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Metal Carina Tile

Carina Tiles are named after the spectacular Carina Nebula in our solar system where celestial stars are born, a beautiful reminder of the miracle of creation and the gift that mankind inherited in his ability to bring beauty into our everyday life.

In 1997, Libby Fenner, an artisan with a degree in music, and Charlie Foster, a glaze technician and restoration artist, begun their Metal Artisan Tile venture.

Fenner and Foster became aware of a need for unique contemporary hardware. They spent several years in R&D to develope a glazing process using enviromentally friendly components combining original art with a rich durable glass-like glaze on aluminum.The art and glaze are permanently fused together with the metal. Armed with endless ideas and a passion to create something beautiful and unique as well as functional, their metal cabinet hardware was conceived. After years of research and development with a huge array of materials, Carina Tile hardware evolved into an extensive and diverse line of "jewelry" for the home.The metal cabinet hardware line resembles small metal tiles and it was a natural next to create larger tile size versions using the same process. In the beginning they only offered their decorative metal tile for wall use. Eventually, after thousands of man hours and hundreds of prototypes. a sucsessful flooring glaze was developed which strictly adheres to the eviromentally friendly goal set out by Fenner and Foster. Prior to the formation of Carina Works, Foster had worked in the chemical coatings industry for thiry years and developed several solvent based glazing systems which were used extensively in the USA and Europe for refinishing ceramic tile. He was frustrated with the lack of progress in industry development of enviromentally safe coatings that performed well and were user friendly. As a way of giving back to the environment he set out to create a superior chemistry which out-performed traditional solvent based glazes in terms of adhesion, abrasion resistance, uv resistance, stain resistance, moisture resistance, and durability. The proven Carina Tiles flooring glaze is a superior glaze and is a key to the sucess of the flooring line. Fenner brings the artistic talent to her work. She is a talented songwriter and gifted visual artist working in a variety of mediums. Her original design talent is evident in all Carina tiles lines and in commissioned creations all over the USA. Her eclectic taste ranges from an appreciation for historic design and natural elements to the clean lines of contemporary form. This versatility enables their products to be incorporated into any design style and period with a contemporary flair that is timeless. Because any design can be integrated into Metal Tile products, the possiblities are endless.

The best part of their work is connecting with customers. Fenner and Foster appreciate the creative impulse in every person's drive to integrate artistic expression into their surroundings. They enjoy being a part of bringing beauty to the sacred space of the home as well as enriching the corporate environment.

Malibu Tile

IOur California Malibu tile manufacturer specializes in producing a broad array of designs including exquisite Persian, Islamic, Saracen, Spanish Colonial, Moorish, Swedish, and Mayan designs as well as the classic floral designs of the historic Malibu & Catalina Potteries.

In addition to custom colored hand glazed decors Malibu Tile manufaturer creates:

* standard glazed field tile in over 100 colors & custom glazed field tiles.
* standard tile formats range in size range from 2" x 2" to 16" x 16". Any custom size or shape is possible
* matching trim , moldings, rails and liners
* murals
* fountains
* fireplace mantles and surrounds
* hand glaze painted "oriental" ceramic rugs
*stair treads
*risers
*pool copings

Malibu Tiles are made with rare old world technique known as "cuerda seca" or dry-line, this formula will resist the flow of wet glazes so that they will remain separate until fired. When the tiles are finished it has unique texture lines which gives the tiles extra special look and feel. Line separates the matte and gloss glazes which makes it possible to combine both in one design. The final product looks incredible. When the sun light hits the surface of the tile it shines and reflects perfectly clear designs that will amaze you.

Saltillo Tile

Saltillo tile varies in color and shape. Tiles are shaped either by pressing quarried clay with a wooden frame (super), or carving out the desired shape (regular). Depending on the raw tile's placement among other tiles at the time of firing, its colorranges from yellow to a rich orange. Saltillo tile has a long history going back to the 13th Century. It varies in look in each tile giving it a very unique character. It is now used in the modern world in both inside and outside applications. It is used in modern, mediteranian, spanish style homes, offices, and even any style apartments. It works with almost any style interiors due to it's simplicity and extremely bold look. Saltillo is only looks better as it ages due to each tile having it's own character. Our tile is not a substitute or copy of Saltillo but actually comes directly from our manufacturer in Saltillo, Mexico.

Alhambra, Caribe and Talavera Tile

The Mexican Talavera, Alhambra, Caribe Collections, hand-crafted in Mexico, continues a tile tradition that utilizes many design motifs and symbols of 13th century Spanish, Moorish, Mediterranean styles brought to the Mexico. Alhambra Tiles are made with the same technique known as "cuerda seca" as Malibu Tiles. Any of the Alhambra, Caribe and Talavera Classica tiles can be used for backsplash, kitchen, bathroom, countertops, floor, wall, pool, interior or exterior

The first tile artists in Mexico arrived from the town of Talavera de la Reina, located in Spain in the second half of the sixteenth century.

Throughout the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries ceramic Mexican tile wares were defined by the Talavera tile products coming from the southern region of Mexico. Tiles were the most expensive materials during these times and it was considered an expression of wealth to adorn the walls and facades of public buildings, luxurious homes, and churches with Talavera tiles when building.

Mexicans from other regions of the country wanted in their homes and buildings the same designs they saw in the southern region of Mexico. Mexican Talavera tiles were exported throughout Mexico by the ceramics workshops dedicated to the art form. Naturally the Talavera design element took hold overseas as more and more Mexicans settled in the United States, Europe, and as far away as Australia. Today, the unique characteristics of Mexican Tile are a much sought after design element by designers all over the world.

In Mexican cities and towns Talavera tiles have withstood centuries of wind, sun, and rain and they appear as beautiful today as they did when these buildings were constructed. Visitors to Mexico today can see the rich use of Talavera tiles used equally both in historic Mexican construction as well as a modern Mexican design element.