luxury custom stone and glass mosaics
Arguably the best source for stone architectural elements in the USA, Materials Marketing produces its incredible stone carvings in a factory in Mexico which I was lucky enough to visit this week. My host was Tim Roberts, Creative Director of Materials Marketing.
The exterior of this Chicago residence showcases their work–detail shots below.
For architects and designers in the know, they are the go-to company when one is in need of: fireplace surrounds and mantels; columns, capitals and bases; custom range hoods; and all stone architectural elements including tile, exterior or interior cladding, pilasters, hand rails, etc.
Completely vertically integrated as a company, Materials Marketing not only manufactures all the stone elements–they sell them in their twelve gorgeous showrooms as well (where they also sell an edited assortment of other tile and stone products, including glass waterjet tile by New Ravenna). The showrooms are located in Texas, Illinois, California, Georgia, and Arizona.
Their business model is brilliant. By getting specified (by necessity) at the conceptual stage of an architectural project, they get the advantage of primacy.
(Check out the curved cladding!)
Once there is Materials Marketing momentum and a customer has regular contact and a comfortable relationship with the showroom, multiple opportunities to sell the interior hard surfaces and architectural elements present themselves.
Before you know it, they are supplying soup and nuts, and you couldn’t be in better hands. Isn’t this newly remodeled Houston showroom spectacular?!? I think it’s one of the most beautiful hard surface showrooms in the country, and the other ones are just as gorgeous. Bravo Tim Roberts and the Materials Marketing team!
Stay tuned for part 2 of my Mexican adventure–a factory tour.
Sara Baldwin
Exmore, Virginia, United States
New Ravenna Mosaics founder and Creative Director, Owner, Sara Baldwin Design, Bass guitar player, Envisioner, Appreciator of the Sublime and Ridiculous.
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Thanks Sara. I do think that the Architectural Elements are the most interesting and surprising part of the Materials Marketing business. I have long admired it. However, I also have a passion for the "Ocean Blue Travertine". Factory visits really allow you to "know" the product!
Really interesting and inspiring work! I always admired those elements but had not given the time to consider the hand crafted nature of them. Just like mosaics right? Nothing created without a team of hands. Great to be working with such a service based company.
Yes, Karen and Christine, in a few days I'll be posting some up close and personal factory photos and videos. The factory was fascinating.