Page 1 Page 2 Page 3 Page 4 Page 5 Page 6 Page 7 Page 8 Page 9 Page 10 Page 11 Page 12 Page 13 Page 14 Page 15 Page 16 Page 17 Page 18 Page 19 Page 20 Page 21 Page 22 Page 23 Page 24 Page 25 Page 26 Page 27 Page 28 Page 29 Page 30 Page 31 Page 32 Page 33 Page 34 Page 35 Page 36 Page 37 Page 38 Page 39 Page 40 Page 41 Page 42 Page 43 Page 44 Page 45 Page 46 Page 47 Page 48 Page 49 Page 50 Page 51 Page 52 Page 53 Page 54 Page 55 Page 56 Page 57 Page 58 Page 59 Page 60 Page 61 Page 62 Page 63 Page 64 Page 65 Page 66 Page 67 Page 68 Page 69 Page 70 Page 71 Page 72 Page 73 Page 74 Page 75 Page 76 Page 77 Page 78 Page 79 Page 80 Page 81 Page 82 Page 83 Page 84 Page 85 Page 86 Page 87 Page 88 Page 89 Page 90 Page 91 Page 92 Page 93 Page 94 Page 95 Page 9664 2017 | TRENDS tified. This ensures my vision for the project will not only come to life, but will have the functionality and structural integrity my client expects from my team. Having quali- fied tradesmen on my team is extremely important to me. PG: Professional designers are responsible for the best installation practices available for their client. Many homeowners who seek to save money, don’t understand how a poorly installed tile project can ruin their design. As professionals, it’s our responsibility to hire only certified installers, and also BE PRESENT for the install, or at least monitor the install very closely. TRENDS: How does working closely with the tile/stone contractor ensure success for your projects and happi- ness for your clients? LM: To have a dialogue with the tile/stone contractor is imperative for the designer. Hard finishes are not easy or cheap to rip out, therefore the designer needs to make sure they are done right. We need to also know when items are ordered, when they will be ready for install and have great follow through with the tile/stone contractor to make sure things finish well. If there are issues with product or installation it is important that the tile/stone contractor be involved to help us fix the issues. PG: There’s nothing worse than getting a call from your client who’s freaked out over the tile installation. It’s so important for me – as the designer in charge of what the outcome of the install will be – to BE THERE as it’s installed. This may sound like a waste of time, but believe me, it isn’t. It’s actually a time SAVER. In the end, I’m responsible for the end result. Period. This eliminates call-backs and irritated contractors as well. TRENDS: How does attending a show like Coverings help you stay on top of your game? LM: Coverings and Surfaces get me excited about what is coming. Being at a show allows me to dream and pon- der possibilities. Travel takes me out of my bubble and exposes me to new products as well as connects me to the makers of the products who can better explain the products and their uses. Shows allow me to compare and contrast brands and options which is really helpful. I also come away with more knowledge and great new samples for my showroom for clients. Shows are the designer’s homework. We must do our homework to offer the best options, to our clients. If a homeowner wants to know how informed a designer is about products, one of the questions they should ask in the interview process is how many trade shows they attend a year. PG: Being in an atmosphere of like-minded individuals, who seek out the latest and the greatest products in their field, and also establishing relationships with manufactur- ers is the main reason. Keeping on top of the new instal- lation techniques is essential as well. TRENDS: At the interview you did with Crossville’s Lindsey Waldrep at TISE West/Surfaces, Lindsey asked what tile trends would you like to see fade away. How would you expand on that here? LM: I love subway tile but I think it is over used. I would like to see more interesting tile used as backsplashes and for walls in bathrooms. I am also over the accent tile at the top of a tile wall – time for that to go. There are so many opportunities for interesting tile to be utilized in homes. I think consumers are too quick to pick easy- access photos from Instagram or Pinterest and mimic them, rather than hiring a designer who can create some- thing interesting for them. PG: Personally, I’m not using a lot of glass mosaics these days, but they’re still a viable option for many people. Larger-format tiles in anything – be it ceramic, porcelain, or glass – is a better option for me. TRENDS: Is there a favorite way you enjoy using tile in your projects? Please share! LM: I love to use tile on ceilings in showers. The ceiling really is a fifth wall. I think it makes the bathroom feel more luxurious when the ceiling is treated especially in the shower. PG: I enjoy using patterned tile in small spaces, like powder rooms. Powder rooms are smaller areas that are used frequently, especially by guests, and a great design with a heavy pattern creates an artistic, ‘jewel box’ like quality, on floors and walls. A great place to get creative! A&D Q&A (continued) ” “ “Design professionals like myself must be the watchdogs on sustainability, and offer clients products that we have already sought out as sustainable and healthy." – Patricia Gaylor