Dal-Tile and the Mohawk Group have opened a design studio in San Francisco.

This studio, though unique in its collaboration between sister brands Dal-Tile and Mohawk Group, is the third to open in the U.S., following a Dal-Tile studio opening in Philadelphia in May and Dallas in September 2012.

“It is important for us to meet the growing needs of designers and architects in key markets across the country,” said Lori Kirk-Rolley, vice president ofl brand marketing at Dal-Tile. “Our hope is to further stimulate the growing design community in San Francisco and along the West Coast with this new space.”

The almost 10,000 square-foot studio space, conveniently located in the heart of the San Francisco Design District at 212 Utah St., occupies the historic C. Austin Gomez Building, built in 1916. The storied bones of the building shine through exposed brick walls and wood beams, yet a sleek and modern feel emanates via contemporary design elements throughout the space.

“The design studio was created by designers, for fellow designers, so everything from the layout to the décor welcomes creativity and inspiration,” said Glenn Isenmann, associate for Gensler, the global architecture, design, planning and consulting firm that designed the studio.

A mosaic mural welcomes guests into the space, as skylights provide natural light throughout and a custom chandelier made of tile shines above a central meeting area.

"The studio feels like a sophisticated design firm with communal worktables and easy access to product samples. A loose tile library provides customers with full-size samples to help them choose the best, and most stylish, tile for their projects," explained Isenmann.

Digital tools in the studio allow customers to bring their design ideas to life. Two LCD touch screens let customers virtually flip through the digital catalog, view inspiration gallery images and build out designs with a tile and stone visualizer tool. Light panels show how tile will look in different settings in the home, an important factor in choosing the correct tile for a customer’s space.

Showcasing products in-use, wall panels provide inspiration for applications and encourage incorporating various collections in each space for unique and multi-dimensional results. An area set aside for new products highlights the latest offerings for easy reference.

Mohawk Group is also represented in the space, featuring a full spectrum of carpet and hard surface products.

“Mohawk Group is dedicated to providing innovative solutions to our customer base,” said Michel Vermette, senior vice president of Mohawk Group. “We are excited to share this space with our sister brand, Dal-Tile, who has already seen success with studios like this in other markets. By showcasing our flooring options alongside Dal-Tile's, we offer endless collaborative choices for our customers.”

For more information visit Daltile.com or MohawkGroup.com.