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Product>Architects and designers share the surfaces they spec the most

Nothing but the Hits

Product>Architects and designers share the surfaces they spec the most

Find out why these surfaces are architects’ and designers’ go-tos for the ceilings, the floors, and everything in-between.

Rosalyne Shieh
Partner, Schaum/Shieh

We used Lilac Marble in a recent Brooklyn renovation. It is white with an intense inky black vein. We got the cement encaustic tiles from Mosaic House, but there are also other very good selections from Clé Tile and Granada Tile. For the kitchen, we mixed and matched within a range of colors based on a terra-cotta palette, but you can have custom tiles made from your own design. We used a more traditional Escher-pattern tile of the same type in the bathroom. ­

Paul Masi
Principal, Bates Masi + Architects

We work with a range of products based on the project and client needs, but we like Corian for interior surfaces because it is adaptable, durable, and easy to clean. Corian can also be easily repaired and is stain-resistant, which is why we chose it for the integrated sink and countertop in the pantry as well as the walls, floors, and cabinetry in the restrooms of our newly completed office in East Hampton, New York.

Greg Mottola
Principal, Bohlin Cywinski Jackson

We often use ApplePly from States Industries for casework, paneling, and custom furniture. I love that the material is humble, yet can be finished in a way that elevates it to a level of refinement, all the while revealing the nature of how it is made. The workstations and much of the furniture in our studio are made from ApplePly, and we did a great collection of furniture for the Ballard Library in Seattle. We also recently completed the first of many cafes for Blue Bottle Coffee here in San Francisco, and the millwork and display shelving makes extensive use of the material.

Benjamin Cadena
Founder, Studio Cadena

I would have to say white paint—either a bright white like Benjamin Moore’s Super White or a slightly warmer toned white like Benjamin Moore’s Dove White. For me, white helps tie the room together while diffusing light into darker corners of a space. It also focuses attention into what occupies the room rather than the walls themselves—it makes other colors and materials really come alive.

Peggy Gubelmann
Design Director, Pembrooke & Ives

We love to use Bendheim specialty glass in our kitchens. This material is durable and adds depth, texture, and glamour to our modern kitchens. We backlight all of our cabinets to highlight the gold mesh sandwiched between the glass and provide a nice glow and ambiance.

Kelly Wearstler
Founder and CEO, Kelly Wearstler

I love using marble for walls, kitchen and bathroom surfaces, and furniture. Texture enhances any surface and utilizing natural stone with a marbling pattern creates dimension and depth, adding a layer of richness to a space. Ann Sacks is a favorite for marble tiles; ABC Stone in New York and Marble Unlimited in California are my go-to sources for marble slabs.

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