Design Inspiration Blog

Tesselle Cement Tiles are hand-made on a hydraulic press. Here is a general overview of the process: A mixture of cement, sand, and pigment is prepared. The mixture is poured into a mold in thin layers; first liquid colored cement is poured into a mold specific to the design, and then dry cement and sand are placed above. The mold is placed in a hydraulic press, which applies pressure to compact the mixture and remove excess water. The tile is removed from the mold; this process takes 2-4 minutes, depending on the complexity of the design. The tile is then and allowed to cure;...

"I've created hundreds of water-themed tile designs that have never seen the light of day, and finally found the right inspiration in The Blue Grotto, a naturally underlit cave on the Italian island of Capri, where I witnessed the brightest, deepest shades of blue I've ever seen in nature. I'm excited to finally introduce Grotta Azzurra 8" Cement Tiles by Tesselle," says Karin Jeske. Scroll down to see an additional colorway and to learn more about The Blue Grotto (La Grotta Azzurra in Italian). Above:  Grotta Nebbia Cement Tiles in a random layout. Above:  photo of The Blue Grotto, taken by...

Breeze Blocks are decorative concrete masonry units (CMUs) that are used outdoors and indoors around the world to divide spaces, provide privacy and add sun protection, while maintaining airflow.  Sometimes called Screen Blocks, they have been produced in hundreds of designs. Architect Edward Durell Stone pioneered the technique of manufacturing and installing these blocks in the 1950s, and introduced them to the world with the unveiling of the U.S. Embassy in New Delhi, India in 1959.  Unlike most concrete blocks, Breeze Blocks are non-structural, and must be externally reinforced.  More information: Concrete Screen Block by Ron and Barbara Marshall Tesselle's current Breeze Block assortment...

We require that our customers order 15% more units than are needed to complete their installation (or one extra bundle, whichever is greater) when placing a Tesselle Breeze Block order.  This is to ensure that the installation can be completed even if there are a few pieces broken in shipping or on the jobsite. The first bit of good news is that most of our deliveries are flawless... but that means that there will be some blocks leftover at the end of the project. We do suggest is that you set a few blocks aside in your garage, shed or basement.  We frequently receive calls asking for replacements for installations...