
Exploding Tiles in Singapore Highlight Importance of Grout & Movement Joints
On January 19, 2018 by William LoveWe have written before about the need to always include grout and movement joints when installing tiles. These stories from Singapore highlight what can go wrong if you don’t. Singapore: Residents terror-stricken after floor tiles ‘explode’ at HDB flats Reports of tiles popping and cracking in flats across Singapore Weather may be one of several factors behind ‘popping’

Learning with ARTO – Pepperdine, USC, Scripps College
On January 3, 2018 by William LoveARTO tiles can be found in hotels, estates, restaurants, retail stores, and even in prestigious universities. The educational projects detailed below include a renovated library, a brand new academic building, and a restoration of historic residence halls. The common thread that binds these diverse projects is they are distinguished thanks to our vast selection of

How a Hexagon Can Also Be a Chameleon
On December 4, 2017 by William LoveOne of the fun things about ARTO tiles is that same tile can look wholly different in another color or texture. The two kitchens below both use blends of 8″ Artillo Hexagons but with much different results. Normandy Cream, as shown in the Bastide de Bonheur Residence, features a blend four ARTO colors (Artillo Cafe,

Hands. Touching Hands. Reaching Out. Touching Tiles. Touching You.
On November 17, 2017 by William LoveOne of the coolest things about ARTO concrete tiles in this age of automation, robots, and killer drones is that every single tile is touched by multiple hands throughout the production process. However we also utilize advanced technology like concrete admixtures and the Chameleon color batching system that can make thousands of colors at a

(Entry) Monumental Achievement
On November 14, 2017 by William LoveIn a nod to its agricultural heritage, the City of Camarillo (in Ventura County, CA) uses a bougainvillea motif in its logo and public art. Painted or printed bougainville images were used on earlier entry monuments but the city wanted a more polished look for its newest examples. The landscape architects contacted ARTO to explore a custom

The Versatility of Concrete – Normandy Cream Kitchen, Wine Room & Mud Room
On November 6, 2017 by William LoveARTO has been using concrete as a medium since the early 1970’s. While we love cool grey concrete in all its rough and tumble splendor we are also love how concrete can take on a wide range of other looks. This beautiful house in Rancho Santa Fe is a case in point. Artillo Hexagons in

The Story of the Vanana and the Importance of Full Size Samples
On October 31, 2017 by William LoveMany years ago my dad and I had a brown VW camper van. After some major body work my dad decided (unbeknownst to me) to paint it as well. I returned home from school and found a bright canary yellow van in the driveway, visible from miles around. It soon became known as the Vanana.

Indochine Kitchen Tile Installation – Pat’s (not so) Grim Progress*
On September 12, 2017 by William LoveWe here at ARTO are very excited about our new Indochine line of handcrafted cement tile and our graphic designer/webmaster Pat is already installing them in his kitchen. They look fantastic so far and will look forward to sharing professional photos once the job is complete. For all you fashionistas, Pat’s kitchen floor is wearing the

The Importance of Proper Materials
On September 6, 2017 by William LoveAlthough tile is the most visible (and typically most expensive) component, it is just one part of the ultimate tile assembly. We have been making our concrete and ceramic tiles for over 50 years so we know they work pretty well. However, using the wrong mortar, grout, membrane, or other materials can result in cracking,

EPDs may become mandatory in California – ARTO is already ready to go
On July 31, 2017 by William LoveClaude Goguen is a good friend and colleague of ours from the National Precast Concrete Association (NPCA). He recently posted an article in Precast Magazine noting that environmental product declarations (EPDs) may soon become mandatory for California state government and university projects. The Buy Clean California Act (AB 262) would require state officials to take

The Life of ARTO – Eating Out with ARTO (Concrete)
On July 20, 2017 by William LoveOne of the things we love about working at ARTO is seeing our concrete tiles, brick veneer, and pavers installed all around Southern California and beyond. We hope that our products handmade with love and passion bring joy to you as you enjoy your meals.

