What are some of your winter or holiday traditions?

Adding some simple greenery to a mantle or window trim is one of our favorite ways to bring in natural textures and a festive feel to your space.

Is there anything better than spending time with loved ones in the heart of the home? We love this sweet moment submitted by @can1love.

The sky is the limit! Even though this holiday season looks different than previous years, it is okay to still decorate your spaces even if it is just for yourself.

Sometimes, less is more! A simple wreath and small decorations complete these holiday spaces.

We love seeing these festive spaces and nooks that you’ve decorated to make your whole home feel cozy and warm.

Using non-traditional colors such as pink and unique decor such as metallic ornaments keeps holiday decor feeling fresh! Kate Arends of Wit and Delight masterfully decorated her sunroom giving us major inspo for years to come.

Don’t be afraid to decorate in unexpected places! Adding garland above cabinets and on light fixtures creates a uniquely festive space.

We wish you a holiday season filled with family, friends, and joyful moments! Merry Christmas and happy holidays from all of us at The Tile Shop.

We love your spaces as much as you do! Share your project by tagging us @thetileshop or uploading it directly to our Customer Room Gallery.

The post Winter Wonderland Spaces at Home appeared first on The Tile Shop Blog.

Recently, we talked about Kitchen Remodeling 101 with Bria Hammel, our Brand Ambassador. We decided to follow back up with her and talk further, this time addressing a very common problem: How do you renovate small kitchens? We asked Bria for her top three tips – and got an extra one for good measure! 

1. Maximize storage space.

Work with a designer and a custom cabinet builder to maximize storage space to utilize every square inch of the space in a smart way. Before you start a remodel, especially one as important as a kitchen remodel, make a list of all the ways you envision yourself using the space.

Are you an avid cook? Do you enjoy entertaining? Will you need to incorporate barstools and an island to create an eat-in kitchen? Utilizing the creativity and problem-solving skills that designers and custom cabinet builders have will allow you to come up with a floorplan and cabinetry plan that specifically aligns to your own personal needs.

2. Small square footage? Big style!

When a room lacks in square footage, it can make up for it in style! Smaller spaces are the perfect opportunity to focus on every tiny detail. From custom window treatments, a unique tile backsplash, to luxurious countertops, making every detail a priority can really help the room pack a punch. 

3. Tile the backsplash to the ceiling.

Bringing your tile backsplash to the ceiling can make your space seem bigger! Sometimes, too much cabinetry can tend to make a space feel smaller and closed in. Choosing a tile backsplash that goes to the ceiling can break that up a bit and create a beautiful design detail that is sure to stand out. If you’re scared about losing storage space, open shelving are a great compromise that will give you ample room for your kitchen pieces while keeping the space feeling bright and open.

4. Hide small appliances!

Hide your smaller appliances (i.e. coffee maker, toaster, microwave, etc.) in cabinetry so that it’s not sitting out and taking up valuable counter space. It seems like every year there is a hot, new appliance that we’re lured into buying (hello Instant Pot and Airfryer!) and although they make our lives SO much easier, they do end up taking up treasured space on your counters.  Also nicknamed “appliance garages”, features like this are a great idea for smaller kitchens.

With any kitchen remodel, it can be a big undertaking. Thanks to Bria for making it a bit more digestible!

Not sure where to start on your project? We’re here to take the intimidation out of the equation by partnering with you every step of the way. Make a free appointment to talk about your project, either in the store or with a remote consultation, anytime. Schedule a Remote Design Consultation now!

The post Tips for Renovating a Small Kitchen appeared first on The Tile Shop Blog.

The second One Room Challenge reveal is here! If you loved our first post,  then buckle up, because there’s even more inspiration here. These next five designers all share a love of classic tile and their spaces reflect that. Let’s dive in!

A Glass of Bovino

Kicking it off is Alisa Bovino of A Glass of Bovino. The reveal of her renovated bathroom was certainly a shock, having seeing the before photos. 

When it comes to our home, I’m not afraid to get my hands dirty and have grown to love the thrill of taking bold design risks. I thrive off the grit of taking something that’s seemingly unattractive – whether it be a room or an old chair – and making it glamorous. -Alisa

And glamorous is what this new bathroom is, for sure! The bathroom space is small and a bit awkward, which challenged her. “It pushed me creatively farther than any of the other larger rooms I’ve done. Although the layout isn’t ideal, we made the best of what we had.” 

To make the room appear larger, she painted the ceiling and walls the same color. We loved the choice she made to use our 4×12 Firenze Calacutta tile for her shower and tub skirt. This white marble tile is quarried in Italy and has a honed finish that displays a cloudy white base with gold veining, providing the walls and floors with elegance.

“It’s quite honestly the most gorgeous stone tile I’ve ever seen and I’ll never get over the variation in pattern, color, and the specs of gold peppered throughout each piece – it’s what tile dreams are made of.” The juxtaposition of the brass tones with the shower tile is stunning, and we love how it makes the tones pop. 

In addition to the shower tile, Alisa also used our Siberian Pearl Brushed Herringbone. The brushed finish of this tile brings out the icy-white background and pearl-grey and white movements on its surface, emphasizing the natural patterns the Siberian Pearl collection is known for. Plus, you can’t go wrong with herringbone!

For more photos and a full 8-week recap, visit her post here.

Dwell by Cheryl

Interior designer, blogger and bona fide Southern girl, Cheryl Luckett, owner of Dwell by Cheryl Interiors, combines classic style with a colorful and cultured twist for her Charlotte area clients. 

When we first saw the sketch for Cheryl’s kitchen, we were eagerly awaiting the reveal, and it did not disappoint! 

From the start, I dubbed the project the Old, New, Borrowed, Blue Kitchen Redo.  This kitchen is a mix of old things like a vintage Duncan Phyfe dining table, my existing honey oak cabinets and a beautiful vintage Turkish rug and new things like my beautiful new Tile Shop floors and backsplash. -Cheryl

Cheryl used our Annie Selke Watercolor Lines Indigo tile for her floors and we love the texture it adds to the room. The deep ocean tones and 6″ x 20″ size offers ample options for creating a display that resembles raw natural silk. The design goes beyond surface appeal with an embossed, grass-cloth feel 3-D texture.

For the walls, she chose our Annie Selke Shadow Navy, a ceramic wall tile with a boldly colored pattern made softer with a watercolor-like effect that displays an Indonesian-inspired pattern. “The tile was one of my very first selections.  I never doubted it for a moment. […] Yeah, it’s a bold choice but hey, a designer lives here! I couldn’t love it more. It makes me so happy.” 

It definitely makes us happy, too! See the rest of Cheryl’s reveal here.

Hunted Interior

Kristin Jackson of Hunted Interior focuses on creating timeless spaces with a touch of the unexpected. Whether incorporating a high end statement piece or the addition of a vintage find, she believes that it is not what you spend that gives your home style but it is how you layer your space together.

For the One Room Challenge, Kristin and her husband renovated their bathroom. Their mantra was “work with what you have.” She uses that mantra for any design but even more so in this instance. “I pulled together not only one space, but three utilizing heirlooms, vintage items, thrift store finds from my collections over the years and a lot of creativity.”

For the overall vibe of the bathroom I wanted a clean, bright and classic space. But loved the idea of using a griege tile versus my go to white. […] I love neutrals and since turning to them more and more, I have learned that they really are my vibe. -Kristin

For the walls, Kristin used our Glass Rosewater Subway tile. While she usually uses bright colors with her clients, she knew she wanted a more classic, neutral space. The neutral tones also tie back to the vintage rug in the main space and the gloss of the glass tiles really makes the space sparkle.

Tying the room together is our Royal White Polished Marble Hexagon Mosaic tile. Romantic and breezy, the tile glows with creamy tones of ivory for a rare, exotic look. Subtle striations of silvery greys and linen beige offer light visual contrast, while the glossy finish creates ethereal glow.

Overall, Kristin’s space is beautiful and serene. Her desire to try something different worked out. See the rest of her reveal here.

Rambling Renovators

Since 2007, Jennifer Flores has been the writer and one half of the power-tool wielding couple behind Rambling Renovators. Recognized for her timeless designs and impressive DIYs, Jennifer shares her love of classic elements and preppy style (plaid is her favorite neutral) on her blog. Her challenge for the ORC: transforming her dark and dated basement into a coastal escape.

While this wasn’t an exceptionally complicated renovation, it was time consuming and had many moving parts. But thankfully things came together and their space turned out beautifully.

For our family, we envisioned using this space for family movie nights, playing games, and entertaining. We were able to create three zones to meet our needs: the games table, the seating and TV area, and the kitchenette. -Jennifer

Jen chose our Retro Perla Subway tile for her backsplash. Its medium grey tone offers an elongated shape that’s lightly textured in gentle waves to soften areas. This ceramic tile is also double-fired with a clear coat glaze, so no sealing is required prior to grouting.

She wanted a more neutral feel, which the tile matches perfectly with. Plus, by extending it to the fireplace area, it ties the room together.

We have no doubt that many fun game nights will be had here! Check out her full reveal here.

Deeply Southern Home

It’s hard to see Leslie’s reveal of her living room and not think “Wow!” The vaulted ceiling, the stunning decor and the beautiful natural light all helped bring this room together. While the transformation wasn’t that stark in difference, the changes she made had a huge impact.

We worked with Leslie to tile her non-functional faux fireplace. Her one goal? Build and execute a fireplace that does not look like a faux fireplace.

Having experienced renovating houses before, I knew we could build and execute a fireplace even better than what was offered by the builder. […] The fireplace is what grounds the living room and to see it like this is the culmination of a vision and a dream. -Leslie

For the floor of the fireplace, Leslie chose the Arctic White Marble. Sourced from only one quarry in the world, this Turkish marble is an extremely rare stone that is only sold at The Tile Shop. This high-quality, 12″ x 18″ marble tile is actually ivory in tone, softening and warming up any space.

The fireplace inlay tile is our Color Market Patagonia. The world’s leading color expert, Pantone®, inspired the brilliant hues of the 2.5″ x 9″ ceramic subway tiles. This glossy, classic shade of white was just what Leslie was looking for. Plus, she loved how the textured matte finish of the tile mimicked fire brick traditionally used in marble fireplaces.

See the rest of Leslie’s space here and stay tuned for our next and final installment of the One Room Challenge reveals.

The post Spring 2020 One Room Challenge™ Reveal Part 2 appeared first on The Tile Shop Blog.

Here at the Tile Shop, we are deeply saddened by the pain and unrest happening in our hometown of Minneapolis and across the U.S. The senseless deaths of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, Ahmaud Arbery and so many others are reflective of the prejudice and injustice that exists in the world today. Our community is hurting and there is an eruption of pain, anger and demand for change happening around the country. 

For the businesses impacted by the events from this past week, we are here for you. If you are a builder, contractor or installer who is currently helping with a rebuilding project and needs materials, please comment below so we can connect. We recognize these are small contributions in comparison to the sustained support needed to make a change but it is one way we can help right now.

We believe that discrimination and prejudice have no place in the community or in our workplace. Our company stands for inclusion, love, acceptance and support. We have a responsibility to combat hate, racism and unfair treatment of our fellow humans. To those around us: we see you, we hear you, and we stand with you. Black lives matter. 

The post We Stand With You. appeared first on The Tile Shop Blog.

Last year, we introduced Bria Hammel, our first Brand Ambassador. Bria is the principal designer and CEO of Bria Hammel Interiors as well as CEO of Brooke & Lou and co-creator of Hammel House & Co. She leads a talented team of women who are dedicated to designing beautiful, inviting homes for clients. Her designs remain true to her signature traditional style with a hint of southern charm. 

We connected with Bria to talk about one of her passions: kitchen remodeling! Lucky for us, she was happy to share pointers.

Q&A with Bria

Q: Where do you start when deciding to do a kitchen renovation? What considerations should the client/homeowner have? 

A: I think it’s always important to start with the layout. Make a list of all of the needs, and then all of the wants for the space. Make it a point to capture all of the needs, and then if you can get all of the wants as well it will become your dream kitchen!

Q: When in the process should I pick out my tile vs. cabinets, appliances, paint colors, etc.?

A: We suggest to have everything selected before the actual construction starts. This really allows your whole process to run a lot more smoothly and efficiently. It ends up speeding up the process because if you have everything ordered, contractors can get in there and work quickly because they aren’t waiting on anything to come in. In what order you select things, is completely up to you. However, if you have a stand out tile that you know you want to use you can use that as your inspiration piece and go from there!

Q: What are some of the harder decisions/parts of the process for your clients and how do you navigate those? 

A: I think one of the hardest decisions for clients is where to take a risk. Clients tend to see tile as a pretty permanent fixture in their homes so it feels like a bigger risk to do something playful and fun. I always encourage our clients to pick one or two areas in the home that they can do something unique and special – and then keep the rest classic. I’ve often found that clients actually love the areas they took the risk in most!

Q: How much does it cost to remodel a kitchen? 

A: It’s all relative to size but if you are doing a complete overhaul and starting from scratch you can plan on spend up to $100,000 on a kitchen renovation alone. However, we always recommend taking your budget and figuring what details are the most important to you and take priority. For us, we recommend splurging on appliances, tile, and light fixtures and saving on hardware, accessories, and countertops (look into remnants!). 

Q: Any tips for how to best work with a designer?

A: Be open and honest about your budget. There are things designers can do to help you prioritize and creatively come up with solutions that are less expensive and can fit within your perimeters. Let your designer push you outside of your comfort zone a little bit too! We take pride in taking clients’ visions and bringing it to fruition and to the next level. 

Thank you to Bria for all this great information, and stay tuned for our next post featuring tips for renovating small kitchens.

The post Kitchen Remodeling Q+A with Bria Hammel appeared first on The Tile Shop Blog.