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CALDERA
by catherine bailey and simone earnhardt
Last month we highlighted The Kohler Co. and their dedication to the arts — today, our focus is on a specific designer, Amy Lau, and her incredible bathroom vignette at the Kohler Design Center.
Kohler uses their 36,000sq ft Design Center to showcase innovative products and design ideas for use by consumers, builders, architects and designers. Each year, the Kohler Design Center handpicks designers to create a bathroom or kitchen vignette that will live on display for up to 15 years and is visited by nearly 175,000 people per year. Here's a little about Amy's vignette, opening October 4...
As a long-time Heath fan, Amy approached us about collaborating on tile for her Mediterranean bathroom. She showed us photographs of the breathtaking views of the Caldera (a body of water that rests under the sunset vista) taken from the village of Oia on the Greek island of Santorini and from there we got to work.
The project was inspired by archival photographs of octagonal Heath tiles, Edith's early examples of poured glazes and Amy's photographs of the Greek Islands. We worked on developing glazes in the sprit of the Mediterranean — reflecting the natural beauty and tranquility of Oia. The saturated colors of the ocean and the sky and their intersection inspired the glaze colors and the horizon line that bisects and traces the perimeter of the space. We ended up with a 12-glaze palette (six of which were custom), which were applied using two special techniques of hand-pouring and dual-spraying, as well as our standard spray application used on our tableware and tile.
Amy's space transplants you to the Mediterranean — complete with steps at the entry, a fireplace and most everything, but the tile, in white. It's almost as good as the real thing.
Our collaboration with Amy was a culmination of the best of what we have to offer at Heath. We were inspired, creative and challenged all while working with a designer who shares many of the qualities that we stand for as a company.
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The exhibit officially opens on October 4. If you're not able to get to Sheboygan, WI for an in-person visit, you may want to have a look at the finished installation and process photos here.
THE 2008 BON APPETITE AWARDS
Bon Appetit magazine will honor 11 inspirational, influential, and innovative leaders in the world of food at a gala dinner in New York City on September 15th — and we'll be there to receive their Designer Award! Keep your eye out for the October issue of Bon Appetit for more details.
2008 FALL TILE PROMOTION
Here's a pretty good reason for you to finally get to work on that long-awaited tile project — our 20% trade discount, typically reserved for Architects, Designers and Contractors, is available directly to homeowners, through October 31. We're also offering tile consultation in our Factory Store on Saturdays from 10:00-1:00, from September 20 — October 25. If you have questions, need advice or want inspiration, we encourage you to visit us — we're here to help. Questions? Please contact Sarah Glicken.
HEATH & HGTV
Heath will be featured on two upcoming HGTV shows — the first, Robin & Cathy's yard is transformed on Landscaper's Challenge — September 14, 9:00am; and the second, David Bromstad of Color Splash, makes over an East Bay home using Heath tile — September 20, 9pm (additional air times here). We hope you'll tune in.
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