Choosing A Tile Design

Cover photo courtesy of thetileshop.com Check out Tileshop.com for great design inspiration

Tile installations can transform a house. Stone accents can add life to your home. Tile shower surrounds set the tone for your day as you prepare in your own little oasis. Fireplace hearth tile makes your home a desirable place to cozy up in the long winter months.

But how do you get that design that really sends a tile installation to a level of central interest?

The world of tile is vast. If you have simple tastes and would like a subtle upgrade for a particular room, Look up some simple tile ideas and opt for simple designs. Colour palette is just as important as the style of tile. You can find colour palette support online using the colours already in your home or the colours you would like to paint with.

If you want to create "La pièce de résistance", then here are some pointers to get you started on that journey.

Your home has a feel to it, a theme or a style. Try to determine what that style is and how you can build on that theme. Here is a link to help you label your home style. Avoid if you can creating a home that feels like a mishmash of styles in different rooms.

Once you know what your home style is, you will have a more focused idea of what you should do with your tile.

Draw inspiration from pictures online of what others have done with your particular home style. Look up some tile manufacturers websites or go to some retailers in town to get a feel for the types of tile to choose from.

Tile, The Natural Choice

 Our eyes are attuned to what we see in the natural world; the natural order of the universe gives our eyes peace. That is why we appreciate triangle shapes, such as wood grain on cabinet panels, pointing up like trees or mountains. Pebble, as a general rule, stays where we would see pebble in nature... beneath our feet. Try to imitate nature and/or replicate foundational building elements...ie, brick, beams, arches, columns.

Look at the picture above. While the amount of tile is impressive and there where some efforts to use a structural element on the right wall to give our eyes something to focus on, there is no differentiating between the floor and the walls with the plank. The plank gives the impression of siding or waterfalls, but the floor being the same plank and colour does not separate the floor from the wall and the impression is frustrating to our eyes.

Carefully consider edge tile and accent options. Most ceramic tile is not the same colour throughout the tile and the edges need special treatment to finish off. These options are part of the final product and can add certain dynamics to your creation.

Most tile are not a uniform colour throughtout and will need to be set with special edging

Metal edging is the easiest option for most tile setters and will typically be what they use to finish the edges unless you request otherwise. Sometimes its the only viable option as bullnose tile(we'll get to it) is not always readily available for all colours of tile.

Bullnose tile is a manufactured tile that is rounded over to terminate edges and corners on curbs, niches and wall corners.

Bullnose tile courtesy Ceramica Vogue www.ceramicavogue.com

Tiled niche with bullnose tile to finish edges. Courtesy www.homedecordeesigns.info

Add an element of intrigue to your tile installation by capping off wainscot or backsplash tile with cornice tile

Cornice tile image courtesy of Sal DiBlasi.

Another great option, when bullnose or edge trim aren't available or aren't desired, is the mitred edge. A professional installer like JMJ Tileworks has the right tools to cut the tile at 45 degrees on each adjoining edge and create a clean minimalistic transition. This method requires more labour and therefore costs a little more; we are working with porcelain.

Tile Shower installation with mitred edges by JMJ Tileworks near brandon kemnay mb

We have gone over some basics for tile design, which include your colour palette and tile edging and trim. There are many more options to consider when it comes to tile type, style, framing focal tile, transitioning different wall tile, mosaic tile art, trim and edging combinations and more. If you would like some direction or some design consultation, JMJ Tileworks would be happy to assist you. Just call us at 204-730-0JMJ(0565)