Welcome back to “The Curator of Style” Blog
I’m Melanie King and have been an Interior Designer since, well, forever. I love style, fashion, interiors, travel and cultures and I hope to share this with you. Please follow us and always feel free to ask questions or leave a comment. I look forward to hearing from you…
courtesy of Clé
Tile essentials
I always look forward to seeing what new products come out each year. The influencers start in Italy, Spain, and France and sweep through the US in varying formats. Sometimes shapes are scaled to many sizes, or have different color-ways, or thicknesses. There is something for everyone and every style. This year the trend of using commercial tile in residential installations continues. Families love the ease of cleanup and higher durability. I like that you can add punches of pattern and color to just about anywhere tile can be placed; indoors or out and not worry about it after it’s applied. Truth be told – I’m kinda crazy about tile!
If you’re looking for an impactful way to personalize any space, tile is a great option. I’ll run through 6 of our favorite categories. Maybe there is one here that will inspire your next project!
The basics
Shapes and sizes are no longer limited due to the recent re-introduction of small production companies. Your builder or contractor can help you determine quantities, which you will need because a box of tile will typically not be a standard quantity either! When looking at a project designed with tile, you will most likely need tile drawings to show how to lay out your tile and exactly where you want it placed. Your interior designer or architect are good sources for this.
courtesy of ADR
ceramics
Traditional ceramic tile is non-porcelain and is made from white, red, and/or brown clay and other minerals. Its beauty is derived from a variety of glaze types, shapes and three- dimensional attributes. The characteristics of ceramic tile offer countless of traditional and contemporary aesthetic qualities.
We like to use ceramics in high traffic areas and if little maintenance is the main concern. While at market, the highlight was oversized geometrics, and a play on color ways.
courtesy of Melanie King Designs
courtesy of Melanie King Designs
glass
Originally used in the tombs of Egyptian civilization, today’s glass tiles are made it 4 primary fabrication processes with infinite color and texture possibilities. There are few mediums that offer this type of design versatility.
Below we lined the entire back wall of this bathroom shower because it is on a bay near the ocean and saltwater can be washed off easily from the glass without eroding something softer like a natural stone.
courtesy of Melanie King Designs
metals
Metal tiles are cast in bronze, copper, pewter and typically have a three dimensional quality to their appearance. The nature of the material allows a beautiful patina to form over time. Metallic tiles come in a variety of shapes, sizes, textures and glazes. The subtle glaze is the most important aspect of the til which gives it the metallic sheen.
As a woman, of course I was attracted to the new metals being used for tile installations. Many versions from brass to stainless steel, to copper have been used for a long time, but the way it is being created to almost be an individual statement can be stunning. Take a look at Clé tiles oval copper tiles below!
courtesy of ADR
courtesy of ADR
courtesy of Clé
porcelains
Porcelain is particularly low maintenance material that provides a hardwearing surface that is a good alternative to real stone, terra cotta. Unique patterns, textures and colors offer endless design solutions at a reasonable price point.
When you have a great deal of square footage to cover, and need to keep your budget in mind, porcelain is your best bet. The offerings are vast and many European designers and architects use this to clad walls, the fronts of cabinetry, and from indoors to outdoors for a seamless effect.
courtesy of Clé
concrete
Cement tile is mostly known throughout the world as “Encaustic cement tile”. Like their predecessors, encaustic clay tiles, they derive their name from the term “encaustic” which is an art term used for metal enameling that uses a type of lost wax procedure. Cement tiles are a durable material, but are not fired, and thus, does not have a glaze on the surface.
Be careful when selecting concrete if you are concerned with maintenance. Although it can be sealed, it is porous and requires a little more maintenance than other categories of tile. I personally have it in a dirty kitchen on the floor and as the backsplash and understand its’ limitations, but I LOVE it! The homespun almost eclectic look of concrete tiles offers homeowners a unique style.
courtesy of Clé
courtesy of Cle
stone
Natural stone tile is produced from natural materials that are quarried, finished, and cut to size. Common types of stone used as flooring tile include granite, marble, limestone, travertine, and slate. Natural stone offers timeless beauty, durability and value that has been used for centuries in homes, palaces and churches throughout the world.
I use stone a-LOT. It’s natural, so it has a sense of already being home once installed. The color variation and movement are what gives it the interest my clients want. With the correct sealant, it really is an easy product to have, but ask your designer or contractor how to take care of it to ensure you’re happy with it for years to come.
courtesy of Melanie King Designs
courtesy of Melanie King Designs
Using any one of these amazing tiles in your home are effective ways to freshen up your spaces. These products are things every homeowner can implement, but if you would like a professional to help you through this, we are here to help.
Many thanks to ADR for providing the definitions of varying types of tiles. They have an amazing showroom in Houston, Tx. For more information about ADR, follow the link https://www.adrhouston.com/copy-of-tile
We can be reached at www.melaniekingdesigns.com or DM us @melaniekingdesigns