In our last post, we detailed how laNeva Tile is partnering with like-minded companies and artisans to create tile designs and patterns that are greater than the sum of their parts. Dynamic, interesting, never seen before combinations that we think are pretty spectacular (can you tell?!?!)

This collaboration concept was born this past summer and was first evident with the laNeva GLASS tile launch in October. After working to refine and precisely plan our multi-media tile collaboration, we are launching today:

 laNeva Tile & SK8 Tile by Art of Board

Art of Board is an incredible company that not only uses recycled skateboard decks to create graphic, functional wall tile, they also coordinate nationwide collection of used skateboard decks through their organization I Ride I Recycle and support several local and national charities.

SK8 tiles are hand cut from 100% recycled skate decks. Every scratch, scrape and gouge is kept intact – making them truly original. Each tile has its own story. They’re alive with texture, shape and color. Together, they bring that story to life in every space they inhabit – creating a vibrant visual experience in the home, retail or commercial environment.

Without further delay, here are just the starting two of our SK8 designs, featuring laNeva’s new L-shaped handmade ceramic tile and Art of Board recycled skateboard tiles:

As an Interior Designer, I look at tile and designing with tile a little differently than a tilemaker might.

I see that one tile collection is usually is not vast enough to meet varying client needs.

I am used to searching through my design studio’s samples, online and through numerous local showrooms, only to find out that the components I want to use together for a project are not available in coordinating sizes. Alternatively, if you choose tile from the same manufacturer, the look can be stale, expected.

Not anymore.

We are taking our original, the laNeva 3/8″ thick handmade tile body, and building a series of coordinating collections, with materials and sizes that can be used together or individually to create some pretty wild (or reserved) combinations.

Ceramic. Glass. Wood (yea, we said wood). All made in the USA by independent artisans.

A big laNeva product launch is coming later this month, with another in each of the first 3 months of 2012. We can’t wait to share this new direction with you. This is just the start…..

The standard “What A Year It Has Been!” that we’ll all see on the coming holiday letters really is true this year for us. It’s been wild!

laNeva Tile has expanded production dramatically from 2010 and we have so many more options for patterns, customization and alternative materials. We’ve partnered with Zelle Glass to create a completely dramatic, luxury glass tile collection (laNeva GLASS which launched this past October). We are working with so many incredible designers and showrooms  that astound us with their talent and creativity.

laNeva has also moved to dealer sales only, which helps to streamline our production and customer service as well as dramatically increases our dealer network. Yippee!

And, it’s not like we’re just going to coast into 2012. We’re not done yet!

The GLASS launch this past October was the start of 3 new product launches. The second and third of which are in production now and will be rolled out in early 2012.  These are collaborative products as well as a whole new direction for the future of laNeva tile. We’re so excited, but really can’t say any more.

What we CAN show you now is a component of one of these new products. A peek. A tease. Just one part of the puzzle that we will be revealing soon:

laNeva 'L' in color: Laguna (a fresh, wattery, semi-transparent glaze with large crackle texture)

laNeva 'L' in color: Steel (a dark, moody, mottled semi-metallic glaze. This one is a drama queen.)

There will be some other changes and additions coming about: More colors in GLASS and ceramic for 2012, including 3 new ‘IT’ glaze colors to be chosen by YOU (and lets do that a little earlier in 2012, shall we? )

Along with the color additions, others are getting the ax and there will be a few deletions from our lines. We will never be one of those companies with 100 or even 50 colors per product line.

Streamlined. Refined. Yes.

But hey, I’m jumping ahead a month. There’s a lot of celebrating to be done before the end of the year, and celebrating we shall do. We’re just excited to keep moving forward!

Independent of all this Missoni for Target insanity, we’ve been working on something. Something that planted roots in our mind over 3 years ago. Something we tested but never pursued.  We are here to show you what we got!

The laNeva Diagonal Rift:

This is our Rift Series Tile design reinterpreted on a rectangular tile body.  Available in 2″x4″ and 3″x6″. Sold by the piece or mesh mounted in any design you dream up.

What knocks our socks off are the stunning zig zag, diamond and chevron patterns you can make with these little bad boys:

Zig-zags and chevron patterns have never been so hot (and we all know who to thank for that.  Missoni, of course!) Want to check out more of ours? Take a look at our Herringbone ZigZag, the decidedly more relaxed Herringbone Classico or oh-so chic, Herringbone Retro.

Of course, any laNeva pattern can be made with any laNeva Color. That’s the beauty when tile is handmade, just for you.

Oh, and thanks to our hometown brand of Target (and Missoni) for this crazy zig-zag buzz…

You will see a shift in laNeva Artisan Tile

In the coming weeks, we’re rolling out some changes ’round here. Starting with an updated logo and website, we are working on a cleaner  look with added site functionality and an indepth behind-the-curtain view of laNeva Tile.  We’ll talk about (and show you) our process, how we make & design our gorgeous handmade tile and you’ll also see the launch of our online shop.

Secondly, we’re so completely excited, we’re nearly jumping from our seats! There are two fresh, new product lines we’re pairing with laNeva ceramics, with the official launch dates over the next two months.  These tile materials have been meticulously designed by us and are available only through laNeva, our reps and showrooms.

laNeva GLASS Tile Launch

Mid September will be the debut of our new laNeva GLASS tile, designed by laNeva to coordinate with our ceramics and made by the incredible glass artist Peter Zelle in Minneapolis.  Ours is a very textural, layered and fused glass tile, available in 8 color combinations and made to order.  These tiles have a dynamic juxtaposition of color and incredible depth that cannot be matched by anything else we’ve seen. These are not mosaics, we are going BOLD.  Our sizes for laNeva GLASS are 4″x4″, 4″x 8″, 4″x 12″ and 8″x8″ (with a possible 12″x 12″ as well).

Mid October Will Launch Another Product Pairing

While the details are still being finalized, we’re working with another great company to create laNeva fusion tile patterns. These are funky, unexpected material groupings,  textures and a playful approach to traditional mesh-mounted borders and field tile layouts.

A New laNeva Ceramic SHAPE

We also have a new laNeva ceramic tile shape to release in October, perfectly engineered to work with these new materials and patterns. Is anyone else doing this? We certainly don’t think so.

Our goal is to provide a completely unique offering of tile products handmade in the USA. We’re pairing ceramic, glass and other materials in fresh, funky, exciting ways, all made for and designed by laNeva Tile. We’re luxury, but not elitist tile! As a professional interior designer, I know that the most dynamic tile designs are often a mix from several sources. We’re bringing those sources and options here, to laNeva Artisan Tile!

It’s always fun to see laNeva Tile living in its new home, with its new family. We recently worked with a homeowner to design a small, rectalinear border (mesh-mounted and interlocking, with a random pattern layout) for a budget bathroom remodel. Measuring a mere 5″ high, this border contains 1×1′s in Lichen, 1×2 in Dune and 1/2 x 6 liners in Café.

Don’t let the small size fool you, this border really stands out. Paired with inexpensive white 3×6 subway tile, the border is all the accent needed to create interest and texture in an otherwise neutral bathroom.

Like this project, handmade tile can fit into nearly any budget. The homeowners kept the existing cabinetry and plumbing layout but replaced much of the sheetrock, insulation, tile throughout, countertop (with integral sink) faucets, mirror lighting and paint.

Studio Snapshot of Mesh Mounting & Overglazed Edge

And the budget breakdown, you ask? Lets take a look:

(All figures are approximate)

We need your help to vote for our new, Limited Edition “IT” Colors for 2011!

Out of 5 options, please select 3 that will accent our existing solid color glazes for one calendar year. Voting will be open for one week and you’ll be able to vote just once. We’ll release the winners at 5 PM CST on Monday, April 18th and the winning colors will be officially added to our 2011 color offering on May 2nd, 2011.

All winning colors will be available as solid or Rift tiles and can be used by themselves or as a part of our Lineal or Slice Collection mesh-mounted borders or SPAN field tile patterns.

What are you waiting for? Vote for 3!

Last week we announced our newest collection of field tile patterns called SPAN (to go along with our Lineal & Slice Collections of Borders) and showed you SPAN patterns using laNeva’s rectangular tiles.  Some fun layouts were included with our favorite being the 3 pattern options using our 1×6 liner. Fab-u-lous!

As promised, we are following up with the squares. It’s hip to be square (had to throw that in there!) and we see a huge resurgence in the market for square tiles. So without further delay, we bring to you:

SPAN Collection – Squares

All pattern drawings show one square foot of each layout. For those of you super-savy readers (of which you ALL are!) note that the patterns on the left and right of each tile size are the same with the left shown as a horizontal running bond and the right, vertical.

And a laNeva insider- update for people who read to the end of each post:

Within the coming week, you’ll see a few changes to the laNeva site, with our new collections (including this one) added to the “Our Tiles” tab.  Have questions? Check out the FAQ’s or contact us for more details.  We love to hear from laNeva Tile fans!

XOXOXO,

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We’ve linked to Houzz Ideabooks in the past but today we want to share a collection of photos that illustrate our favorite point: You CAN and SHOULD use rectangular tiles vertically!  Here is a beautiful visual collection of vertical tile installations. Choose any of laNeva’s mesh-mounted SPAN field tile patterns, released last week, to achieve the same fresh, dramatic look.

Click the dots or arrows below to scroll through the Houzz Ideabook.  Enjoy!

While announcing our Lineal and Slice Collections last month, there was a request for a similar grouping of mesh mounted field tile layouts.  While there are a ton of different options, we have chosen some standard and not-so-standard layout patterns to feature.

Announcing laNeva Tile’s field tile pattern collection: SPAN

The SPAN pattern collection includes groupings of rectangular and square tiles.  Today’s release includes all of laNeva’s rectangular mesh mounted field tile layouts. You choose 1×2, 2×4,  3×6 tile and even our 1×6 liners!

SPAN patterns using our square tiles will be announced next week.

Each Span Collection layout is mesh mounted for ease of installation and sold per square foot. With the addition of SPAN  to the Lineal and Slice border collections, we offer a mix-and-match (or create your own, if you wish) system for complete material selections!