We wanted to take a moment to wish everyone a Happy Thanksgiving along with a wish that you enjoy this special time with family and friends. We will be closed Thanksgiving Day and the day after Thanksgiving so we may spend time with our families.

We will be back in the office at 9 a.m. on Monday looking forward to a fun week!

Have a nice weekend everyone.

Phyllis Richardson’s new book Nano House is a walk through the world of design efficiency and the maximization of space. Ms. Richardson’s book details 42 unique houses and loosely attempts to categorize them in to five sections based on criteria she has established.

While many of the homes have been written about extensively in design publications and architectural guides the author takes time in her book to explain in more detail than was previously possible the why, where, and how about each home. Ms Richardson admits that many of the homes have been built for and may be more suitable as retreats and vacation homes rather than primary residences. Our only wish from the book is that she would have profiled more smaller primary residences and detailed how these owners have adapted to everyday living in a small home footprint.

The book is available now online and in Barnes & Noble stores. It makes for a nice read for those who enjoy the “finer points” of building and design.

Can anyone guess the name and the color of the tiles which were used in the photo above? If you can, leave us a comment on our blog with the correct name and color of the tile seen in the photo above and we will award the winner 10 FREE square feet of this tile for use on your tile project. The comment must be left on this blog post by 5 p.m. PST today – Friday. There will be one winner only so the first correct comment wins.

Have fun!

We spent some time traveling this past week to San Francisco and we had the pleasure of staying in a classic boutique hotel built in 1929 that glows each day with the beauty found in its history. We were traveling for pleasure and we wanted to try out one of the historic hotels in a city full of such properties. We intentionally will leave out the name of the hotel but we can share with our readers that if you have not stayed in some of the classic and historic hotels in this country then it is an experience worth trying.

On our arrival the lobby walls greeted us with wonderful paintings and murals dating back to the 1940’s and 1950’s. The wood work in the lobby and the hallways is exquisite and is something that is just too expensive nowadays to replicate in new hotel construction in any of the chain hotels that operate in the U.S. There was an old-style “cage” elevator (not sure of the proper name) with a regular door and a metal door that slides closed to take us from the lobby to our room upstairs on the third floor. For our tile friends and blog readers we can share that the rooms all have classic hexagon tile floors and beautiful subway tile on the walls. This look is a fixture of many homes and bathrooms in the San Francisco area.

And finally, given that cars were not the preferred mode of transportation for Americans when the hotel was built, the garage entrance is smaller than many walk-in closets that I have seen and the parking area so small I am not so sure how any car finds a way to edge in to one of the few available parking spaces. But they actually do somehow.

Again, we loved the comfort provided by the family who owns this nice little hotel that we stayed in and we appreciate their hospitality on our recent trip.

We have given several clues in our description of the hotel where we stayed. If anyone can leave a comment on this post with the name of the correct hotel in San Francisco where we stayed, you will win 10 free square feet of either our Cottage Lane Subway Tiles in 3 x 6 or 2 x 4 inch or 10 free square feet of our crackle Cardiff 2 x 4 or 3 x 6 subway tiles. We look forward to seeing if anyone can come up with the correct answer.

We’ve noticed an uptick in project inquiries which means spring remodeling season must be upon us again. Now is the time to start planning that remodeling project that’s been on your mind all winter long. That being said, you should be well on your way to ordering your materials and selecting a contractor (if you are using one) if you would like to enjoy your completed project for the summer entertaining and “mom’s coming to visit” guests at the house season.

Here are a few tips to keep that project planning on schedule:

* Take measurements of your project area so you have a good handle on the quantity of materials that you will need to order

* Keep in mind the little things like trim and edge pieces for tile projects and cabinet projects, trim colors for paint jobs to coordinate with the main project area of a home, and any edge, trim, and supplemental pieces needed for other project areas in the home

* While most of the tiles at AnchorBayTile are in stock, many materials are not and need to be ordered. For windows, doors, siding, blinds and any custom materials order early to have them arrive before summer does. Plan ahead so you are not stuck behind long lead times following everybody else who ordered ahead of you while trying to have their projects completed before summer.

* As summer nears, get on the schedule of your contractor if you are using one since their calendars will start to fill up fast.

As the saying goes “a little planning goes a long way” really does apply here as building materials suppliers like us get busier with folks ramping up their summer remodeling projects. By following some of the tips above you can minimize any disappointments from booked schedules or out of stock materials that await those who leave their planning for the last minute.

In honor of Presidents Day we thought we would take a look at the renovation many years back of one of the most prestigious homes in all of the United States. That would be the one and only White House in Washington DC where the President of the United States calls home. Most of us Americans look at the home of our President with pride and appreciation for what the home stands for in this country. Well there was a time when the Presidents home like many of ours was starting to show signs of wear and tear and was in sore need of a facelift to bring it in line with building standards of the day. That year was 1949.

Shortly after moving in to the White House, President Truman noticed the telltale signs of a building under serious physical stress. He frequently complained of drafts and unusual popping and creaking noises in the old house. In letters to his wife Bess, back home in Missouri, Truman often joked of the “ghosts” that inhabited the White House.

“The floors pop and the drapes move back and forth. I can just imagine old Andy and Teddy having an argument over Franklin,” he wrote to her in June 1945

Early in 1948 in response to the Presidents concerns, engineering reports confirmed that the White House was in a serious state. Burned to the exterior walls in 1814, further compromised by the successive additions of indoor plumbing, gas lighting, electric wiring, heating ducts, and major modifications in 1902 and 1927, some said the White House was standing only from the force of habit. The decision was made to move the Truman’s across the street into the Blair House for three years while the house underwent a complete reconstruction within its original exterior walls.

The entire project was documented by a photographer by the name of Abie Rowe who became the official photographer for the renovation of the White House from 1949 to 1952. In the process he produced hundreds of detailed black and white photographs to document almost every aspect of the work that transformed the White House to meet the complexity of the modern presidency while remaining faithful to the spirit of the original James Hoban design.

It was an engineering marvel. In December 1949 crews began dismantling interior rooms, saving much of the wood trim, doors, hardware, and other viable details for possible future use. At the same time other crews poured 126 new reinforced concrete support columns to a depth of 25 feet to provide solid support for the exterior walls. This would eventually provide space for two new sub-basement levels beneath the White House.

Read more about the major White House renovation here. But it is noted that the work was completed and President Truman moved back in to the White House on March 27, 1952 to a residence that had expanded from the original 48 rooms to 54 rooms not including two entirely new sub-basement levels containing service areas and other support facilities.

Enjoy your President’s Day for those who will be spending time with their families. I wonder what kind of tile they used in the many, many bathrooms located in the white house.

Source: Harry S. Truman, Library and Museum: The White House Revealed: Photos of the White House Renovation by Abbie Rowe

We will be taking some time off this week to spend quality time with our families. We hope that you too can enjoy this time over the Holidays to play with the kids, clean up the house, or even just read the paper if a busy schedule often prevents you from doing the things which you enjoy.

We will be ready in the New Year with new products, special offers, and big plans for 2011.

We will be out of the office for the week of December 27th and returning to the office on Monday, January 3rd, 2011.

Happy Holidays everyone!

AnchorBayTile

We hope that everyone had a safe and fun holiday season and Santa is good to each and every one of you. We worked hard this year to bring our customers the best tiles that we could and we are pleased with your support and from the feedback that we receive we know that you all are pleased with your tiles.

Thank you for your business and Happy Holidays!

AnchorBayTile

Seeing our customer Nancy’s kitchen in our Monday post really has generated several phone calls on different ways to use glass tile in a tile project. As we tell our customers, glass tile is versatile enough to be used as either a primary tile as Nancy chose to do, or as a secondary tile when used as an accent strip to compliment your primary tile selection.

Using any glass tile as an accent strip is a very affordable way to add color and a bit of “style” to any tile project at a cost that is affordable to most any remodeling project. Have a look at many of the photos in the Kitchen and Bath areas on our website and you will see glass mosaic tiles used in different configurations and designs, but all with a common theme. The glass was used to provide color differentiation and some “pop” to an area that otherwise would have perhaps too much of one particular tile.

Keep this Design Tip in mind when putting your project together. And as always, please feel free to call us anytime for assistance with your remodeling and design project.

We appreciate your business and your support!

Celia has been in the design business for more than ten years having started her business In The Pursuit of WOW! Design Studio right out of Design school. Celia has worked hard over the years to cultivate and grow a substantial customer base. In The Pursuit of WOW! Design Studio is a 100% referral based business. Such a feat is a true testament to Celia’s hard work and strong focus on customer service.

Please tell us about your design firm In The Pursuit of WOW! Design Studio. Do you specialize in Residential or Commercial, and Remodels or New Construction?

We focus primarily on residential remodel and renovation in spaces that range in size from 1,000 sf. to 5,000 sf. We have done a variety of high end spaces as well as some projects that are room by room and done over time. The practice is very versatile. That has been to our advantage since the business is primarily referral based. We are fortunate that our customers are pleased with the results of our work and have referred their friends, family and business associates.

How would you describe your Design style and how does your personal style influence your designs?

My personal style is very eclectic. When people visit me it is evident by the variety of things that I surround myself with. With my customers, it is my job to interpret their sense of style and design their space to their liking not mine. None of my projects look the same because no two clients are the same or have the same wants and desires. The looks are as diverse as the clients and range in styles that are warm contemporary, urban, traditional, and classic.

Who or what has been the biggest influence on you as a Designer and perhaps whose influence might show up in your work?

I draw my influence from the various Design trade shows and different Markets that I attend around the country. I try to visit a variety of shows. I have been known to go to Las Vegas, San Francisco, Los Angeles, as well as the fabric market at Highpoint. This keeps ideas and influence fresh. In addition, my favorite artist is painter Gustaf Klimt whose work I adore. His use of shape, form and color is something I draw inspiration from.

Do you have a favorite material to work with and that you seem to always come back to that is versatile enough to be used in projects of many different design styles?

I love the use of natural materials because they can be manipulated in many ways to create truly different looks. One of my favorites is natural stone which I have used for many of my residential projects.

Can you tell us about some of the notable projects you have completed in the past year?

I handled a project for a client here in Arizona who collected antique Raggedy Ann and Andy dolls. They wanted a special space for their grandchildren. This was a blast because we were able to renovate the room to accommodate some much needed toy storage, study area and an entertainment system. We continued the theme of Raggedy Ann and Andy when we designed the custom bedding and drapery using the classic color palette of antique cream, black and red. One of the highlights in the room are the Raggedy Ann’s braided pick tails that are used as tie backs for the bishops sleeve drapes.

You have an interesting, shall we say, side job? Can you tell us a bit about that?

My husband and I made a passion investment several years back in a boutique Winery called Ispiri (www.ispiriwines.com) in Sonoma, California. We truly enjoy wine especially when sharing the experience of good conversation and fine food with our family and friends. We are on the menu at a local restaurant called Cork and are carried by Arcadia Fine Wine as well.

You are very involved with different local causes in and around the Phoenix area. Can you share some information about these causes and how they are making a difference?

I am really passionate about Breast Cancer Awareness. I support the Susan G. Komen organization by supporting different events around the Phoenix area that all support Susan G. Komen. I recently attended an event sponsored by Arcadia Fine Wine of Scottsdale where they did a wine tasting dedicated to Pink wines. A portion of the proceeds were donated to Susan G Komen Race for the Cure.

For clients considering hiring an Interior Designer, what would you want to tell them about working with a Designer and how they might best prepare for working with you through the design process?

I am a big list maker. I would advise my potential clients to make a list of the things that are important to them and what they would like to achieve in the scope of their projects. I would then encourage them to support their list with photos of things they like and might want to incorporate into their project. This will give us a great foundation to start with.

Some fun questions for Celia:
* Favorite travel destination: Pick a place on the map and I will pack a bag. I love to travel!
* Favorite color is: Red and all of its infinite shades
* Favorite city where the design and architecture have left a lasting impression:
Paris without a doubt!
* Favorite food: Any great sauce makes for a beautiful meal
* My first job was: As a grocery clerk at Smitty’s

Design tip you can leave with our readers:

Think about how to re-purpose old objects that have been in your space for sometime to keep it interesting. Items such as furniture can be re-upholstered to freshen it up and will look brand new once completed. One can also move things around in a room to update the look for little to no cost, or one can just buy new throw pillows.