After spending an amazing week at the 2024 CERSAIE tile show I was both overwhelmed and exhausted. I felt like a kid that just spent a week in willy Wonka’s Chocolate Factory. My brain was full of the thousands of options for the customers of Bathrooms bathrooms bathrooms.
I had to think back to where we began. Six years ago my older brother Dave had cancer and a bathroom that would not work. I said “Dave let me look after that for you”. While I was doing that, I realised that there are a lot of families that need help with making their bathrooms fit their circumstances. I could not have dreamed what it would grow into. We have helped transform hundreds of bathrooms for the customers of Bathrooms bathrooms bathrooms. Now we would begin importing Italian Porcelain tile.
I needed a break, and so I began my trip across Italy. I left the city of Bologna, braved the Autostrade and headed south along the eastern coast. After almost 5 hours of breathtaking vistas, I exited the Autostrade. I decided to stop for the night just outside of Termoli.
Termoli
The next morning began with a look and a feel that was breathtaking. The streetlights were humming like some giant insects. The sun was just waking from its slumber revealing the silhouettes of giant rocks. Fishermen bent by the years of work made their way silently to their predetermined perches. No longer fishing as a livelihood, now they just come for the enjoyment of it. Giant fishing rods unmistakable in the pre-dawn light. Subtle tones of blacks and greys soon gave way to greens and blues of the sea and the grasses; the oranges and reds of the horizon waiting to break forth. It culminated as the palette dissolved into the brilliant morning sky. A wonderful day to be alive.
Termoli is a beautiful little fishing village on the Adriatic coast of Italy. At the end of September, it was deserted. After driving down narrow sand roads and over several canals that made me question if I would ever find my way back, I arrived at the RV park. The late afternoon sun careened off the tops of the gentle waves creating a feeling of calm and tranquility. After parking, I walked on the beach. A stone’s throw out you could see the surf cascading over the breakwaters. The wind pushed soulfully through the palm trees. Another perfect day.
It is this passion for life that drives the Italian tile industry. The inspiration for Italian porcelain tile comes from the grass, the sand, the sea. the rocks and the sky. Not simply a colour, but a story. The tile makers of Modina attempt to infuse the lifestyle that is Italy into their tile.
Braving the Autostrade once more, I drove the three hours to Pompeii. The ancient city of tragedy and mystery. The countryside was beautiful, the trip uneventful. Two or three stops along the way for Espresso and a Cornetto. I arrived early and found an RV park close to the ruins.
Pompeii
Once I was parked I began the 30 minute hike to the entrance of Pompeii. The still impressive shell of Mount Vesuvius to my left. I couldn’t help but pick a lime that was sticking through a fence. Not ripe enough to eat, but the smell was intoxicating.
I spent the remainder of this day and all of the next marvelling at the city that was. It was far larger than I imagined. It took almost 30 minutes to walk across it. I had been waiting to see this spot for months. I was not disappointed. The narrow streets made of giant stones, complete with a sewer system and raised sidewalks. The miles of city walls each enclosing a private oasis or family home. The courtyards, the city squares, the temples, the arenas, all were incredible in their detail and workmanship. A testament to the genius of the Romans.
The larger estates had lush gardens, vineyards and olive trees. Columns and frescos adorned the entrances and walls of homes showing the daily lives of the people long gone. The marketplace and temples spoke of the vibrant past of this wonderful city.
Above all else, the reason that I had come to Pompeii was to see the tile work. To see tile that was over 2000 years old, to see tile installed the same way we do it today, the old way, the right way. The results were breathtaking. No cracking, no fading, just beautiful tile. Seeing ancient tile that looked like they were placed last week, to see the mosaic of Alexander the Great defeating Darius III (over 1 million pieces) was, was, well I just don’t have words.
For me, this trip reconfirmed that it is worth doing things right, things that will pass the test of time. Building things that will far outlive us. This is why we employ only journeyman tile setters. You can’t learn these skills taking a 4 day course in Hoboken. It takes years of dedication and hard work to become a master of tile setting.
For our clients and potential clients the choice is a fairly simple one. Plastic or porcelain? To choose a product that will look old and discoloured in a few years, or a product that has stood and will stand the test of time. Contact us for a free consultation today!
