Fifth Annual Coverings Installation & Design Awards Recognize Excellence in Tile, Stone Projects
Fifteen outstanding projects demonstrating spectacular craftsmanship and creativity in the use of tile and stone materials were recognized in the fifth annual Coverings Installation & Design (CID) Awards. An independent panel of judges, comprised of notable industry writers, leading designers, installation experts, and representatives from Ceramics of Italy, the Tile Council of North America, Tile of Spain and National Tile Contractors Association, utilized a blind judging format to evaluate each submissions’ technical execution and installation, and the inspired and original use of materials in the design’s aesthetic. The winning projects were honored, and $20,000 of award money was distributed, during the 2016 CID Awards & Opening Night Celebration on Monday, April 18 at McCormick Place in Chicago.
“The entries received for the 2016 Coverings Installation & Design Awards program were impressive and illustrative of the incredible range of creative and technical talents found in the tile and stone industry,” said Karin Fendrich, Coverings show director. “Coverings extends its congratulations and thanks to all of the honorees recognized for their continued commitment to incorporating incredible degrees of innovation and skill in their work.”
Two remarkable projects were awarded Grand Prize honors – one for outstanding use of stone materials and one for outstanding use of tile materials. The Stone Grand Prize was awarded to Carson Guest Inc. and Marmi Natural Stone for their work on The Farley Residence in Duluth, GA. Grand prize honors in the tile category were awarded to Doty Tile, Snyder Tile, and Aileen Bar for the Lincoln Park Tiled Stairway project in San Francisco, CA. All Grand Prize winners received $2,000 and a one-night hotel stay in Chicago during Coverings.
The Farley Residence project, completed by Carson Guest Inc. and Marmi Natural Stone, encompassed a complete renovation to update the traditional home, while opening up the interior to the exterior with the addition of new custom windows and doors, a new kitchen, new bathrooms and a new layout opening the home to overlook its pool. The results, while elegant, were not without challenges, as the homeowners remained in residence throughout the project. Additionally, a variety of architectural changes required careful thought so to not disrupt relocations of major structural beams at the center of the home. Overall, the residence’s use of beautiful stone and quartzite brings elegance to the space; materials used throughout include Calacatta Mahattan in full slabs and tile sizes; Negro Marquina in a polished finish; Imperial Gray limestone in a honed patina; Smoke Onyx; and White Princess quartzite.
The Stone Grand Prize was awarded to Carson Guest Inc. and Marmi Natural Stone for their work on The Farley Residence in Duluth, GA.
The Lincoln Park Tiled Stairway in San Francisco had suffered from decades of neglect, and this project, completed by Aileen Barr, Doty Tile and Snyder Tile, tackled repairing and enhancing the existing stairway, benches and pillars to create a beautiful community destination. The many challenges included preparing the steps for receiving the tile, cutting off concrete nosing from each step and repairing the concrete pillars and benches. The center art tile had a symmetrical design, which took time to install as each step’s design had to align with the previous step. A collaborative approach between artist, installers and architect ensured a successful outcome. The project features handmade tile by Aileen Barr in various sizes and colors to fit the design and field tile by Fireclay from the custom recycled series in custom size for the risers; tread tile by Daltile; and a variety of tile from Heath Ceramics‘ seconds store in Sausalito.
Grand prize honors in the tile category were awarded to Doty Tile, Snyder Tile, and Aileen Bar for the Lincoln Park Tiled Stairway project in San Francisco, CA.
The 2016 CID Awards recognized 12 additional projects for their achievements in tile and stone design and installation. Each of the following notable projects received a $1,000 cash prize for their mastery and creativity:
Winner, Commercial Stone Design
Project: St. Wenceslaus Church
Location: Dickinson, ND
Designer: Creative Edge Master Shop
Winner, Commercial Stone Installation
Project: Indianapolis Temple
Location: Carmel, IN
Installer: KEPCO+
Winner, Residential Stone Design
Project: St. Johns Master bath and living room with fireplace and columns
Location: Dallas, TX
Designer: S & R Development, Inc.
Winner, Residential Stone Installation
Project: Green Lake Residential Bathroom
Location: West Bloomfield, MI
Installer: Ribaudo Tile and Marble
Winner, International Stone Design
Project: WIGGLY HOUSE
Location: Ponte Lambro, Italy
Designer: ifdesign
Winner, Commercial Tile Design
Project: The Mixx Overland Park
Location: Overland Park, KS
Designer: Clockwork
Winner, Commercial Tile Installation
Project: Miguel’s
Location: Abilene, TX
Installer: Edward Flores Tile
Winner, Residential Tile Design
Project: Contemporary Waterfront Elegance
Location: Fort Lauderdale, FL
Designer: DKOR Interiors, Inc.
Winner, Residential Tile Installation
Project: Ultimate Outdoor Living Space
Location: Tampa, FL
Installer: Ryan Hughes Design, Inc.
Winner, International Tile Design
Project: Blue Wave Restaurant
Location: Barcelona, Spain
Designer: Equipo Creativo
Winner, Sustainable Commercial Design
Project: Fairfield Inn & Suites Waterbury VT
Location: Waterbury, VT
Designer: LHK design
Winner, Sustainable Residential Design
Project: Heijnen-Kavelaars Garden Residence
Location: Houston, TX
Designer: Intexture
For the 2016 program, Coverings introduced a new award category – “Scouting Shots” – to honor a project whose entry features amateur photography. The winning project in this category was the Red Rock Country Club Remodel by SKG Designs. The Scouting Shots winner received a free professional photography shoot.