Construction Zone!

Demolition has started on our newest vingette.

Stay tuned for progress updates!

We've got a new look!

A great new color palette for our building, just in time for Autumn.

New Showroom Installations

The dust has settled, we've pulled down the caution tape and we now have two new floor pads installed in the showroom. Thanks to the guys at A&B Tile for doing a beautiful job with the installations!

First is the new floor pad by KJ Patterson. Her tile comes in a variety of clay body colors with inlays of different colors forming the patterns. You can customize all her patterns by choosing your own color palette.

I love how using the decorative border on only two sides works with the Jerusalem Gold stone frame to make it look like Persian carpet tossed on a stone floor. 

The second floor pad is by Ticsa. Their terracotta pavers are stained and waxed for a beautiful antiqued effect. Dress them up further with a beautiful medallion or one of their many decorative borders. 

Their decorative tiles come in several color options. 

Come in and see these installations for yourself! They're even better in person.

A Thank You Party

We wanted to tell the contractors and installers we work with how much we appreciate their business and their fabulous tile setting skills, so we threw a little thank you party. Thanks everyone for all your support and patronage! Robin made delicious Pulled Pork sandwiches and there were Bratwursts from Tails & Trotters, baked beans and lots of beer. A good time was had by all.

Making the Baked Beans

Setting up the buffet

The Bucket o Beer attracts a crowd

Grab a Bratwurst!

Great sandwiches!

Hanging out with MP

Cleaning up

Thanks again  to everyone!

Summer Sale

We're having a sale! 50% off retail on select stock items. There are some beautiful tiles and slabs to choose from. Here's just a few of the great looks on sale in our Portland showroom right now.

 Bright Lights Glass mosaic $10.63 per sheet

Steelworks Porcelain planking in Sterling  $7.46sf

Stock Glass 1x1's $7.50sf

Textiles Porcelain 24x24 in Marron only $4.10sf

5/8 Stone Mosaic Blends $13.75sf

Stop in to see our summer sale selection and visit our slab yard too for some fabulous discounts. 

Tile in Gray

Gray. Half way between black and white, you might think it would be easy to choose a shade, but which gray? There are so many options. Gray can go in just about any direction; green gray, blue gray, cool gray, warm gray, it's an incredibly versatile color. The perfect neutral backdrop for a changing color palette, you can use any color as an accent with gray which makes it a great choice for your tile. There are some really beautiful gray tiles out there to choose from. Above is just a small selection available at the Pratt & Larson showroom ranging in price from $29 to $160sf.

Pratt & Larson has just released their newest additions to the Watercolor glaze series. Eight new silvery gray crackle glazes, they work beautifully with wood and stone or even stainless steel. Below the new gray watercolors have been mixed with Carrara stone in our newest addition to the Cascade Series,  Blend #11.

Cascade Blend #11

Stop by the showroom to see our selection of beautiful gray tiles available, from porcelain to stone, glass or custom ceramics in prices for every budget. 

Free Design Seminar

Join us for two Free Design Seminars on Sat. July 16th 

Our guest speakers for this seminar are both from the design/build company Neil Kelly. 

Follow the link to their website to see some beautiful photos in their Project Gallery. 

10:30am - Bathroom Design with Kristine Levernois

11:45am - Kitchen Design with Suzi Atkin

No registration necessary - just stop by and follow the signs to the seminar. 

Come for one seminar or stay for both and take this great opportunity to talk with a talented design professional about your project - for free!

Tile and Pattern

So often when we think of tile the first thing to come to mind is a plain white subway tile. But there are beautifully patterned tiles out there. Wallpapers are getting so much attention with their bold contemporary looks, their fresh takes on traditional patterns as well as lots of vintage inspired designs. All these ideas are available in tile too! Why should wallpaper have all the fun? Let's look at some fabulous tile designed to create an all over pattern, just like wallpaper but far more durable.

Pratt & Larson Bas Relief concepts

Pratt & Larson Bas Relief Vine Flowers

In the Pratt & Larson Bas Relief series one tile is repeated to create a larger pattern.  Use them to fill an accent wall, a back splash or an entire room! 

Veranda by Grid

Alcazar by Grid


The Chiaro Motifs series by Grid applies bold patterns and colors to the back of a smooth glass tile. Perfect for adding a fabulous pattern in a wet area like a shower stall or tub surround. 

Screen printed patterns from Tempest Tileworks

Tile above the cabinets emphasizes the wallpaper look.

Tempest Tileworks screen prints their tile much the same way hand printed wall paper is made. The images can then be hand colored for extra impact. 

KJ Patternson pictures courtesy of Filmore Clark

KJ Patterson's encaustic tiles make a surprising appearance on the wall of this laundry room, livening up a usually neglected space. Her beautiful patterns take center stage in this fantastic entry way. Patterned tiles aren't  just for the floor!

These beautiful patterns from Metolius Ridge Tile are inspired by textiles. The Ikat pattern would make a great rug but imagine the impact it could make as an accent wall! 

Danse - Laser cut stone mosaics

Jardin Series - Palmetto

Jardin Series - Papillon

Artistic Tile offers some amazing laser cut stone mosaics, creating patterns from stone as delicate as ribbon. Their Jardin series created by Pratt & Larson uses an organically shaped ceramic tile to hide the grout lines in the overall pattern.

So many tile companies offer beautiful overall patterns. Be bold! Embrace them for an entire room of pattern, or maybe go half way and just use patterned tiles above a field of subway done up to the chair rail, or maybe as a single accent wall for a dramatic impact. Don't let wallpaper have all the fun!