Category: Process and Integration

  1. 4 Things Traffic Cops Can Teach Us About Integration

    When you envision the city of Cleveland, the awful traffic ala NYC doesn’t usually come to mind, right? Driving home from work this week, torrential downpours streamed down from the suddenly gray sky, and power to the traffic lights was diminished. At Westlake’s largest intersection, this could have been pretty disastrous, but not with a […]

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  2. On Our Desks: Chic Elevator Lantern Controls

    Contact closures, relays, Cue servers, DMX decoder units, din rails… if you’re a conceptual designer, you’re probably not too interested in what those mean, but when implemented through a thoughtful electrical engineering process, these items can add a whole new element of fluctuation to your spaces. Imagine synchronizing the vertical movement of an elevator with […]

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  3. 5 (Ok, 6!) Reasons for Designers To Love Natural Stone Panels

    As the counterpoint to our blog post “5 Reasons For Designers To Love Faux Stone Panels”, today we take on the alternate perspective and illustrate the benefits of natural stone panels. Given that this succeeding post quickly catapulted to twelve points, which I narrowed to six here, it’s pretty clear which material we regard as […]

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  4. 5 Reasons For Designers To Love Faux Stone Panels

    Ouch. I feel like I’m backstabbing my trusted old friend, the natural stone panel. Lately we’ve seen a surge of interest in faux stone products, particularly for backlighting applications, and have found ourselves recommending these products for certain instances. There are some high-quality acrylics, poured resins, and co-polyester materials that have made advancements in the […]

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  5. Exploring Layers of Texture: Backlit Onyx + Screens

    Expand your design palette with imaginative interior feature wall products. Stone, wood, and light are three basic elements of nature. Layer them into an integrated assembly, and the visual effect is stunning. A sleek alternative to backlit onyx mosaics, these backlit stone and wood screen panels create extravagant patterns for an interior feature walls and […]

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  6. Backlighting Translucent Glass Panels: Don’t Forget Diffusion Techniques

    Thinking of designing a backlit glass bar or countertop? It’s not quite as easy as just placing a light source behind the glass.  There are many details that can slip through the cracks in backlit architectural features, and when the lighting system is sloppy, the time and investment that you’ve put into the surface is […]

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  7. Detailing Backlit Onyx Panels: Why There Isn’t a “Typical”

    In studying our website metrics that indicate which keywords our visitors are searching for, it’s mind-boggling how many designers are searching for answers to detailing backlit panels. And while we love to stock our website full of useful information that makes it easy for busy designers to quickly understand and specify our backlit onyx systems, […]

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  8. Backlit Granite: Transform Bar and Restaurant Spaces from Day to Night

    Backlit granite bars with the correct lighting controls allow designers to explore the furthest ranges of materiality. Granite is often associated with traditional countertops, but with advanced technology and the correct backlighting system, the flip of a switch can dramatically transform from day to night. For this backlit granite bartop application in Dubai, GPI developed […]

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  9. Communicating Your Backlit Natural Onyx Designs – A Guide for Designers

    Designing and specifying backlit onyx panels is a unique process. (Since onyx is a natural stone material, you can’t just call up Mother Nature and ask her to send samples of her latest collection.) This post outlines the three key items that you need to communicate in order for your backlit onyx design visions to […]

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  10. Top 3 Tips for Designing with Backlit Glass Panels

    Designing with translucent surfaces, structure, and backlighting is a delicate balance– those are three difficult materials to make work together. There are several methods to illuminate glass panels with backlighting, and chances are if you’re creating a ceiling or wall, then you have little space in which to throw the light. Because glass is a […]

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  11. Backlighting Corian Surfaces: A Brief Case Study

    Considering highlighting a countertop or reception desk with an illuminated white surface? At a recent project for a custom reception desk, smooth white Corian® surfaces were illuminated by GPI’s custom LED backlighting system. Providing an intriguing focal point, the luminous desk has clean lines and a sleek white appearance that was fitting for the space […]

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  12. Creating Unique Works of Art in Stone and Light

    Upon the dawn of a new project, our architect and designer clients are quick to ask “do you have photographs of a similar application?”. (Part of us must think designers are trained to ask those kinds of questions, as logic and an obligation to guide the owner to make sound investments take hold in these […]

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  13. Stone: Authenticity in a Plastic World

    In your typical daily life, how many objects do you interact with that are made of stone? (Think through your day, from the time you wake up to the time you go to bed. Do you ever see or touch stone? Is it far away or within reach? Is it on the wall, floor, ceiling, […]

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