no.204

The Official Island Magazine

CORONADOJuly 2017

38 2017 Coronado Magazine - July

Dal Tile (Clairemont): They have a massive selection of man-made and natural stone tiles, mosaics, etc. They also have a sizable slab yard in the back and give samples of slabs, which is rare. Dal Tile is known for being extremely economical but they also carry mid-level semi-unique tiles as well. Arizona Tile sometimes will beat Dal Tile’s pricing with generic tiles, but Dal Tile has everything and more that Arizona Tile will carry.

Stones Unlimited (Miramar): Going to Miramar is imminent if you are doing construction, so make it worth your time and visit Stones Unlimited. Their selection is vast. I like to use them for higher-end, unique finds. Giovanna and Stephanie are particularly very helpful but you need an appointment to meet with them prior.

Selecting Materials for Your Construction ProjectPart 1 – Tile and Coutertops

Tile & Stone: Natural stones are timeless and classic, but be sure you understand the maintenance and porous level of each stone. Your tile installer should know what types of sealers to use, but make sure you know the elements of the stones before you buy it so you can care for it properly. A cost savings tip is that you technically don’t need tile liners (pencil liners or chair rails) for exposed edges with natural tile because they can polish the edges. You can’t do that with man-made tile.Porcelain and ceramic tile are man-made, extremely durable and not porous. They are typically very economical and styles range considerably. Tile makers have now perfected printing images on porcelain and ceramics so much so, that to an un-trained eye, you may not know if you are looking at faux marble or real marble, for example. Cost savings tip would be to use a faux stone in ceramic or porcelain instead of real stone if you are looking to save money. I recommend against trendy tile selections. The best example to use would be subway tile. It was popular in the 50s, it is very popular now, and I expect it to be on its way out in the next 5 years. If you don’t want a time stamp on your home then stay away from subway tile. Tempting I know, but don’t do it unless your home is a spec-build.

My go-to for tile: Unique Stone Imports (Morena Boulevard): They have a large array of field tiles (natural stones and ceramics), as well as a showroom of unique, higher-end tiles. Prices, styles and materials range considerably. They also have a slab-yard in the back. Unique Stone could be your one-stop shop to outfit an entire home. Shout out to Rosie Krock, a Coronado local, who works there and is extremely helpful for guiding you in the right direction. Scheduling a meeting is recommended when visiting.

Villa & Mission Imports (Morena Blvd): This is my favorite store for Mexican/Spanish tiles. They also carry the trendy encaustic (cement) tiles for extremely decent prices. Pierre and Fransisco are extremely nice and helpful. If you are looking for talavera and saltillo tiles, this is the place to go!

INTERIOR DESIGN

The Interior Designer’s Personal Guide to Local Finds & Helpful Tips

by Jessica Tompane of J Hill Interiors

Whether you are doing a small home renovation project or a robust new construction build, selecting materials and products can be overwhelming if a professional is not hired to select those for you. As an interior designer, I can tell you first hand it takes years to develop your go-to vendors, industry partners and your favorite stores and showrooms for construction materials. In this two part series I will offer a few recommendations and mini local guide of vendors I like to use in the areas of tile, countertops, lighting and color.

Above photos show different ways we’ve used decorative mosaics on floors. Photos by Andy McRory

Bathroom CounterThis bathroom countertop has a chevron backsplash tile with a 5 inch high face to give it a

higher-end contemporary look. The countertop is a quartzite called Sea pearl from Amazon Stone.

Kitchen CounterThe quartzite countertop has a traditional ogee edging in this Spanish Revival Estate.

2017 Coronado Magazine - July 39

Countertops:Quartz is not that same as quartzite. Quartz is a semi-man made product that is carried by manufacturers like Silestone, Pental Quartz, Cesar Stone, Color Quartz, etc. Quartzite on the other hand is a natural stone and is even more dense and durable than granite. I have loved using quartzite lately because it is a different look, natural and functional. It tends to be a little pricier, but often worth it. I use quartz products quite a bit; it tends to look a little more contemporary but it is pretty trendy (which in my opinion trendy is not necessarily a good thing; you want to be timeless). Color Quartz is a great quartz line that has very dramatic real looking marble products (carried by Unique Stone). A lot of people love the look of a marble countertop but don’t want marble because of the maintenance. Quartz products now are so close to looking like real marble; it’s a great alternative. To mix up the look of a countertop no matter what material you use, have your fabricator cut an ornate ogee liner for a more traditional look, or for a neat contemporary look, you could fabricate a “waterfall countertop” on the end of a cabinet, or increase the front lip of a countertop to 4-6” instead of the conventional 2”. It just gives a bulkier, higher-end look. Of course, more material, more fabrication, more money. Keep that in mind.If you are willing to go out on a limb, base your kitchen or bathroom design off of an eccentric countertop slab. I love the idea of showcasing the beauty nature can create. There are some absolutely stunning and dramatic natural stones (Tutto Marmo has amazing dramatic slabs). If you have a very loud countertop, you can tone it down with neutral cabinets. Do something different!

Photo by Andy McRory

Photo by Martin Mann

Jessica is principal designer of JHill Interiors, Inc., jhillinteriors.com | info@jhillintriors.com

610-800-7935