Building Products

Staff -- Interior Design, 10/31/2006 12:00:00 AM

B & N Industries

Precision-carved MDF cores form the basis for the Iconic collection's grooves. The laminate-skinned panels will nail, screw, glue, or cleat to walls. They also can be painted and sawn—and will support the company's shelving hardware. Hitchcock, and ten other available patterns, come in matte or gloss white or black; in silver, gloss red, maple, walnut, gloss brown, or a veneer called chocolate pear. 1409 Chapin Avenue, Second Floor, Burlingame, CA 94010; 800-350-4127; bnind.com. circle 805

Rocky Mountain Hardware

This hardware supplier has branched out from bronze. The GK150 knob is hand-poured 24 percent Italian lead crystal from Tuscan producers working traditionally. The molded orb measures close to three inches across, with the option of accents and escutcheons in custom finishes. 1030 Airport Way, Hailey, ID 83333; rockymountainhardware.com. circle 806

Veritas

Maryland Institute College of Art professor Piper Shepard's lacy Pendant, Lancet, and Kaleidoscope panels have fine art-inspired patterns encapsulated in clear resin. The material includes up to one-quarter recycled content, does not off-gas, is food-safe, and can be recycled. Panel sizes are up to 5 by 10 feet. 6200 49th Street North. Pinellas Park, FL, 33781; 877-411-8008; veritasideas.com. circle 807

Railtech

Mirage acoustic wall system unfolds robotically from the ceiling, eliminating both walls and any storage closets for modular wall sections. An infrared sensor ensures safe, automatic operation—the system is warranted for ten years—and glass or custom panels are possible. 325 Lee Avenue, Baie d'Urfé, Montreal, Quebec H9X 3S3; 514-457-4767; skyfold.com. circle 810

Urban Archaeology

Here's something quite contemporary from a supplier of historical materials. Indestructable V108 stainless steel tiles are crafted from solid metal for durability—even in high-traffic commercial installations. A portfolio of various sizes, patterns, liners, and trims permits the maximum versatility. 143 Franklin Street, New York, NY 10013; 212-431-4646; urbanarchaeology.com. circle 808

Valli & Valli

Everything Frank Gehry targets seems to take flight, but his H 5021 door lever hits the bullseye. As with other pulls and furniture handles in the Arrowhead series, the lever sells in a choice of satin or polished chrome. 150 East 58th Street, 4th Floor, New York, NY 10155; 877-326-2565; vallievalli.com. circle 809

Nanz

Poised as it is midway between form and function, the 8827 solid brass cabinet pull plays its unadorned geometry against the flourish of roped accents. Each of the three standard sizes, from 3 ½ to 4 ¾ to 6 inches, sell in the antique gold finish. 20 Vandam Street, New York, NY 10013; 212-367-7000; nanz.com. circle 811

Ragno

Follow the crazy antics of lines as they morph into squiggly flowers and playful shapes on the glazed porcelain surface of the Arkitess tile. Originally designed to look like embroidery, the design is offered in: beige, black, white, and platinum. Tile sizes are 24 by 24, 24 by 12, 12 by 12, and 6 by 12 inches. Through Ceramic Tiles of Italy, 33 East 67th Street, NY, NY 10021; 212-980-1500; italiatiles.com. circle 812

Window Modes

The Chain Drapery curtain shimmers in natural daylight and then keeps on shining thanks to indoor illumination at night. Silver-colored, brass, bronze, or custom-colored chains can be configured as vertical blinds or stationary panels sized to window measurements. 134 North Macquesten Parkway, Mount Vernon, NY 10550; 914-665-4545; windowmodes.com. circle 816

Omnia

The new ergonomically inspired number 45 lever limns a gentle 5 /-inch-long curve that's softer still, thanks to the glowing brushed stainless steel finish. To heighten the effect, the installed lever stands more than two inches proud of a door's surface. P.O. Box 330, Cedar Grove, NJ, 07009; 800-310-7960; omniaindustries.com. circle 813

3-Form

Zebrawood, rosewood, and walnut are sliced paper thin to lend a honeyed translucence to this manufacturer's Wood composites. Then the veneers get coated in Ecoresin. The finished panels range in thickness from 1/8 to 3/8-of-an-inch. 2300 South 2300 West, Suite B, Salt Lake City, UT, 84119; 800-726-0126; 3-form.com. circle 814

Cancos Tile

Now you can go with the grain in wet areas. Naturalé is a surprising range of durable natural wood mosaic tiles sold as 1-inch squares, 1 by 3-inch bricks, and trim pieces. Available woods include warm teak, wengé, exotic Doussié, versatile Roveré, and bright Acero. 1085 Portion Road, Farmingville, NY 11738; 800-322-6267; cancos.com. circle 815

Lamitech

From this Colombian player in the decorative laminate game, the Chess pattern sports a tonal checkerboard of Metallized, nut, gold, tangerine, brick, pistachio, or blue. Try them in hard-working commercial kitchens or baths. Through Patrick Industries, 107 West Franklin Street, Elkhart, IN 46516; 800-331-2151; patrickind.com. circle 821

Pinecrest

Layer the framed grilles of the Lightsmith collection over windows, doors, sliders, ceilings, and mirrors. Or use the grilles unframed as partitions, walls, decorative wall hangings, headboards, or railings. You can choose among 150 stock cut-outs, or create your own design, using paintable medium-density fiberboard, veneered medium-density fiberboard, solid hardwoods, and stainless or powder-coated steel. 2118 Blaisdell Avenue, Minneapolis, MN, 800-443-5357; pinecrestinc.com. circle 817

Joel Berman Glass

Taking a natural metaphor, master mold-maker Daniel Masse has formed his new Stones privacy texture for partitions, balustrades, countertops, ceilings, shelving, doors, and more. The pebbled castings are part of a new architectural materials-inspired line that also encompasses Bricks, Boards, and Sticks. 1-1244 Cartwright Street, Vancouver, BC, Canada, V6H 3R8; 888-505-4527; jbermanglass.com. circle 818

Armstrong

Makeover a standard T-bar suspension grid with Effects two-by-two metal ceiling modules. The panels sell as solid metal or are peppered with nearly invisible acoustical "microperforations." Either option is powder-coated for a cherry or maple effect that's more consistent in color and graining than real wood. P.O. Box 3001, Lancaster, PA 17604; 877-276-7876; armstrong.com/ceilings. circle 819

Incea Azahar

These large-format interiors tiles from Ceramicas Azahar bring botanical brio to kitchen walls or vertical surfaces in the bathroom. Named Sandalo—"sandalwood" in English—they are more than 17 inches long and come in Marron (an earthy brown) and beige. Partida Santa, s/n Apartado 122, Alcora, Spain 12110; 305-889-3339; inceazahar.com. circle 820

Imagine Tile

Thanks to a process that patterns tile like printers ink the page, Metro evokes weathered copper in 16, eight, six, or 4 ½ inch squares. All are unaffected by ultraviolet radiation, abrasion, or chemicals. Plus, their all-natural raw materials are environmentally friendly. 1515 Broad Street, Bloomfield, NJ 07003; 800-680-8453; imaginetile.com. circle 822

Abet Laminati

Four new Met Décor panels overlay real metal surfaces with painterly strokes in black-and-silver, or with liquid stripes of blue or green. The ten by four-foot phenolic-backed sheets of high-pressure laminate are coated with protective lacquer. 60 West Sheffield Avenue, Englewood, NJ 07631; 800-228-2238; abetlaminati.com. circle 826

Contact Lumber

African mahogany clads dimensionally stable finger-joined wood substrate to allow wood-wrapped Khaya Moldings to run defect-free for up to 18 feet, upon special request. Widths to ten inches are also possible, with little fear of delamination. 9200 SE Sunnybrook Boulevard, Suite 200, Clackamas, OR 97015; 800-547-1038; contactlumber.com. circle 823

Boyce Products

When you want a sturdy modular wall that permits unobstructed views, you need Boycewal Clear Span butt glazing, a key offering from this supplier's demountable system. Despite its portability, the slender wood frame calls to mind fine contemporary custom millwork. 205 Conklin Hill Road, Damascus, PA 18415; 570-224-6570; boyceproducts.com. circle 824

Rangine Corporation

L-Bracket Shelving consists of adjustable horizontal supports with vertical poles (to use floor-to-ceiling, under compression) or wall-mounted standards (to hang from vertical surfaces). The components are aluminum, which is easily recycled and may be anodized in clear or black—or can be powder-coated white. 330 Reservoir Street, Needham, MA 02494; 800-826-6006; rakks.com. circle 825