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Sunday, July 14, 2013

{Our Cerdomus Italian GREEN Tiles}

Our balcony needed to be renovated. In the past we had tiles put onto it but they were not very well laid. Water had gotten underneath them and after frost, the grout had cracked and even caused a moist ceiling in the storage room beneath. So husband Pieter went ahead and took them all off, using a crow bar, he could lift big segments of them so that did indicate they were 'loose'... This time we had selected Cerdomus Italian GREEN Tiles. Of course we do have a special spot in our hearts for Italy, the country where we once lived and worked... 
This photo has been taken on April 18, the day before we went on vacation to Curaçao.
Husband Pieter had hauled these CERDOMUS ceramiche tiles home inside our Toyota RAV4, that by the way, just turned 16 on July 9. Still a loyal work horse. 
These Italian tiles are 30 x 30 cm
Cerdomus Green Tile; Durango Ambra...
You can read about their Environmental specifications by scrolling down on that page.
They do use 40% recycled material, which is great for the environment! 
Europe is far more strict on Environmental issues than other parts of the world and we ought to become more conscious no matter where we live. Recycling; Repurposing; Upcycling in order to keep the amount of trash produced at a minimum! All of us have to work on making our Carbon Footprint as small as possible. 
This is just a screen shot from their Durango Ambra tile pdf, featuring special irregular edges.
These Porcelain Stoneware Tiles have been baked at high temperatures reaching 1220°C

We also selected these tiles because they did go perfect together with our GREEN aluminum slate Interlock® roof in Aged Copper
The tiles are already laid by husband Pieter and we are just waiting for the Polyurethane baluster rails to arrive from Vintage Woodworks, Texas... The PVC corner posts from Vintage Woodworks are already placed. By the end of this month the balcony will be completed I hope!

Related link:
CERDOMUS at CERSAIE 2013 | video from October 9, 2013, about this very modern concept tile production
{Our Balcony} | previous post by me where you can see the balcony as it was


42 comments:

  1. it looks beautiful!

    and i love that your rav4 is still going strong! :)

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    Replies
    1. Dearest Theresa,
      Certain things in life definitely are for KEEPS and my RAV4 is such a CUTE UTE that I hang on to him!
      Hugs,
      Mariette

      Delete
  2. Italian Ceramic tiles are very well know. Emilia Romagna being the main region of production (Modena, Ravenna and so on). The color is very beautiful, I really like earthy colors.

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    1. Dearest Daniela,
      Our bathrooms, hallway, kitchen, veranda, staircase area and laundry room all have Italian tiles and now also on the balcony. In the Rose Suite we got tiles from Spain. Earthly colors never tire the eye. We love the color too!
      Hugs,
      Mariette

      Delete
  3. It looks really beautiful, Mariette!

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    1. Dearest Linda,
      Thank you, we both love it.
      Hugs and happy weekend!
      Mariette

      Delete
  4. Dearest Mariette,
    wonderful tiles, it looks really nice!
    Happy weekend to you,
    Love and hugs
    Claudia

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    Replies
    1. Dearest Claudia,
      We both love the way our balcony looks now and it will be gorgeous ones the balusters are on again.
      Happy and sunny weekend to you!
      Hugs,
      Mariette

      Delete
  5. Liebe Mariette,

    WUNDER-BAR.

    Sonnige Grüße
    Elisabeth

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    Replies
    1. Liebe Elisabeth,
      DANKE und auch für die sonnige Grüsse; hoffentlich hält es auch!
      Lieber Gruss,
      Mariette

      Delete
  6. hello
    j'aime beaucoup
    cette couleur rouge "brique"
    merci de ton passage
    à très bientôt
    tendresse
    edith (iris)

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    Replies
    1. Chère Edith,
      Nous aimons aussi cette couleur!
      Bonne fine de semaine,
      Mariette

      Delete
  7. Liebe Mariette,
    und dann ist wieder ein Stück Arbeit getan.
    Die italienischen Fliesen sind wunderschön
    und auch qualitativ hervorragend.
    Ein schönes Wochenende wünscht dir
    Irmi

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    Replies
    1. Liebe Irmi,
      Wenn dieser Sommer vorbei ist dann sind wir bestimmt auch fertig mit alle Arbeit... Die Fliesen sind qualitativ super und es war sogar eine schwierige Aufgabe zum Löcher bohren für die Eckpfosten... Na ja es ist geschafft und das braucht man nur einmal.
      Schönes Wochenende und lieber Gruss,
      Mariette

      Delete
  8. De kleur lijkt op onze tegels op het terras, I vind het zo'n Italiaans gevoel geven dat terra. Alleen de bijbehorende zon en warmte ontbreekt hier een beetje...

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    1. Beste Marianne,
      Ja, wij hebben in Italië gewoond en gewerkt in Il Veneto, daar neem je onwillekeurig ook iets van mee. Zo'n Italiaanse sfeer of ook wel Caribisch met een mengeling van Spaans.
      Hier ontbreekt de bijbehorende zon ook; we zouden zó graag hebben dat alles kon opdrogen maar elke dag opnieuw weer breekt een onweer los en komt het met bakken eruit. Je kunt het gras niet eens meer maaien, alleen het voorste stuk. Maar ook dit overleven we weer!
      Fijn weekend en liefs,
      Mariette

      Delete
  9. liebe Mariette,
    ihr seid so fleißig, voller Ideen - italienische Fliesen sind
    so toll - euer Haus wird immer noch schöner und schöner -

    liebe Grüße - Ruth

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    Replies
    1. Liebe Ruth,
      Ja, dasjenige von Gegende wo mann gelebt und gearbeitet hat, das nimmt man mit und umringt sich damit zu hause. Exotischen Blumen und Fliessen aus Italien wo wir in der Gegend von Venedig gearbeitet und gewohnt haben. Den Grund war diesmal um alles mehr dauerhaft zu machen; ohne Wartung.
      Lieber Gruss,
      Mariette

      Delete
  10. Your balcony looks beautiful with new tiles. It's always better to go green. And it's wonderful that people in Europe are very conscious of environment and you stay so no matter where you live!

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    1. Dearest Tamago,
      That's exactly why I felt so at home while being in Japan; so close to the Dutch way of going green! No air-conditioning running in the bus while it is parked stationary etc. It all makes so much sense and here they cool way too deep if you go to a conference you are freezing. Wearing evening gowns with goosebumps and what an energy waste!
      It is the way you have always lived that you continue to live. We're not such impulsive waste-creators. We think twice or even trice before purchasing anything. Always trying to recycle, repurpose or even upcycle. Driving energy conscious (Japanese) cars and so on. It looks like more people start thinking green as the high costs and bad economy makes them think twice.
      We have another terrible wet day. I still have to do some tile cleaning but they are either wet or you get rained out...
      Enjoy your wet weekend.
      Hugs,
      Mariette

      Delete
    2. When I go back to my hometown in Japan, I feel it's getting greener. I think household waste is very strictly controlled. For example, separating label and cap from plastic bottle and put them in separate bin is one of the basic things. There is a thing called green curtain, which is made of climbing plants to cover outside the window. It helps keep the temperature down inside the house. I thought it was pretty neat :-)
      We had rain/shine mixed weekend. I hope you got some sunshine, too!

      Delete
    3. Oh, in The Netherlands and also in Germany they do separate the household waste very strict like that for decades already. Here locally they did separate the glass by color, years ago, then they quit because it was too costly. We were shocked as from then on they ALL trash it together; no recycling - nothing. You never do this for profit but for passing on a livable planet to the next generations...
      Today we had some rain late in the day. Yesterday was the worst rain we ever saw; all three bridges over our creek were in the water - not yet under water but it got scary. The aluminum roof and open gutters have kept our basement dry however! We're so glad we invested wisely and it already paid of big time.
      Happy Sunday evening xox

      Delete
  11. Ciao Mariette!L'Italia ti è rimasta nel cuore!Ti auguro una serena domenica con il tuo Peter!Bacioni,Rosetta

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    1. Cara Rosetta,
      Davvero L'Italia rimarrà per sempre nel nostri cuori!
      Grazie e anche voi due una domenica bella con sole.
      Baci,
      Mariette

      Delete
  12. I adore this warm color, it's really excellent and will have a great effect I think.
    Warm greetings Mariette and thank you for your very kind words.

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    1. Dearest Olympia,
      Thank you for your visit and sure you did like these mediterranean tiles as they are your own regions common patio tiles. How much I loved your little daughter's ballet performance! You have such a feeling for beauty... Enjoy your Sunday afternoon.
      Hugs,
      Mariette

      Delete
  13. Dearest Mariette,
    The cerdomus concept video are here is how does the excellence and Pietra had basik dome Toyota Rav4. I has Honda Prelude 1999 both of made in Japanese cars too.
    Green tile Recycling Recycling Repurposing Upcycling you do have cerdomus Italian Green tiles just suit with fantastic idea for very nice.
    Hugs to both of you.
    Michiko

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    1. Dearest Michiko,
      Yes you are right about going green often going hand in hand with nice looks. So my Japanese car is two years older than yours... But they are built by a good concept.
      Hugs to you and hope your weekend was good.
      Mariette

      Delete
  14. Your balcony now looks very beautiful, Mariette! The tiles are gorgeous and it is also very nice that they are 'green'. I love that your little car is still going strong, too! I am looking forward to seeing the house all finished! It must be beautiful! Hugs xoxo

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    1. Dearest Karen,
      Thank you, yes the tiles are 'green' but wet with all the rain here. Funny that both of us drive such a favorite car and why get rid of it? You will see more and more of the house revealed.
      Hugs to you,
      Mariette

      Delete
  15. Vedo che dove puoi metti cose che ricordano l'Italia, come se volessi portarne laggiù in America un pezzetto, per sentirti ancora nel nostro paese. E di questo ti ringrazio Mariette, vedere quanto ami il mio paese mi fa un immenso piacere. Hai ottenuto un ottimo risultato, complimenti. Paola

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    1. Cara Paola,
      La ringrazio molto per le tue parole dolci.
      Siamo entrambi molto a belle e anche preziose cose dall'Italia per avere per in e intorno alla nostra casa. Portiamo nei nostri cuori che amore fino alla fine...
      Baci,
      Mariette

      Delete
  16. Lieve Mariette,

    Wat gaat het bij jullie rondom het huis toch prachtig uitzien,kan me al een beetje voorstellen hoe het terras er uit gaat zien met nieuwe balustrade.

    Prachtige warme kleur de terra cotta tegels,wij hebben al vele jaren zo'n soort vloer in de serre/aanbouw die plavuizen 15/15 komen uit oud nonnenklooster wat afgebroken werd.

    Het aardewerk gebakken in Italië is altijd zo mooi en van goede kwaliteit.
    Ook veel van mijn bloempotten in de tuin komen daar vandaan,kunnen in de winter buiten blijven staan en zijn goed bestand tegen de vorst.

    Dankjewel nog voor de lieve felicitatie,de jarige is met vakantie in Hongarije,
    http://zalaspa.com/rooms/villa-zala
    zijn verjaardags feest hebben we al gehad☺

    Succes met de werkzaamheden!!!

    Liefs,Ger

    ReplyDelete
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    1. Lieve Ger,
      Ja, wij kunnen het ons ook al wel voorstellen... nog even geduld en dan kunnen we het bewonderen!
      Terra cotta tegels zijn altijd erg mooi en warm. Jullie hebben dan wel heel veel geluk gehad om zulke oude klooster plavuizen te kunnen gebruiken!
      Hard gebakken bij zulke hoge temperaturen is altijd meer vorst bestendig en ook meer resistent tegen breuk.
      Geweldig een vakantie in het westen van Hongarije; dat is genieten.
      Lieve groetjes,
      Mariette

      Delete
  17. Cara mia Mariette,

    Tutte cose 'Made in Italy' sono 'Robe Buone';)
    un bacione

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    1. Carissima Ayu,
      Davvero, amo tutte cose Italiane, sono robe buone.
      Un bacione grande e speriamo tutto va bene con voi due.
      Mariette

      Delete
  18. Dear Mariette,those Italian tiles,look gorgeous!!
    I like the colour!!!Now your balcony looks great!
    Have a lovely week!!!
    Dimi..

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    1. Dearest Dimi,
      Thank you, we love these Italian tiles too, they are very hard and great quality and the color is perfect and slip resistant too.
      Hugs,
      Mariette

      Delete
  19. Gosh - you really are doing a lot of work to your home. It's going to be wonderful when it's done!
    xo Catherine

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    1. Dearest Catherine,
      Yes, we've done quite a lot but hopefully this will be IT for the rest of our life.
      Hugs,
      Mariette

      Delete

Thanks for your visit and comment.

Mariette...