Casa Décor, an international producer of interior design exhibitions, hosted an event that saw more than 40,000 people visit its U.S. showhouse at the historic Miami Woman’s Club in Miami, FL, from November 10 to December 17, 2006. The six-week transformation of the space included the creation of over 60 interior and exterior tile installations, conceived by some of the world’s most renowned designers. The goal of Tile of Spain, which represents the Spanish’s ceramic tile industry, at Casa Décor was to evoke the sense of creativity that ceramic tiles bring to interior design, according to the association. Designers who chose to use ceramic tile in their spaces were able to make use of the variety of ceramics available through Tile of Spain’s manufacturers, showing creativity and bringing their rooms to life. Spanish tile suppliers involved with the showhouse included Onix Mosaico, Halcon Ceramica, Porcelanosa Group, Roca Tile Group, Rocersa Ceramica, Azulejera Alcorense and Tau Ceramica, among others.

Throughout the five floors of the showhouse, visitors saw a variety of tile installations for elements such as lofts, libraries, gardens, media rooms and design exhibits, as well as a full-service restaurant and a champagne bar. In addition, educational design programs were held to heighten public awareness of the design process through tours, seminars and special events.

A Showcase of Tile

The event enabled designers to make bold statements through ceramic tile designs while also incorporating the latest innovations in the sector, reported Tile of Spain. Many of the rooms featured bright tile floors, tiles resembling various metallics and tiles that mimicked dark woods as well as mosaic tiles, among others. Bar Tempo, designed by Mayra Cohen-Mora of Cohen Mora Design Studio, features mosaic tiles from Onix Mosaico, including Opalo Blanco, a white glass mosaic in 1- x 1-inch tiles, which were used for the bar top. The room also features 1- x 1-inch Onix Mosaico wall tiles called Opalo Negro, which are black iridescent glass mosaics. Additionally, 12- x 24-inch through-body porcelain tiles from Roca’s Avila series were installed for flooring throughout the space.

“With the view of the ocean in the background, I wanted to bring the sparkle of the water inside the space, and by using mosaic tiles I could create a beach environment,” explained Cohen-Mora. “The mosaics on the bar top give off a floating appearance, and the porcelain floor tiles, installed in a circular shape, reflect the lines from the drapery.” Interior Designer Teresa Sapey of Teresa Sapey Architects, designed the 680-square-foot Tile of Spain “Media Room,” for which she took inspiration from traditional Spanish iconography, including flamenco, polka dots and Sevilliana dance, and modernized them into design elements used to adorn the tile room. Sapey’s design goal for the room was to convey the variety of creativity available with ceramic tiles, a constant media in her designs. Waves of hanging mosaic tiles symbolize the flowing dress of a Sevillianan dancer, while the floor was created from customized light red ceramic tiles.

When selecting material for the “Fendi” dining room, also referred to as “A Touch of Glam,” designer Osirys Mendez chose porcelain tiles from Azulejera Alcorense, one of the leading ceramic tile companies in Spain. Specifically, the ARA G series, in 12- x 24-inch tiles, was surrounded with matching ARA G 1- x 24-inch frosted crystal listelo inserts, illuminating the space with metallic shine.

Exterior Installations

The Casa Décor showhouse also exemplified a variety of ways in which ceramic tile can be ideal for outdoor installations. For example, the Beach Club area and the Courtyard Cafe area outside the showhouse both feature high-tech porcelain tile from Roca’s Rock & Rock Lavanga series. For both spaces, the material was used in large-format sizes, including 24- x 48-inch tiles as well as 12- x 48-inch tiles. “Casa Décor Miami was a huge success this year,” said Sherry Qualls, president of White Good & Co., which represents Tile of Spain. “There was a flawless melding between the eye-catching tiles offered by the participating Tile of Spain manufacturers and the designers who transformed the Miami Woman’s Club into spaces that demonstrated the true creativity and adaptability that ceramic tiles bring to interior design.”