Granada Tiles

Granada Tiles is a company after my own heart. Not only do they have exquisite tiles, they are kind. They have a project called the Peace Project. Here's is how they describe it.....

"Granada Tiles launches Peace Project; collaborates with local artists

Why is a tile company talking about peace?
Because we, like you, are thinking about the world we live in and the role we play. We produce handmade tiles in Nicaragua and export them to the United States, Mexico and Canada. We care about our workers and our customers. We care about protecting and restoring the environment. We care about helping people express their creativity through tile.

Peace has many dimensions and can only be achieved when many people join their individual efforts (symbolized by 4” x 4” tiles) together creatively. We invite you to join us and the artists who have already contributed to this project. Artists receive 5% of each order, and another 5% is sent to the charity the artist designates."

Lovely! The tile at the top is a Peace Project tile designed by Susan Pinckney for Granada Tile. I would love to have these tiles in my powder room.

The company also boasts a beautiful new collection called the Echo Collection. Here is how they are made.....

"The Echo collection revitalizes an art form that developed in France in the mid-1800's and quickly spread around the world. Unlike ceramic tiles, which are usually glazed and fired, decorative cement tiles are made by first pouring a mixture of cement and color pigment into separate compartments in a metal mold (a sort of oversized cookie cutter). This first color layer is 1/8" thick. Next we add concrete and press the tile under 3,000 pounds of pressure per square inch. This upside down cake is left to cure, creating a remarkably strong and lustrous tile.

This process requires skill, practice, strength, and perfectionism. Granada Tiles employs and provides on-going training opportunities to fine craftsmen who take pride in producing beautiful and durable tiles."

They train too! How wonderful for the craftsmen and business savvy for them.

They have quite the range in their color palette.....

Look at these beauties.....

Here are some applications of their Echo Collection.....

The two pictures above are of the Pasadena Showcase House 2008.

Here are some historical installations in Granada, Nicaragua.....











These installations are in Paris.....

Generous use of these tiles are not for one afraid of color or pattern. They ceratinly can be used as accents with plain tile or as a simple border. Any use would absolutely add depth and dimension to a design.

Beauty with purpose. Love that!

Jaime Hayón

This is designer, Jaime Hayón's, work in collaboration with Bosa, of Italian ceramic fame, for the London Design Festival. I found this photo through Metropolitan Home. He took inspiration for the chess pieces from London's famous architecture. I adore chess. I learned it from my father. I play with my daughter now; she's pretty good at 6 years old! When I saw this photo, I fell in love. Who is Jaime Hayón you ask? He's kind of the fun type.


Seriously, that is him!

His bio impressed me....

"Jaime Hayón Spanish artist-designer Jaime Hayon was born in Madrid in 1974. As a teenager, he submerged himself in skateboard culture and graffiti art, the foundation of the detailed, bold-yet-whimsical imagery so imminent in his work today. After studying industrial design in Madrid and Paris he joined Fabrica in 1997, the Benetton-funded design and communication academy, working closely with the legendary image-maker and agitator Oliverio Toscani. In a short time he was promoted from student to head of their Design Department, where he oversaw projects ranging from shop, restaurant and exhibition conception and design to graphics. Eight years later, Jaime broke out on his own, first with collections of designer toys, ceramics and furniture, followed by interior design and installation. His singular vision was first fully exposed in ‘Mediterranean Digital Baroque’ at London’s David Gill Gallery, an exciting mise en scène, largely executed in ceramic, followed by ‘Mon Cirque’, which traveled to Frankfurt, Barcelona, Paris and Kuala Lumpur. These collections put Jaime at the forefront a new wave of creators that blurred the lines between art, decoration and design and a renaissance in finely-crafted, intricate objects within the context of contemporary design culture.

Jaime further defined his vision in subsequent solo exhibitions and shows at London’s Aram Gallery, and Milan’s Salone de Mobile and his work has been displayed in Germany’s Vitra Museum, London’s Design Museum, Rotterdam’s Vivid Gallery, the Gronginger Museum (also in Holland) and the Basel Art Fair and has attracted the attention of prestigious art collectors. Jaime’s esteem and knowledge of artisan skills and his inherent creativity has allowed him to push the boundaries of many mediums and functions, resulting in collections for clients as diverse as ArtQuitect (bathrooms) b.d. ediciones, Established and Sons and Moooi (domestic furniture), Metalarte and Swarovski (lighting fixtures), Berhardt Design (textiles), Piper Heidsieck (champagne buckets), Gaia and Gino (vases) and Bosa Ceramiche (ceramic objects). He has conceived two important collections for Bisazza. Most recently, he has created the ‘Rencontres’ collection for Baccarat; a collection of vases and lamps that reinterpret the firm’s famous cut crystal by adding elements in ceramic and plastic. His ongoing work as a creative consultant for the Spanish porcelain manufacturer Lladró has resulted in a new direction for the company, as well as Jaime’s own collection ‘Fantasy’. Adding to his acclaimed intramurals for Madrid’s La Terraza del Casino restaurant and Camper footwear stores, Jaime is currently working on interiors for leading hotels, restaurants and retail establishments around the world. Jaime currently resides in London, with offices in Barcelona and Treviso (Italy). His work has appeared in the most prestigious art and design publications worldwide. He has won numerous awards including ‘Best Installation’ (Icon Magazine), ‘Breakthrough Creator’ (Wallpaper Magazine) and the 2006 Elle Deco International Award. In 2008, Jaime was guest of honor at Belgium’s Interieur Biennial, the youngest person ever to receive the accolade."

As did his work.....

He has received plenty of press (this is just a smidge of it).....



How anyone could look so good in a bunny suit is beyond me but he does.

Beauty and brains. I am quite smitten with Mr. Hayón ~ I must have more!

BTW, you can purchase some of Jaime's pieces via Amazon as well as his book below.