Building Products

Staff -- Interior Design, 5/31/2006 12:00:00 AM

Veritas

Former Wolf-Gordon creative director Marybeth Shaw's new firm, Shaw-Jelveh Design, helped to create Encapsulated Objects panels. The advanced resin material that locks the objects into place is guaranteed not to off-gas and is recyclable, food-safe, and fire-rated for commercial use. Sheets measure 4 by 8 feet. Through Robin Reigi, 48 West 21st Street, New York, NY 10010; 877-411-8008; veritasideas.com. circle 709

Cerdomus

Architect Massimiliano Fuksas created his experimental 16-by-10-inch Sculpture tiles to be installed on walls and other vertical surfaces indoors or out. But, while it's not recommended as a floor covering, the corrugated-look cast porcelain is just as striking laid horizontally, thanks in part to a luminous graphite-colored metallic glaze. Custom colors are also possible. 1100 Southwest 21st Lane, Boca Raton, FL 33486; 561-338-9397; cerdomus.com. circle 710

Spark Modern Fires

A disparate set of inspirations—from European travels to Harry Potter books—informed Tom Healy's design for the Fire Bowl, a conversion kit for existing masonry fireplaces, whether wood-burning or already converted to gas. 87 Marchant Road, Redding, CT 06896; 866-938-3846; sparkfires.com. circle 714

Lutron

Stainless-steel devotees have a new fetish-object: wall plates from the Claro collection—shiny counterparts to their de rigueur stainless-steel refrigerator door, undermount sink, and Jacobsen-inspired faucet. The metal-over-matte-black-plastic plates are screwless and cover single switches and outlets, or gangs of up to six. 7200 Suter Road, Coopersburg, PA 18036; 877-258-8766; lutron.com. circle 711

Skyline Glass

This manufacturer's Light+Shadow line offers both, thanks to a new technology that allows patterns to be etched on both sides of tempered, plate, or laminated glass. The 3-D effect enlivens sidelights, door lights, feature walls, signage, and horizontal surfaces. Comes in standard glass sizes up to 56 by 124 inches. 1240 North Homan Avenue, Chicago, IL 60651; 888-278-4660; skydesign.com. circle 713

Omnia

Get a handle on the latest in contemporary door hardware with the 64 choices in this manufacturer's new Latchsets series. The 51/4-inch-long Design No. 916 lever has a solid-brass body that can be ordered in polished chrome, satin chrome, or satin nickel. P.O. Box 330, 5 Cliffside Drive, Cedar Grove, NJ 07009; 800-310-7960; omniaindustries.com. circle 712

Abet

The swirling grain of Rovere Udine high-pressure laminates may be even more lushly convoluted than its natural counterpart. The material sells in sheets up to 4 by 10 feet. 60 West Sheffield Avenue, Englewood, NJ 07631; 800-228-2238; abetlaminati.com. circle 715

SensiTile

A scattering of tiny embedded "terminals" gives Terrazzo and Scintilla tiles the miraculous ability to conduct and emit light from LED sources positioned at the tiles' edge. The tiles can be programmed to produce kinetic effects, or even low-resolution video when the scale is large enough. 1604 Clay Avenue, 3rd Floor, Detroit, MI 48211; 313-872-6314; sensitile.com. circle 716

3form

Thanks to a printed fabric interlayer, Bloom panels present a toothsome apple-like palette of pale chartreuse, dusty olive, white, and sage. Like all Ecoresin products in graphics whiz Jean Orlebeke's signature collection, the panels are 40 percent post-industrial recycled material. 2300 South 2300 West, Salt Lake City, UT 84119; 800-726-1026; 3-form.com. circle 717

Aborite

The colors now available in the Angora series embrace the ephemeral nature and fluttering texture of fine wool. But don't be fooled: The surfaces are a durable and easy-to-maintain high-pressure laminate in four fresh tones: Arctic (blue), Cornsilk (soft beige), ethereal Celadon, and earthy Sage. 385 Lafleur, Lasalle, Quebec H8R 3H7, Canada; 800-996-0366; arborite.com. circle 718

Armstrong

Two-foot square metal, fiberglass, or mineral-fiber ceiling panels assemble into Formations Acoustical Clouds. Each "cloud" is delivered with all necessary connectors and perimeter trim pieces (2, 4, or 6 inches high) and can be specified in squares and rectangles measuring from 6 to 14 feet. P.O. Box 3001, Lancaster, PA 17604; 877-276-7876; armstrong.com. circle 719

Egan

Leave the blackboard jungle behind. With EganWall, a dry-erase and projection surface, SmoothMount lamination creates a thick, durable backing in polyester and polycarbonate that goes over existing walls, architectural details, and—yes—even blackboards. Available in 48- or 54-inch heights and in any length. 300 Hanlan Road, Woodbridge, Ontario L4L 3P6, Canada; 800-263-2387; egan.com. circle 725

Conrad

Named for the scorching desert winds from North Africa, light-filtering Scirocco shades are made of rapidly renewable hemp. Their finish is particularly enticing, in part because each shade is woven by hand to order—rather than simply cut from machine-loomed yardage. 600 Townsend Street, Suite 400W, San Francisco, CA 94103; 866-426-6723; conradshades.com. circle 720

Benjamin Moore

Chic metal surfacing is understandably fashionable. Unfortunately, it is also expensive. Consider instead latex-based finishes like copper, silver, bronze, or luscious gold from the Metallic Glaze collection. The glazes make up one of seven innovative categories in this company's Studio Finishes line. 51 Chestnut Ridge Road, Montvale, NJ 07645; 800-344-0400; benjaminmoore.com. circle 724

Erin Adams

The six patterns in this designer's Facet series offer versatile mesh-mounted glass mosaics for use on walls, countertops, and floors. Vine with Bird is just a single example of the line's custom capabilities; possible motifs and colors are limited mainly by the laws of physics and your imagination. 1204 Fourth Street NW, Albuquerque, NM 87102; 505-352-1016; erinadamsdesign.com. circle 721

Shoji Woodworking

This custom fabricator has been using Waterproof Shoji Acrylic Plate in designs for customers in the U.S. since 2003. Now the acrylic, which acquires the appearance of shoji paper through a printing process, is being distributed to designers for all-weather jobs. P.O. Box 245, Slinger, WI 53086; 262-644-7138; eshoji.com. circle 723

Nana Wall Systems

Known for wide-opening window walls, this manufacturer has now developed NanaScreen to keep nature's little creatures from pouring in along with all that light and fresh air. The polypropylene screens come in sizes up to 51 inches wide by 102 inches high, and the aluminum can be bronze-anodized, white, or clear-finished. 707 Redwood Highway, Mill Valley, CA 94941; 800-873-5673; nanascreen.com. circle 722