Countertops and Flooring Show Rooms

Photo courtesy of Rubble Tile

See for Yourself: A colorful display of Pratt & Larson handmade mosaic tiles jazz up the bathroom. Available at Rubble Tile.

Rubble Tile
Show Room Insider: 6001 Culligan Way, Minnetonka, 952-938-2599 (main show room, warehouse, customer service); 3220 W. County Rd. 42, Burnsville, 952-882-8909 (working warehouse and show room); 13150 1st St., Becker, 763-262-3222 Open M–Sa Appointments recommended.
Great Finds: A wide selection of tiles that includes porcelain, glass, stone, metal, and many beautiful handmade tiles. Features Country Floors, SICIS, Mirage, American Florim, Ken Mason, Interstyle Ceramic & Glass Tile, Mercury Mosaics, Turkish Stone, Keope, and Pratt & Larson. Also sells trade tools and setting materials.
Extras: Offers tile design services and complimentary one-on-one appointments.
*Sells directly to the public.

Silestone by AMC
Show Room Insider: 8665 Hudson Blvd., Ste. 100 A, Lake Elmo, 651-714-1572
Open M–Sa
Great Finds: New 3,000-square-foot show room can be seen by virtual tour online. Specializes in Silestone but also offers other products such as granite and marble. Silestone is the only countertop product with Microban and the only countertop surface that offers leather texture. Silestone is available in slabs of 129 inches by 63 inches, the largest of any quartz product. Also offers cabinets.
Extras: In-home consultations by request. All jobs professionally measured and installed by certified staff.
*Sells directly to the public.

The Stone Company
Show Room Insider: 19909 Industrial Dr., Big Lake, 763-262-2200, Open M–F, evenings and weekends by appointment.
Great Finds: Show room/warehouse combination lets you select the actual natural stone slab that will become your next countertop. Specializes in granite, marble, limestone, slate, travertine, and onyx natural surfaces for kitchen counters, vanities, laundry work areas, bars, desks, and fireplaces. Also offers Ceasarstone, Technistone, and Zodiaq quartz composite slabs.
Extras: All fabricating, measuring, consulting, and installing done by professional in-house staff.
*Sells directly to the public.

Stone & Tile Outlets
Show Room Insider: 2500 Cleveland Ave. N., Roseville, 651-636-7866; 7700 Hudson Rd., Woodbury, 651-636-7866; Open seven days a week.
Great Finds: On-site inventories of ceramic, porcelain, glass, and metal tiles, as well as granites, slates, sandstone, limestone, quartzite, onyx, and soapstone. Features a patented Granite EZ Top product that’s easy enough for homeowners to install. Also carries setting materials, grout, contractor supplies, and heating systems.
Extras: Offers installation and designer services as well as free deliveries.
Sells directly to the public.

Tile X Design
Show Room Insider: 1720 Annapolis Ln. N., Plymouth, 763-551-5900, Open every day but Su.
Great Finds: Hundreds of styles of porcelain, glass, handmade, ceramic, and natural stone tiles. Many in-stock. Represents more than sixty vendors, including Bisazza, Casalgrande, Florida Tile, Jeffrey Court, Lea, Meredith, and Motawi. Design ideas displayed throughout the show room inspire creative use of tile and endless combinations.
Extras: Twelve on-staff design consultants work with both residential and commercial interests. Samples available.
*Sells directly to the public.

Excerpted from “A Show Room 'Show and Tell,’” Mpls.St.Paul Magazine, December 2007, p. 183