Come into the stone age A & K Tile Studio (336 9th Street, between 5th & 6th avenues, 718-369-6873), a 2,5000-square-foot tile kitchen and bath showroom.
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Nestled in the middle of 9th Street, among a row of traditional brownstones, this incredible shop now has a 300-square foot stone room, comprised of an enormous selection of slates,
limestone,
marble, mosaics, and more. There’s even petrified wood which, of course, turns to stone, and people are using this durable material for bathrooms, kitchens, and backsplashes.
“We’re very excited,” about this new room says design assistant, Jennifer Napoli. “It shows off an amazing variety of all types of stone.” There are styles and colors to fit every person’s taste. For example, some of the stone mosaics are imported from Italy and Turkey, perfect “for Victorian-type bathrooms,” she says.
In addition, there’s a wide selection of imported and domestic tiles that range from the most delicate, matte finishes to the most stunning, rare, exquisite textures offered in the business today.
Showcased are glass, wood, stone, granite, and
marble, in a variety of sizes, shapes, and visual effects. The colors, too, range from bright to soft. There are brand new countertop materials that are truly “unusual and really beautiful,” says Jennifer. Popular are “brushed,” “bronzetto,” and “ironore,” a green shade, she says. These styles are certainly “not what you see every day.”
Jennifer notes that, “People come here and go, ‘Oh my God,’ when they see the stunning selection of magnificent tiles at the studio that come from all over the world. For example, there are hand-painted, colorful pieces from Tunisia. “We’re always searching for new tiles to bring in,” she says.
Glass porcelains “in large formats sell for $10,” she says. “You can put them on the wall and create beautiful, modern formats.”
Complementing these unique pieces are prototypes of different styles of cabinetry, fixtures, and a large variety of accessories. Customers can choose from an assortment of vendors as well as hardware materials and unique finishes that are made available by the design team. Customers may peruse through an extensive library that highlights these offerings.
Owner Gerald P. Owens, known as Jerry throughout the community, takes pride that he has developed an entrusted design team to meet customers’ needs. Customers can ask questions, gain insight, and formulate ideas through the guidance of a knowledgeable team of experts at the shop who design and sell quality kitchens and bathrooms.
They design plans, provide timely cost estimates, and order material, while tracking and coordinating each project. By listening and sharing expertise, they manage to exceed customers’ expectations, says Jerry.
“No client is too big or small,” he says. “We are here to help all who enter the store.”
While the shop does not complete installations, they do provide customers with a list of contractors who can help customers complete the job.
Jerry, himself, brings over 30 years experience to the profession, having started in retail in 1972, employed by “Color Tile,” a retail franchise owned by what is now known as Radio Shack.
“The Color Tile organization taught me all I know today about servicing customers,” says Jerry. Besides receiving this essential on-the-job training, Jerry also took special courses, learning everything he could about tiles, its technology and its application. Since these early beginnings, Jerry says, “I’ve just been having fun!”
Jerry eventually expanded to home development, becoming extremely knowledgeable about the process of expediting projects. Throughout this period, Jerry built his credibility through a client list that included contractors, landlords, and the general public. He became known as “the man with a smile,” he says, despite acting as the troubleshooter for every project he and his customers worked on.
His reputation as a consumer-driven tile expert and creative developer of kitchens and bathrooms grew. Today his business is a direct reflection of his past history and knowledge, he says. The store’s increasing success is credited to “word of mouth,” he says.
Satisfied customers continue to tell others about their experiences in working with the A & K Tile Studio. As a result, his customer base has grown to include homeowners from Manhattan and Brooklyn as well as architects, contractors, and interior designers.
Because this business can often be time-consuming, Jerry says it’s essential to have “the human touch.” The support of the team at A & K Tile Studio provides this care as well as the knowledge.
The shop’s philosophy says it all, “In our store, the customer is king of the hill!”
Shop at A & K Tile Studio Mondays through Fridays, from 10 a.m. until 6:30 p.m.; Saturdays from 10 a.m. until 5 p.m.; and on Sundays from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. After July 4th and until Labor Day, the shop will be closed on Sundays.
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 | | Marble | MARBLE: CHARACTERISTICS
This standard includes general information on the characteristics
and common uses of marble and identifies typical problems
associated with the material.
INTRODUCTION
Marble is an extremely hard, metamorphic stone composed of calcite
(CaCO3). It is formed as a result of the recrystallization of
limestone under the intense pressure and heat of geologic
processes. The effect of this process is the creation of a stone
with a very tight crystalline structure and small but definite
porosity. Because of its structure, marble can take a very high
polish and is a very popular decorative stone for architectural and
sculptural uses. The limited porosity of marble, especially
polished marble, makes it less vulnerable to the leaching effects
of water. Calcium carbonate, however, of which marble is composed,
is highly susceptible to attack by acidic agents. Marble is
readily dissolved by acids, even very dilute acids, however the
actual results of acidic exposure will vary with the nature of the
acid. Chlorides, nitrates, sulfates and other chemical compounds
react differently with marble and produce various by-products,
which have a wide range of solubility and impact on the durability
of marble. For this reason, it is always important to determine
the exact type of pollutants causing marble deterioration.
Marble itself can be of two types, one composed of calcite and the
other of dolomite. Dolomitic marble is much more resistant to acid
attack than calcite marble. The color of marble ranges from the
brilliant white of calcite to black, including blue-gray, red,
yellow and green, depending upon the mineral composition.
TYPICAL USES
Marble has many decorative and structural uses. It is used for
outdoor sculpture as well as for sculpture bases; in architecture
it is used in exterior walls and veneers, flooring, decorative
features, stairways and walkways. The way in which the stone is
used may be a factor in limiting or controlling the severity of
exposure. The use or function of the marble may also affect the
feasibility of applying certain treatments, but type of use is not
the primary factor in the major types of deterioration and damage
to which marble is susceptible. | |  |
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