The Experts in Creating a Great Foundation for Any Room
With a wide range of designs and sizes, Central States Tile and Dimensional Stoneworks have something for everyone’s style.
Now in its 26th year of business, Central States Tile stands as one of Kansas City’s leading wholesale distributors and direct importers of porcelain tile and natural stone. As part of that dynamic, the company also owns Dimensional Stoneworks, which is a premier in-house custom fabricator of all natural stone and quartz. When it’s time to build that new home or update the current one, Central States Tile and Dimensional Stoneworks are committed to providing the best in products and services.
Owned and operated by Gary Sowell, Central States Tile is located at 8301 West 125th Street in Overland Park, Kansas, and invites the public to browse its impressive 3,000 square foot showroom. Founded in 1989, the company has created a highly reputable name for itself. Its team of trained and dedicated professionals understands that your home is a great way to express your personal style and personality, and their wide selection of middle to upper-end tile products include porcelain, natural stone, metal, glass, granite and more. An appreciable amount of the company’s inventory comes directly from Italy and is imported on a regular basis in order to maintain a large quantity of tiles on hand from which to choose. Because of the vast size of their inventory, projects can proceed quickly and efficiently and even specialty orders enjoy just one to two weeks lead time for delivery.
However, it’s not just the size of the inventory that is important to this company. Educating customers is an equally integral aspect of Central States Tile’s business philosophy.
“We have a strong team of experienced professionals who have worked for many years in the industry, who know the products well, and who are specifically trained to create a custom design for each area of the home,” noted Sowell.
With more than a quarter of a century of experience with these products, Sowell has seen the business landscape for the tile industry change appreciably over the years. When he first began his career, homebuilders did not employ large quantities of tile into new homes and basically dedicated it specifically for entry ways and bathrooms. Today, tile enjoys a much larger presence in both residential and commercial spaces, and with that increased popularity come exciting innovations.
“Advancements in digital print technology can create a realistic look of wood or stone on tile,” said Sowell. “Scanners can take images of select pieces of wood and stone and replicate the look directly on to the tile pieces. These are great if you want the look of hardwood flooring but not all of the maintenance.”
Other popular items include heated floors, especially for master bathrooms, and white marble on countertops. Granite and quartz countertops are also gaining in popularity,
Today’s busy consumers often demand products that are simple and require minimal upkeep, and tile reigns as the champion in that regard. Among the many advantages of porcelain tile include its low maintenance appeal, scratch resistant and non-porous surfaces, and a cornucopia of designs, styles and color variations from which to choose. Plus, tile is far more durable than carpet or hard wood flooring.
When using natural stone, each piece is elegant and unique and the beauty is beyond words. Each type, whether travertine, granite, limestone or slate, bears its own look and characteristics, making no two pieces the same.
Looking ahead, Sowell sees the future of tile increasing even more, not just in popularity and use, but also in size.
“When I first started in this business, the standard size was 8” x 8,” but over the years it has grown, and it is not uncommon to see 18” x 36” pieces and some are even as large as four feet by eight feet and 3/16” thick,” noted Sowell.
As tile has become incorporated into multiple use areas, it is not uncommon to see it as part of a home’s front steps, on decks, around the pool area, in sunrooms and even in bedrooms. Accent walls also provide a unique touch to a home, as well as backsplashes and counter tops.
Fully committed to the complete satisfaction of his customers, Sowell enjoys all aspects of the business and feels blessed by the people with whom he meets, works and interacts.
“The trade people with whom we deal are the salt of the earth and we also get to work with some of the best designers, architects and contractors,” Sowell reflected. “I also enjoy the beauty of our products and how they improve and enhance certain parts of the home.”
For more information on Central States Tile and Dimensional Stoneworks, visit them at 8301 West 125th St., Suite 110 in Overland Park; go online at csttile.com, or dimensionalstoneworks.com; or call 913.754.8908 or 913.681.6629.
