Big Ass Fans

Okay, any manufacturer that has the words "big" and "ass" together in its name proves to be an interesting company to specify. That being said, Big Ass Fans is a great vendor for fan specifications. Contrary to their fans, they have more characteristics than just a "big ass" size.

Element, is designed for sound sensitive areas, with its motor's acoustic output no louder than a whisper. In addition to this feature, the complex electrical wiring monitors electrical consumption, the balance of the fan, and the temperature of the room. They are specified with industrial grade bearings that they claim will withstand the test of time.

The patented airfoil and wingtip aerodynamic design help stabilize air control to assist in a more cost efficient heating and cooling expenses.

This fan system allows for some cool and innovative extras such as speaker systems, surveillance cameras, smoke detectors, and more. All features can be easily controlled by an LCD remote installed into the wall.

Standard sizes are 12', 14', 16', 18', and 20' foot in diameter. Nine colors are able to be specified, with custom colorization available at an upcharge.

Ten year non-prorated warranty covers the LCD remote, onboard electric, and prime mover, with certain exclusions. Standard warranty for Element fan is 5 years with a factory installation.

It received a Green Product Award in 2009. However, there was no further information on how it received this award - I speculate that it is because of the cost efficiency. However, I could not find any information on the installation or its testing procedures.

Technical specs found here.

Liri America

Liri America is a laminate manufacturer line that has some great selections.

The sheet sizes come 51" x 120" with a thickness of .035". In addition to many solid colors and natural patterns, they also offer the option to print customers' graphics. One's choice in pattern affects the application (vertical or horizontal) as well as the finish. With a wide selection of finishes, giving a textural look, wood grain, metallic aesthetic, mosaic design, and more, clients have plenty of options.

Construction consists of a core of variable thickness obtained with kraft paper treated with phenolic thermoplastic resins. One or two decorative sides made with cellulose paper impregnated with thermoset melamine resins, which give the surface resistance typical of laminates. They are pressed for over an hour at a 100 kg/cm2 pressure and at a temperature on the paper above 130°C. Then, the surface finish is embossed in the laminate through patterned steel press-plates.

Furthermore, these high pressure laminates can be divided into two main families: Thin laminates with a sanded back, which can be glued onto a variety of surfaces: particleboard, plywood, MDF, hardboard and laminates with two decorative faces, thicker and self-supporting.

Liri has issued an Environmental statement claiming to be making strides towards a greener environment. They have been diligently working with the Environmental Management System to develop products and finishes that reduce the thermal power from waste, along with purchasing local materials for construction.

Liri recommends are clients and installers practice safety procedures when handling their product, and they have taken extra measurements to outline them here.

These products have undergone many tests, and here are the results.

Cleaning and maintenance instructions are here. The website also has quite extensive information on shipping, storage, handling, and installation here.

Surface Works

I've seen folding tables and folding chairs, but at last year's Neocon Surface Works introduced a new take on this concept with chairs and tables that fold together cutting the space required in half!

The Zii/Drive won a Best of Neocon 2009 Gold award for this novel furniture combination. Both the Drive flip top table and Zii chair come separate and as a set. It also comes in a Mini Zii/Drive pair to allow for easily arranged classroom settings. The great characteristic of this set is that they are detachable as well.

The Drive tables come standard with casters (with brakes) to allow for easy movement and space planning. They have the capability to be wired for data and electricity (with an optional wire management brackets), providing your clients with many uses for these tables.

Not only are they folding tables, but they also have the ability to nest within one another cutting down space even more. They feature joining hardware to string rows of tables together at once. Average 6 chairs fit for 60" - 72" tables.

Fabric or laminate modesty panels are available for function and design purposes, and its arched chrome legs offer a unique aesthetic to the typical chair/table construction.

Standard finishes are specified through the graded-in programs offered on the website or COM pricing with a testing approval. They come with various edge types as well. Zii chairs come standard with polypropylene seat and back making maintenance very easy. A leather upgrade is available as well. Table top cleaning is determined by the laminate manufacturer.

The chairs and tables come separately, yet when they are put away - one folds the table, folds the chair, hooks the chair on the rail on the table, and nests the batch together to conserve space.

All SurfaceWorks tables are available for specifications in GreenWorks materials in ABS, bamboo, wood, urethane edges, linoleum tops, and NAUF (No Added Urea-Formaldehyde) substrate.

It has received awards and certifications from the following alliances: FSC, EPP, CHPS School Member, and USGBC Member.

Kova Textiles

Kova Textiles is a manufacturer that offers fabrics and window coverings. They have also paired with Veritas to provide a line of ResinArt translucent fabric weaved panels (of 9 patterns) to be sandwiched in between two pieces of resin for architectural applications.

Since the website has little to no information about anything specific, I was planning to just talk about the whole vendor's collection, offerings, etc.

Their fabrics are thin weaved sheers for window coverings, roman shades, panel tracks, as well as room dividers. Despite the entire collection being very dense in its composition, the manufacturer does recommend upholstery application in commercial and residential areas.

The new Krystal Weave SatinFR collection, slightly thicker in construction and resembling a crystalline basket weave with organic curves in the 8 patterns, is new to the manufacturer designed by Libby Kowalski. This is an ideal collection for scrims, panel track systems, upholstery and window applications.

Krystal Sheer with 5 patterns offers a weaving technique with colored threads giving the pattern an interesting dynamic.

Krystal Weave is similar to its successor, yet it has a thinner construction, offering for a brilliant sheer design in 6 patterns with an incredibly complex threading. Perhaps, the SatinFR is recommended for upholstery because it is thicker, the original Weave is dense and appears to be used for architectural and window applications.

They have won awards through Neocon and ADEX. No sustainable information or installation/technical specs were available on the website.

Contact information:
Kova Textiles - NY
212.254.7591
info@kovatextiles.com

Skyline Design

Skyline Design is an architectural glass manufacturer with some beautiful patterns. In addition to the glass panels, they also have a wide selection of mirrors to choose from.

VitraColor is a new innovative glass paint coating system. This product is low-VOC enamel with a tough durable surface and an unlimited color selection (including metallic finishes and color customization). The PPG Starphire finish allows for color consistency and control, this color matching formula also results in identical colored glass panels regardless of the quantity.

Within the collection, Vitracolor H20 offers an environmentally friendly glass coating application. Applications include interior wall cladding, backsplashes, surface installations, and many more.

It can be used as a marker surface to serve as a decorative and functional backdrop for meetings, study groups, and programming. It is also quite easy to clean. In addition to this function, it can be specified with a magnetic surface to hold notes, pictures, and many more while functioning as a drawing board too.

By default, Vitracolor is manufactured with 100% tempered safety glass unless otherwise specified. Because of safety requirements, Skyline Design glass panels are able to have holes and notches drilled upon request.

Even though the color options are plenty and the color consistency is impeccable, Skyline recommends for the truest color representation to specify on low iron glass.

The thicknesses are 1/4", 3/8", 1/2" gauges. The limits on sheet size end at 72" x 144". VitraColor is available for specification with plate, laminated, and safety tempered glass.

VitraColor meets all standard safety requirements, and the manufacturer offers a 4 year warranty for interior applications and 2 year warranty for exterior applications.

Although it is available for indoor and outdoor applications, no installation documents could be found on the website. Since it is glass, it can be speculated to have a high cost, but no pricing was revealed either. Lastly, no testing or maintenance information can be found on the website as well.

Carnegie

Carnegie Fabrics highlighted their wallcovering collection with "Xorel" previewed in the April issue of Interiors and Sources. This collection features 100% Xorel, which is 100% sustainable, high performance, PVC Free material.

Katagami Graphic 6739W pictured above in W109, has 3 other colorways (custom colors are also available). It costs $54/yard. They require a 50 yard minimum for orders, anything less will result in a $3/yard upcharge.

It comes in a width of 52", with a repeat of 25.25" long.

It has been fire rated by the NFPA 260 test and qualifies for use in Class A and Class 1 Areas under the ASTM E84. It also passed the NFPA 265 Room Corner Test.

This pattern has great durability, which allows it to qualify for heavy duty contract use after passing the Wyzenbeek Abrasion Test ASTM D4157 with no wear after 200,000 double rubs.

It also has a ton of Earth-friendly extras (which contribute to LEED points), such as an Anti-Bacterial finish and extremely low VOCs; it is free of PVC, Chlorine, Plasticizers, Heavy Metals, Ozone-Depleting Chemicals, Topical Finishes, and Dioxin. It is safely disposable, preventing lifetime in a landfill.

In addition to LEED points, the pattern is Cradle 2 Cradle certified by MBDC as well as SCS Indoor Advantage Gold Certified.

The cleaning methods are not on the website, and the simple installation method revealed is that the pattern's backing is paperbacked for direct application wallcovering.

Bentley Prince Street

Bentley Prince Street is a carpet manufacturer that has some pretty cool patterns. One interesting thing that I saw on the website, was that they have a new creation called Modloom™, which is a combination of modular tile and broadloom carpet. They come in rectangular planks, 50 centimeter by 1 meter, which offers more options like patterns such as herringbone, parquet or ashlar.

The pattern (style number 4LR220620R) above is called Lake Street 4LR22, in the color No Seatbelts 400950. It comes in 12 colorways total.

In addition to the modloom tile size 19.69 in x 39.38 in, it comes in a 12' broadloom format.

It has a fiber content of Aquafil Alto Chroma® solution dyed nylon. Its backing options are High PerformancePC™, Prestige PlusRC™, Optimum Barrier™ II, Optimum BarrierRC™ II Cushion, and NexStep® Cushion Tile.

Its construction is made of tufted textured loop. It has many finishes: a soil/stain protection and an antimicrobial Intersept® layer, and it also has a secondary backing of High PerformancePC™.

Its yarn weight is 22 oz/yd² and with a machine gauge of 1/12 in. It has three pile heights: high: .2 in, medium .14 in, and low .08 in. The stitches appear ever 8.7". The pile density is 6514 with a thickness of .28. It has a size of 12'. Its pattern repeats every 24" w x 43 11/16" l.

The pattern has passed a Radiant Panel Class 1 test (ASTM E648) for Critical Radiant Flux. It is DM Corrected for Smoke Density. It passed the static test (AATCC - 134) < 3.5 KV. It also passed the Methenamine Pill Test (DOC-FF1-70) for flammability.

I could not find any environmental information on the site, but there are plenty of documents regarding installation, warranties, and maintenance. Installation information can be found here. Warranty information can be found here. Cleaning instructions can be found here. The website also allows you to access the factory's inventory for a specific pattern and colorway.

Juxtaform

Juxtaform is a really cool company with architectural elements! Their "Space Articulators" are used to define, reconfigure, or highlight interior space. Cost-effective and simple to use, these fire-retardant stretched fabric panels are available in a variety of shapes, sizes, and colors.

These modular stretched fabric panels divide a space, soften hard surfaces, screen for privacy, assist with lighting control, create alternative ceilings and walls, separate a large space, create a focal point, and dramatize a setting.

They have been applied in office interiors, signature corporate spaces, cultural facilities, studios and galleries, exhibits and events, stage sets, public buildings, upscale retail environments, and restaurants.

They come in a variety of more than 30 colors, including their new "Eco-White" color which is an eco-friendly fabric made from 90% recycled material (postindustrial waste and post-consumer plastic bottles - conserving 61,000 BTUs of energy/yd). Colored lighting may also effect appearance of color in panel.

The fabric content consists of a Polyester/Lycra blend at a weight of 5.6 oz.

They have been determined permanently flame resistant, according to its fire rating by the ASTME84, class A and NFPA 701 small scale tests (as well as European B1 codes).

Simple maintenance applies - wash with warm water, no bleach, tumble dry in dryer on a synthetic setting (if applicable). Wash all dark colors separately.

All shapes and sizes in the catalog are determined by stretched and flattened panel, which may result in smaller appearance when installed.

The Space Articulators are recommended for interior use only. Graphic logos may also be screen-printed on panels, determined by testing with special ink for stretch-polyester fabrics.

Lead times are 3-4 weeks by UPS or Fed-Ex, and the product is sold only to the trade through the online catalog. They are shipped with all necessary hardware for your desired application: the stainless steel hooks (enough for each point) and a UV-resistant monofilament.

Space Articulators are very simple to install, and the manufacturer requires the standard carpenter’s tools. There is no need for a Juxtaform-specialized installer. The installation diagrams and information provided at the links below should be sufficient for most installers.

Installation and specification information can be found here and here.

CaesarStone

CaesarStone had a new collection called "Motivo" featured in Interiors & Sources. Unfortunately, there is very little information and only a few pictures available on the website, so I'm highlighting aspects from the entire CaesarStone collection.

The two pictures are from the Motivo collection, which demonstrates textures in wall and countertop applications (Crocodile 3100C above and Lace 2141L below).

Motivo is a highly visual and tactile architectural experience. This product line is the world's first quartz surface with a textured look and feel. This line features a brilliant, patented new technology to apply an embossed effect to a variety of surfaces. Motivo makes a stylish statement with its patterned finishes, shown Lace and Crocodile. Motivo is nonporous (as are many quartz surfaces), easy to care for and appropriate for numerous applications, including wall paneling, custom-made furniture, kitchen countertops, vanity tops and more.

CaesarStone is comprised of 93% natural quartz (with many lines offering recycled content) and has earned the ISO 9001 Certification. It claims to have a lifetime warranty, as long as you own your home - but some conditions apply.

Since the quartz surface is nonporous, cleaning is very simple. Most often, soap and water or a mild detergent are all that are needed.

CaesarStone has many attractive characteristics: it is stain-resistant, scratch-resistant, resistant to most chemicals and heat, crack-resistant, low maintenance, nonabsorbent, nonporous, mold-resistant, mildew-resistant, and color consistent.

With a variety of color and pattern options and edge profiles, CaesarStone allows for much customization to make one's project unique - they offer a visual texture, and with the Motivo collection, a tactile texture. Three finishes are available with the standard quartz lines: polished, honed (matte), and textured.

NSF safety certified to prevent bacterial growth since it is naturally nonporous. It has also been awarded the Good Housekeeping® Seal, the standard in consumer product excellence. All CaesarStone products are certified as a low-VOC product, meeting Greenguard’s Indoor Air Quality standards for chemical emissions for commercial sensitive environments.

Further information, regarding technical specs - including installation, can be found here.

Xander Blue

One day at work, I received a postcard for a company called Xander Blue, and not long after I fell in love with this creative manufacturer!

These glass panels are featured in a wide variety of applications: bed frames, desks, bars, tables, benches, and even vanities (pictured above). Each piece is colored and fabricated glass fused with high-tech construction fit for commercial and residential use. Each piece of glass is also custom made by the glass designer Andrew Ramsgard.

Costs are not available through the website, one must contact the manufacturer. Lead times depend on size of order, availability of materials, order confirmation, and deposit payment, but generally products arrive within 8-12 weeks after order processing.

Assembly of product is required once received but installation is not included. They recommend obtaining their "White Glove" delivery and installation services, which has a certified installer familiar with the product. Prices for this optional service vary depending on order size and delivery location.

No cleaning nor sustainability information could be found on the website. Although the manufacturer says it has been rated for both residential and commercial use, there was no testing information on the website. Further specification on the individual items, such as product codes and dimensions can be found on the website.

**The vanity was a custom item and does not have a product code on the website.**

Contact info:
* Xander Blue
* P.O. Box 798 Skaneateles New York 13152
* Tel 315.685.1092
* Fax 315.685.0267
* Email: info@xanderblue.com

Unika Vaev Textiles

Unika Vaev is actually a pretty nice fabric company despite its complicated name.

From the Europa Collection, the pattern above is called 639 Champagne, depicted in the colorway 39 Crystal. There are 10 color ways total in this polyrayon jacquard upholstery pattern. The pattern repeat is every 5.25" x 10.5".

The price per yard is $48, with a 10.96 oz/yard on a 54" wide bolt.

Its fabric grade is C within the company, which determines quality and pricing of the fabric. It is composed of 100,000+ Wyzenbeek double rubs. Its composition is made of 78% polyester and 27% rayon.

The finish on the pattern is a NanoBlok with BioAM, but you are able to specify any type of finish desired at an upcharge. The only problem with this finish is that it may result in fabric shrinkage when being processed, so they estimate that you should at least add 10% (depending on your order size) to account for this. There is also an option for a soil resistant finish, which is at an upcharge upon specification.

The maintenance of the fabric is not so simple to maintain the lifetime of the fabric. They recommend frequent vacuuming and dusting before it builds up in the fibers of the fabric. Spills must be blotted up immediately. Water-based liquids can be spot cleaned with soap and water. Oil-based stains should be quickly cleaned with a non-aqueous spot dry cleaner. Of course, they recommend professional cleaning should be used regularly to ensure the maximum life span of the fabric.

All fabrics have been tested to comply with the CAL 117 flammability test. Some specific fabrics have been more stringently, but all fabrics (upon request) can be durably tested to pass: Port Authority of NY and NJ Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards #302 Boston Fire Code FAR.25.853b. It can also be composed to meet the CAL 133 and NY/NJ Port Authority assembly tests. All further testing comes with a notarized certificate.

Lead times are 7-10 business days.

Luna Textiles

Luna Textiles is a great fabric company, if you can get through the tedious website. Similar to the design of the Unika Vaev website - seen in an earlier entry. The website requires that you select patterns individually, rather than looking at the whole manufacturer's fabric offering. It takes a good time for each pattern to load... so it was quite frustrating.

I digress... thankfully, I found a nice pattern close to the beginning of the list.



Boutique, pictured above in color Turtle SBO-3014, is a part of the Suite 280 collection designed by Jean Orlebeke made of 71% cotton and 29% nylon. It comes, like many other fabrics in a 54" w run. Its pattern repeat is 27 1/4" x 28 3/8".

It has 6 total colorways, and it offers custom color options with a minimum order of 60 yards.

It has passed the CAL 117 E flame-retardancy test. It has been heavy duty durability rated for 60,000 double-rubs as a result of the ASTM D 4157-02 test.

Since the site was so difficult to manage, I was unable to find any installation or maintenance information on the fabric. There is a sustainable promise, but no information on what they plan to do to this commitment.

Shaw Commercial Hardwood

Shaw Contract Group offers a nice variety of commercial and residential flooring - carpet, vinyl, and hardwood.

I found a nice birch hardwood at the website. Style Modern Birch CA246, pictured in the Olive 00502 colorway above, comes in only one other color Kohl. The olive color has a medium color variation.

Its species is birch, with a 4.5" handscraped birch description. It's grain variation is medium with no edge profile. It has a low gloss/sheen finish with Shaw's commercial-grade aluminum oxide. Its construction consists of 5-ply engineered piece with an all hardwood core.

The planks come 4.5" x 10"-42". It has a total thickness of 1/2" with a wear layer thickness .0984". When purchased, it comes 18.30 sq ft/carton.

Its installation consists of three methods: glue down, nail down, and float suitable for all grade levels. However, they recommend using Shaw's Urethane Adhesive for the glue down procedure and Shaw's Silent Step Ultra and Shaw's Tongue and Groove Adhesive for the float procedure.

Its testing consists of a hardness factor (psi) which was rated 1863 and a radiant panel rated class 1.

It has a 10 year limited commercial warranty as well as a lifetime commercial warranty.

Its environmental factors of this product include the Cradle 2 Cradle silver certified program, GreenGuard certified for children and schools, and Lacey ACT Compliant as a North American species.

Interface FLOR

Interface FLOR is a great flooring company, since they are working diligently to fight flooring going straight to a landfill. They are making active strides towards a greener environment.

Sew Retro 12329 in Shadow/Pink 9021 (one of 7 colors) is a modular tile carpet with tufted cut and loop construction. Since it is modular tile, it is versatile in its installation for four layout options: ashlar, brick, non-directional, and quarter turn.

It has a soil/stain protection barrier called Protekt²® with an antimicrobial treatment (AATCC 138 Washed) (AATCC 174 Parts 2&3) Intersept®.

Its yarn system was a Post-Consumer Content Type 6¸6 Nylon with a universal yarn manufacturer. It is 100% solution-dyed.

Its total recycled content is 67%, 33% post-industrial content and 34% post-consumer content.

The product specifications are as follows: 24 oz/sq yard tufted yarn weight with a machine gauge of 5/64". The pile height is .18" with a .145" thickness and a 5959 pile density. The stitches are every 11.83". Each tile comes in a 19.69" x 19.69".

This Shaw product has undergone so many tests. It is Green Label Plus Certified #GLP0820 for Indoor Air Quality and also has a NSF-140 Platinum rating for a Sustainable Carpet Assessment Standard. It has passed the ASTM E-648 Class 1 radiant panel test, ASTM E-662 smoke density panels, AATCC 16-E for lightfastness, and a AATCC-134 with a < 3.0 KV rating for the static test.

Other than the fact that its standard backing is GlasBac® RE Tile or its variety of layouts, there was not much installation information.

The website offers options for coordinating colors and the option to calculate LEED points for a client's project.

Installation seen below:

Lumicor

Lumicor is another manufacturer that offers architectural resin panels, similar to 3-Form.

The pattern is standard recycled glass in the color Ruby. There are 12 total colorways. It comes with a standard gloss finish, but other finish options are available dependent on specification. The glass panel is 75% opaque, with a 25% visibility factor. The pattern of the glass is non directional.

It is available in thicknesses from 1/16" to 1". It comes in three panel sizes, standard 48" x 96" and oversized 48" x 120" and 59" x 120". Oversized panels are not available in 3/4" or 1" gauges.

The glass has been certified by the R4 Recycled Glass certification. These panels are embedded with glass aggregate that is 98%-100% recycled post-industrial content or post-consumer content. This glass aggregate is composed of crushed bottles, plates, windows, and other recycled glass products. Because of this nature, each panel offers for a natural variation and direction of the pattern and composition. Also this may account for slight discrepancies in color, size, shape, and density.

There are many additional options that are available for specification. ChemShield™ offers a barrier used to increase chemical resistance. Illume™ provides a soft light
diffusion. Markerboard is a layer that can be added for nonpermanent markings to be made on the surface with dry erase markers. Opaque™ is a vinyl backing to create a fully opaque panel. UV Block™ has an additional layer of protection from ultraviolet light and keeps panels and embedded décor from fading.

Although it was listed under price group "D", which I imagine is not cheap because of the material it is made of, there was no installation or maintenance information available.

Allermuir

Allermuir is a fun furniture company that has many modern options for all projects.

The Lola chair comes in three styles - A820, which has a swivel base, A821, with a four legged frame base, and A822, a sofa. It also has a coordinating table A823. This collection was designed by German Wolfgang C. R. Mezger.

The dimensions are all in metric units, 745h, 770w, 670d, seat height of 440 - which translate to 2'4" high, 2'6" wide, 2'2" deep, and a seat height of 1'4", (standard to example chair A820).

Frames can be finished in EPPC from a list of standard finishes or chrome plated.
Upholstery is available in a wide range of fabrics and leather. Swivel bases are
available in polished chrome only.

Beyond this information, there was little else disclosed about this chair. No testing results, no installation or maintenance info... I was disappointed by that.

Tandus

I found a carpet backing at Tandus, and I was intrigued about how it could offer the durability of stiff carpet but have the style, feel, and aesthetics of soft carpet.

Powerbond - not only combines the durability of hard-surface flooring with the appearance and style of a soft surface. It was originally fabricated for education and healthcare environments, but it has evolved to be included in retail, corporate, and hospitality as well.

There are four types of cushions - ER3, ethos, standard cushion, and condensed cushion.

The ER3 Cushion contains 39 to 52% overall recycled content (10% post consumer content). Its construction consists of a 100% closed-loop recyclable in its existing recycling process. Not only has it been SCS Certified, but its molecularly bound seams also make this product impermeable to moisture.


The Ethos carpet backing contains 76% recycled content, from non-chlorinated thermoplastic polymer recovered from car windshields and safety glass. These products have traditionally gone directly to a landfill, but Tandus is striving to avoid this path for products with their "Leave No Trace" program. This product has the lowest environmental impact of all, according to BEES 4.0 Life Cycle Analysis software. Its construction is also 100% recyclable in the existing closed loop recycling process.

The standard Powerbond cushion is engineered to bond the yarn of the carpet. It consists of backing and dry adhesive in a single structure to ensure the best durability. Its six-foot structured backing has a warranty of 25 years, which they have said is three times the life expectancy of a typical carpet allowing you to get more bang for your buck. Its construction is 100% closed-loop recyclable in our existing recycling process. Molecularly bound seams make this product impermeable to moisture.

Lastly, the Powerbond Condensed Cushion has been fabricated for high-traffic performance for excellent rollability. Its six-foot structured backing has a warranty of 25 years, just as the standard cushion has. And its construction is 100% closed-loop recyclable in the existing recycling process. Molecularly bound seams make this product impermeable to moisture.

Surprisingly there was no information regarding fire ratings or installation. With as much information as I could find about each of the products, I figured that there would be a lot of information, but I assume that it is because the product is fairly new.

Crossville Ceramics

Crossville Ceramics has this really cool collection called Ultimetal, which combines the durability of ceramic and the aesthetics of metal! This collection won the Interior Design Magazine award for Best of Floorcovering: Tile and Stone for 2009.

The tile is availale in sheet sizes available in 24" x 24", 12" x 24", 6" x 24", 12" x 12", as well as a 12" x 12" sheet of 2" mosaics. Its construction has rectified edges. With five solid colors and three coordinating 12 x 24 patterned pieces (Listello: Grey MTLB3.11224 pattern shown above), this collection is very versatile.

The Schluter Systems Coordinating Custom Coordinating Metal Trim, available in 6 options, allows for the best installation of your Crossville Ceramics application.

Maintenance: Regular cleaning is the best way to keep UltiMetal tile's best appearance. The manufacturer recommends using clean, hot water (combined with a household cleaner for aggressive cleaning)and rinsing thoroughly and drying with a soft cloth to prevent water spots. No waxes or sealers are needed. Further information regarding cleaning can be found on the company's website.

Testing information, as it has plenty of it, can be found here.

B + N Industries

I have already looked at B + N's wall panels, but I wanted to take a look at their other products. They have these Graphic Cubes with a company's logo on it that help to highlight the product in a little spotlight and drive sales. They come in sizes of 22" h x 14" w or 30" h x 14" w and are available with customer-provided graphics used for inserts or without.

The frame is composed of brushed stainless steel with inserts for graphics. Graphics must be a minimum of 1/8" thickness to be supported fully in the frame. Levelers are at the bottom of the frame to add extra support to the piece. The 22" cube can support up to 80 lbs of product, and the 30" cube can support up to 60 lbs.

Additional options included powder coat and mirror-polished steel frame finishes, as well as the option to illuminate the graphic cubes with color changing LED lights or fluorescent bulbs.

The 22" h is the 320001-010 is $236 list, and the 30" h is the 320002-010 is $256 list.

No maintenance or installation information could be found for this product.

Architex

I am a total retro nerd to the core in terms of style, music, and especially design so when I saw an ad in Contract magazine that Architex created this new 60s Pop collection called "Summer of Love" - I had to check it out!

Low and behold, I found a fun and funky upholstery pattern inspired by the Beatles' album Sgt Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band. I am such a huge Beatles fan, so this was right up my alley!



The pattern, appropriately dubbed - Sgt Salt N Pepper, has 4 colorways all inspired by songs on the album - "Lucy", "Sky", "Sub", and "Rita" (pictured above).

The pattern is 54" wide, and it repeats every 14" x 15.5". The pattern is not railroaded, but its fabric weight is 1200 lbs. It is 100,000 double rubs which complies with standard commercial durability.

It contains 52% polyester, 44% acrylic, and 4% nylon. The front finish is Nano-Tex while the back is protected with Dura Block shield.

I have not been lucky to find any installation information on this fantastic fabric, but I do have some technical specs. It has undergone the AATAC 16 test for lightfastness, being rated for 40 hours of light exposure before color fades. It has been fire tested by the CAL 117 TB and UFAC Class 1.

It was rated W for cleaning code, which was not explained, but from what I've seen from other maintenance information on fabric sites is light spot cleaning with soap and water.

Now that there's a fabric inspired by the Beatles, think of all the other bands left to conquer the world of Interior Design! :)