Top Installs from 2017

To celebrate the end of a very exciting year, we decided to put together a list of our favorite installs from 2017.  We will cut right to the chase, because they say a picture is worth a thousand words.

1. Beauty by the Bay- Churchill Design; Orange County, CA 

Featuring our Paige pattern on Carrara
Photography: Tosti Studios

2. A Bright White Kitchen Makeover- Blackband Design; Orange County, CA

Featuring our Sanza pattern on Carrara

3.When Classis and Modern Design Meet- AMD Interiors; Columbus, OH

4. A White Kitchen with a Touch of Color-Tami Faulkner Design; Butte County, CA

Featuring our Cortina Pattern and Labyrinth Pattern on Carrara
Photography: This Sojourn Life

5. Go Bold or Go Home-Yata Remodeling; Laurel, MD

Featuring our Alston Aliso Pattern on Carrara

6. Powder Room Details-Fuchsia Interior Design; Grand Rapids, MI

Featuring our Lena Pattern on Carrara

7. Marble Master Bath- Jennifer Welch Designs; Oklahoma City, OK

Featuring our Alto Pattern on Carrara
Photography: Carli Wentworth

8. The Bathroom that Could do no Wrong- Etch Design Group; Austin, TX

Featuring our Hayden Pattern on Carrara
Photography: Mia Baxter Smail

9. The Perfect Entrance- Jacquelyn Clark; Toronto, Canada

Featuring our Lotus Pattern on Carrara
Photography: Heidi Lau

10. The Contemporary Kitchen-Brianna Michelle Design; Winter Park, FL

Featuring our Evolve Pattern on Carrara
Photography: Stephen Allen

11. Geometric Master Bath-Simply Grove Interior Design; Boise, ID

Featuring our Alston Tribeca Pattern on Carrara Hexagon Tile
Photography: Allison Corona

12. Powdery Blue Master Bath-Berk Custom Homes; Orange County, CA

For more designs and installs, head to our new and improved website, StoneImpressions!

How to Create Custom Coasters in 3 Easy Steps

Do you have a friend or family member that absolutely loves thoughtful and personalized gifts?  If you do, we have the perfect gift idea for you that is affordable and very unique!  Even though our tiles are mostly used as kitchen backsplashes, we found another use for these patterned beauties...custom coasters!  And the best part?  It's a simple process that we have broken down into three easy steps.

Step One

Choose which stone type you want to use!  We offer 8 different stone types ranging from a straight-edge Carrara to a tumbled natural stone.  Today, we are going to choose a clean thassos!

Click here to see all stone options

Step Two

Almost done!  Now for the fun part...choosing a design for your coasters.  Becuase we have so many designs to choose from, we encourage you to mix and match different patterns.  We also have a few accent collections which feature themed tiles.  Today we are going to choose 4 accent pieces from our Nautical Collection.  

For more accent tiles, click HERE

Step Three

Give us your order and simply wait for your custom coasters to be shipped to you.  All you have to do is wrap up your thoughtful gift!

We picked out 5 more of our favorite designs from our StoneImpressions' line that we think make beautiful looking coasters:

Aurum Pattern

Barclay Pattern

Cambridge Pattern

Insight Pattern

Lancaster Pattern

**We are offering this custom coaster special at $40 plus shipping for a package of 4 coasters, with corkscrew bottoms included on each tile.  This offer is extended to all who is interested, so please email hilary@stoneimpressions.com if you wish to get the process started!**

Holiday Gift Ideas from Small Businesses

Last holiday season, we gave you some last minute holiday gift ideas from one of our favorite design stores, West Elm.  And while we love every single thing that comes out of that store, this year we want to support small businesses, artisans and local shops around the country.  So this year's gift guide will be filled with unique and one-of-kind finds to help support other small businesses like ourselves.

1. Simply Grove Shop If you don't remember, we were lucky enough to collaborate with interior designer and blogger, Kristen Grove of Simply Grove on her master bath renovation last year.  Well this summer she opened up a curated shop in Boise, ID that is filled with home accessories perfect for the design-lover and also affordable!  Here are our top picks from her shop:

White Tea Candle ($24.00)

      Aragon Marble Board ($47.00)

Click HERE to browse her entire online shop!

 2.  31 Bits We're not sure what we're more in love with, the goods from 31 Bits, or their mission!  The 3 Orange County founders have made it their mission to provide fair and sustainable wages to their skilled Artisans who create their lovely collection of design goods and jewelry.   Here are some of our favorites:

Marble X Coasters and Pinch Dishes ($98.00)

Wood Serving Spoons ($48.00)

Click HERE to shop their whole collection
 

3. Design 4 Corners  The sisters at the design firm, Design 4 Corners, recently opened up their own shop in the quaint town of Carlsbad in San Diego, CA and sell a variety of home goods handcrafted by Artisans from the South East Asian archipelago.  Here are some of our favorites: 

Large Blush Dipped Wood Bowls ($76.95)

Cream and Turquoise Candle Sticks ($78.95 set of 2)

Click HERE to shop their entire collection 

  4. Tramake These funky coasters and trivets are the perfect gift for someone who loves one-of-a-kind home accessories.  Based in Chicago, local artisan Faith Veenstra makes these modern works of art by hand and in small batches.  These gifts are perfect for anyone who loves home accessories and aren't afraid of a little pattern!

"Terrazzo" Absorbent Stone Coaster (set of 4/$30.00)

"Shapes" Absorbent Stone Trivet ($24.00)

Click HERE to shop her entire collection

5. Benjamin June Ceramics  We are honestly obsessed with everything that Benjamin June produces.  This Portland local produces ceramic flask set that features various patterns and colors.  Gift one of his hand-made flasks sets to someone who appreciates modern design and a well-designed home bar. 

Mountain Flask Set ($95.00)

Click HERE to shop his entire collection

6. ANITAKOorganics  Do you have a friend or family member that loves small batch organic bath and beauty products?  Look no further than Anitako Organics, a Canadian beauty line that uses sustainable and safe ingredients for you and your baby.  These gifts are appealing to the eye and safe for the skin.  The best part is they are affordable and will make thoughtful gifts!

SILK Organic Face Cream Moisturizer ($25.00)

Hydrating 3-in-1 Facial Cleansing Grains ($18.00)

Sensual Dead Sea Salt Soak ($18.00)

Click HERE to shop all her products 

This year, we hope you shop small to help support local businesses and artisans!  Not only are you giving something unique and thoughtful to a family member or friend, you are also helping grow a business.  

Make sure to check out the rest of the collections these shops have to offer!

Our First Video Blog!

This past year has brought many new and exciting changes to the StoneImpressions' family!  We have added amazing new members to our team, collaborated with talented bloggers, and created stunning new designs for our two collections, StoneImpressions and Artisan Stone Tile.

Not only did we create new designs for these collections, we also added a new and innovative finish to give seven lucky patterns an even bolder look!  We are so excited to formally introduce the Luster Finish Collection, a subtle, pearlized glaze that brings further brightness and nuance to our Limestone tiles. 

So we mentioned that 2017 has been all about new and exciting changes, and one more thing we have started to do is video blogging!  We thought we would start off our video blog series by talking about the new Luster Finish collection.  

Our next two videos will be about our favorite new designs from our in-stock collection, Artisan Stone Tile!  Check out our full YouTube channel HERE!

For more information on our tiles or sample requests, please email hilary@stoneimpressions.com.

5 Unique Backsplash Ideas

The kitchen is easily the most important part of a home.  It is a space where families gather each night for dinner, holidays are spent cooking in, and late-night meals are had.  Renovating a kitchen is a big project to take on, but the results are worth it.

To add a personal touch to your kitchen, we suggest adding some type of backsplash to this space.  There are a variety of ways you can implement a backsplash in the kitchen, so we put together our 5 favorite backsplash ideas to get those creative juices flowing!

1. Mural

A mural is traditional and works in a variety of home styles.  It is also a good way to create a strong focal point in small area.  

Design by Anne Rae Designs
Mural is Cynara

2. Backsplash with Matching Butler's Pantry

There is nothing better than a kitchen that comes together cohesively.  One way to create this feeling of unity is by using the same tile as a backsplash behind the stove and in a corresponding spot in the kitchen such as a butler's pantry or wet bar. 

Design by Preservation Renovation
Pattern is Sweep

Pattern is Sweep

3. Rectangular Backsplash

Sometimes it only takes a few patterned tiles to create a stunning focal point.  Use a strong, bold pattern and surround it with clean field tile to give your kitchen a timeless look.

Design by Tami Faulkner Design

4. Range Hood Accent

The phrase, "keep it simple" works perfectly when designing a kitchen.  We have been seeing more designers add tiles to the hood of a stove and we think the result is remarkable. Remember that sometimes it only takes a few tiles to create an award-winning kitchen renovation.

Design by Blackband Design
Pattern is Sanza

 
5. Full Coverage

Whenever we see a designer cover a wall with a patterned tile, we are always impressed by the finished result.  It is a bold move but is very worth it. 

 Pattern is Ellipse

For more information on our made to order tiles, please visit www.stoneimpressions.com.  To see the tiles that are kept in stock in our San Diego warehouse, visit www.artisanstonetile.com.

Fireplaces for Fall

     It may be 80 degrees in Southern California, but that won't stop us from lighting those pumpkin-scented candles and hitting the pumpkin patch in our new fall coats.  The change in season means sweater weather and also the beginning of new home projects for many of you.  

     If you're not looking to completely gut your home this Fall but want to give a room in your house that personal touch, we suggest remodeling your fireplace.   We've said it many times before, but adding a decorative tile around your fireplace is a very quick and cost-effective way to add some spice to your space.   We rounded up some of our favorite fireplace projects that have us getting out those furry throws!

1.) A Twist on Traditional 

Whenever we see this Michigan den project, we immediately want to curl up on one of those gorgeous leather couches and feel the warm fire on our face.  This is the perfect example of how to go bold with little material.  

Photography by Ashley Avila
Pattern is Zurich from our StoneImpressions' Collection

2.)  Go Bold or Go Home

We were lucky enough to tour the home of Beth Robb (@dietguruswife) and we were not disappointed by her tile choices.  Her home featured many fireplaces and backsplashes that showcased two of our favorite patterns from our in-stock collection, Artisan Stone Tile.

Fiore Pattern from the Artisan Stone Tile collection

Sanza Pattern from the Artisan Stone Tile collection

3. Rustic Roots

Austin, TX local, Michelle Oyler Root (@rooteedinaustin) designed this stunning fireplace for her home renovation.  She chose the Lena pattern from our in-stock collection which created this timeless look and proves that a little bit of tile can go a long way. 

Lena Pattern from the Artisan Stone Tile collection

4. Moroccan Melody

The designers over at Big Sky Designs in Wilmington, NC got really creative with our Saybook Deco Dots' collection.  They chose to use only one of the individual accent tiles to create this Moroccan inspired fireplace.  

Photo Courtesy of Big Sky Designs 

Saybrook Deco Dots Collection

Hopefully you have some inspiration and motivation to start your next home project!  Start off by sprucing up the coziest part of the house and get your home ready for the Winter!