clé notes

See how the founders of interior design house Studio McGee installed clé tile to beautiful effect in their own dream home.

designs (and redesigns) are an investment. whether it’s your home, office, commercial space or any other room, choosing the right design elements is an important part of the process.

the recent debut of the clé guild was not what deborah osburn had ever envisaged. having created and run a tile production business early in her career, she did not imagine she would be doing it again.

clé’s new california collection expands the guild’s offerings, retaining all the unique characteristics that define the guild in a broader presentation.

“authentic” has become a word that has special significance at clé. the concept of authenticity is not new for us, even though the term has become a marketing buzzword as the world seeks comfort in heritage products and artisan crafts.

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.

shoshana is not a designer (at least not in this life). she shared how she was introduced to clé (hint: a chocolate shop is involved), what drew her to the tile, and why her experience, overall, was so delightful.

Recently, Sarah Sherman Samuel, a multidisciplinary designer in Los Angeles, California (and sometimes Grand Rapids, Michigan) highlighted one of our tile collections that she had used for her own home’s bathroom renovation.

in this “clé conversations” series, we spoke with jordan brand, a serial entrepreneur and house renovator to learn about his distinctive design philosophy, and why he prefers the “perfectly imperfect” over the status quo.