The Tile Resource We Can't Stop Recommending: Ann Sacks in Austin
Category: Local Sources · Reading time: 4 minutes
Some vendor relationships are quietly load-bearing in a design practice. For Breathe Design Studio, Ann Sacks is one of them.
Walk into almost any kitchen, primary bath, or powder room we've designed in Austin and there's a strong chance the tile came from Ann Sacks. The Austin showroom has been a regular stop on our selections days for years, and we don't see that changing.
Why we keep coming back
Two reasons, mainly. First, the range. From classic subway in a hundred subtle glazes to handmade artisan tile to large-format stone, Ann Sacks carries the breadth we need to design across very different homes. A Mid-Century Atomic Ranch kitchen and a contemporary Westlake primary bath both find their match in the same showroom.
Second, the people. We've worked with the Austin team long enough to trust their lead times, their sample process, and their straightforwardness about what's in stock, what's a special-order, and what's going to be a four-month wait. When you're designing for clients who don't want surprises, that matters.
How we use the showroom in our process
For most projects, our tile shortlist gets narrowed in-studio from images and small samples. Then we meet clients at Ann Sacks for the final selection, there's no substitute for seeing real tile in real light, especially when the conversation is between a hand-glazed zellige and a more uniform ceramic that looks similar online.
We were honored to be featured in their designer profile series, 5 Questions with Breathe Design Studio. If you've ever wondered how Christine Ho thinks about tile selection in her projects, that piece is a good entry point. You can read it on the Ann Sacks Inside Design blog.
If you're starting a renovation in Austin and trying to learn the local design ecosystem, Ann Sacks is one of the first stops we'd send you to.
A tip if you're shopping on your own
Bring at least two reference materials with you. A cabinet sample, a flooring sample, a paint chip. Tile lives in conversation with everything around it, and choosing it in isolation almost always leads to second-guessing.
Also: ask to see the full slab samples when you can. A four-inch square doesn't always read the way a full installation will, especially with patterned or veined material.
Let's design a home that breathes.
If you're navigating tile and stone selections for a renovation and want a designer to coordinate the decisions across an entire home, that's what we do.
Schedule a complimentary Discovery Call
512.994.0350 · hello@breathedesignstudio.com · @breathedesign
