By Gail Bicknell
One of the components of home design and renovations that I’m asked about most is tile. Which material is best? How should we finish the edges? What size should we use? What’s new and trending?
Tile was originally ceramic. It was made by hand of clay, talc, sand, and sometimes natural fibers, but it scratched and fractured easily and absorbed moisture. Natural stone tile is inherently beautiful, but it has to be sealed and is hard to clean and maintain. Porcelain tile is made of clay, sand, and feldspar. It is processed under high pressure and high temperature which produces a consistent and durable product. Porcelain tile resists scratching, water absorption, and cold temperatures. It can be manufactured in a huge variety of colors, textures, and sizes. For these reasons, porcelain is the best option for the majority of homeowners.
Trending today in both wall and floor tile markets are super-sized tiles that are 24” x 48” and 48” x 48”. These larger tiles create a fabulous look that’s a breeze to maintain with fewer grout lines than a standard application. They are available in stone, concrete, and ribbed wood looks that produce an incredible spa feel in contemporary bathrooms.
Linear drains in showers are also trending. These drains can use larger floor tiles and, unlike a traditional center drain, allow the shower floor to be pitched in just one direction. A shower floor with a traditional center drain requires the floor to pitch to the drain in four directions for proper drainage. This requires a very small mosaic or 2” floor tile for flexibility. If considering a linear drain, consider that specialized saws are needed to cut oversized tiles. If you love this option, be sure to discuss this with your installer before ordering. Many tile contractors don’t have the capability of cutting them.
Another top trend according to Christine Kohl, the owner of The Tile Lady in Berkeley Heights, is modular patterns in floor tile. To create this look, you purchase one tile design in a variety of sizes (for example 16” x 24”, 16” x 16”, 8” x 16”, 8” x 8”) and allow designers to create multiple patterns, adding interest and originality to floors. Hexagonal tiles continue to be wildly popular, too.
Always timeless and classic is the look of Carrara ~ that familiar creamy white marble with gray or beige veining. Available as natural stone, Carrara can be expensive to install and requires sealing every year or two. There are, however, many excellent, realistic-looking options on the market in porcelain, which mimic real stone but are less costly, and easier to maintain and install.
Another trend that’s moving east from the west coast is Terrazzo~ both with natural stone and in porcelain alternatives. Terrazzo originated in 16th century Italy to repurpose the marble chips left from sculpting and building and consists of a composite material inlaid with varying sizes, shapes, and colors of marble.
Wall tiles were traditionally sold with matching bullnose pieces to finish off the edges of the application. Schluter strips are a stylish, clean, and affordable alternative. They are simple metal edge brackets that are available in rounded, square, or flat profiles and in a wide array of finishes. Although not for every application, Schluter strips save installation time and eliminate the need for bullnose or finish tiles.
Finally, remember that tile should always be installed by a professional installer who has the proper tools and expertise for your project. With a professional, you’ll have a safer, faster, higher quality installation as well as peace of mind.
Ready to talk tile? I’d love to talk with you!
Gail Bicknell, ASID, CAPS
Fair Street Interiors
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fairstreetinteriors@gmail.com
