Turkey for Thanksgiving

I typed “turkey tiles” into Google to see if I could find some wacky ceramic with a handpainted turkey motif or some such to post today. But my search turned up tiles from Turkey, of course, so I thought I’d follow Google’s lead and instead post my fave Turkish tile treat: the Iznik Foundation, which I visited in Istanbul a few years ago. The foundation–and the website–is an believable primer on this ancient tradition, which was something of a lost art until a group of scholars devoted themselves to discovering the secrets to making the characteristic sultry glazes (which incorporate quartz). Gorge yourself on eye candy here…from mosques to hotel interiors to reproduction tiles and pottery…

As seen in: Bongo

Snapped this cool mosaic table (apologies for my recent tiled-furniture spree…) at the wacky West Village bar Bongo (which looks like a random hotel lobby). Can’t tell if it’s just an abstract design, or perhaps wine-bottle inspired??

As seen on: Adelphi Street, Brooklyn

Does it bode well for my new home–and the neighborhood in general–that the new-build condo down the street is covered in shiny, iridescent glass mosaics???

While I personally think the design is pretty yuck, I do always applaud the use of mosaics on a facade!

Am I nuts for digging these fishscale tiles?

They cover the floor of my local bodega! (Note the fluorescent orange price sticker.)

Tiled furniture I’d like to buy:

Fruits of an evening spent couch-surfing!

Would love to snag this table at Mondo Cane (above), attributed to Vladi Kagan, and this 1950s cutie (below):

Or maybe these tables from Galerie van den Akker?

Why don’t you try: mixing porcelain and wood?

…like this cool installation, which I just found in a catalog for Casa Dolce Casa’s flagstone collection. Tres chic, and makes the faux-stone look more vrai.

Ico Parisi = genius

Let’s just call a spade a spade, shall we? Cannot argue with his iconic coffee table for Altamira, with mosaics by Mario Radice*.

(* On that note, the fascist Italian artist was pretty genius, too…especially his abstract artworks that read like architectural floorplans. Give him a Google to see what I’m talking about. Here’s a print from Berardinelli Gallery):

If you can’t afford tile/handle the hassle of tiling…

…try “tiled” wallpaper instead, like this great hand-screenprinted pattern from Dupenny in the UK! So cute. (Eco-friendly, too: the company uses water-based inks on cellulose fibers from managed forests and it recycles cut-offs.) Available at NotOntheHighStreet; click here for product info.

High-tech leather tiles in high-octane hues

These are very genius: tiles made from leather wrapped around a thin aluminum backing, which can be snapped into place on a floating track system so they’re easily replaceable…a total boon for high-traffic environments. The nifty construction renders them lightweight and malleable–tiles can even be wrapped around columns and curves. Italian manufacturer Inpelle uses chrome-free tanning on its high-quality hides so they’re biodegradable.

And architects take note: you can customize colors and textures! The surfaces are amazing–so tactile. You can practically feel them just by looking at ‘em.

The modular system we have created for installation of the tiles is very flexible and is unique to this product.

Incorporating light weight, leather wrapped, aluminum tiles that are literally, and easily, snapped into place upon plastic mounting elements. The leather floor floats over an existing floor with no stress. An entire installation of the leather tiles can be installed within a short period of time, individual tiles are easy to exchange.

Is glass block considered tile?

OK, probably not, but it sure looks cool so today I am making an exception!

Witness: the Corning Museum of Glass‘s studio building. I thought this was an awesome leaf-backed glass tile until I got up close. Mixing two sizes of block/tile created a most pleasing geometric pattern; try this one on your backsplash.

Also: Corning has amazing educational and public outreach programs, including: mosaic-making workshops! Click here for info on all their fall workshops…want to move up there and take them all.

Check out more:

This isn’t really tile either! The end of the building is a gorgeous glazed brick that got all glinty in the late-afternoon sun: