Artistic Tile

Introduction: Defining Artistic Tile in the Luxury Market

Artistic Tile stands as a significant player in the luxury tile and stone sector, carving a distinct niche since its founding in 1987. The company operates at the intersection of high-end design, extensive product offerings, and a strong emphasis on customer experience. Headquartered in Secaucus, New Jersey, Artistic Tile has expanded from a single retail location to a nationally recognized brand with multiple showrooms, a vast distribution network through authorized dealers, and a growing e-commerce presence.

The brand positions itself not merely as a supplier but as a purveyor of luxury, aiming to “make the world a more beautiful place, one tile at a time”. This mission underscores a commitment that extends beyond aesthetics to encompass quality, innovation, and sustainability. A key element differentiating Artistic Tile is its identity as a family-owned and operated business, a factor consistently highlighted in its communications. Founder Nancy Epstein emphasizes this, stating, “When you buy from us, you’re not just purchasing a product; you’re joining our family”. This familial aspect is presented as a guarantee of personalized service, accountability, and a deep commitment behind every product sold. This blend of family-business values with the operational scale and product sophistication of a major luxury distributor forms a core part of the brand’s unique market proposition. This report provides a comprehensive analysis of Artistic Tile, examining its brand identity, product portfolio, customer engagement strategies, market position, and potential for online visibility.

Brand Identity and The “Artistic Difference”

Artistic Tile’s brand identity is built upon several core pillars, collectively termed “The Artistic Difference”. These pillars define the company’s values, philosophy, and approach to the luxury tile market.

• History and Leadership: Founded by Nancy Epstein in 1987, the company’s trajectory reflects her vision and leadership. Starting from a single showroom focused on custom cabinetry, Epstein identified a market gap for integrated tile and stone offerings. Her innovative approach included pioneering vignette-style displays – showcasing tile in full room settings – which boosted sales and became an industry standard. She recalls, “People were obviously more inspired by the large display, they could really visualize the tile in their own environment”. Epstein also strategically located showrooms for consumer convenience, like the 1993 Paramus highway location. Recognizing the need for readily available luxury products, she established import relationships and a robust inventory system, evolving the company into a major wholesale distributor alongside its retail operations. Epstein remains Founder & Chair, personally overseeing design direction and sourcing materials globally. The company leadership reflects continued family involvement with Joshua Levinson (CEO), Zachary Epstein (VP), and Michael Epstein (VP Marketing), alongside other key executives like Jill Cohen (VP Design).
• Mission and Values: The stated mission is “to make the world a more beautiful place, elevating the lives of our clients”. This is underpinned by values of premium quality, innovative design, sustainability, luxury, and personalized service. Epstein elaborates, “We don’t follow trends, but instead offer products of permanence… what will last our customers for 25 years or more”. The family-run nature is emphasized as a core value, signifying trust, authenticity, and accountability. Generosity is also cited as a core value, expressed through donations and support for humanitarian causes.
• Design Philosophy and Craftsmanship: Artistic Tile positions its products as “thoughtful, beautiful, and truly Artistic”. The design direction, led by Nancy Epstein, focuses on creating unique, high-style offerings inspired by nature, mythology, and global travel. Epstein notes, “I wanted our audience to think about tile… as objects of art, as jewelry for the home”. This commitment extends to in-house customization capabilities at their Secaucus facility, allowing for bespoke designs tailored to specific client needs. Craftsmanship is highlighted through collaborations with designers like Michael Aram, where traditional hand working traditions meet modern design.
• Quality Commitment: A rigorous quality control process is central to the brand promise. Every incoming shipment requires personal sign-off by a company executive, ensuring adherence to high standards. This commitment to quality aims to provide durable, long-lasting products that transcend trends.
• Innovation: Innovation is cited as a touchstone of the design philosophy. This manifests in adopting new technologies like waterjet cutting for intricate designs , exploring novel material applications (e.g., porcelain mimicking stone , textured finishes ), and collaborating with designers on cutting-edge collections. The company actively participates in industry events like KBIS to showcase its latest innovations, such as recent collaborations with Donghia and Ryan Saghian. Epstein emphasizes staying ahead: “We always think… paying close attention to developments in technology that will allow us to create novel and innovative designs”.
• Sustainability: Sustainability is presented not just as a practice but as integral to the company’s mission and values. Specific initiatives are detailed in their sustainability statement. Epstein connects longevity with sustainability: “Our philosophy is that the best way to be green is to buy products you love and that will last”.

Product Portfolio: Materials, Applications, and Styles

Artistic Tile offers an extensive and diverse portfolio of tile and stone products, catering to a wide range of aesthetic preferences and functional requirements for both residential and commercial projects. The product organization on their website facilitates browsing by material, application, and color, reflecting a user-centric approach to product discovery.

• Materials: The core offerings span several material categories:
  • Stone: A significant focus area, including Marble, Limestone, Travertine, Onyx, Quartzite, and more. Offerings range from field tile, dimensional tile (like the textured Fern or Craftsman Stripe ), decorative tile, and mosaics to large-format slabs available in dedicated galleries. Specific collections highlight unique stones like Oro Vecchio or Rosa Volakas. Nancy Epstein expresses a personal fondness for brecciated marbles like Breccia Capraia, noting they “speak of history, architecture, and archaeology”.
  • Glass: Includes various tile formats, mosaics, borders, and innovative waterjet patterns. Collections like Carolina Mirror Tarnished Tile showcase unique effects achieved through hand-silvering and etching. Collaborations like Walden, a lily pad pattern, demonstrate custom glass mosaic capabilities.
  • Porcelain: Emphasized for its durability, low porosity, and suitability for high-traffic areas. Artistic Tile curates porcelain that creatively mimics other materials like wood, marble, terrazzo, or concrete using innovative digital printing technology. It’s available in various sizes including large formats (e.g., 12×24, 18×36, 24×24, 8×48 inches).
  • Ceramic: Includes traditional and contemporary options, such as hand-painted Maiolica styles (A Mano collection ) and collaborations like the Michael Aram collection featuring metallic glazes. Textured options like Teju Primal offer a unique skin-like feel.
  • Other Materials: The portfolio also includes Shell & Semi Precious tiles, Terrazzo, Subway tiles, and materials from Specialty Tile Makers.
• Applications: Products are categorized by intended use, aiding selection:
  • By Space: Kitchen, Bathroom, Living Space, Foyer, Laundry Room, Commercial Space (restaurants, bars, hotels, offices ), Exterior.
  • By Placement: Backsplash, Floor, Wall, Fireplace Surround, Shower Wall, Shower Floor. Tile is even used creatively on ceilings for visual impact and moisture protection.
• Colors: A comprehensive color palette allows browsing by hues like Beige, Black, Blue, Green, Gray, White, Multi-Color, etc.. Nancy Epstein notes her personal preference for blues and greens, reflected in collections like the green ombré glass mosaic.
• Styles & Collections: While explicitly defined style categories are limited, the collections showcase diverse aesthetics reflecting current trends like earthy tones, bold geometrics, and textured surfaces :
  • Classic & Timeless: Marble mosaics (e.g., Greek Key from the Hudson Collection, praised by customers as “timeless” ), traditional Maiolica , elegant stone slabs.
  • Modern & Contemporary: Bold geometric patterns (e.g., Donghia collaboration , Michelle Gerson’s Game On , Alison Rose’s Euclid ), textured and dimensional tiles (e.g., Orchid Dimensional, noted for its beauty and high price point of ~$175/sq ft , Craftsman Stripe , Fern , Lori Weitzner’s Forest & River ), large-format porcelain , waterjet designs.
  • Artistic & Unique: Hand-painted details, metallic glazes (Michael Aram collection ), intricate waterjet mosaics , nature-inspired designs (Fern collection , Lori Weitzner’s collections ).
• Installation & Maintenance: The company also provides necessary setting materials like grout, mortar, sealants, cleaners, and membranes from brands like Mapei and Ardex. They recommend specific cleaners like Aquamix Concentrated Cleaner.

Services and Customization: Tailoring the Experience

Beyond its extensive product range, Artistic Tile emphasizes services and customization options designed to support clients throughout the design and implementation process. This focus caters to the needs of both homeowners seeking unique solutions and design professionals requiring specific technical and aesthetic capabilities.

• “Tailored To” Customization Program: This bespoke program is a cornerstone of Artistic Tile’s service offering, enabling clients to personalize tile selections. It leverages the company’s in-house production facility in Secaucus, NJ, equipped with capabilities like waterjet cutting, finishing, and mosaic assembly. Clients can request custom cutting of materials (natural stone, glass, porcelain) into specific sizes, shapes, or mosaic patterns. This includes altering finishes (e.g., honed, polished, brushed, corduroy) and combining materials, colors, and textures. The program aims to transform client sketches or unique requirements into reality, often within a four-week timeframe. This capability allows for truly unique installations, addresses complex design specifications, and supports collaborations with designers like Alison Rose, Michelle Gerson, and Lori Weitzner. A unique “Carpet Cutting” service uses waterjet technology to pre-cut complex mosaic fields for easier, perfectly centered installations.
• Installation & Technical Support: Artistic Tile provides a range of installation and maintenance products. The Help Center offers resources like guides on measuring, care, cleaning, installation procedures, and access to technical documents and price books. While specific downloadable guides weren’t explicitly confirmed on all pages, the presence of a “Technical Documents” section suggests their availability. The company appointed a Technical Director, Tom Harty, to support the technical aspects of products and installation. Customer reviews sometimes mention installation issues, which the company tends to attribute to third-party installers rather than product quality. Nancy Epstein advises clients to rely on their supplier for proper setting materials and to minimize on-site cutting by having the supplier do as much as possible in their shop.
• Design Assistance & Expertise: Showrooms are staffed with design associates offering personal guidance and expertise. The website features inspiration galleries, a blog (“Artistic Digest”), and project help resources where customers can connect with design associates. The company emphasizes the decades of design experience within its team. Showrooms are designed as inspiring environments with lifestyle vignettes and generous workspace.
• Architectural Department: A dedicated Architectural Department provides specialized support for architects and design professionals. This team includes regional and architectural sales representatives focused on building relationships, assisting with material selection, and catering to the specific needs of the A&D community for both commercial and residential projects.

The emphasis on customization and expert support reinforces the brand’s luxury positioning and caters effectively to a discerning clientele seeking unique and high-quality solutions. The in-house capabilities provide a significant advantage, offering flexibility and control over the final product.

Customer Experience: Showrooms, Digital Presence, and Trade Focus

Artistic Tile cultivates its customer experience through a multi-channel approach, balancing physical showrooms with a comprehensive digital presence and dedicated programs for trade professionals. This strategy acknowledges the diverse needs of its target audience, which includes individual homeowners, interior designers, architects, and builders.

• Showrooms & Slab Galleries: Physical showrooms are central to the Artistic Tile experience, described as spaces for inspiration and comfortable browsing with generous workspace. Locations include major cities like New York, Chicago, Dallas, San Francisco, and Nashville. These showrooms feature full-scale displays, lifestyle vignettes pioneered by Nancy Epstein , and are staffed by experienced design associates providing personalized service. Some locations, like Secaucus (HQ), Dallas, and Nashville, feature dedicated Slab Galleries – well-lit indoor spaces showcasing a curated collection of marble, quartzite, and other stone slabs from around the world. This immersive showroom experience, sometimes enhanced with 4K screens showing installations , allows clients to physically interact with materials and visualize possibilities.
• Digital Presence (Website): The website (artistictile.com) serves as a crucial hub for product exploration, inspiration, and information. It features detailed product categorization (by material, application, color), extensive photo galleries , a blog (“Artistic Digest”) , and resources like the Help Center. The site allows users to find locations, learn about the company, explore customization options, and access technical information. The company has also invested in modern cloud-based ERP systems (implemented with Net at Work) to improve online order tracking, inventory management across locations, and customer communication, enhancing the digital experience and operational efficiency.
• Trade Program: Recognizing the importance of design professionals, Artistic Tile offers a dedicated Trade Program. Benefits include member-only advantages such as exclusive pricing, complimentary samples, and free expedited shipping options. The dedicated Architectural Department further supports this segment. This focus on trade clients is explicitly stated as essential to their business.
• Authorized Dealers: Beyond its own showrooms, Artistic Tile products are distributed through a network of over 100-200 authorized luxury dealers nationwide, extending the brand’s reach.

This multi-faceted approach ensures accessibility for different customer types. The high-touch experience in showrooms caters to those seeking personalized design guidance, while the robust website serves as a powerful tool for research and inspiration. The dedicated trade program and architectural support solidify relationships with professionals, acknowledging their distinct requirements and influence in the specification process.

Sustainability Commitment: Practices and Philosophy

Artistic Tile integrates sustainability into its core business philosophy, viewing environmental stewardship as a critical component of corporate responsibility and intrinsically linked to its mission of creating lasting beauty. This commitment is articulated through specific practices implemented at its headquarters and reflected in its product philosophy. While the company doesn’t publicly list common third-party certifications like Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs), Green Squared, or Declare labels on its main sustainability page (unlike some competitors ), it details significant internal initiatives:

• Energy Efficiency: The company’s 125,000 sq. ft. headquarters in Secaucus, NJ, generates a significant portion (stated as 85%) of its annual power needs via a large rooftop solar array comprising 1300 panels. To further reduce energy consumption, the facility utilizes low-energy T8 fluorescent lighting and is transitioning to all LED lighting. Tile production itself, particularly single-fire processes used by some manufacturers, can save energy compared to traditional methods.
• Water Conservation: Stone cutting is a water-intensive process. Artistic Tile employs a custom-designed catchment and filtration system that collects rainwater from the roof. Approximately 60,000 gallons of this harvested rainwater are filtered through a press and recycled continuously through the stone cutting machines, meaning this activity does not rely on municipal water sources. This closed-loop approach significantly conserves water resources.
• Waste Reduction and Recycling: Post-production waste from the stone shop, such as stone dust and chips, is collected and sent to a nearby plant for processing into aggregate used in concrete for municipal construction projects. This practice diverts waste from landfills and gives it a secondary use. Generally, the tile industry often employs ‘closed loop’ manufacturing processes that recycle raw materials and water wastes back into production, and leftover materials can be repurposed.
• Product Longevity: Artistic Tile emphasizes the long lifecycle of its products as a key aspect of sustainability. By creating durable, high-quality, and timeless designs, the need for frequent renovations and replacements is reduced, thereby minimizing the future consumption of resources and the environmental impact associated with manufacturing, transportation, and disposal. Nancy Epstein states, “Our philosophy is that the best way to be green is to buy products you love and that will last”. Cement tiles, often made from natural materials, are noted for their longevity and contribution to sustainable building practices.
• Material Sourcing: The company states it purposefully seeks out partners that uphold similar high environmental standards. While specific details on sourcing practices for all materials are limited in the provided data, the commitment implies a consideration for responsible sourcing.
• Healthy Materials: Ceramic and porcelain tiles are inherently beneficial for indoor air quality as they do not absorb or emit pollutants (no VOC off-gassing) and inhibit the growth of mold and mildew. They are easy to clean, often requiring only water and neutral cleaners, reducing the need for harsh chemicals. This aligns with growing concerns about healthy building materials.

Artistic Tile’s sustainability efforts, particularly the significant investment in solar power and the innovative rainwater recycling system, demonstrate a tangible commitment beyond mere statements. This aligns with broader industry trends and growing consumer demand for eco-friendly building materials. Integrating these practices supports their brand narrative of quality, responsibility, and creating enduring value.

Market Position and Customer Perception

Artistic Tile occupies a position in the high-end segment of the tile and stone market, competing with other luxury brands like Ann Sacks, Walker Zanger, and potentially Daltile or Marazzi in certain segments. Its market presence is supported by significant revenue and a substantial workforce, alongside generally positive customer feedback highlighting quality and design.

• Company Scale: Artistic Tile generates an estimated annual revenue of $35 million and employs approximately 221-239 people. The company has shown growth, increasing its employee count by 9% in one recent year. It operates nine of its own showrooms and distributes through a network of over 100-200 luxury dealers nationwide.
• Target Audience: The brand clearly targets both affluent homeowners seeking premium materials and design professionals (architects, interior designers, builders) working on high-end residential and commercial projects. Showroom experiences, the Trade Program, and the Architectural Department cater specifically to these groups.
• Customer Reviews & Perception: Online reviews across various platforms generally reflect positive experiences, although some issues are noted:
  • Praise: Customers frequently praise the quality of materials, the beauty and uniqueness of designs (e.g., “spectacular” Orchid Dimensional tile , the “timeless” Greek Key design ), and the professionalism and helpfulness of staff. Specific mentions include excellent craftsmanship (“EVERYTHING LINES UP PERFECTLY” ), creative solutions , knowledgeable customer service , successful handling of complex designs , and responsiveness. The company holds high ratings on platforms like Houzz (4.6/5 stars from 27 reviews, though 381 comments exist) and Angi (multiple 5.0/5 ratings for affiliated entities/installers). The Trade Program benefits are also highlighted positively.
  • Criticism: Some reviews mention issues with delivery and installation problems. Artistic Tile acknowledges delivery issues and attributes installation problems primarily to installer errors rather than product defects. Critical comments on platforms like Reddit sometimes focus on perceived installation imperfections in showcased projects (e.g., alignment, centering, slope), though these often relate to the installer’s work rather than the tile itself. High costs (e.g., ~$175/sq ft for Orchid Dimensional tile ) are noted in some discussions. Shipping fees were also mentioned as a negative surprise by one customer. Some forum discussions mention challenges finding affordable alternatives to specific high-end Artistic Tile patterns.
• Awards & Recognition: Artistic Tile has received numerous industry awards, including NYCxDESIGN Awards, Interior Design Best of Year awards, Hospitality Design Magazine’s HD Award, and multiple Best of Houzz awards (10-time winner), reinforcing its reputation for design excellence. Its designs have been featured in prominent publications like House & Garden and on TV shows. They are also frequently featured in prestigious show houses like the Kips Bay Decorator Show Houses in New York, Dallas, and Palm Beach, where designers utilize specific products like the ‘Game On’ collection by Michelle Gerson, ‘Duo’ by Alison Rose, or custom mosaics.

Overall, Artistic Tile is perceived as a reputable provider of high-quality, aesthetically distinctive luxury tile and stone. Its strengths lie in product design, customization capabilities, and customer service, particularly for trade clients. While logistical or installation challenges occasionally arise (common in the industry), the brand reputation remains strong, supported by numerous accolades and positive customer testimonials.

Competitive Landscape: Artistic Tile vs. Walker Zanger and Ann Sacks

To better understand Artistic Tile’s position, it’s useful to compare it with other prominent luxury tile and stone brands, particularly Walker Zanger and Ann Sacks, which frequently appear in similar high-end design contexts.

Analysis:

• Similarities: All three brands operate firmly in the luxury segment, emphasizing high-quality materials, craftsmanship, and design leadership. They target similar audiences (design professionals and high-end homeowners) and utilize a combination of branded showrooms and dealer networks. All offer extensive product ranges including natural stone slabs and various tile materials, featuring innovative textures and patterns.
• Differences:
  • Branding Narrative: Artistic Tile strongly emphasizes its family-owned roots and specific in-house sustainability initiatives. Walker Zanger leans more heavily on its longer history (“70 Years of Artistry”) and legacy. Ann Sacks leverages its reputation for curated collections and its connection to the larger Kohler brand.
  • Customization Focus: Artistic Tile prominently features its in-house “Tailored To” customization program and waterjet capabilities. Walker Zanger highlights its vast slab inventory. Ann Sacks offers customization through its MADE program and specific designer lines.
  • Sustainability Prominence: Artistic Tile details specific operational sustainability efforts (solar, water recycling). Ann Sacks highlights collaborations like WasteLAB and recycled content in certain lines. Walker Zanger’s sustainability messaging appears less prominent on its main site.
  • Collaborations: All three engage in designer collaborations, but Artistic Tile appears particularly active in launching and promoting recent, high-profile partnerships.

All three brands represent top-tier choices for luxury tile and stone. Artistic Tile differentiates itself through its strong family-business narrative, explicit operational sustainability focus, highly promoted in-house customization capabilities, and frequent high-profile designer collaborations. Walker Zanger leverages its longer history and extensive curated selections, particularly in slabs. Ann Sacks benefits from its curatorial reputation, broad range, and integration with Kohler’s resources and sustainability efforts.

Website Analysis and Ranking Potential

The Artistic Tile website (artistictile.com) is a critical asset for brand communication, product showcasing, and customer engagement. Its structure and content play a vital role in attracting and serving its target audience, as well as influencing its search engine ranking potential. The user query specifically asked to evaluate the potential for an article about the brand to rank highly (“top 3 for artistic tile”).

• Website Structure & Content: The site is well-structured with clear navigation organized around Material, Application, Color, Inspiration, and Locations. It offers rich content including detailed product pages, extensive photo galleries , a blog (“Artistic Digest”) , information about customization , company history and values , sustainability practices , technical resources in a Help Center , and dedicated sections for trade professionals. This depth of information caters well to users at different stages of the buying journey.
• SEO Strengths:
  • Comprehensive Information: The site provides extensive details about products, services, and the company itself, establishing topical authority.
  • Clear Navigation: User-friendly structure aids both users and search engine crawlers.
  • Visual Content: High-quality imagery in galleries and product pages enhances user engagement.
  • Supporting Content: The blog and Help Center provide valuable, relevant content beyond core product listings.
  • Technical Backend: Investment in modern ERP systems likely improves site performance and data handling, indirectly benefiting SEO.
• Ranking Potential Analysis (This Article): Achieving a top 3 ranking specifically for the brand term “artistic tile” with third-party content (like this article) presents significant challenges but is potentially achievable with a strategic approach focused on providing unique value.
  • Challenge: Brand websites typically dominate rankings for their own name due to direct relevance and authority. Artistic Tile’s own website is comprehensive and likely holds the top position(s).
  • Opportunity: A third-party article can rank highly if it offers exceptional value, depth, and potentially a unique perspective that complements the official site. This article, by synthesizing information from the website, external reviews , company profiles , founder interviews , project features, and competitive context, aims to provide such value.
  • Recommendations for Improvement (for an article aiming to rank):
    • Visual Enhancement: Incorporate high-quality images of Artistic Tile products, showroom interiors, and potentially key personnel (if permissible) to increase engagement and visual appeal. Videos showcasing installations or customization processes would add further value.
    • Specific Examples & Data: Include more concrete examples of notable projects (like the Kips Bay Show Houses), specific customer success stories (summarized from reviews ), detailed breakdowns of unique product lines or collaborations mentioned , and specific data points (revenue , employee count , sustainability metrics , product pricing examples ). This updated article incorporates more of these.
    • Keyword Integration: Naturally incorporate relevant keywords beyond just the brand name, such as “luxury stone tile,” “custom mosaic design,” “high-end porcelain tile,” “designer tile collaborations,” “sustainable tile options,” “Nancy Epstein interview,” “Artistic Tile reviews,” “Artistic Tile vs Walker Zanger,” “Artistic Tile Kips Bay,” and location-specific terms (e.g., “Artistic Tile NYC showroom”).
    • External Linking: Include relevant outbound links to authoritative design resources or publications that feature Artistic Tile, where appropriate, to build credibility.
    • Internal Linking (if applicable): If published online, strategic internal linking within the article would improve navigation and SEO value.
    • Clear Call-to-Actions (CTAs): Guide the reader towards next steps, such as visiting the Artistic Tile website, exploring specific collections, or finding a showroom.
    • Unique Angle: Emphasize the synthesis of diverse information sources (official site, reviews, industry data, competitor comparison, founder insights, project details) as a unique value proposition compared to content solely relying on one source. The analysis of brand strategy, market position, customer perception, and founder philosophy offers a perspective distinct from the company’s own marketing materials.

By implementing these recommendations, an article about Artistic Tile can enhance its value proposition for readers and improve its potential to rank competitively, likely alongside or just below the official brand domain for the target term, and potentially higher for related long-tail searches. The goal is to become the most comprehensive and insightful independent resource about the brand.

Specialty Partnerships: The “Specialty Tile Makers”

Beyond its own extensive product lines and designer collaborations, Artistic Tile also partners with a curated selection of external artisan brands, showcased under the “Specialty Tile Makers” banner on their website. This initiative allows Artistic Tile showrooms to offer an even broader range of unique, high-quality products, complementing their proprietary collections.

These partnerships feature makers selected for their unique offerings, quality, and service. While Artistic Tile produces many items in-house, especially custom work , these collaborations bring additional diversity and specialized craftsmanship to their showrooms.

The featured Specialty Tile Makers include:

• Allison Eden Studios: Known for vibrant, custom glass mosaics often featuring bold patterns, florals, and graphic designs.
• Quemere Designs: Offers hand-carved, hand-crafted, and hand-painted ceramic tiles with an old-world feel, inspired by French design.
• Pratt & Larson Tile & Stone: Creates handmade ceramic tile spanning classic to contemporary styles, known for their wide glaze selection and artisan quality.
• Encore Ceramics: Specializes in handcrafted ceramic tiles with unique glaze palettes, mosaics, and relief tiles, produced with a strong focus on sustainability.
• Tabarka Studio: Handcrafts custom terracotta tiles inspired by global cultures, featuring hand-painted designs and unique shapes.
• Blue Slide Art Tile: Creates handmade decorative ceramic tiles, often featuring nature-inspired designs like florals, fish, and wildlife, with hand-applied glazes.
• Island Stone: Offers stone tiles with a focus on natural textures and forms, including dimensional tiles, mosaics, and pebble tiles.
• Bronzework Studio (Linden Workshops): Specializes in luxury designer metal accent tiles, including hand-carved bronze and zinc tiles, graphic borders, and insets.
• Lunada Bay Tile: Creates handcrafted glass, ceramic, and concrete tiles with an emphasis on simplicity, texture, and color, often with coastal or natural inspiration.

These products can be sourced through Artistic Tile showrooms, where design associates can assist clients in specifying these artisan tiles alongside Artistic Tile’s own offerings. This curated approach reinforces Artistic Tile’s position as a comprehensive resource for luxury and artisanal tile solutions.

Conclusion: Elevating Spaces with Artistic Tile

Artistic Tile has successfully established itself as a leading brand in the luxury tile and stone market by harmoniously blending a rich family heritage with forward-thinking design, technological innovation, and operational excellence. Since its inception in 1987 under the visionary leadership of Nancy Epstein, the company has demonstrated a consistent commitment to quality, innovation, and customer satisfaction, underpinned by its core mission to “make the world a more beautiful place” and create products of permanence.

The brand distinguishes itself through several key factors:

• Family-Owned Ethos: A core part of the brand identity, emphasizing trust, accountability, and personalized service.
• Design Leadership & Innovation: Driven by founder Nancy Epstein, the company focuses on unique, high-style offerings, frequently collaborating with renowned designers (Michael Aram, Alison Rose, Lori Weitzner, Michelle Gerson, Donghia, etc.) and leveraging technologies like waterjet cutting.
• In-House Customization: The “Tailored To” program provides significant flexibility for bespoke designs, setting Artistic Tile apart as a design partner, not just a supplier.
• Curated Portfolio: An extensive selection of high-quality materials, including natural stone slabs, glass, porcelain, ceramic, and partnerships with specialized artisan tile makers.
• Sustainability Initiatives: Demonstrates tangible commitment through significant investments in solar power and water recycling at its headquarters, alongside an emphasis on product longevity.

While facing typical industry challenges like logistics and reliance on third-party installers , Artistic Tile’s reputation is bolstered by numerous awards and largely positive customer feedback praising its design leadership, product quality, and knowledgeable staff.

In essence, Artistic Tile offers a compelling proposition in the luxury market: a synthesis of family-driven values, cutting-edge design facilitated by in-house capabilities and designer collaborations, a vast selection of premium materials, and a commitment to both client elevation and environmental stewardship. It remains a significant force, shaping sophisticated spaces and fulfilling its mission, one meticulously crafted tile at a time.

View references
By Nick Oscar, Expert in Luxury Design and Craftsmanship

Created April 10 2025, Updated May 4, 2025