Welcoming new #CSIPlus member Emilio Mudrak from Mudrak and Sons to the CSI+ Meet the Member Interview. Take it away Emilio!
What do you do at your company and in what circumstances would I come to you for something?
“We supply the most design and technically led floor and wall coverings to the cruise sector. You can contact us for all things tiles, natural stone, terrazzo and engineered wood.”
What’s the biggest misconception people have about your position?
“That we only supply what is on our website. The best way we work is via images / links to products you are interested in, and we will source and supply the exact match, or a very close alternative!”
Has your company got any upcoming projects that you can talk about?
“Plenty! Our most exciting projects recently have been the P&O Ventura cruise project, as well as the Montcalm Hotel in Marble Arch, London.”
What has been your favourite cruise project to work on?
“My favourite cruise project was the Vidanta Cruise ship back in 2019. We supplied tiles to all of the cabin areas as well as some communal areas too. It was a statement that we are well and truly invested into the marine sector for the long term.”
What behaviour or personality trait do you most attribute your success to, and why?
“Discipline. I am a big believer in being consistently good over occasionally great. Make sure you show up everyday, keep working on better yourself bother as a person and the company, and the rest falls into place!”
Could you share the most significant obstacle you have faced in your career so far, particularly in cruise work? Or, have you ever encountered any problems in cruise work that required you to learn a new skillset?
“Within the marine sector, it is mandatory for materials to be supplied at a maximum of 300x300mm for flooring. We supplied a project with tiles at 600x600mm as we were not aware of this requirement. We had to act quickly to recollect the tiles, transport them to be cut and redeliver to the ship in the port before it was too late. We learnt both the technical requirements of a ship, and that our clients can trust us to get the material supplied even when we are faced with last minute problems!”
What inspired you to pursue this field of work?
“Mudrak & Sons always wanted to work within the A+D community since it’s humble beginnings. Particularly the cruise industry due to its fascinating diversity of ships, as well as booming pipeline of refurbs / new builds, and finally its overall requirements for hard surfaces such as tiles / natural stone.”
What’s one thing most people don’t know about you?
“Last year, I managed to make the Hyrox World Championships with my friend. It was held in Nice, and we walked out to the national anthem in the arena – something I will never forget!”
What are the most significant changes you have seen in the Cruise Interior sector since you started, and what emerging trends do you foresee shaping its future?
“We are noticing a lot more bespoke printed porcelain tiles being incorporated into the design. The designers can use any pattern they like in high resolution printed onto a porcelain tile. This provides both performance and flexibility – something they love and we are confident will continue to grow and grow!”
Do you have a fun-fact or piece of advice about your company that you can share?
“Fun fact: – Mudrak & Sons is a generational company. Although founded by Emilio, he pays tribute to both his Nonno (Italian grandad) and also Father for their time within the ceramics industry. He is the 3rd generation in tiles!”
Do you specialise in a particular type of product? What makes it different to competitors?
“We specialise in porcelain tiles, natural stone, engineered wood and terrazzo. We differ because we offer a huge range of materials, which are both design and technically led. Designers have a one stop shop with us!”
If you could recommend only one of your products, what would it be?
“Resin Engineered Marble.”
What kind of questions do you ask before beginning a project, and which piece of information is of utmost value in planning a successful project?
“We focus on 3 key areas: Where / When / How. What – what area or application is this going to be used in, When – when is the material required, What – What is the budget. From here, we tailor the search to the designers requirements.”
What role does sustainability play in your company? How do you incorporate environmentally friendly practices and materials?
“Huge. Sustainability is at the forefront of our minds when promoting materials to designers and architects. They are being asked more and more from their clients, so we do not promote anything which cannot be backed up with LEED / BREEAM / EPD / Cradle to Cradle certifications”
What goals have you met so far in 2025? Or, what goals/milestones are you working to meet this year?
“We are looking to hire another sales person by the end of 2025, double our turnover and increase our warehouse capacity. Ask me again in a few months time and I will let you know how we got on!”
Thank you for a great interview, Emilio. And what better way to wrap it up than by posing a question to interior designers and architects! What key element would you like to see from your suppliers heading into 2026?
You can meet Emilio Mudrak at the upcoming #CSIPlus Networking Breakfast hosted by JOI-Design and at Cruise Ship Interiors Design Expo Europe at the Hamburg Messe und Congress GmbH on the 3 – 4 December.
