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Building materials

Staff -- Interior Design, 5/31/2004 12:00:00 AM

Panelite

Almost part of today's design lexicon, Panelite's transfixing honeycomb interlayer sandwiched between lushly colored exterior panels satisfies an appetite for visual texture. Backdrop is PE/RX-OR Cast Polimer. From top to bottom: AO/RC Cast Polimer, AO/RX-BL Cast Polimer, AH/FC Laminated, PE/RX-M Cast Polimer, AO/GCL. 212-343-0995; e-panelite.com. circle 650

Nevamar

The Manhattan line of high-pressure laminates employs high contrast, and layers of pearlescent pigment to give the impression of a shimmering metallic weave, lit from within. The three metal-like colors in the series are Glamour (silver), Glitz (gold), and Gleam (copper). 8339 Telegraph Road, Odenton, MD 21113; 800-638-4380; nevamar.com. circle 651

Meltdown Glass

Start seeing the world through pearl-blue glasses—or any other color. Metallic sprays tint tempered or laminated glass sheets that are given three dimensions in a hand-carved mold. You can add a linen surface texture and optional color-fade. 3225 North Washington Street, Chandler, AZ 85225; 800-845-6221; meltdownglass.com. circle 652

Stephanie Odegard Collection

Architects will go wild for Laurameroni's Collezione Décordoors and matching frames, with the finish of fine furniture. Fitted with Jasper Morrison levers, the doors ship in a number of exotic three-ply veneers, with different species possible on opposite sides of doors. 200 Lexington Avenue, New York, NY 10016; 212-545-0069; odegardinc.com. circle 654

Abet

Durable Coeso surfacing is nine times thicker than ordinary laminate and self-supporting—with no particle board backing, there is nothing for moisture to ruin. Coeso is 26 inches wide, with a factory-formed front edge and is simple to trim at the back for straight countertop runs. 60 West Sheffield Avenue, Englewood, NY 07631; 800-228-2238; abetlaminati.com. circle 653

Italian Design

Eugenio Carmi created matching aluminum door handles for his minimalist System Wind custom interior doors for Filli Longhi. Swinging, sliding, or pocket versions have an airy aluminum frame that accepts frosted, textured, clear, or colored tempered glass panels. 81 Boylston Street, Brookline, MA 02445; 617-731-4222; italian-design.net. circle 656

Móz Designs

The Salmon Ripples pattern of decorative metals are available as oversized 4-by-10-foot sheets from this custom metal fabricator. Optional exterior and UV coatings can be applied to all decorative metals, whether used for column covers, walls, ceilings, canopies, furniture, trim, or signage. 711 Kevin Court, Oakland, CA 94621; 510-632-0853; mozdesigns.com. circle 655

Rocky Mountain Hardware

Made of silicon or white bronze and finished with a hand-rubbed patina, the Maddox collection is the latest from these masters. 1030 Airport Way P.O. Box 4108, Hailey ID 83333; 208-788-2013; rockymountainhardware.com. circle 657

Sana Stone

Powdered black marble dust, mixed with resin, outlines floor tiles with polished inlays of golden-yellow and kiln-baked-red sandstone. The 4x12 designs are custom cut by hand in India, according to a pen-and-ink of palms, by the New York artist Robert Kushner. 833 Broadway, New York, NY 10003; 212-228-8396; sanastoneny.com. circle 660

Euro Tile

Candy-colored Villiglas Sahara wall and floor tiles glow with a sweet matte finish, and are available in squares from 1 to 16 inches. The semi-opaque glass is colored by metal pigments melted into the tiles' backsides. 6100 Mid Metro Drive, Suite 6, Fort Myers, FL 33912; 941-275-8033; euro-tile.com. circle 658

Sonoma Tilemakers

The company's "gurus" experimented with deep puddles of glaze atop rustic tiles made of tinted clay. The result, Tantrum, has a thick glassy coating that shatters in the kiln, but remains durable for residential floors or walls (though the cracks may trap dirt). 7750 Bell Road, Windsor, CA 95492; 707-837-8177; sonomatilemakers.com. circle 659

Ex: Inc

Get good vibes from your walls. Wara Juraku, a Japanese Stucco for interiors, may indeed radiate energy that therapeutically stirs occupants' circulation and metabolism. As proof, promoters offer a study showing that the plaster's chief ingredient vibrates electrons. 155 East 56th Street, New York, NY 10022; 212-758-2593; www.exinc.org. circle 661

BHK of America

The 8-foot planks of the Moderna Logo replicate white-painted or natural-finish wood paneling. The 3/8-inch MDF tongue-and-grove ceiling planks mount to furring (or wall studs, for wainscoting), using concealed clips. The vinyl veneer resists humidity, never needing paint. 11 Bond Street, Central Valley, NY 10917; 800-663-4176; bhkofamerica.com. circle 662

Enkeboll Designs

Kips Bay regular Beverly Ellsley is a Connecticut designer with ties to Southern France. Crowning Enkenboll's new line of 24 decorative carvings is her Villa collection of Crown, Medallion, and Garland trims. The cherry ornaments are also available in 6 other hardwoods. 16506 Avalon Boulevard, Carson, CA 90746; 800-745-5507; enkeboll.com. circle 665

Interlam

CNC-sculpted fiberboard in the Art Diffusion line can imitate metal. W1604 is a rustic steel coating for MDF that appears aged under a layer of rust. Red Bank School Road, Claudville, VA 24076; 276-251-5300; interlam-design.com. circle 663

Architectural Systems

A new technique optimizes bamboo's stability and strength. Engineered Bamboo Strand board flooring is 3/8-inch thick but 36 inches long. It can be purchased prefinished with an acrylic coating in natural or a dark brown stain. 150 West 25th Street, 8th Floor; New York, NY 10001; 800-793-0224; archsystems.com. circle 664

Urban Archaeology

Custom, pop-patterned MODulus interior wall tiles capture silk-screened geometrics in colored glaze that has been sandwiched between two fused glass layers. Manufactured in the U.S.A., the line has six patterns in 12 colors for use as mixed field tiles or accents. 143 Franklin Street, New York, NY 10013; 212-431-4646; urbanarchaeology.com. circle 666

Johnsonite

Millwork, a thermoplastic rubber base, in colorful 8-foot lengths, flows around gentle curves, resists dings, and will not splinter. It can be mitered with a radial arm saw; an unfinished version may be painted with no sanding or priming. 16910 Munn Road, Chagrin Falls, OH 44023; 800-899-8916; johnsonite.com. circle 670

3form

San Franciscan Claire Kahn encapsulates her patchwork compositions in Weave. Stepped translucent layers of paper-thin synthetic hover in thick resin—40 percent recycled plastic—that is chemically similar to soda bottles. 2300 South 2300 West, Suite B, Salt Lake City, Utah 84119; 800-726-0126. circle 667

Kraft Hardware

Among Kraft customers, glass and crystal are second only to brass in terms of popularity. The showroom's sparkling restoration-quality glass and crystal knobs can stand-in for antique hardware or lend welcome authenticity to new construction with Victorian or Art Deco looks. 315 East 62nd Street, New York, NY 10021; 212-838-2214. circle 669

Brix

Abstract the traditional tile grid with the Brix Unit tile. Italian Trade Comission, 33 East 67th Street, New York, NY 10021; 212-980-1500; italytrade.com. circle 668