Happy New Year!

Happy New Year! We are looking forward to working with all our customers, old and new, on exciting glass tile projects in 2010. Best wishes to everyone for the coming year!

Hakatai at the Zoo

Hakatai’s glass mosaic mural program was used by the Detroit Zoo in Royal Oak, Michigan, to help celebrate its award-winning “Arctic Ring of Life” habitat, named one of the top zoo exhibits in the United States by The Intrepid Traveler’s guide to “America’s Best Zoos.” Hakatai supplied a glass mosaic mural in the precise likeness of the Zoo’s Arctic Ring of Life logo, polar bear included, which was installed in the Arctic food court adjacent to the exhibit.

Krieger Associates, a full service architecture and design firm, recommended Hakatai and its glass mosaic mural program to Robert Harris, general manager of Service Systems Associates, the food service contractor for the Detroit Zoo. Harris submitted an electronic copy of the logo to Hakatai’s team of experienced designers and mosaic artists, who were able to reproduce a stunning simulation including the various textures, colors and exact details of the logo. The simple-cut, 4’ x 6.5’ mural was delivered in numbered sheets for a quick and easy installation.

“It’s been a great experience working with Hakatai,” Harris said. “The customer service was exceptional, especially when we needed support during the installation. The project was completed on time and priced as promised.”

Detroit Zoo’s Arctic Ring of Life is a $14.9 million interactive facility encompassing over four acres of indoor and outdoor exhibits. The most spectacular feature of the habitat is the 70-foot long Frederick and Barbara Erb Polar Passage. This clear tunnel winds through a vast underwater environment where guests will encounter diving and swimming polar bears and seals. The Detroit Zoo has been a leader in the exhibition and breeding of polar bears since the opening of its first polar bear exhibit in 1928 and the Arctic Ring of Life is now the largest polar bear exhibit in North America. Visit the website of the Detroit Zoo to find out more.

New special order products!

We've introduced 4 new series to our special order program! New products include Horizon glass tile in a rainbow of sizes and colors, Emperia glass tile in 24 iridescent colors, metal tile in an assortment of sizes and finishes, and unique metal and glass tile blends.

Horizon Glass Tile

Emperia Glass Tile

Metal Tile

Metal & Glass Blends

Visit our special order page to see all products and complete program details.

Happy holidays!

Our offices will be closed on November 26 and 27. Happy Thanksgiving to everyone!

Winter tile sale!

Enjoy savings of 25-30% on select colors in our most popular series! Products from our Ashland-e, Aventurine, Classic, Horizon, Luster and Pastille series are on sale through December 31, 2009.

Visit the winter sale page and start saving today!

Confluencia

Hakatai supplied the tile for the eye-catching “sun” discs at the top of a new landmark sculpture at the El Paso Sun Metro Downtown Transfer Terminal in Texas. The 25-foot tall, structural steel sculpture set on a six-foot concrete base is titled “Confluencia,” Spanish for confluence. Artists Hank Saxe and Cynthia Patterson used glass tile from Hakatai's Classic series as well as tile from other suppliers for the serpentine sculpture, which was commissioned by the City of El Paso Museum and Cultural Affairs Department’s Public Art Program. LATICRETE, a global leader in the manufacturing of innovative systems for the installation of tile and stone, supplied the installation materials for the project.

See more public art projects at Saxe-Patterson.com.

Hakatai in the News

A Hakatai custom gradient is being used in a unique project by beTM interior design and project management. Brenda Be, a LEED Green Associate, is creating a healthy bath for clients with Multiple Chemical Sensitivity. Read more about the project at Kitchen & Bath Business online.

Create your own custom gradient with Hakatai's online gradient tool.

Hakatai at the Fair

Hakatai was excited to participate in this year's Minnesota State Fair. The fair took place August 27 to September 7 in St. Paul. Hakatai's Calliope series tile was used in the bathroom of a "green" demonstration home presented by Natural Built Home of Minneapolis. Over 350,000 visitors toured the home during the 12 days of the fair!


Thank you to Natural Built Home for the photos!

ATileGuide.com

Hakatai has been featured on the website atileguide.com, a non-profit resource site dedicated to everything tile. Learn more about creative uses of tile such as kitchen backsplashes and steam showers at mysteamroom.com and atileguide.com.

New Products Featuring Recycled Glass

We're excited to introduce eight new tile series, all of which contain 98% recycled glass!

Zydeco Series

Majolica Series

Visit our recycled glass page to see all of our recycled-content series.

Middle School Mosaic Art

We recently received these photos of fantastic mosaic work by the students at Islander Middle School in Mercer Island, WA. The students created over 96 square feet of mosaic work, using Hakatai glass tile and other products, which have been installed at the school.

Thank you to artist-in-residence Sandy Glass for these wonderful photos!

Hakatai Tiles Add to LEED Platinum Home

Hakatai helped Vision Development achieve LEED for Homes Platinum-level certification for the “Tree House Project.” Marty Meisler, principal at Vision Development, specified 675 square feet of Hakatai’s Ashland-e series glass mosaic tile for the home, located in the Studio City district of Los Angeles, California. All tile in the Ashland-e series is comprised of between 30 and 70 percent glass from bottles and/or other waste glass that would otherwise have entered the solid waste stream. This waste glass is a mix of approximately 90 percent post-consumer and approximately 10 percent pre-consumer material. The Ashland-e series is available in many colors and several finishes, as well as in 1” x 1” and 1” x 2” subway-style glass mosaics.

Meisler, a certified sustainable building advisor, took advantage of the wide range of colors and styles available in Hakatai’s Ashland-e series, using the glass mosaics for a full wall in the kitchen, as well as extensively in the master bath, children’s bath and powder room inside the house. Outside, Ashland-e was used for the pool trim at the water level and for the outdoor shower.

“Hakatai recycled content glass tiles helped us max out the environmentally-friendly products category,” said Meisler. “We did a lot of research to find the right products and Hakatai made the cut. The high recycled content was very appealing to us. The colors were great and they matched the vision we had for the aesthetic of the house. We’re very happy with how it came out. The product is very attractive. Everybody that sees the tile work says it’s gorgeous and can’t believe it has recycled content.”

The Ashland-e series fit well with Meisler’s modern, contemporary design goals and was used abundantly throughout the project. The Tree House kitchen has a 100 square foot, full wall of Ashland-e in Light Olive. The master bath used 245 square feet of Ashland-e 1” x 2” glass tiles in Silver Spring Blend for three walls, the double sink backsplash, jacuzzi tub deck and surround, and a full shower. The children’s bath used 210 square feet of Ashland-e in Clear Cobalt for the two-sink vanity and backsplash, as well as the shower. The powder room features 21 square feet of Clear Ice glass mosaics. For the pool trim and outdoor pool shower, 100 square feet of Ashland-e was used in Clear Icicle Blend.

The Tree House is the first certified “Green” home in the San Fernando Valley. The 2,400 square foot house participated in the Southern California Gas Company’s Advanced Home Case Study Program. The goal was to identify products and measures that enhance sustainability, durability, energy and water efficiencies, indoor air quality, and thermal comfort of the home. The 20 foot-wide, two-story, four bedroom, 2.5 bath Tree House was designed to maximize passive solar heating and cooling. In conjunction with spray-in foam insulation, quality windows and doors, energy efficient lighting and appliances, and a cool roof, the house exceeds California’s Title 24 energy requirements by a remarkable 61 percent.

More information about The Tree House Project is available at http://www.studiocitygreenhome.com/.

Ashland-e Repeating Patterns!

We're happy to announce that we now have uncut repeating patterns featuring Ashland-e tile!
Hakatai offers a beautiful selection of repeating patterns using uncut glass mosaic tile. Each repeating pattern is custom-created according to your color selections and hand-assembled. Ideal for residential as well as commercial applications, glass mosaic repeating patterns bring dimension and modern flare to any space.

All tile in the Ashland-e series is comprised of between 30 and 70 percent glass from bottles and/or other waste glass that would otherwise have entered the solid waste stream. This waste glass is a mix of approximately 90 percent post-consumer and approximately 10 percent pre-consumer material.

Panda Express Builds Brand with Hakatai Mosaic Mural

Hakatai recently began supplying custom glass mosaic murals to Panda Express, the fastest growing Chinese restaurant chain in North America. Hakatai’s first brand-building mural, at the restaurant’s original location in Rosemead, California, is an impressive 490 square feet in size. The mural covers the entire top half of two entrance walls, connecting at the front exterior corner to create a welcoming panda image.

While exhibiting at a hospitality design show in 2008, Hakatai met top brand developers from the Panda Restaurant Group and a plan was developed for a series of glass mosaic murals at several Panda Express locations. Utilizing Hakatai’s innovative custom mosaic mural program, the designers at Panda Express are able to submit a drawing to Hakatai’s in-house design team, who fine tune the mural design before passing it along to their skilled team of mosaic artists. At the Rosemead location, the colors A20 China, C39 Night Black and D41 Lava, from Hakatai’s top-selling Classic series, were used to create the stunning black and white panda, accented by a deep red background. The mural stands nearly 14 feet from top to bottom on both walls. The mural measures 16 wide on the left side and 18 feet wide on the right. The mural was delivered to the restaurant site mounted on numbered mesh-backed sheets and ready to install. The mural was installed over a cement masonry unit.

Panda Restaurant Group is a leading Asian foodservice provider, and one of the largest family-owned businesses in North America. The well-known brand includes Panda Express, five Panda Inn locations serving gourmet Mandarin and Szechuan cuisine in a more upscale environment, and 28 quick service, Japanese-style Hibachi-San locations. The panda mural from Hakatai has proven to be highly successful for the chain, and several more custom murals in varying sizes are in progress for other Panda Express locations, including the Fox Hills Mall in Southern California, the Fashion Show Mall in Las Vegas, Nevada, and the Orlando International Airport in Florida.

Read more about this mural on Hanley Wood's ebuild blog.

Ashland-e loose tile!

Our Ashand-e series 1" x 1" tile is now available loose in 1 lb. bags, as well as in standard 1.15 sq. ft. sheets. Eye-catching colors, rustic elegance and recycled glass make Ashland-e an exceptional choice!
All tile in the Ashland-e series is comprised of between 30 and 70 percent glass from bottles and/or other waste glass that would otherwise have entered the solid waste stream. This waste glass is a mix of approximately 90 percent post-consumer and approximately 10 percent pre-consumer material.

Ready to Display Mosaic Murals

Hakatai’s experienced team of designers and mosaic artists can turn any photo or original drawing into a custom created and ready to display mosaic mural! Ready to display murals arrive mounted and framed in a neutral metal frame. They require no tile installation, and are ready for display. Murals are custom created and signed by the artists. Finished murals are coated in a glossy, protective epoxy coating.

Ready to display murals are an ideal way to turn a favorite photo into an enduring piece of art. Hundreds of shades of colors are available to the mosaicists, which allows for beautiful simulations of the varying colors, textures and detailed shadings in the original image.

Custom Blend and Gradient Sale!

We're offering 30% off custom blends and gradients through September 30, 2009. Create and order your own blend or gradient with our online custom design tools!

Check out our photo gallery to see more examples of the unique blends and gradients that our customers have created.

And, custom blends of ¾” tile are now available in an offset pattern!

New Lower Prices on Classic Loose Tile

We've lowered the prices on our Classic series 3/4" x 3/4" loose tile! Classic series tile is as versatile and durable as it is beautiful. And with its wide color palette, you’ll spend time designing, not compromising.

Colorful Design with Hakatai Glass Mosaic Tile

Hakatai glass mosaic tile has played an important role in several Mather Architectural Design projects over the years. Wendy Mather, M.A., has found Hakatai tile to be an affordable surfacing option, adding color and depth to her projects in a variety of different ways. Hakatai offers hundreds of colors and styles for Mather to reach her design goals. Her most recent residential project highlights the versatility of Hakatai glass mosaic tile, which can be quickly and easily ordered online.

In the Montclair neighborhood on the east side of Denver, Colorado, Mather was chosen to lead the interior design efforts for the new home of a brain surgeon and a commercial photographer. The modern, two-story house now boasts over 350 square feet of Hakatai glass mosaics. Mather takes particular joy from the work done in the bathroom for the homeowner’s twin boys. With 12” x 12” beige porcelain field tiles throughout, Mather wanted to add a splash of color. Mather ordered “Mixed Bags” of loose ¾” x ¾” glass mosaics from Hakatai, containing the complete spectrum of colors from the extensive Classic series. This colorful assortment was used to replace the large field tiles at random intervals. Mather used this process both in the shower and on the bathroom floor, pulling the entire room together by using the Mixed Bag glass mosaics for the double-sink countertop and backsplash. The result is a vibrant, colorful room befitting a pair of young boys.

“The twins’ bathroom looks great,” said Mather (http://www.matherarch.com/). “Hakatai provides a high-quality, but affordable way to add color and detail to designs. The colors come random and mixed, it really added a lot to the twins’ bathroom. We even tiled the soap dish in the shower. It’s just a really great space now, perfect for two little boys.”

In the master bath, Mather and the homeowners took a different approach, using Hakatai’s online Custom Blend Tool to create a unique blend of blue, green, grey and white tiles. Mather surfaced the two-sink countertop and backsplash with this blend, and also used the same blend for a curving shower bench. Mather then added what she describes as a “cool fade,” using Hakatai’s online Custom Gradient Tool to create a custom gradient wall to complement both the glass tile blend and the light tan ceramic shower floor tiles.

Hakatai Tile in Modern Asian Restaurant

Hakatai glass mosaic tile was used as a focal point in the design of Sesame Asian Kitchen, a new Asian-fusion restaurant located in Ashland, Oregon. Owners Tom and Lisa Beam wanted an open and airy dining space that would highlight the gorgeous view afforded by the large picture windows at the front of the restaurant. They consulted with designer Ivor Brown of Slant Studio in Emeryville, California, to create a color palette and finalize details of the project.

The restaurant looks out over historic Lithia Park, which was designed by the same landscape architect as Golden Gate Park in San Francisco. The unique colors used in the restaurant echo the lush and changing scenery visible through the windows. Pale green walls and sunny bamboo flooring are contrasted by deep orange glass tile accents and prominent white paper lanterns. While the view may be the star, the choice of glass mosaics as the surface for the bar area wall and two columns is central to the overall effect. “It’s the tile that really sets the whole project off and makes it exceptional,” said Tom Beam.

Hakatai’s Classic series ¾” x ¾” tile in the color Dusk was used for the front and back wall of the bar, as well as on two supporting columns in the main dining area. The tiled columns draw the room together and act as a focal point in the design. “I would not have been as happy with the result if they were just painted,” said Beam. Glass tile was also used on a custom hosting stand at the restaurant’s entrance. The stand was crafted by Bennett Stone and Tile, of Medford, Oregon, who also did the tile installation for the rest of the project. The curved surface of the columns and the stand “really catch the light,” said Beam. “I’m super happy with how it turned out.”

Hakatai Tile in Award-Winning Tucson Homes

Luis Ibarra and Teresa Rosano, AIA, LEED AP, formed Ibarra Rosano Design Architects in 1999 after graduating from the University of Arizona College of Architecture in their native Tucson. Since that time, they have specified Hakatai glass mosaic tile on several projects, including the award-winning project “The Six” in Tucson. Faced with the task of planning and designing six detached single-family homes at the back of an infill development, Ibarra and Rosano relied on their commitment to a belief in the power of space and its connection to the outside world. Hakatai glass tile played an important part by helping to create an airy, open feel in each master bathroom, acting to reflect the light that shines in from the shower windows to provide balance and a smooth transition to the outdoors.

225 square feet of glass tile from Hakatai’s Classic series was used in each of the master bathrooms in the L-shaped homes. The neutral color Hail runs the length of the narrow bathrooms. The shower walls and floors are surfaced with the color Ice Green or the soft white color Pearl. The result is a cool, soothing radiance, in harmony with the Arizona sun that graces the room through the full window that acts as the third shower wall.

“The design goal of all our projects is to create great space and connection,” said Rosano. “The Six, and specifically the bathrooms, were no different. Shower windows open to planted light wells, filling the space with balanced light and connecting with the outdoors. The Hakatai glass mosaics used have a simple, clean look that helps create an open feel. Their cool, beautiful color adds interest and helps reflect light into the space while remaining subtle and understated. We’ve used Hakatai tile for a number of years and on several projects.”

Ibarra Rosano Design Architects have garnered local, national and international acclaim with their work, and The Six received several distinctions including the AIA Southern Arizona 2008 “Home of the Year,” as well as a merit award from AIA Southern Arizona. The Six also received a merit award from Residential Architect Magazine for Single Family Production Housing – Detached, 2009.

We've expanded our Horizon series!

We've expanded our Horizon series of 7/8” x 7/8” tile blends to include solid color glass mosaic sheets. The sleek and vibrant new solid colors offer a stunning, sophisticated look for any modern design scheme. The extra thick, ¼” glass mosaic tiles add depth and beauty to any surface. The Horizon series is available in a selection of glossy-finish colors, including: Linen, Dove Grey, London Fog, Macadamia, Taupe, Sagebrush, Mahogany, Sapphire, Bermuda Blue and Powder Blue.

Horizon glass tile is also available in a variety of blends,including blends of glossy and matte finish glass, blends of glass and metal, as well as blends of glass and stone

Hakatai Introduces the Bohemia Series!

We have launched a new glass mosaic tile series. The Bohemia series is available in an alluring array of blended colors. The naturalistic color palette focuses on warm golden browns and cool blues, including: Mirage, Mallard, Chanterelle, Nutmeg, Loam, Sargasso Sea and Azul. The mini-brick style 1-3/16” x 9/16” semi-transparent tiles are arranged in a traditional offset pattern. Bohemia glass mosaics are approximately ¼” thick and are film-faced for ease of installation. Suitable for interior walls, countertops, backsplashes and light residential floors, this unique series can add interest and elegance to almost any environment!

Carbon-free shipping!

Hakatai has partnered with GreenShipping.com to provide carbon-neutral shipping on our FedEx Ground and Expedited orders.

Green Shipping uses a carbon shipment calculator to determine the CO2 emissions generated by each shipment. Once the package has completed its journey and the calculations are complete, Hakatai purchases carbon offsets to neutralize the shipment's effect on climate change.

Hakatai’s carbon offsets are purchased from the Bonneville Environmental Foundation. With BEF carbon offsets, organizations such as Hakatai are able to dedicate funds to the development of renewable energy sources like solar power. This, in turn, helps reduce the carbon footprints we leave behind in shipping our products. To find out more about Green Shipping, visit www.greenshipping.com. To learn about carbon offsets and how they benefit the environment, visit www.b-e-f.org, the website of the Bonneville Environmental Foundation.

Hakatai Honored as One of the 100 Best Green Companies In Oregon

Hakatai has been named to the 2009 list of 100 Best Green Companies to Work For in Oregon by Oregon Business magazine. This year’s winners were formally announced on June 1.

We're proud to join our Ashland neighbors - Adroit Construction, Ashland Food Cooperative, and Standing Stone Brewing Co. - in being recognized.

Based on Oregon Business magazine’s 100 Best Companies to Work For in Oregon project, the 100 Best Green Companies were determined by an anonymous employee survey and an independent assessment of the employers’ sustainability practices.

Modern Mosaic Steps

Checkout these fabulous mosaic art steps, created using hakatai glass mosaics and other tile. Thank you to Modernist Modular Homes for the picture!

Check Out Our Photo Gallery!

Need design ideas? We have recently added new photos of completed tile projects to our website gallery. Take a look and be inspired!

VIEW PHOTO GALLERY

Glass Tile Makes Bathroom Sparkle

Modern Artistic Playful Interiors, Inc., or M.A.P. Interiors, has remained true to their brand name in Southern California with a little help from Hakatai glass mosaic tile. Principal Sylvia Beez keeps a sharp eye out for “unique objects for the modern home,” and has found the variety of colors and styles of Hakatai mosaic tile to be just that.

In her recent remodel of a private residence in Orange County, Beez had little to work with when she encountered the small, outdated master bathroom. With no room to expand the space, her only other option was to make it “special” and more modern by selecting the right surfacing materials. To complement new modern vestibule-style sinks, wood cabinetry and stylish hanging lamps, Beez and M.A.P. Interiors selected the color Safari Blend from Hakatai’s Aventurine series for two full walls. She also created an accent band from the Aventurine series color Sage that divides the room and makes it feel more spacious.

“Hakatai’s glass tile brought in the sparkle,” said Beez. “We had to work with a small space so we brought in high-quality materials for the surfacing. Hakatai has great, quality products, and it helped make the space very vibrant. The customer really liked it. I have a lot of sources around me where I could get similar products, but Hakatai works really well with designers and you can rely on the quality. And the customer service is excellent, that’s why I keep coming back. We are very happy with the company.”