Crossville Tile Collections Helps Evansville, Indiana Celebrate the Year of the River

2013 is the Year of the River, and “Watermark,” a group of local artists in Evansville, Indiana, is working to provide Fairbanks Park with a worthy celebration. Watermark’s Year of the River project is a year-long community initiative celebrating the area’s Wabash River while promoting local and regional awareness of the value of one of Indiana’s most valuable natural resources. In April, crews began laying the foundation on the bank of the Wabash River for a platform made from stepping stones. The project involves cutting tiles to create patterns which will then be used to embellish concrete stepping stones. Themes are based on elements of the Wabash River and its surrounding community.

Crossville, in partnership with Louisville Tile Distributors, provided tile for this very special project. Sixteen artists have spent hours shaping tiles and creating designs that are coming to fruition this spring. The professional, local, and regional artists of the Wabash Valley come from a wide range of backgrounds—anything from teachers to engineers—all bringing their own skill sets and creativity to the project. By the time the project ends, thirty stepping stones will be placed at Fairbanks Park with a dedication taking place on June 23rd.

Crossville provided tiles from the Cross-Colors collection, including our Empress White, Spice Mist, Primavera, and Windsurf color ways. Color Blox tiles will also be featured in the project, including hues such as Slinky, Yellow Brick Road, Limeade, and Blue Suede Shoes.

The range of hues our lines have to offer provide the artists with a palette to work with in creating art that will not only celebrate the Year of the River but will also celebrate the coming together of a community for years to come. What an honor to have played a useful role in this wonderful endeavor! Thanks to our friends at Louisville Tile Distributors for inviting us to be part!

All About Attending Dwell on Design: Tips from Crossville

If you’re as excited as we are about attending Dwell on Design, then we’ve got the scoop for you. From home tours to sessions about greening your home, there is something for everyone at this year’s DoD. Whether you’re an interior designer or an avid homeowner looking for inspiration, this year’s show will not only inspire but also invigorate your appetite for the latest trends in residential designs. After you check out Crossville‘s offerings in Booth 1061, we’ve compiled a list of exciting events to make the most of your time at DoD.

Crossville’s Virtue Porcelain Tile

Crossville – Booth 1061

We’ll be showcasing our sustainably-produced tile lines that are versatile for modern residential design. As an interior designer or discerning homeowner, you’ll be inspired through our numerous offerings for fine finishes in flooring.

From the recent launch of the Virtue Porcelain Tile Collection to amazing tile selections of Manoir and Limestone, you’ll experience how to elevate spaces with our porcelain tile, stone, glass, metal and mosaic offerings for unique style and quality for floors and walls.

If you’re not able to attend the show in person, look for full coverage of the show June 21 – 23 on our Twitter and Facebook feeds!

Don’t Miss These Show Events

Michael Graves

Keynote Address – Michael Graves

Friday, June 21, at 5 p.m. at LACC Sustainable Design Stage
Renowned architect and industrial designer Michael Graves will share his insights on universal design and design’s direct influence on quality of life. The keynote will be followed by a Q&A.

Passport to Design Competition
DoD attendees are invited to create an “ultimate space” using VividAR™ software. Participants will have access to virtual 3D designs and furnishings provided by participating exhibitors. Prizes total more than $5,000!

DOD Los Angeles Homes Tour – Wong Residence and Studio

Los Angeles Home Tours

Dwell Home Tours allow design seekers to immerse themselves in “Dwell-like” domestic spaces. These unique homes are specially selected by Dwell to reflect the rich diversity of livable, innovative modern architecture and design found throughout Los Angeles.

Greening Your Home
Friday, June 21, at 1 p.m. at LACC Sustainable Design Stage
Whether you’re renovating, designing a space from scratch, or just looking to upgrade your existing style, learn about the best ways to incorporate sustainable materials and green products into your home.

Can You Spot the Fake? How Knockoffs Affect the Design Industry
Friday, June 21, at 2 p.m. at LACC Business of Design Stage
Knockoffs may be cheap, but they carry heavy costs for manufacturers, independent designers—and, often, consumers who don’t realize what they’re actually buying.

Designing Small Smart Spaces

Saturday, June 22, at 12:30 p.m. at LACC Meeting Room 510
Most people—first-time buyers, urban dwellers, and downsizers in particular—have had to live in a small space. Small living spaces present special challenges:

HGTV Going Yard Hosts Chris and Peyton Lambton

Backyard Basics and Sustainable Landscaping with the Stars of HGTV’s Going Yard

Saturday, June 22, at 2:30 p.m. at LACC Sustainable Design Stage
Topics include plants, hardscaping, outdoor entertaining, water features, edible gardens, and upcycling existing elements.

Ed Begley Jr.

Building Beyond Green with Ed Begley Jr.: Responsible Building for Responsible Living

Saturday, June 22, at 4 p.m. at LACC Sustainable Design Stage
Marrying intelligent low-tech solutions of the past to today’s most innovative technological advancements in design, Begley’s forward-thinking project espouses a philosophy of responsible modern living informed by the most enduring design lessons of the past.

Multi-Generational Design: A Model for Sustainable Living
Sunday, June 23, at 12:30 p.m. at LACC Sustainable Design Stage
Because today’s households are increasingly shared by several generations, homeowners are seeking innovative ways to accommodate family members of all ages under one roof.

Healthy Homes: Raising Kids without Toxins
Sunday, June 23, at 2 p.m. at LACC Sustainable Design Stage
Topics include well-designed, green kids’ furnishings, bedding, and even cool clothing that leaves no trace.

Dwell on Design Show Details

When: June 14-23, 2013
Architects meetings and home tours begin June 14.
Exhibition begins June 21.

Where: Los Angeles Convention Center, Los Angeles, Calif.

Ticket Information: http://www.dwellondesign.com/2013-registration-pricing

For more information, visit www.dwellondesign.com.

Crossville To Exhibit at Dwell on Design, Los Angeles – June 21-23, 2013

They say Dwell on Design  (DoD) 2013 is “the largest modern design event in the United States,” and that’s exactly why Crossville has to be there! Tailored for interior designers and homeowners, DoD is a powerhouse conference for anyone who loves design and is in the market for the latest home products. The DoD events start on June 14th, while the exhibition runs June 21 – 23 at the Los Angeles Convention Center. We’ll be showcasing our range of products for homeowners, including our latest porcelain tile, stone, glass, metal and mosaic offerings, at booth 1061.

We’re excited to share our American-made, sustainably-produced products for modern residential design with this discerning audience. Look for full coverage of the show June 21 – 23 on our Twitter and Facebook feeds!

About Dwell on Design

With more than 400 exhibitors, 200 speakers, 2,000 products and an expected 30,000 attendees, Dwell on Design has become the largest design event in the United States, showing how influential design is in every aspect of our modern world.

From a Los Angeles West Side Homes Tour to keynote speaker Michael Graves, visitors will be immersed in the best and brightest products, services and thought leaders in modern design. With the exhibition spaces at the Los Angeles Convention Center divided into five areas, attendees can browse through the latest and greatest for kitchen and bath, furniture and accessories, Dwell outdoor, design materials, and the technology zone.

Dwell on Design Show Details

When: June 14-23, 2013
Architects meetings and home tours begin June 14.
Exhibition begins June 21.

Where: Los Angeles Convention Center, Los Angeles, Calif.

Ticket Information:         http://www.dwellondesign.com/2013-registration-pricing

For more information, visit www.dwellondesign.com.

Crossville Launches Virtue Porcelain Tile Collection – Classic Marble Look, Porcelain Tile Performance, Designer Details

Virtue Porcelain Tile Collection: Crossville’s Achieves Marble’s Timeless Look in High Performance Porcelain

Marble has its virtues as a beloved, timeless material. With its luminous elegance, it’s been the choice of renowned artisans and designers for centuries. In the modern era, we’ve learned that marble’s beauty isn’t matched with the durability most of us require. True marble is a tender stone, prone to stain, chip or wear—excluding it from use in so many applications in our homes and workplaces.

Crossville is pleased to introduce a solution for those who want marble’s sophisticated appearance but require superior product performance. Our new Virtue porcelain tile collection replicates the look and finish of marble. The line captures the aesthetic qualities of the world’s purest marbles—Carrara, Calacatta and Statuario—blended in a single shade of subtly veined white interpreted in two authentic finishes: unpolished and satin.

Because it’s manufactured of high performance porcelain tile, Virtue makes it possible to enjoy the look of marble in places where the use of the real stone would not be feasible.

To create the authentic satin finish for the collection, our product development team reworked existing technology. The result is a finish that effectively replicates the feel and luster of gently sculpted, timeworn marble—a subdued luminosity without high gloss, reminiscent of the smooth texture of a marble statue.

Virtue’s size offerings make the collection highly customizable. The line comes in modular field tile sizes of 3″x6″, 3″x6″ picket, 6″x6″, 6″x24″, 12″x12″, 12″x24″, 24″x24″ with mosaics available in 2″x2″ hex and 3″x3″. Trim options, including chair rail, crown molding, base molding, single bullnose, cove base, inside and outside corners, are also available to add finishing touches to installations. The range of sizes, interplayed with the two finishes, offers ultimate versatility and flexibility in creating custom patterns to enhance the dimension and texture of the line’s singular hue.

Virtue is suited for for interior floors, walls, countertops, and exterior walls in both residential and commercial applications (The satin tile is not recommended for wet areas where standing water may occur).

Manufactured in the U.S., Virtue contains a 4% pre-consumer recycled content and is Green Squared certified through the Tile Council of North America for its proven standards of sustainability.

News: Crossville Announces Hydrotect Coating – A Partnership with TOTO Corporation

Crossville Announces the Coming of Hydrotect Coating
Specially Formulated Treatment Enhances Healthful Properties of Tile

Crossville, Tenn. – Crossville has announced that it will introduce Hydrotect as an optional treatment for most of its porcelain tile collections beginning in June 2013.

Hydrotect is a coating applied to tile during a second firing process that occurs after the tile is traditionally glazed and fired. This treatment is comprised of a triple silver-copper-titanium dioxide mixture that makes the tile to which it is fired have antimicrobial effects* and be self-cleaning and air purifying. With its hydrophilic and photocatalytic properties, Hydrotect effectively kills odor causing bacteria*, significantly reduces dirt and oil accumulation and rids the air of odors and nitrous oxide.

Because Hydrotect is fired on to the tile separately from the glaze, it will not wash or wear off over time. It is not visible and, thus, does not alter the appearance of the tile.

Hydrotect nanotechnology was developed by the TOTO Corporation to improve the healthful properties of man-made surfaces by replicating the way by which plants harness light for photosynthesis to improve the healthful properties of man-made surfaces. Crossville has entered a partnership with TOTO to attain this technology for its tile lines.

Beginning in June 2013, customers may specify Hydrotect for their tile orders at an additional cost. More information will be available on Crossville’s website in June. http://www.crossvilleinc.com

About Crossville Inc.
Founded in 1986, Crossville Inc. is a U.S.-owned and operated manufacturer of award-winning porcelain, glass and stone tile collections for residential and contract applications. The company is the first U.S. tile manufacturer to achieve the following:
- production of large format tile on site,
manufacturing tile with certified recycled content
development of the Tile Take-Back® Program for recycling fired porcelain tile
- certification of its waste recycling programs
- TCNA’s Green Squared certification for all of its U.S.-produced tile lines,
- become a net consumer of waste.
For more information on Crossville, visit crossvilleinc.com.

About TOTO:
TOTO USA is headquarters for the Americas Division of the TOTO Global Group, which was established in 1917 with the founding of TOTO, Ltd., in Kitakyushu, Japan.  TOTO is the world’s largest manufacturer of bathroom fixtures and fittings with $5.1 billion dollars in annual sales. For nearly 100 years, TOTO has been the recognized leader in performance innovation and design with products that enhance the luxury bathroom experience. Today, the company maintains 23,500 employees in 69 offices around the world and owns manufacturing facilities in Japan, Mexico, the USA, China and Europe with an affiliated network of more than 80 production facilities worldwide.  With over 1,500 engineers on staff and three centers devoted to research and development,

TOTO is dedicated to engineering products that respect the environment while meeting people’s needs for comfort, beauty and performance.  TOTO’s corporate philosophy – People-First Innovation – is the guiding principle for all the company’s processes, from engineering and design to manufacturing and sales. Consumers enjoy the peace of mind that comes from knowing they purchased a brand that innovates to improve people’s quality of life.  Winner of numerous domestic and international awards and recognitions, TOTO is the only plumbing manufacturer honored as Water Efficiency Leader by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.  The company continues to raise industry standards and consumer expectations as to what is possible in the bathroom, as TOTO believes a high-quality bathroom is an experience and an everyday luxury people value and appreciate.

For more information, consumers may visit http://www.totousa.com or call 1.888.295.8134, Option 5.

* The product is currently under review by EPA. Data and information herein have not yet been evaluated and approved by the EPA. Information is based on 3rd party testing per ISO standards. Photocatalyst products are not designed to protect users from disease-causing bacteria or replace good cleaning/maintenance practices.

Crossville Tile Earns Project: Green Platinum Recognition at Coverings 2013

Attend the Project: Green session at Coverings – Tuesday, April 30th from 3:15 to 4:15 p.m. in room B407

Each year, the Coverings trade show conducts a competition to recognize and reward tile installations projects that meet the highest of green standards and aesthetic design.

Crossville is honored to be a Project: Green Platinum Award winner for the second consecutive year. At Coverings 2013, our Northridge Fashion Center project will be featured in a special display at the show, and our own Executive Director of Technical Services Tim Bolby will participate in a Project: Green panel discussion, as well.

If you’re attending the show, make plans to sit in on the Project: Green session to learn about this and other award-winning installations. By learning more about the use of tile in challenging and environmentally significant projects, you can take home ideas and practical solutions for your upcoming installations.

The Project: Green panel discussion takes place on Tuesday, April 30th from 3:15 to 4:15 p.m. in room B407 at the show. Hope to see you there!

Here’s a look at the installation that earned us the PROJECT: Green Platinum honor for the upcoming Coverings Show. The food court area of Northridge Fashion Center (Northridge, CA) features a field of Empire Alabaster surrounding a playful combination of Wood Impressions Black Walnut and a trio of Color Blox colors.
Architect/Owner: General Growth Properties – Tile Contractor: KTGY Group, Inc. – Distributor: Longust Distributing
Full case study coming soon!

Crossville Tile Suggests Sessions for Coverings 2013 in Atlanta

While we hope your first stop at the Covering Expo will be Crossville’s Booth 7259, we know there are many useful sessions you won’t want to miss, as well. Here are a few that we recommend.

★  Competing for the Future: Tools to Develop Your Team Monday, 4/29, 8:30 – 10 a.m. This informative session is led by Sandy Smith, respected corporate training specialist and friend to the Crossville brand.

★  Combining Traditional & Social Media for Marketing  Tuesday, 4/30, 3:15 – 4:15 p.m. Lisbeth Calandrino, customer service guru and Fabulous Floors Research Director shares latest insights.

★  Thin Tile Technology & Installation Considerations  Wednesday, 5/1, 8 – 9 a.m. Our own Tim Bolby and Noah Chitty join a panel discussion on the hot topic of large format, lean profile porcelain panels.

★  Using Pinterest for Business Wednesday, 5/1, 10:45 – 11:45 a.m. Crossville will be represented by our social media & PR leader Irene Williams in this practical panel discussion on the effective social media site, Pinterest.

★  Selling Tile: The Internet, Industry & Customer Wednesday, 5/1, 3:15 – 4:15 p.m. Christine Whittemore of Simplified Marketing and frequent Crossville speaker is part of this panel for retailers and distributors.

For more Coverings 2013 session options, visit the show website by clicking here: http://bit.ly/ZobDCC.