Low Prices at OTW May Floor Shoppers for Tile

Judging from the calls we receive at our office, many people are starting home remodeling projects and are looking for a good price on tiles for walls, counters and floors.

There are many tile stores in Southern California but few with the selection that OTW offers in its 22,000-square-foot warehouse in downtown Los Angeles. In business for 20 years, owner Andre Obalek knows a thing or two about buying tile.

Many may remember seeing Mexican paver tiles at a major home improvement store for 99 cents.

“The pavers from Spain are higher in density and more precise in size and thickness,” Obalek says, “and therefore, easier and less costly to install and maintain.”

At many stores, they sell for $4.95 a square foot. At OTW, the price is $2.25.

Ceramic tiles in a variety of colors--black, cobalt, hunter green--that are $5.29 elsewhere sell at the lowest contractor’s price of $2.99 a square foot. We liked the porcelain tiles with a stone look and decorative borders for $3. Larger floor tiles that many stores tag at $3.35 to $6.50 go for $1.99 a square foot at OTW.

“There’s no great mystery to our success,” says Obalek. “We purchase in large quantities direct from factories all over the world, which allows us to pass the savings on to our customers.”

Whether you like the glossy look, the Southwest textured look or the sophisticated stone look, you’ll find it here at a good price. It’s where the contractors shop.

OTW Ceramic Tile for Less, 2301 S. Hill St., Los Angeles. (213) 748-4664. Hours: Monday-Friday; 7 a.m.-5 p.m.; Saturday; 8 a.m.-p.m.

Weekend Supersale: The 17th anniversary sale is on at Master Design in Torrance, where the focus is on apparel for the female executive. All the inventory is their own design and made of top-quality fabrics. At this sale, figure 40% to 75% off regular prices. The sale runs through Jan. 29. If you want a look at the styles, check out the store’s Web site at www.masterdesign.com. Then you can proceed to the salon. Believe me, it’s worth the drive.

Master Design, 383 Van Ness Ave., #1605, Torrance. (310) 787-6770.