From Concept to Craft with Sara Malek Barney, BANDD Design
The Grout Line with Tile of Spain
Release Date: 05/01/2026
From Concept to Craft with Sara Malek Barney, BANDD Design
The Grout Line with Tile of Spain
In this episode of The Grout Line, host Ryan Fasan is joined by Sara Malek Barney, founder and principal designer of BANDD Design to explore how thoughtful material selection shapes the spaces we live in.The conversation dives into the role of tile in creating layered, textural environments—from subtle, tone-on-tone applications to statement-making installations that anchor a space. From kitchens and baths to unexpected applications throughout the home, this episode offers insight into how Sara and the BANDD approaches materiality, and why Spanish tile continues to play a central role...
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Talking Tile with Merola Tile
The Grout Line with Tile of Spain
Tile of Spain Technical Consultant Ryan Fasan sits down with John Merola, CEO of Merola Tile, for an in-depth look at the business side of Spanish ceramics. They discuss the Spanish tile market, the story behind Merola Tile and John’s recognition as the first-ever recipient of the “Tile of Spain Honors” award.
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Rockstars of Tile
The Grout Line with Tile of Spain
Tile of Spain Technical Consultant, Ryan Fasan, member of the inaugural Rockstar class sits with Danielle Dean, recipient of this year's Rockstar Award, to talk all things tile and design.
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Telling Tile's Sustainability Story
The Grout Line with Tile of Spain
Tile of Spain's host Ryan Fasan sits down with Jennifer Richinelli, Editorial Director of Stone World, for a deep dive into the world of tile and sustainability. In this episode, they explore the environmental advantages of ceramic tile, including its life cycle anaylsis, eco-friendly certifications, industry standards and more.
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The Lifecycle of Ceramics: Innovation, Sustainability and Spain's Role
The Grout Line with Tile of Spain
Tile of Spain host Ryan Fasan is joined by Javier Rodriguez Ejerique, Technical Secretary of Qualicer, for an in-depth conversation about the lifecycle of ceramics. In this episode, they discuss what Qualicer's purpose is, Spain's influential role in ceramic innovation and the industry's ongoing efforts towards sustainability and technological advancement.
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The Bigger, The Better with Grespania
The Grout Line with Tile of Spain
Tile of Spain host Ryan Fasan is joined by Andres Hernández De la Torre of Spanish manufactuer, Grespania to discuss the beauty of large format tile and gauged porcelain. Together they cover technical attributes and benefits, education in the industry, manufacturing processes, sales force training and more.
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The Creative Edge of Ceramics with Realonda
The Grout Line with Tile of Spain
While ceramic tiles provide an array of technical properties, they also offer design flexibility and aesthetic versatility. New collections emerging from Spanish manufacturers feature ceramics in a range of hues, diverse tonality and varying patterns, allowing us to showcase our unique tastes in every possible way. Tile of Spain host Ryan Fasan sits down with Jordi Barberá of Spanish manufacturer, Realonda to explore how design trends have shifted over the past few years and review the evolution of ceramic production an d the creative process behind some of Realonda's novel collections.
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Ceramics, The Sustainable Surfacing Solution
The Grout Line with Tile of Spain
Ceramics are a completely natural, safe and hygienic material: made with water and clay. They are sustainable, recyclable, energy efficient and durable which reduces present and future environmental impact. Ryan Fasan sits down with Jennifer Richinelli of Stone World and Stone and TIle Insider along with Beth Miller of Floor Trends and Insallation to discuss how the sustabale benefits of ceramic materials and how the industry is implemting new practices and standards, with a goal of becoming carbon neutral.
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Hevi on the Tile
The Grout Line with Tile of Spain
Host Ryan Fasan is joined by fellow tile lover and guru, Heric Melo of Hevi Tile. Together they discuss their love of material, how they both got their start with tile, Heric's exciting next steps and more!
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Rockstar on Rockstar
The Grout Line with Tile of Spain
Tile of Spain Technical Consultant, Ryan Fasan member of the inaugural Rockstar class sits with Amala Raj Swenson, recipient of this year's Rockstar Award and Principal of Amala Raj Interiors, to talk all things tile and design.
info_outlineIn this episode of The Grout Line, host Ryan Fasan is joined by Sara Malek Barney, founder and principal designer of BANDD Design to explore how thoughtful material selection shapes the spaces we live in.The conversation dives into the role of tile in creating layered, textural environments—from subtle, tone-on-tone applications to statement-making installations that anchor a space.
From kitchens and baths to unexpected applications throughout the home, this episode offers insight into how Sara and the BANDD approaches materiality, and why Spanish tile continues to play a central role in delivering timeless, high-performance interiors.
Get in touch with BANDD Design by visiting, https://bandddesign.com/ or on social media @jointhebandd.
For more resources from Tile of Spain, visit https://tileofspainusa.com/.