NEW YORK, NY -- Recently, Daltile, an industry-leading brand of ceramic, porcelain, glass, metal, and natural stone tile products, unveiled a newly-renovated design studio in the heart of Manhattan. The remodeled 3,700-square-foot studio space, featuring both Daltile and sister brand, Marazzi, products, was designed by designers for designers as a collaborative workspace.

"We've been in the heart of New York City for more than 10 years now and have grown up with the Manhattan design community," said Corintha Runge, manager, Gallery and Showroom Operations, Dal-Tile. "As our brands evolve with the needs of our customers, we wanted to provide a space that offers the tools and resources to foster those fresh perspectives."

The Daltile and Marazzi Design Studio is nestled among other architectural and design firms, and is conveniently located between Broadway and Park Avenue, near Union Square. An intricate mosaic wall depicting an apple blossom greets visitors, alluding to the city's famed nickname. 

Designed to accommodate networking and local design association events for organizations such as the Industrial Designers Society of America (IDSA) and the American Institute of Architects (AIA), the studio's open concept design features movable workstations, and can seat 100 comfortably. 

"This Daltile studio, being the fifth we have designed for the brand, has a similar look and feel, but was designed with the New York customer in mind," said Glenn Isenmann, associate for Gensler, the global architecture, design, planning and consulting firm that designed the studio for Daltile. "Living and working space is tight for city dwellers, so the ability to host meetings and events in a beautiful studio is a huge benefit for the design community."

The studio radiates an urban, contemporary feel throughout, with finishes in gray and neutral tones showcasing a variety of tile, countertop and natural stone options. A custom chandelier, designed by local Dallas artist Tony Collins, is crafted with tile pieces and hangs in the center of the space over a large meeting table, while a hospitality area features a stunning book-matched quartzite backsplash. 

Overall, the studio space feels like a sophisticated design firm with communal worktables and easy access to product samples. A loose tile library provides customers with full-size samples to help them match and coordinate colors and styles for their projects. Light panels show how tile will look in different settings, an important factor in choosing the correct tile for a customer's space. 

Digital tools in the studio allow customers to bring their design ideas to life. An LCD touch screen lets customers virtually flip through the digital catalog, view inspiration gallery images and build out designs with the tile and stone visualizer tool. 

Wall panels throughout showcase individual collections by material and application, along with two vignettes -- a kitchen and bath -- that highlight unique product application. 

The studio, located at 49 E. 21st Street, is the fifth Daltile design studio to open its doors, joining Dallas, Philadelphia, San Francisco and Miami as a regional design hub for the brand. For more information, visit Daltile.com or MarazziUSA.com.