The Artistry of Waterjet

Exquisite fine art for your home expressed in Stone, Porcelain, Ceramic, Wood, Metal, and more!

Fabulous Floors - Fall, 2007

---

In the hands of a fine artist with the latest tools at his disposal, nature's resources (and those made in collaboration by humankind) can be turned into the finest of fine art creations — some rather affordably.

Let's explore what the art of waterjet can do with natural stones, ceramic and porcelain tile, glass, metal, even resilient and other substances.

First, what is waterjet, and who is the artist behind these creations?

Waterjet is a space-age cutting technology using water, and sometimes fine granules of garnet, fired in fine needles at upwards of 3,000 miles an hour. That's strong enough to cut virtually any material and precise enough to finely carve shapes into ornamental filigree.

In the hands of a skilled fine artist such as Finnish-born, European-trained Harri Aalto, and in collaboration with the Creative Edge Master Shop which hand-assembles each piece at its Iowa facility, waterjet artistry results in sculpted artwork for your floors and stone murals for your walls like the ones featured in this issue of FABULOUS FLOORS.

Don't say you can't afford one of Harri's creations in your home! Standard medallion styles similar to the samples published here start around $800, and you can select color options to suit your personality.

If your tastes range to the VERY custom and VERY personal, Harri and Creative Edge have created some of the most striking, unusual and truly unique designs anywhere in the world. Many include hand-selected, semiprecious stones.

The process begins one of two ways, either as pure imagination from the mind of the artist or in collaboration with the customer who has a vision for a specific space. The design is translated into a precise computer rendering, then the waterjet technology extracts each piece. All pieces are hand-assembled into larger block formats, then "dry-fit" before shipping. Because such intricate, detailed pieces are sub-assembled and numbered, a good installation craftsman — requiring no special skills — can install each design simply and without special tools or other materials.

Start with a simple medallion from one of four collections, and turn any floor into the foundation of a showplace. Or, opt for a custom floor plan that may include a main design, border, "accent rugs," detailed corners, floating accents and more — all, of course, in your choice of stone or other material.

• The Signature Collection is comprised of floor medallion and border designs of from 5 to 20 feet, with the smaller formats presenting a jewel-like image. This collection is known for its design, color and intricacy.

• The Premier Collection is a matter of warm colors, flowering patterns and pure elegance. Medallions in this collection achieve a different, yet strikingly rich look, with less detail. Depending on your home, less can be more.

• The Continental Collection was inspired by customers like you who wanted a look somewhere between the Signature and Premier Collections. These are perfect for adding grace and charm for halls and entries and for complementing architectural details such as wrought iron and intricate woodworking.

• The Master Shop Collection offers the most affordable medallions, yet they remain impressive, smart and sophisticated. Call this collection affordable luxury, whether in small, accent formats, or in larger applications with borders and insets.

A matter of scale. This design features tens of thousands of pieces of fine, natural marbles, limestones and onyxes, and receives final inspection prior to shipment.

It's OK to "think outside the box" with creations like these. When crafted from materials such as granite, limestone or slate, they make an excellent statement for the patio, garden or pool!