Tuesday, April 20, 2010

Stunning Custom Tiles

In an earlier entry - Pattern Inspiration - we featured the incredible variety of patterns that are available to use for custom tiles through our licensing partner, Rosenstiel's.  

A client in  New Mexico, who is clearly not afraid of color, chose the designs below to make their custom tiles.





Each square is an individual 6x6 Limestone tile.  The original artwork that was used is called Arabian Nights I and Arabian Nights II by an artist named John Douglas.

Simply gorgeous.  A few of us were standing around the work table ogling them and our shipping person had to shoo us away so he could pack them up.  We didn't want to see them go!

Thursday, April 8, 2010

FAQ - Can I have that in a different size?



Q. I like one of your designs, but the size that you show is too big/small for my space?  Can I have it in a different size?


A.  Absolutely YES!  We make all of our tiles when you order them, so we can size it to fit your space and also put it on any stone you choose. 

Metal Amore design shown in a vertical orientation 
on 6x6 Durango tiles. 
This mural is 24" high x 18" wide.

The same Metal Amore design shown in a horizontal
orientation on 4x4 Durango tiles. 
This mural is 16" high x 28" wide.

We originally created the Napa Valley design as a vertical mural.
Shown here on 4x4 Durango tiles.
The size is 24" high x 16" wide.


We received so many requests for the Napa Valley wine mural 
as a horizontal, that we created that design too. 
This size is 18" high x 24" wide on 6x6 Travertine tiles.

You might be surprised by what we can do to make an image work - even if it is a significant size difference from the original design.  We have tricks to stretch and squoosh our designs in a way that keeps them from looking too distorted.  And we can always email you a picture of what the design will look like in the size that you want, so you can decide for yourself whether or not you like the change.

Another nifty trick that we have is to fit your design into odd size spaces.  The most common tile sizes that we print on are 4x4 and 6x6 inch.  So in most cases, your dimensions will be in multiples of  fours or sixes:
  • 16x24 size uses 4x4's 
  • 18x24 size uses 6x6's 
  • 12x24 size can use 4x4's or 6x6's 

But what do you do if your space is only 14 inches high and 22-13/16ths wide?  We have a solution for this.  We will still print on 4x4 tiles, but we can position the design so that it fits your odd dimensions.  Then when you install the tiles, you cut off the excess stone to fit.

This is the Cynara mural as it would usually look in a 16 high x 24 wide size.

This is the same Cynara design but resized.

In the second picture, the Cynara has been resized and positioned on the 4x4 tiles so that you can trim the tiles to fit your space.  The shaded areas show where you would cut.  You can take 1 inch off of the top and bottom to fit your 14 inch height.  And you can cut off approximately 1/2 inch from the left and right sides to fit your 22-13/16ths width.  We have positioned the design so that when you make these cuts, you do not cut off any of the image.

We do not cut the tiles for you.  That is a task that is best left to the installers when they are on the job site.  There can be small adjustments to cuts that have to be made when they actually get there and start laying out your tiles.

So, to summarize:

Different sizes available? 
Yes!

Can you email me a picture showing a any size?
Yes!

Can you fit my odd-sized space?
Yes!

Will you cut my tiles for me?
No!

Well, three out of four isn't bad.

Tuesday, April 6, 2010

Rock n Roll Sunday


We're still standing after the 7.2 earthquake that happened on Easter Sunday.  The epicenter was a couple hundred miles east of us.  Fortunately, no damage here and nobody was hurt.  Not even a single broken tile!

The experienced earthquake veterans didn't break a sweat.  Melinda, a California native, described it as "...one of those rolling ones, not the shaky-shaky kind."  Kathy thought it was "Awesome!"  Even though she's been in California for almost 17 years, it was the strongest one she's ever felt.

It is a good reminder to us all to get prepared for that big one that will inevitably happen.  Some links:

USGS - Lots of good links about preparation.

Quake Quiz - Test your knowledge - really fun animations.  When you get the wrong answer, they give you a good shake.

LA County Department of Animal Care & Control - Great tips on making preparations to keep your pets safe.

Wednesday, March 31, 2010

New Stone Choice for your decorative tiles


Well, hello Gorgeous!




There's a new Limestone in town.
Smooth surface. Creamy color. Straight edges.
What's not to love?


Our new Limestone is a great choice for those who do not want tumbled edges on their stone. This Limestone replaces our old limestone which had slightly tumbled edges.


Always in stock:
Light Travertine
Tumbled Durango
Tumbled Botticino
Limestone (new - with straight edge)


Click on Stone Chart to see all of your stone choices.

New Limestone works beautifully with our new contemporary patterns. 

Thursday, March 4, 2010

FAQ - Finding more images to create a custom tile mural


Q.  I've looked at your website and I really like the murals you have in your Landscape and Still Life pages.  But I haven't found the perfect one yet.  Do you have a catalog or are there other murals that are not shown on your website?

A. The website is the only place to find our complete collection of designs.  We do have a printed catalog, but it does not contain all of the images you can find on our website.  The website shows it all - older collections as well as brand new tile designs.  Take a look at our New Products page to see our beautiful new tile collections.

If you have looked at our website and you still can't find the perfect design, you do have the option to go to the websites of our licensing partners.  They have thousands of additional images and artwork and we can use any of those to create a custom tile mural for you.

See below for detailed information about this option.

We have arrangements with two prominent art licensing companies.  You can browse their websites and pick out artwork to create a custom design for your mural on our natural stone tiles.

  


 Rosenstiel's Publishing






Wild Wings Licensing
(password required, call us)




Both website have terrific search features that allow you to narrow down the choices and find the perfect design.  Wild Wings lets you search by Season - Spring, Summer, Fall or Winter.  Rosenstiels has an advanced search option which lets you filter by colors that you want to see in your search results.
 



ROSENSTIEL'S
Still Life with Chinese Vase and Flowers
by Ruud Verkerk

Found by searching for "Flowers" and the color white.








ROSENSTIEL'S
Stanley Barker and The Pytchley Hounds

Found by searching for "Horse" and the color red






Ordering a custom tile mural from us is simple:

Step 1: Find the artwork that you like and write down the name and number

Step 2: Go to your local StoneImpressions Dealer and place your order.  They can help you decide what size mural to order and what type of stone to put it on.  They can also help you pick out liners or trim pieces to frame your tile mural.

Keep in mind that we can also create a custom design from a photo that you supply to us.   You can find more information about our Custom Program here: StoneImpressions Custom Tile Design.

Wednesday, February 24, 2010

Even more New Tile Designs!



Quick preview of what we are working on.  

If it weren't for the potential kidnapping charges, we'd lock the doors and not let the design team leave until they finish all of these beautiful new collections.  They are doing an excellent job!  We are very, very close to finalizing.