Crossville Tile for Commercial Bathrooms :: Bathroom Blogfest 2012

— A 2012 Bathroom Blogfest Article —

Mention “tile in the bathroom,” and many people probably conjure images of residential installations. Who doesn’t love the upgrade of beautiful porcelain or glass tile for her home’s shower and bath areas, on the floors or walls?  However, we at Crossville see “tile in the bathroom” in split screen. Our porcelain and glass tile products are equally suited for home and commercial use.

As a matter of fact, when we signed on as a participant in the 2012 “Bathroom Blogfest,”an annual online event that invites industry pros to blog, tweet and post on the topic of bathroom design, we knew it’d be a great opportunity to remind people that bathrooms are as important within commercial facilities as they are in our homes. This year’s Bathroom Blogfest theme, “Still Climbing Out: Bathroom Design After Cancer,”puts a focus on the need for universally accessible bathrooms for people in all ages and stages of life. Certainly, tile can be a wonderful contribution to bathroom design that’s as functional as it is beautiful.

For example,  Crossville recently partnered with Cannon Design of Chicago to create the world’s first cradle-to-cradle tile installation project for the restroom renovations in the 43-story John C. Kluczynski Federal Building in downtown Chicago. The bathrooms in this iconic building had not been updated since the early 1970s, so they were long overdue for aesthetic upgrades; the existing facilities were woefully dated. Yet most importantly, they needed overhauling with efficient, green fixtures and materials and fresh universal design to make accommodation for all employees and visitors to the building.

BEFORE: The bathrooms of the Chicago Federal Building were last updated in 1974. The look, layout and materials needed major upgrades.

Cannon called on us to use our unique capability to recycle fired porcelain to harvest all existing tile, toilets and other fixtures from the building to create the feedstock for the new tile for the renovations. All told, we took back 200,000+ pounds of porcelain to create 57,000 square feet of new tile specially designed for the project. Yes, we made sophisticated new tile for floors and walls out of crushed toilets, sinks and urinals (post-consumer, no less)! It was quite a feat but well worth the effort.

200,000+ lbs of tile and fixtures were harvested in stages from the JCK Building, shipped to Crossville’s Tennessee plants and recycled to make new tile.

Our cradle-to-cradle tile blended wonderfully with Cannon’s sleek reinvention of the facilities. The new bathrooms certainly did “climb out” (to reference our Bathroom Blogfest theme) of the past to become sustainable, accessible and beautiful facilities that are accommodating and aesthetically pleasing.

The Federal Building bathrooms AFTER renovation are modern, open—and accessible to people in all ages and stages of life.

The transformation of the restrooms in the JCK Federal Building is striking, with Crossville’s specially designed and manufactured tile on floors and walls.

Thanks to the challenges and accomplishments of this unique project, Crossville established a partnership with TOTO USA to recycle that company’s fired, pre-consumer toilets that would otherwise be sent to landfills. We’ve recycled well over 7 million pounds of TOTO’s fired porcelain since this partnership began, and all told, thanks to our ability to recycle fired porcelain, we’ve recycled more than 11.2 million total pounds from all our reclamation efforts.

As both residential and commercial designers and architects grow in their commitments to sustainable, accessible bathroom design, our products will find their places in more and more beautiful spaces we want to sink into…rather than climb out of!

ABOUT BATHROOM BLOGFEST

“Still Climbing Out” is the theme of the 7^th annual blogfest, which brings together bloggers from around the globe to write about the importance of bathrooms in the customer experience. Their posts come from a wide range of perspectives that include sociology, marketing, research, psychology, environmental, customer experience, and design.

Bathroom Blogfest was founded by Christine B. [C.B.] Whittemore, hief simplifier of Simple Marketing Now LLC.

Here is a full list of this year’s participants.

Follow Bathroom Blogfest.

Twitter: http://twitter.com/bathroomblogfes     Website: http://www.bathroomblogfest.com/

Crossville Supports the Common Thread for the Cure

October is Breast Cancer Awareness month. However, we at Crossville have made our efforts to support those facing this disease a year-round effort. Every month of the year, we contribute a portion of proceeds from two of our glass tile products—Glass Blox and Origins Glass—to the Common Thread for a Cure.

Common Thread for the Cure provides financial support for families of the furnishings industry affected by the battle against breast cancer. Through Helping Hands Grants, the Common Thread for the Cure helps families with transportation, household expenses, child care, tuition, home repairs and other practical ways to improve quality of life as they face the challenges of the disease. The foundation also supports research and educational programs.

If you’re planning to use glass tile for your next project, we invite you to consider Glass Blox and Origins Glass. Both lines are beautiful, versatile and, in selecting them, you are making a charitable contribution to families when they need it most.

We hope you join us in supporting the Common Thread for the Cure.

For more information about The Common Thread for the Cure, please visit www.commonthread.info.

Falling for Fall Colors: Crossville Looks at Pantone’s Rose Smoke

Pantone’s Rose Smoke

Like the petals of one of summer’s fading roses, the hue of Pantone’s Rose Smoke is elegantly vintage.  It’s a romantic color—soft, feminine, esteemed yet approachable. It’s a lovely and surprising transition color that bridges the warmth of summer to the first frosty blush of fall.

Abundantly versatile, Rose Smoke is a lovely backdrop for interior decor and modern apparel alike. It can create stunning looks with subdued confidence, especially when paired with the range of Pantone’s other popular Fall hues.

Here are a few of Crossville’s porcelain tile collections that give a nod to the beauty of Rose Smoke.

Grand Canyon: Crossville’s EcoCycle Americana

Elegance and modernity in a gentle, vintage hue

Brilliante Glass: Quartzite by Crossville

A bit of Rose Smoke “Sunrise”

Rosewood by Crossville

Tile the echoes the tones of Pantone’s Rose Smoke and Olympic Blue

Crossville & United Tile Take Part in Seattle’s ZeroLandfill Upcycle Event – Oct 5 & 6

With wide range of innovative and environmentally-friendly programs in place, it’s no wonder that we at Crossville would join forces with United Tile to sponsor the ZeroLandfill Upcycle Event in Seattle, Washington on October 5 and 6.

Having just earned the Pinnacle Award from Floor Covering Weekly’s GreenStep annual ceremony, we’re excited for every opportunity to take our commitment to sustainability beyond our own porcelain tile line-up and production processes to our industry and beyond. United Tile, regional distributor of Crossville in the Pacific Northwest, is equally committed to conducting business in an environmentally-friendly manner, actively seeking to partner with manufacturers like Crossville that demonstrate green practices.

On October 5 and 6, Crossville and United Tile will work in support of ZeroLandfill Seattle, hosted by International Interior Design Association (IIDA)-Northern Pacific Chapter, to encourage community artists and educators to join in the effort to upcycle products commonly discarded without a second thought. Materials commonly found at ZeroLandfill project sites include tile samples, carpet tiles, laminate chips, brick and stone samples, binders, wall coverings and more. This program not only reduces volume on local landfill capacity, but it  allows artists and educators access to a generous supply of material they may not otherwise be able to afford, to inspire artistic creativity.

Since partnering with the design community in 2006, the ZeroLandfill events have repurposed over 882,000 pounds of expired design samples across multiple cities in the U.S.. This year, they’ve set a goal of diverting 1 million pounds of materials from landfills. Members of the community are encouraged to donate or find their own treasures, whether on the hunt for carpet squares, buttons, fabric or discontinued tile samples.

Represented by regional distributor, United Tile, at the Seattle event, we continue to live out our pledge to the environment and design sustainability. Thanks to our own Tile Take-Back program, we’ve recycled million pounds of fired porcelain that would otherwise pile up in landfills. Now, joining hands with United Tile and ZeroLandfill, the numbers will continue to soar as communities come together to embrace upcycling. While this event takes place in Seattle, ZeroLandfill has over twenty project sites across the United States.

The local team behind ZeroLandfill has been selected as finalist for one of five awards for the ASID Designer of Distinction Award. These awards are open to the entire design industry, crafted to highlight industry professionals for a variety of efforts to minimize the global footprint.

In March of 2011, Crossville became a net consumer of waste, meaning we recycle more waste than we generate new materials. Through the partnership with United Tile and ZeroLandfill Seattle on October 5 and 6, we’re taking one more step to keep materials out of landfills.

For information on the event, check out ZeroLandfill Seattle’s Facebook page, follow ZeroLandfillSeattle on Twitter, or read more about their plans to continue to impact the environment on their website, zerolandfill.net.

Falling for Fall Colors: Crossville Looks at Pantone’s Rhapsody

Pantone’s Rhapsody

Pantone’s Fall 2012 Rhapsody is a smoky shade of amethyst. Though a subtle purple tone, Rhapsody keeps a distinct, regal air.

Rhapsody brings poetic flow to home or runway fashion. With its versatility, it partners beautifully with all colors in Pantone’s eclectic fall collection. Though it’s delicate and complimentary to other hues, it’s no shrinking violet.

Here are a few Crossville products that give a nod to the beauty that is Rhapsody.

Crossville’s Lilac Dew

A Rhapsody and Titanium Dining Room

A darker Rhapsody: Crossville’s Plymouth Rock

Backplash Crossville’s Amethyst

Shades of Rhapsody and Honey Gold

Falling for Fall Colors: Crossville Looks at Pantone’s Titanium

Pantone’s Titanium

“Titanium”… The name itself suggest strength, authority and lasting quality. As one of Pantone’s 2012 fall color trends, Titanium is expressed as a foundational, deep gray—significant without being overpowering.

This distinct hue has an air of confidence yet stays true to its natural inspirations. It makes a rich contrast to fall’s brighter tones, and it can also stand alone for maximum impact.

Here’s how Titanium is interpreted in Crossville’s glass and porcelain tile styles.

A Titanium tone is among the many shades in the Shades by Crossville line

I See The Moon: Crossville’s Color Blox Mosaics

Stay Strong: Crossville’s Nero

Keep it neutral!

Urban Renewal

Crossville’s Retro Active Backsplash

Falling for Fall Colors: Crossville Looks at Pantone’s Olympian Blue

Pantone’s Olympian Blue

In the afterglow of the London Summer Olympics, we see a winning shade of blue: Pantone’s Fall 2012 Olympian Blue. This clean, fresh hue, defined as a fall color trend by color authority Pantone, is truly timeless and seasonless in its appeal.

Like a real Olympian, Olympic Blue is a team player, working beautifully with fall’s other fashion hues such as Titanium, Rose Smoke and Rhapsody. In partnership with vibrant tones like Honey Gold, Tangerine Orange or Bright Chartreuse, Olympian Blue creates a winning combination.

Here are a few of Crossville’s tiles that play the field with Olympian Blue.

Crossville’s Sapphire

Lapis by Crossville

Be bold with Crossville’s Oceana

Specs of Olympian Blue: Crossville’s Blue Splash

Shades of an Olympian: Crossville’s Glacier, Aegean & Sapphire

More fall hues coming soon… Stay tuned!

Falling for Fall Colors: Crossville Looks at Pantone’s Bright Chartreuse

Pantone’s Bright Chartreuse

Bright Chartreuse is Pantone’s next colorful curve ball for fall. This neon cousin to green and yellow pays bold homage to popular styles from the 1980s (word is the shoulder pads and big hair are also making a comeback these days). This head-turning hue is a jolt of excitement for any fashionable era.

Bright Chartreuse injects fun into fashion. Mixed in through accessories( like scarves, jewelry, pillows or accent walls), this color adds an exclamation point everywhere it shows up. It pairs happily with other brights  or more subdued tone to make any design scheme truly unique.

Here are a few Crossville looks that hint at the bright side of Chartreuse..

Lime Shimmer: Crossville’s Glass Blox

Crossville’s Limeade

Color by Numbers: Crossville’s Eleventh Hour

A perfect Bright Chartreuse accessory in the bathroom

A little Modern Mythology could use some Chartreuse spin

Go a little crazy with Bright Chartreuse, Pink Flambe and Tangerine Tango

Chartreuse on the softer side

Falling for Fall Colors: Crossville Looks at Pantone’s Ultramarine Green

Pantone’s Ultramarine Green

When autumn decides to bless us with its short presence, there’s an expected  range of colors we can always expect to see. However, Pantone’s Fall 2012 color line throws us a few colorful curveballs, and this year, vibrant green isn’t just a color of spring!

With a little aqua and emerald twist, Pantone’s Ultramarine Green is a bright and bold addition to fall fashion trends. This brilliant hue, like the feathers on a peacock, makes for an artistic display that’s an eye catching, naturally inspired fashion statement.

Crossville’s Glisten Green

Crossville’s Green Glow

Crossville’s Air Blend

Need a darker Ultra? Try Crossville’s Forest Green

Sea of Green: Crossville’s Day at the Sea Color Blox

Ultramarine Green & Olympian Blue: Crossville’s Glass Blox Blends

Crossville’s Oasis

Falling for Fall Colors: Crossville Looks at Pantone’s Tangerine Tango

Pantone’s Tangerine Tango

We’ve been talking “Tangerine Tango” all year in the design world. Crowned Pantone’s Color of the Year, this bright, energetic hue is a true dazzler that’s carried out its reign with true style. We’ve seen Tangerine Tango everywhere from runway fashion to home decor. (Now that fall is coming, we’ll get to see nature’s interpretation, as well!)

As one of Pantone’s fall color trends, Tangerine Tango offers a brilliantly bold take on the dusky, autumnal shade of orange we usually see this time of year. This lively incarnation of  orange adds flair to any traditional or modern look. Whether use as the anchor color or an accent tone, Tangerine Tango is right in step with today’s most popular styles.

Flame: Glass Blox by Crossville

Crossville’s Glass Blox in Orange Sizzle

a mosaic blend of Crossville’s Glass Blox featuring Orange Sizzle

Look for more news on hues coming soon, as we continue our Fall Color Trend series!