They’re Glove-ly

We’ve got to hand it to the Atlas 370 Nitrile gloves. They’re not only lightweight, durable, and hypoallergenic, they also come in stylish, perfect-for-summer dayGlo colors, including purple, fuchsia, and vibrant green. flexible enough to pick up a dime, but tough enough to resist thorns, you’ll never want to take them off. The tough Nitrile coating is stronger than rubber and keeps fingertips and palms dry no matter how messy a wet, slippery or muddy job becomes. Best of all, they won’t stretch out and the extended cuff prevents them from slipping off. And, they are machine washable. Now that’s glovely.

Atlas 370 Nitrile gloves are available at Terra Sol Garden Center, 5320 Overpass Road, Santa Barbara, (805) 964-7811. $12.99.

Tile style

Just about any kitchen design these days can be helped with a colorful splash of tile. It could be as simple as the trim to a backsplash or full on display, including countertops, floors and walls. The advantages of using tile over other materials are many, with the most important being durability. When installed properly, most modern tiles will outlive the homeowner. And unlike granite, if you chip a corner it isn’t a tragedy…simply replace the offending piece and move on.

did I mention color? Today’s tile designs can be almost anything you dream of. There are painted ceramics, porcelain, natural stone, glass, wood and metal to name a few. many of these materials can be blended to enhance appliances or boldly painted walls…even light fixtures. You can mix and match tile for stunning modern interior design effects. You can go retro as many do and install heavy edge molding and fill the counter top with a pastel colored tile. Can you imagine a black and white retro-modern combo paired with stainless steel? You can have it!

“I feel like I get to live out my dream house everyday,” says Gina flint, manager and designer at Tilco Tile and Stone Company in Santa Barbara. “I love to translate what our customers want into reality. It’s really an amazing business that lets us work with lots of unique people, including contractors, retailers, and designers. We are blessed to have a very loyal following.” flint has first hand design knowledge by virtue of her travels to far flung artisan havens in Spain, Italy, Turkey, and even Tunisia to select hand painted and intricately crafted tiles. Whether you prefer ceramic (clay), porcelain (sand), stone, glass, or metal, you will be expertly guided toward your uniquely inspired kitchen, perhaps with Weave Teak or Beveled Brick tiles. And why not warm up your wine cellar with some Weave harvest tiled wall space?

For more information and ideas visit the Tilco showroom at 619 Olive Street (across from Arnoldi’s), 805-564-1868.

INDIGO DESIGN

This rebuilt home after the Jesusita Fire improved on the original house, including a more open floor plan with this beautiful new kitchen. The white oak floors flow throughout the home, connecting the various spaces and enhancing the views of mountains through oak trees. Using the same material on the cabinetry keeps the space clean and simple, moving the eye between outside and in. Honed black granite counter tops and a tall scored balsalt splash punctuates the blond wood, giving it beautiful context. And a hand-carved wood pantry door was added just for the fun of it. Indigo: www.indigointeriors.com 805-962-6909. Photo by Jim Bartsch.