clé notes

it’s a widely accepted notion that trim must be used to “finish” any sort of tile installation, despite that it’s a lengthy, and often expensive, process. while trim can create the appearance of a “finished” look, in certain circumstances there are alternatives to trim that not only honor these global influences in tile, but also reduce cost. both are core reasons why clé prefers the no-trim look.

Simply stated, tile is not two dimensional. It breathes life and color and texture into any room, but our 6-inch screens don’t allow us to truly appreciate the tile options we have at our fingertips.

we sat down with natalie myers, the owner and design principal of veneer designs in los angeles. natalie gave us a peek into what moves her as a designer, her mental inventory of the newest ideas, and why if “every blogger and their babysitter” is into a style, she wants nothing to do with it.

we take a new look at our of our most popular and practical tiles, slate, using a layout pattern to turn it into a design statement.

throughout the bulk of the 20th century, white ceramic tile was considered the norm in america. it's not surprising, as the color connotes cleanliness, freshness, and simplicity.

the designers and owners of desert wild, a vacation rental property in joshua tree, california, to share their process of selecting and installing tile for their recent pool renovation.

new york designer anthony d’argenzio wanted to create a place — just a quick train ride from the city — where time, light and space felt abundant and expansive; where creativity could bloom and art could happen on the spot.

our love affair with zellige began 25 years ago when clé founder deborah osburn met a tile producer from morocco. his handcrafted wares were astonishingly beautiful, with jewel-tone glazes that varied like so many leaves or flower petals, and organic surfaces randomly pocked by exploding olive pits.