Integrity

We know it when we see it – depth of character, strength, imperfect beauty.

And we seem always to be in search of it ... in the people we meet, in our own actions and choices, and even in the spaces we inhabit.

Powder room for a house in Malibu, CA by Los Angeles-based interior designer, Schuyler Samperton.

We outfit, decorate and furnish our world with as much integrity and character as we can muster. Top designers go to the ends of the earth to bring this quality into their projects.

For instance, Michael S. Smith traveled to the Mediterranean area for inspiration for a project, and turned to Lascaux Tile when he wanted to replicate the look and feel of an old Portuguese tile. For his efforts, this unforgettable and much-heralded room.

Image from "Michael S. Smith Houses"

Lascaux Tile specializes in antique tile reproductions and custom tile to the trade. Owner Lenore Eisner recently spoke with Topsy Turvy about the special qualities that her tiles embody: "We make our tiles using the traditional, old techniques. Just like they made them centuries ago. The glaze application is hand applied, hand painted, and the beauty also lies in the clays and body, I think, and how it receives and interacts with the surface glazes when fired. I can't give all of our 'trade secrets' away, but you are correct in your feelings that the new tiles just don't have 'it.' Even in Portugal today, it's hard to find traditional factories reproducing tiles employing the old techniques, like they did centuries ago – not to mention the mineral lead, which when added, always made ceramic glazes blend more beautifully. The chemistry is very complicated, and we are always discovering new possibilities and frustrating limitations. The old majolica Italian tile makers guarded their secret glaze formulas and it wasn't unusual for them to die with those formulas when their factories closed."

Small Arabesques

Hand-dipped, 4x4 tiles

Hand-dipped tiles, as seen in Cindy Crawford's kitchen (in the background), designed by Michael S. Smith.
Image from "Michael S. Smith Houses."

Shalimar hexagons

Portuguese Corner Tiles with Ram Border

Chinoiserie Musicians tile mural

Designer illustration for a gate entrance

Design by Michael S. Smith, image from "Santa Barbara Living"

"We came across some great old beautiful tiles, circa 1700's, from a collection originally belonging to Santa Barbara's famed landscape architect, designer and painter, Lockwood de Forest. The original tiles were probably bought back from his travels to Ottoman East, and likely fabricated in Syria. (Damascus was a center for textiles and ceramics during this period; hence the word, 'damask')."

"De Forest, who designed Santa Barbara Estates and Gardens, collected tiles during his extensive travels to the Orient and Ottoman regions, around 1900. We've adapted this particular design for color, (the original had more turquoise) and are currently developing the finish, recreating really beautiful tiles from the old world."

"This image (below) shows it best, I think, used as a 48" high wainscot, beautiful for a bathroom wall."

Damascus.

We just received an update from Lenore that the Picacho Lane Residence (designed by Michael S. Smith) in Montecito was spared in the fires that recently raged in the area.

To see more tile designs, visit Lascaux Tile.
All images from Lascaux Tile unless indicated otherwise.

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