i just heard from a tile artist, carol francis, i met with her artist husband michael a couple years ago at hd expo, an interior design show for the hospitality market in las vegas and am thrilled to post this update after first sharing their talents with you back then.  first of all, the fact that this is a husband and wife team of artists who started their pottery studio in a thatched cottage in 1980, is just so romantic!  now, their studio francis ceramics, is based in wales and produces traditional delft, custom mural, and contemporary hand-painted tiles which are also eco-friendly!  their client list is extremely impressive and includes kensington palace and nina campbell!  

michael francis hand-painting bespoke tile panel

their recent winter newsletter highlights some recent projects and reminds me how versatile their tile is.  i love how they share in that newsletter, images of the process from start to finish, some of which i share below with you.  enjoy a stroll through this process for a vanity in the VIP restrooms at an exclusive london nightclub, chinawhite.

source material supplied by client

initial layout sketch

artist's isometric impression based on finished tile

finished installation

one of their tile panels for another project that also makes me swoon:

i love how the client's art on the console creates a 3d effect of the mural

pipes & crystal create stunning chandeliers

i love checking out interior design magazine's cool new products and this time they profile michael mchale who uses reclaimed parts whenever possible like pipes from hurricane katrina and combines it with bohemian and swarovski crystals.

eco-friendly faux wood flooring that looks real and is maintenance-free

interior design magazine's feb issue highlights a floor covering made with recycled content that is ecolabel certified called bioessenze by nemo tile.

it looks like wood but is actually porcelain! you may be wondering why someone would want to use a faux wood floor but consider that it's resistant to wear, maintenance-free, impervious to moisture, and withstands atmospheric agents, scratching and mechanical impact.

it's perfect for commercial applications.

first designer to create 100% FSC pure sustainble upholstered furniture now offers an outdoor collection

thanks to interior design magazine and inhabitat for sharing the news about kaa design group's

new 9-piece fsc outdoor collection for cisco brothers called "HOM escape in style".

and thanks for keith granet of granet & associates, for bringing these 2 talents together.

i remember falling hard for kaa's modular home they displayed at a green building trade show. what drew me in even more were stunning furnishings they made and now sell.

perhaps its the fsc guatemalan machiche and elegant lines that make it so unique and elegant.

i think you'll agree that it doesn't look like your typical outdoor furniture.

elegant mirror made with coconut

this is an excellent example of how an organic material can be quite elegant. the mirror at the top of the 1st photo and then shown in the next photo, #2, is so beautiful. offered by ochre, it's framed with white coconut strips! thanks to interior design magazine for sharing this mirror on p38 of the current feb issue and online at the link. i love reading my design mags...they are so inspiring!