In the southwest, we can’t help but finish the word Pico off with de Gallo, and our mouths salivate for some minced up veggies to scoop up with tortilla chips, but did you know that the word origin comes from the Spanish Pico definition meaning small quantity? That meaning was taken and turned into a prefix for meaning One Trillionth in the metric system.

When you see Kirei’s new Embossed pattern, Pico, you understand when juxtaposed with its forerunning pattern, Zen, that it is the same pattern with consistent thin vertical lines following one after another, but on a smaller, er, thinner scale.

With the summer in full swing, here’s a recipe for Pico de Gallo, which means Rooster’s Beak… Does this mean that Pico de Gallo was actually used as chicken feed, but then we loved the combination so much it became a mainstay for us as well? We’ll never know!

Pico de Gallo**
4 medium ripe tomatoes, chopped
2 fresh serrano chiles or jalapenos for a milder output, stemmed and roughly chopped into small pieces
1/2 small onion, finely chopped and rinsed briefly under running water
1/3-1/2 cup cilantro, finely chopped
The juice of one small lime or 2-3 tablespoons to taste
½-1 tsp Salt or to taste
1-2 tablespoons olive oil (optional)

Combine all ingredients in a large bowl and sprinkle with salt, usually about 1/2 teaspoon. Mix and serve or chill for up to 12 hours ahead of time in the refrigerator. Serve with chips on hot summer days.

In any case, if you are looking for refined lines and acoustic sound protection, check this new embossed panel pattern out and as always, for samples and more information, contact me.

*taken from dictionary.com
**Recipe is a combination of Pati Jinich and Rick Bayless’s Pico de Gallo Recipes.

Designed by Benjamin Hubert, Andreu World’s newest Swivel chair was made with the idea that with new ways of working, comes new ideas… in this case, new ideas for Seating Design. To quote Benjamin: “When we think about how to create a product or service: we must adapt our personal approach to how people live their lives now and in the future.”

Calma was designed to welcome the user as if they were coming home, to a safe spot… even when in reality they are working—at home or at the office—on work that may be less than serene. Calma is a point of comfort through its materials and tranquil curvature all day long for those who sit in it.

The collection offers a many backrest configuration that are encapsulated in a lightweight die-cast aluminum with a 4 or 5 caster base. Finish options include Wood, Upholstery and Technical Mesh Back options and White, Black or Polished Chrome Frame options.

For more information, contact me.

Camira’s Yoredale was always a “feeler” in terms of its nubby thick boucle weave, but now as it adds additional colors to its line, it’s also a looker, bumping its options to a total of 37. The new colors and tones are ones we associate with relaxation, concentration, and domestication--they blur the lines between home and work aesthetics… and as always, it’s a durable, naturally flame retardant and stain repellent. What space couldn’t use that?! For more information or samples, contact me.

Design your spaces to have a multi-impactful experience by bringing the outside in with Kirei Ink’s Biophilia Collection of Botanical and landscape inspired prints. They work in tandem with their PET substrate to help keep room acoustics in check for any space.

Choose from six (6) prints that help bring the outside in, printed with Low VOC inks on Acoustical wall material that keep noise levels in the Zen range.

Looking form more Biophilic Content? Check out this link to an article/video featuring Designers and their Biophilic approach to design. Phoenix’s own Sonja Bochart of Shepley Bulfinch is one of the panelists. Of the design approach she states, “I think one of the untapped potentials of biophilic design is when we can marry function and beauty and the natural aesthetic. That to me is the real impact.”

For samples or more information on Kirei’s Biophilia line, contact me.

Inspired by the past
to innovate the present
for the good of the future

A Revolution is coming from Camira… with iinouiio, an industry shaking breakthrough in technology that recycles wool waste back into fabric. For more information, contact me.

For a mid-mod dash of accent into any space, consider a pattern from Kirei Ink’s Geo Collection. With 10 patterns, with 3 color choices each for a total of 30 options you are sure to find the perfect print for spaces wanting to add artful playfulness and acoustic control into a space. Use them as Wall Backdrops, Dividers, or ceiling baffles or clouds.

The Geo patterns are printed with water-soluble, Greenguard certified PROGRAPHIC® UV ink on 60% recycled post-consumer PET. These inks contain less than .03% volatile organic compounds, are void of heavy metals, and contain up to 50% monomers and oligomers that are naturally derived from renewable resources, such as plants and biomass. So, in specifying a mid-century inspired print for your project, you are not only adding a pop to your design, but also a sustainable story behind the selection. For samples and more information, contact me.

United fabrics introduces a faux leather that feels so real, you’ll have to order a sample to experience it! What color, though, will be a tough decision as the Club collection has 28 jewel toned options to choose from.

It features a lovely sheen and soft hand made of PVC that comes with a high abrasion rating of 100,000 double rubs, making it specifiable for any project... and did we mention how easy to clean it is with its Clean Guard technology? To order samples and for more information, contact me.

We are excited to be part of the CoOperate at Melrose community in the diverse and eclectic Central Phoenix Melrose District!  Come see us for product education presentations, project meetings, sit tests, and more.  Stay to catch up on emails and return calls in one of the many coworking amenity areas.  Does your committee need a meeting space?  How about a large group space for CEU presentations? Let me reserve a room for you!  This space is all about connecting in person...and we can not wait to see you soon!

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The Material Collective
555 W. Turney Avenue
Suite 205
Phoenix, AZ 85013

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Andreu World keeps making moves towards a circular design model. At this moment, the company is one of the first companies in Europe to achieve LEVEL 3® certification for its entire catalog of designs. This feat—a standard created by BIFMA (Association of Institutional and Business Furniture Manufacturers of North America) - allows for a more open and transparent assessment of the environmental and social impacts that originate in the manufacture of furniture. The standard serves as a reference for architects, designers and interior designers from around the world when choosing more sustainable furniture, so be assured that when specifying an Andreu World product, you are purchasing a product made with the sustainable circularity in mind. For more information, contact me.

With Spring’s arrival, we at The Material Collective thought why not showcase a few of our floral offerings. Clockwise from Top left corner: 1) Kirei: Kirei Ink Biophilic Collection: Cut Stems (B&W), 2) Parasoleil’s Magnolia in Burgundy, 3) United Fabrics’s Ethel in color Parchment, 4) Modern Nature Design’s Romance design and 5) mak’s Flower wall tile. For more information, contact me.

What’s old is tried and true and with a change in color palette, is made new again, such is the case of Luna’s Broome… a complete switch from its original color offerings to 8 new color options for a fabric that is old but new at the same time. Check out the colors that adjust shades and tones and color pairings here. Note that limited quantities of the original colors are being phased out by December 2023.

Elmwood follows suit ADDING colors to its line that coordinate with Broome’s refresh. It lends itself as a coordinating solid fabric option for the entirety of Luna’s collections. Check out the full color range here. 

For samples or more information, read the online article about the expansion or, contact me.

Meet Wilder, a tweed textured fabric that has quite the range of colors that range from solid to flecked and speckled in a whopping 40 colorways to coordinate and play with the rest of United Fabrics line offerings.

In addition to color variety, Wilder is a high performance fabric that boasts soil and stain resistance. Head over to United fabrics website to explore Wilder for yourself. It’s the perfect supporting cast of fabric for any upholstery project needs. For samples and more information, contact me.

Stone looks without the heft…
Concrete that’s light as a feather…
Woven grass with a solid base…

Kirei Ink boasts patterns inspired by the natural world and imbued with sound absorptive qualities. Made of PET felt, 60% of which is recycled post-consumer content, thus, Kirei Ink has a sustainable story as well.

Install on walls, ceilings, as dividers in the form of panels, baffles and tiles, whatever your project needs, Kirei Ink Natural Collection will add a natural look to your project while keeping sound levels in check. For more information, contact me.

Looking for some linearity of pattern? Planning on stripes for a patio deck out or a dramatic sofa upholstery? If yes, have a gander at all the offerings United Fabrics offers by typing stripe in the search box of their website. Refine your selections via filters to drill down on your specific fabric needs, whether color or scale or attribute for any fabric you fancy, lines or otherwise. For samples and more information, contact me.

It seems that a name one sees a lot in the Design world is one that is unusual with a capital U. Urquiola, Patricia Urquiola. One might wonder with the breadth of projects she and her studio have under their Architectural and Design belts… how does she work on so many different project types? The reason for this can be found in her curiosity and desire to turn what might at first seem obvious, and present it in a fresh and unexpected way.

When working on collaborative projects and projects for others, she tries to establish a “fundamental element” as the basis of each project—she does this by building an empathic connection with the user to use as a basis for her and her designers to keep to while designing—their true design north. She also says of each project: “I always think that the project I'm working on will be the best one.”

Under the Andreu World brand, she has worked on furniture collections focusing on the idea of Circular design and creating towards the goal of 100% sustainable furniture design, which is what the Product, Nuez BIO Lounge was born from, A piece created from the intersection of “…where design and materials are anti-fragile and resilient.” 

The result was the creation of a new thermo-polymer sustainable material that is natural in origin, with a biological base designed to make a lounge chair sustainably.

For more information on Patricia, read her bio on Andreu World’s Designer page and for more info on her Andreu World pieces like Nuez BIO, contact me.

TMC is taking Integra’s Reef Rocker on the road! Coming to you for a sit test you can rock for yourself on this new product addition to the Coastal Collection. It comes with two options for Rocker and Arm Cap finishes: Wood or HDPE. As always, the design is component based for easy replacement per part and it comes with the option for clean out. For more information or to set up an appointment, contact me.

The Wood Collection of Kirei Ink offers five wood styles to choose from that in addition to wood look, offer a softer product meant for absorbing sound that is also sustainably made out of PET, 60% of which is post-consumer recycled material. To print the wood look onto these panels, Greenguard certified PROGRAPHIC® UV ink is used, furthering the sustainable story of the product.

Use it to lower the sounds of any space whether clad to walls, baffled overhead, or even as a divider between furniture.

No matter how you spec it, the look and sound absorption will be unparalleled. To read on, check out this article. To see the five wood options, head to the main wood collection link, or for more information and samples, contact me.

...filled with palm leaves, stripes, and textures with United Fabrics Dreamweaver collection of fabrics. From $53-$74 a yard, this collection of Crypton Home eight (8) fabrics not only provide pattern and texture but are easy to clean with technology that provides soil and stain protection. For more information, contact me.

Make design possible with māk studio, The Material Collective’s newest line! Through Repetition and variation, the Houston based studio collaborates with designers to create custom pieces for walls, ceilings, reception desks, islands, seating, and wall tiles through digital fabrication, specializing in parametric design, milling, and 3D printing.

“We often work with architects and interior designers to create products that don’t yet exist for walls, ceilings, and furniture.” -Liz Cordell, māk studio Co-Founder

The Material Collective is excited to add this manufacturer/design collaborator to our line card—and even more excited about the design results our client base will come up with in collaborating with māk.

For more information and examples of the studio’s work, check out their website or, contact me.

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Made of Ash wood and upholstered with sophistication, Andreu World’s Rizo is a chair perfect for public or residential spaces—an offering you’ll want to curl into.

Its simplicity leads your eyes to its details designed by Italian Designer, Rodolfo Dordoni, who designed its soft edges, and integrated the upholstery in a natural way, lending a welcoming feel and optimal ergonomics through artisanal work and careful material selection. For more information on Rizo, contact me.