Rasteau's Profile

As someone who has sold commercial and residential tile for years, a word of caution: the tile sold at many discount tile shops is often seconds. I know that the tile we rejected at our distributorship often ends up at those outlets. Yes, it is cheaper and sometimes there is a good reason for that. It can be tile that will crack once it is installed, may not adhere to the latex adhesive correctly, color lots may be off, but not noticeable until you are looking at it installed on your floor, grout joints may be uneven and hence flake away, etc. So just make sure you are asking the right questions when you purchase from tile outlet shops.

Absolutely beautiful. Her vision and execution look just flawless from here. The backyard shows an amazing transformation. I want to hire her, but probably couldn't afford her services.

I have had Block Spal's Lisboa White for the last 20 years and love them. I know a few people that have these for their formal china, but I love that I can use them everyday and dress them up for holidays and dinner parties. You made no mention of the real difference between stoneware and porcelain but it is worth noting. Porcelain you can put in a warm oven to warm the plates, stoneware will crack. Porcelain has a finer look and feel which makes it nice for formal occasions, stoneware is heavier and therefore more casual. Porcelain can look more cold, stoneware has a warmer feel and tone.