About Us

I grew up around materials. My father was an entrepreneur in the stone industry, my grandfather was a painter and my mother was a photographer and artist, so I was raised by people who looked closely at things and cared how they were made. I started my own company in 1981, and I have spent every year since sourcing stone and architectural surfaces for the people who design and build.

What I have always loved about this work is the hunt. Finding the quarry nobody else has been to, the glaze that has been made the same way in Japan for a hundred years, the offcut that turns into something better than the slab it came from. I wrote a book about it, Splendor of Marble, published by Rizzoli, because I wanted to put down on paper what these materials can do in the right hands.

We have supplied over 180 million square feet of architectural surfaces across 40 countries, for companies like Chanel, Rolex, Louis Vuitton, Burberry’s Fifth Avenue flagship, Saks Fifth Avenue, Nobu and La Samaritaine in Paris, alongside hotels worldwide and more New York residences than I can count. Forty years on, it is still a family business and proudly women owned.

From our clients

"Over the past few decades, Karen has pioneered the industry. I’ve seen her evolve into a personal brand - a brand that has the trust of some of the world’s most respected retailers, myself included."

- Marvin Traub, Marvin Traub Associatesption

"Karen and the team at Karen Pearse Global Direct are experts in their field. Talented, creative, & customer centric partners. The products they offer are best in the industry. The work that we have done with them at Hudson Bay & Saks is world class."

-Kerry Mader

"Working with Karen Pearse direct was a lifesaver! They helped me navigate so many different materials to replace my floors and I ended up with amazing choices both for interior and exterior. the customer service they provided was top notch. An overall wonderful experience in what so often can be stressful."

-Stephanie Phillips

"Karen Pearce Global Direct is an outstanding company providing superior product with excellent service. My experience with the company has always met and often exceeded my expectations"

Jack Hruska

"As a design professional that deals with a lot of suppliers, nothing can beat Karen Pearse. If you are looking for a trustworthy, experienced, high-quality, and competitively priced company to work with for your next project, look no further. Aside from having the most extensive collection of materials, their customer service is excellent. Karen and her team are one of the best in the industry - always a pleasure dealing with them!🙏"

Radical Lines

"Karen and the team at Karen Pearse Global Direct are experts in their field. Talented, creative, & customer centric partners. The products they offer are best in the industry. The work that we have done with them is world class."

Kerry Mader

Why we started Karen Pearse Home

In 2020, lockdown meant homes became offices, classrooms and everything in between. Attention turned inward, to the rooms people were suddenly spending all their time in, and demand for residential work climbed. Homeowners and designers started asking for the same materials we had been supplying to commercial projects for decades. I wanted to meet them there. So we pulled together a curation of materials for residential projects, spanning tile, stone, terrazzo and porcelain, with the range to cover a whole house rather than a single room. That is how Karen Pearse Home was born.

Hand picked for you

We offer natural stone, mosaics, porcelain and ceramic tile for interiors and exteriors. Among the collections is INAX, a line of Japanese tile made in the traditions of Japanese ceramics. We choose every material the way we would choose it for our own homes, and samples are available for all products so you can hold and see a material in your hand before you commit to it for your home. If you're not sure where to start, we're always happy to help you find the right fit. Get in touch with our team today or come see us at our Fifth Avenue showroom. 

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