All About the New Ravenna x J. Banks Design Collection

*Maji, a hand-chopped mosaic shown in tumbled Thassos and Kay’s Green.*

*“Mlima” was inspired by the lines and forms found in a topography map.*

We are thrilled to introduce a collaboration that has been a long time in the making! Capturing the true essence of refined southern-coastal style, the J. Banks Collection for New Ravenna by Joni Vanderslice, principal and owner of J. Banks Design Group, combines rich colors and graphic patterns reminiscent of African tribal designs. Vanderslice, a Hilton Head Island, South Carolina native who draws design inspiration from her serene, seaside surroundings, adheres to one omnipresent motif – home as resort and resort as home.

*Joni Vanderslice, principal and owner of J. Banks Design*

The 15 whimsical, yet bold patterns in the collection are no exception to her design mantra. Joni approached her first-ever tile collection with three themes in mind: waves, trellises, and palms. Our design team worked with Joni to turn introspective concepts into tangible mosaics through various applications of color, texture, and shape.

*From the “Trellis” family: Kubuni mosaic with brushed Brass and Nero Marquina*.

We absolutely loved working with Joni on this collection. We kept crossing paths with her and her team at High Point Market, and eventually talked her into coming to see us in Exmore in order to really wrap her arms around designing the mosaic collection. Joni arrived fully prepared with her sweet daughter, mood boards, and her brand new book in tow. Her visit resulted in striking mosaics that capture the essence of refined, southern-coastal style, flawlessly flaunting the contemporary elements popular in east coast interiors.

*Mod Palm, a hand-cut mosaic with details shown in multiple shades of green and blue jewel glass and a Moonstone Sea Glass™ background.*

Joni drew inspiration for this collection from her travels to and around Africa through her non-profit group, the Valentine Project. She opened the Valentine Project Children’s Home in July of 2015, providing a home for Tanzanian orphans across all ages. By partnering with local Tanzanian churches, Joni hopes to build more homes on the campus and continue her travels to and from Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. Throughout her time in Africa, she was influenced by the many artisanal, organic textures of the Tanzanian communities. From Kente and Kuba cloths, to silk and cotton fabrics, to topography maps and wave patterns, Joni incorporated all that her travels exposed her to in this collection.

Inspired by an African Kente cloth, the stone squares and rectangles in “Kiawah Kente” are scored and can be left without grout for a unique wall feature. Aluminum liners highlight the lines in this mosaic.

It’s no secret that Joni loves to play with color and scale, and incorporate soft, neutral hues that evoke the inviting relaxation of a low-country retreat in her work. For example, Kubuni Grand, a classic geometric floor field just screams to be installed in a grand foyer! It can be seen in a subtle white on white for a textural take and also in earthy brown tones for a more rugged and natural feel.

*Kubuni Grand, a hand-cut and waterjet mosaic shown in polished Thassos and honed Calacatta Tia.*

Wings is a mod take on a palmetto tree (though we’ve heard turtle, beetle and skeleton, too!), and creates a wing-like repeat.

*Wings, a hand-chopped mosaic shown in tumbled Ming Green, Pacifica, and Thassos.*

A nod to the vibrant coastal color palette of her Hilton Head home, Joni created Tanzanian Squiggle, inspired by an antique African skirt and made to replicate the movement of water.

*Tanzanian Squiggle, a hand-cut mosaic shown in Blue Spinel and Iolite Sea Glass™ with Moonstone jewel glass.*

Wimbi, Joni’s take on a classic wave, can be done in two or three colors and is perfect for a chair rail or base board. Of the collection, Vanderslice says “…design is in the details, especially when the details are made by hand and are absolutely unique,” and we agree!