiles. The mosaic glass is a green product, made of re-cycled glass.

 

 

 

 

 

The detail of the Greek marble and glass inserts with the hexagon mosaic shower floor show the use of white on white.

 

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This master shower was designed for a couple that loves the islands and nature. Opal honed marble and green river rock mixed with glass mosaics

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The tower of river rock and glass give a feeling of a waterfall.

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This has been a short view of the possibilities of tile and stone in the bath. Next time: kitchen design and the use of tile and stone to create art in your home!

Imagine!

 

 

 

 

Calla Convergence @2010 Jana Geller

Jana Geller

Jana Geller has designed hundreds of projects from small and large residential to commercial projects, specializing in interior design, tile and stone consultation, and color consultation; project management, coordination of installation, product research, and vendor management. Her design and product knowledge and artistry offer a viewpoint unique to the industry. She has a BFA in painting and ceramics.

Contact:  650 279-2103


jana@janagellerdesign.com

http://www.janagellerdesign.com/

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Favorite links:

http://www.dunisstudios.com/tileCollections/about.htm

http://www.michellegriffoul.com/

http://www.motawi.com/?module=Home

http://www.tilevera.com/TILEVERA.html

http://www.tilevera.com/tile_envy/

http://www.calpot.com/

http://www.antiquitytile.com/

http://www.allnaturalstone.com/

 

 

 

 

 

One of the most inspiring elements of a home is the choice of tile for flooring, backsplashes or wall surfaces. Tile can add strength to architectural features throughout a home. Tile can add an artistic focal point in a room. For instance, in the foyer of a home it can define the entrance with a tile rug or tile mosaic. In a kitchen, it can give focus to the wall behind the range. In the living room, the fireplace hearth becomes the center of attention. Baths can become far away places with the beauty of stone or porcelain and ceramic tiles. Although it is an ancient artistic surface, in the past 10 years the art of tile is coming back into the light of creativity and appreciation.

Whether you are talking about stone or ceramics there are two ways of thinking about tile. Field tiles are the dominant plane and  decorative tiles  are the reason for the design! From ceramics and porcelains to beautiful stones, glass and mosaics; tile has risen to the top of design as one of the most creative statements in a home.

Today I would like to take a look at decorative tiles that inspire a room.  One of my all time favorite local stars of tile is the Tilevera  company in Sausalito. The beauty of their hand-painted stone tiles makes an amazing statement for any home. Their collections are exquisite. Tilevera’s latest is the stunning Hearst Castle Collection. http://www.tilevera.com/TILEVERA.html

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Tilevera Castlewood line is coming soon an exciting new line!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Individual decorative tiles are offered by Tilevera.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The variety in this company is outstanding for many uses through any style home.

Including Morrocan!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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The bay area is fortunate to have so many great tile companies and tile stores. One of my favorite tile stores is All Natural Stone in San Jose and Burlingame. They display a multitude of tile creators and stone distributors from all over California and the country. Here is a taste of some of the manufacturers available at their store.

Motawi Tileworks is a boutique tilemaker creating beautiful hand made ceramic tiles.  http://www.motawi.com/?module=Home

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The sculptural delicacy of their deco tiles are beautiful.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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All Natural Stone also has on display the California Pottery and Tileworks http://www.calpot.com/ a classic California tile company.

California Pottery fountain.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Detail of peacocks in fountain.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

California Pottery has a glaze surface that reminds me of fine enamel work.

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Another classic company is Antiquity Tile at All Natural Stone. http://www.antiquitytile.com/

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Beautiful handmade tile in a unique and classic fireplace.

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All Natural Stone displays the boutique tile company of California artist Michelle Griffoul. Her tile work is incredibly unique and full of whimsy.

www.michellegriffoul.com/

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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More whimsy from Dunis Studios. beautiful dichroic glass and All Natural has it on display.http://www.dunisstudios.com/tileCollections/about.htm

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Dunis Studios Ceramics Classical Field

 

 

 

 

 

Dunis Studios Topography Series

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Angela Sanders is a tremendously talented mosaic artist located in Los Altos here are a few of her installations. I love the freshness of her design and the relationship to the garden in this pool installation.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This is a glass table made by Angela. Having walked through her studio, I have to

say her glass tables are translucent and ethereal.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Tile is an inspiring and wonderful addition to any home. Next time: The use of tile and the wonderful options for flooring and wall surfaces!

Imagine the possibilities with tile!

Jana Geller

Jana Geller has designed hundreds of projects from small and large residential to commercial projects, specializing in interior design, tile and stone consultation, and color consultation; project management, coordination of installation, product research, and vendor management. Her design and product knowledge and artistry offer a viewpoint unique to the industry. She has a BFA in painting and ceramics.

Contact:  650 279-2103
jana@janagellerdesign.com

http://www.janagellerdesign.com/

 

 

 

 

 

Having thought about and discussed the exterior of different styles of homes, let’s give some thought to the interior. This is where people tend to have a lot of fear about color even though they do not seem to have the same fear about wearing color! If we could transfer the feeling of wearing color to living with color it would create wonderful rooms to enjoy.

What I find is that people are really not afraid of “the color” but of the intensity of the color. Intensity is the “value” of the hue, meaning how dark or how light, or the grades of color in between. A client may like a color but they just are not sure of the correct value. So fear of color is more than just using color but comprehending the light to dark ratio of the color.

Without getting into the weeds of color philosophy let’s keep this simple and think about color used for different styles of homes. Remember this is a general discussion because other elements of your home important in choosing color are hard surfaces, like stone and tile; color of the wood in cabinets and flooring and fabrics. These other elements have colors that you may want to enhance by putting that color on the wall. Laying out samples of these elements helps locate the color that will work in that room.

Also, color is a reflection of our personality. We all have favorite colors! Here are a few ideas based on styles of homes that might help in selecting interior colors.

 

Mediterranean—The interiors of Mediterranean homes are sometimes a unified color throughout the interior. But one is not limited to this concept. There are so many lovely colors that can play off the decorative tiles and terracotta. Mediterranean color palette is influenced by the earth and sky and water. If you want to create a little more drama in a dining area a darker richer color makes a lovely focal statement for the room. Here are a few ideas for this style home.

 

• Rich Ochre tones (KM Red Ochre)
• Siennas (KM Point Sienna)
• Terracotta (KM Potter’s Clay)
• Umber (KM Flax Seed)
• Earthy Golds (KM Botanica Gold)
• Terra Greens (KM French Clay)
• Watery Blues (KM Lake Como)
• Warm Whites (KM Pathos)

 

Craftsman—Reflections of nature are the influence of the Craftsman style. Beautiful nature inspired colors playing off the architectural features of the prairie style, or bungalow styles of the Craftsman. Natural earth tones dominate this style home.

• Natural Wood Tones (KM Wildwood Bay)
• Red Clay Tones (KM Sunbaked Earh)
• Muted Plum Colors (KM Plum Island)
• Muted Golden Colors (KM Gold Promise)
• Leafy Greens (KM Colfax Pine)
• Soft Warm Whites (KM Semolina)

 

 

 

California Ranch—This style home is a reflection of many styles influenced by theCraftsman prairie style and mid-century modern it opens the door to many color families. Here are a few ideas for the interior of this style.

 

• Soft Whites (KM Sandpiper Place)
• Aqua (KM Iced Teal)
• Warm Yellows (KM Summer Sherbert)
• Golden Yellow (KM The Outback)
• Yellow Greens (KM Frontenac Hills)
• Deep Olives (KM Aged Olive)

 

 

 

 

Traditional—Classical and elegant, the Traditional style is formal and refined with balanced and proportioned rooms and strong architectural features. Today’s Traditional style can blend into the Transitional, which melds the modern with the Traditional.

 

• Soft Whites (KM Antique White)
• Soft Blues (KM Quiet Refuge)
• Yellows (KM Pale Pollen)
• Muted Rose (KM Lida Rose)
• Cool Grays (KM Parlor Games)
• Salmon Reds (KM May Fair)

 

Victorian—Today’s Victorian can be influenced by a Transitional look as well as the luxurious Victorian style. Complementary colors mixed with harmonious shades with emphasis on the architectural features create a beautiful interior. Here are a few color directions for a Victorian style home.

• Deep Plums (KM Purple Pansies)
• Sky Blues (KM By the Bay)
• Bright Greens (KM Little Green Frog)
• Dusty Rose (KM Lady Like)
• Tans (KM Baked Biscuit)
• Warm Whites (KM Dover Tint)
• Soft Peach (KM Simply Sunset)
• Taupe (KM Avorio)

 

 

Color Decisions

When choosing colors for your interior be sure to reflect or complement the colors of upholstery, cabinets, stone and tile. Another important tip is to always, and I do mean always, take the time to get samples, roll it out in the room you plan to paint and be sure to put it several places to see how light will affect the color at different times of the day.

Color can change as light changes throughout the day. Take the time to do this and you will have more confidence about the color you have selected.

Don’t be afraid it is only paint!

–Jana Geller

http:www.janagellerdesign.com

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Color, is the most important element in design and is the backdrop for layering all the other elements. On canvas, it is the direction and influence of the painting and in design; it lays out a theme for the home. Color is a reflection of our personality and our likes and dislikes. It is how we imagine our homes.

Thoughts about Exterior Color

Go past personal preferences, when thinking of the exterior color of a home. First look to the architectural style of the home. Is it Mediterranean, California ranch, a craftsman contemporary, traditional, or Victorian? All of these styles have their own traditional palettes that may enhance the look far beyond just choosing your favorite color. Today let’ us look to the palettes that fit some different styles.

Mediterranean–Reflects colors of the earth, as shown in the use of warm-toned stucco and aged stone patios with accents of deep red, like the wines of the region, and rich dark blues, or light sea blues. These hues can be lightened or darkened for different affects.

• Ochre (Field Gear)
• Sienna (Rustic Hills)
• Terracotta (Tuscan Terracotta)
• Umber (Umber Shadow)
• Earthy creams (Sun Glory)
• Rich blues (Teal Shadow)

Craftsman—Inspired by nature, this architectural style brings the muted tones of the forest and the natural soft tones of the paths through redwood groves. They have amazing trims, exposed rafters, and decorative false beams and braces accentuated in creams or soft taupe.

• Golden browns (Golden Mist)
• Muted and soft greens (Green Dusk)
• Deep plum (Fine Wine)
• Earthy taupe(Sand Pebble)
• Warm rust (Old Brick)
• Blue (Sailboat Blue)

 

California Ranch—Colors range as free as the architecture. This style is influenced by the prairie and bungalow styles, with a hint of colonial and sometimes Mediterranean all combined to give a new direction towards a contemporary look. Colors can run to the appreciations and imaginations of the homeowner. The focus is playing on the architectural features, which drew you to the home originally taking care not to lose them whenconsidering painting.

• Warm taupe (Martini shaker)
• Creamy whites (Pebble Buff)
• Warm beige (Timothy Tan)
• Muted green (Aged Olive)
• Pale gold (Sari Suit)
• Light Blue (Iced Teal)

Traditional—A classic style, the expression of elegant and gracious living reminiscent of the 18^th and 19^th century. Today the traditional can overlap into a combination of traditional and contemporary commonly referred to as transitional.

• Cool gray (SterlingWater)
• Muted blue (Storm Blue)
• Soft white (Villa Nor)
• Soothing green (Buchart Gardens)
• Khaki brown (Wood Moss)
• Brick red (Leaf Rust)

Victorian—A Victorian style can reflect a variety of looks from the Queen Anne to a Renaissance revival…but for today’s thoughts about color let us think of the Victorians of San Francisco.  When I think of this style and its “gingerbread”, referring to the decorative wood or metal trims, it reminds me of frosting on lovely cakeswhich are definitely more beautiful than practical. Colors range from a vast array of whimsical pastels to the subtle grays of a dove feather.

• Gray (Plymouth Grey)
• Sky blue (Birds Egg Blue)
• Rich gold (West Warwick)
• Yellow green (Green of Spring)
• Muted plum (Eggplant)
• Lavender (Gateway to Paradise)
• Tan (Nevada Peak)

 

Color Decisions

In picking colors for the exterior of a home, the consideration of the above palettes are the basis, with the likes and dislikes of the homeowner determining the final choices. Beyond style, look to the neighborhood and the colors chosen on the block. Keeping with the color families unifies the neighborhood.  Most importantly, how do we imagine our homes?

 

 

 

I love to work with Rayco and look forward to creating a great following for both of us.

Life is Art.