Our favorite part of the One Room Challenge™ is here – the reveal! As you know, we worked with fourteen of the twenty featured designers this season and trust us, the reveals are even better than we imagined. Our designers worked hard for eight weeks to completely transform their space and it paid off. Alright, let’s get to the good stuff! Here’s part one of our three part series taking a look at the ORC reveals.

Beth Diana Smith

Kicking the reveals off is Beth Diana Smith’s transformation of her kitchen and powder bath. First, lets take a look at her kitchen transformations over the years.

After significant water damage to her kitchen last year, Beth decided to tackle this redesign a little sooner than she had originally planned. She wanted to tackle the countertops, backsplash and hardware with her ORC space.

“Overall, I want the kitchen to feel a bit funky and reflect my aesthetic but I want the foundation (the more permanent items like the tile) to be neutral.” – Beth

While her renovation in 2014 also featured white subway tile, our Color Market Ceramic Subway Tile in Patagonia, puts a modern spin on an old classic. From the matte finish to laying it in a vertical straight stack pattern, the backsplash adds to the overall contemporary feel of the kitchen.

For her powder bath, she wanted it to be an experience, and we must say, she nailed it! With the tile touching all four walls with one wall tiled all the way to the ceiling, she achieved that bold and dramatic look she was aiming for.

“For my Powder Room I wanted the tile to scream my aesthetic, very bold and very funky. So I’m using The Tile Shop‘s Cell Ceramic Tile that I knew was the perfect fit as soon as I saw it.” – Beth

It was love at first sight for Beth and our Cell Light Gold Ceramic Tile, making it the perfect decorative tile to make a big statement in a small space. Paired with a deep wine shade on the walls and matte black fixtures, this bathroom perfectly fits Beth’s eclectic and fun style. View her entire One Room Challenge space here.

Liz Kamarul

Liz’s One Room Challenge had another challenge in of itself: to transform the kitchen repurposing what she already has. The before and after looks like a completely different space, which is proof that small changes make a big impact!

To many, her kitchen would be perfectly fine, but to Liz, it lacked the personality she loves to bring into her spaces. She has since made some updates, but it wasn’t quite perfect. This ORC was the perfect time to make it a whole lot more ‘Liz!’

Complete with a tiled kitchen island and a mural on the ceiling, her finished space screams Liz’s colorful personality and daring style, all the while trying to think of creative ways to use what she already had on hand. Her ORC wasn’t without a few trials and tribulations, though…

“Hot tip from a newbie who had to learn the hard way: mix up your grout in small amounts and work in small areas. Make sure the grout is smooth like cake mix and wipe it off as you go. It dries very quick!” – Liz

Our Color Market Ceramic Subway Tile was a popular choice this season and is featured in a few ORC spaces. Liz used the Color Market Tile in Army for her backsplash. The matte finish and natural texture gives an earthy feel to the space.

Check out her entire reveal on her blog!

Clark + Aldine

Danielle and Michael of Clark + Aldine set out to create a functional and purposeful kitchen, dining and living space for their family. The space has been completely transformed into a gorgeous open concept great room where their design personality flows seamlessly throughout. Let’s take a look at the space before…

This was not an easy task. To achieve the open concept look, Danielle and Michael had to do some serious demo to the space.

When selecting their backsplash tile, Danielle and Michael landed on our Splendours White Ceramic Tile, specifically being drawn to the way it reflects light. To add another twist, they added pieces of our DURAL Chrome Plated Trim randomly throughout the pattern.

One of our favorite parts of their space is their kitchen nook. Both beautiful and functional, it features our Firehouse Thin-Brick Tile. Actually sliced from a brick block, you can achieve the traditional red brick look, or you can opt to paint the brick like Danielle and Michael did.

Check out their entire transformation over on Clark & Aldine.

Kate Pearce Vintage

Kate Pearce took her vintage-inspired style to transform her attic into a gorgeous guest ensuite, and in true Kate Pearce fashion, it is full of fun vintage finds. Transforming a mostly unfinished attic is not an easy undertaking!

“Still, there was something this space had in SPADES, and that thing was ‘potential.’ The first step towards reaching that potential would be to demolish; to demolish just about everything.” – Kate

The after photos may shock you! The space is completely transformed into a functional extension of Kate’s home perfect for guests.

Our Artisan Tiare Porcelain floor tiles give a gorgeous low-maintenance design element to the entire space. Kate’s love affair with the color orange made it the perfect tile to add a wow-factor, while still keeping the space sophisticated.

“I love that the Artisan Tiare combined the ochre color with charcoal and white, allowing the tile to pick up the white and blacks that I planned to ground the room with.” – Kate

Featured on the entire bathroom floor including in the shower, the Artisan Tiare Porcelain creates a sense of cohesion that draws the natural eye through the entire space.

To finish the space, Kate chose our Color Market Ceramic Subway tile in Santorini and Cosmos (which has since been discontinued). Both shades pull from the Artisan Tiare Porcelain to once again marry the entire space together.

Get all the details on Kate’s One Room Challenge space here.

Dreaming of transforming a space of your own but aren’t sure where to start? We are here to help! Let us take the intimidation out of the equation. Schedule a free design consultation with one of our tile design experts.

The post Spring 2020 One Room Challenge™ Reveal Part 1 appeared first on The Tile Shop Blog.

The Victorian Farmhouse

The Victorian Farmhouse

Enter the Victorian Farmhouse, a unique over-100-years-old blend of a city-style Victorian and a country farmhouse near Milwaukee, WI. Stephanie and Travis certainly had their work cut out for them. All 13 rooms in the home needed to be completely redone. So, what convinced them that it’d be worth the work? Stephanie’s ability to see past the mess to the hidden original elements showed her that beneath all the musty layers was their forever home. And, four and a half years later, taking that leap of faith has paid off.

Tile was an integral part of this remodel because Stephanie’s choices, especially marble and hexagons, allowed her to honor the age and style of the home with new materials and create the modern farmhouse of her family’s dreams.

House Stats

Year built: 1892

Owned for: 4.5 years

Square feet: 3,000

Bedrooms: 5

Bathrooms: 2

History

Stephanie has put almost as much work into the researching the history of the Victorian Farmhouse as she has designing it. Through Ancestry.com, the historical society and the library, she learned that the original owners were successful dairy farmers William and Elenora Foster (pictured with the home below). The family’s success in farming allowed them to build this Victorian-style home out on their country farm. The house was originally built as a wedding gift by William’s parents, who lived next door, and the family stayed in the home until the 1940s. Stephanie and her husband are only the fourth owners in 127 years. At one point in its history, the house was used as a guesthouse for travelers passing through.

Stephanie found this amazing photo of her house with its original owners.

Historical Details

The intact historical details of the home were a big selling point for the couple. From the grand staircase down to the intricate doorknobs, there are hidden treasures everywhere. The front parlor is one of their favorite places because of the cozy atmosphere the fireplace and the stained-glass windows create. In the dining room, the original woodwork of the two-toned floor is the standout feature. To complement this original detailing, lots of antique and thrifted items were used. This bench in the entryway, originally used as church or theater seating in the 1920s, was salvaged from a dumpster and perfectly suites the home’s style.

Grand staircase

Entryway

Front parlor

Dining room

Kitchen

The kitchen shines as an authentic-yet-functional space with its mix of modern conveniences and historical details. Maintaining the character of an 1890s home while bringing a fresh take was the ultimate design goal. Rustic and vintage pieces, like the colorful Depression glass from the 1920s that Stephanie has been collecting for years, add character and a farmhouse feeling. Modern materials, like this marble-look tile and updated appliances, have an updated look that coordinates with the rest of the space.

Featured: Carrara Gris Gloss Subway

Extending the tile all the way to the ceiling gives the room height.

Old meets new

Laundry Room

Like much of the house, the laundry room also has amazing wooden features. The vintage bench and hexagonal tiles, which Stephanie loves and repeated throughout the house, flatter these features and combine function with style.

Wood ceiling details in the laundry room

Featured: Hex Matte Black

The hexagonal motif is repeated in this bathroom. Featured: Carrara Gris Gloss Subway and Firenze Carrara Honed 2 in Hex. Stephanie used Wedi Fundo Primo Shower Kit to build the shower.

Stephanie found this bed (that retails for around $1,000) at Habitat for Humanity Restore for only $65! The style fits perfectly in the master bedroom, which was the servants’ quarters in the original home.

The claw-foot bathtub is another Craigslist find. It was in terrible shape so Stephanie restored it and painted it black. Now, it’s one of her favorite places to relax in the house. Featured: Firenze Carrara Honed 2 in Hex

Read more about the Victorian Farmhouse journey on their blog.

All photography except third photo by Stephanie Kreger. All contract work by The Kreger Company of New Berlin, WI.

The post A Tour of the Victorian Farmhouse appeared first on The Tile Shop Blog.

Have you always been interested in interior design?

Absolutely. I always loved babysitting as a kid because I could go into other people’s home and see what they looked like. In 6^thgrade, I bought all new furniture for my bedroom on my own because I didn’t like how my mom decorated. I took the bus to Dayton’s, spent my babysitting money on furniture, artwork and bedding and I had it all delivered one day. My mom asked me, “What are you doing?!” And I just said, “I’m redoing my room.” She had no idea! I don’t know what they thought at the store, but it seemed perfectly normal to me.

Tell us about your college experience.

Even then, I was always designing. I went to the University of North Dakota and decorated my dorm room in a Marilyn Monroe theme. It caught the attention of other people on my floor, and, before I knew it, I’d started a small business decorating dorm rooms. Then, I transferred to North Dakota State University where I graduated with a degree in apparel textiles and a minor in art. I wanted to be a textile designer but I ended up not being interested in the science aspect. So I went back to school and got a 2-year degree from NKBA (the National Kitchen and Bath Association) for a kitchen and bath design focused program.

How have you seen kitchen and bath design evolve since the beginning of your career?

Definitely, especially because it’s a relatively new field. Years ago, bathrooms and kitchens were largely utilitarian spaces, not places where the family gathered. Now they’re two of the most important areas in the home. When I started out, it was all beige and cherry wood. Everyone had very similar stuff because every company sold very similar stuff. Then the style became much more contemporary. Now the trend has swung back towards the middle and become a more transitional, warm style.

“I truly believe that you shouldn’t worry about what’s in fashion because if you go with what you love, you make the fashion.”

What have you been most proud of in your career?

When I see a customer photo and realize they’ve taken my design from a store and recreated it in their homes, that’s when I feel most proud. I just want people to love my designs, and it makes me feel good that they want something I created in their homes. I’m also proud of the trim pieces that allow people to customize and elevate their projects and the unique mosaics that I’ve designed for The Tile Shop.

What is your favorite tile?

I love Hall Blanco. It goes with every mosaic and with almost everything. The unique size and cool color add a contemporary feeling to bathrooms. I’m also immediately attracted to anything blue and purple because they’re my favorite colors. Our Beachwalk tiles have all my favorite colors in them.

Do you have any tips for young designers?

Listen and ask a lot of questions. Your client will clue you into what he or she is looking for. Everyone has a style, and you just have to narrow theirs down. To be a great designer, you have to be a great salesperson, too. If you can’t communicate a vision to your customer, it doesn’t matter how great it is. It won’t go anywhere because the client isn’t going to buy it.

“To be a great designer, you have to be a great listener as well as a great salesperson.”

Where do you find inspiration?

Every morning I look at Pinterest, Houzz and Decor Pad to see what’s new. I read hundreds of blogs so I know what our customers are seeing. And I actually get a lot of inspiration from going to nice stores like Nordstrom, Williams-Sonoma or Pottery Barn. You might not relate them to tile but it’s about the lifestyle that people want to emulate and bettering their lives. If you think about it, your bathroom is the first thing you see every morning. Don’t you want to like what you see? Design is a big part of that.

How would you describe your personal design aesthetic?

It’s very clean and contemporary, and I think that’s because there’s so much going on in my head. I like my house to be clean and uncluttered. I have a lot of contemporary artwork around my home and a lot of blues, tans and whites. The vibe is modern California coastal style mixed with East Coast Hamptons style.

How do you keep ideas fresh when you’re working in the same medium day after day?

Plan, plan, plan! I make sure I am using a wide variety of tiles that will get people excited. I also like to divide and conquer, so I don’t try to do too much at once. Splitting every project into little parts, making each one the best it can be and then going to the next part helps me focus. It’s been really easy this year because our selection has grown so much that I couldn’t possibly use all the new tiles. Sometimes I can’t sleep the night before I am designing a project because I’m so excited.

Who are your biggest design influences and inspirations? 

Kelly Hoppen is my favorite. She has a clean, beautiful, contemporary aesthetic. I respect that she’s branched out into other things and created an entire business based on the thoughts in her head. I also love Dayna Decker, Kristin Cavallari, Reese Witherspoon and Chyka Keebaugh. It’s hard to get your vision out there, so I love those success stories. Contemporary artists, like Kandinsky, Klee and Picasso, and expressionists inspire me. Art has been a big part of my life, and I always try to include nice art in our showrooms. Coco Chanel and Zac Posen are a couple of my icons from the fashion world.

What’s your favorite part of your own home?

Probably my living room. I’ve always wanted a great sectional, and it’s perfect for my dog and I to lay on and watch Netflix. Being able to make choices and buy the furniture I want is really exciting for me. I don’t take it for granted.

What is your dream client or project to work on designing?

It would actually be a project for myself. I would love to buy a mid-century modern home, gut it and make it contemporary.

The Fun Five

What is your dream vacation?

I’m a big British TV fan, and one of my favorite shows ever is called Midsummer Murders. I would love to rent a cottage in the Cotswolds where it takes place for a week and take a cooking or painting class there.

What are you streaming right now?

I watch lots of British and Australian TV shows on Acorn TV. I love the Australian show Offspring. It has amazing scenery and quirky design. I also love Killing Eve and Death in Paradise.

What song do you always get stuck in your head?

I’ll get one song in my head and listen to it 20 times in a row when I’m running. Plus, I love 80s music and Sade for listening to while I’m designing and shopping.

Who would play you in a movie?

Either Lisa Whelchel who played Blair in The Facts of Life or Nicole Richie. Those are the celebrities I’ve been compared to the most.

If you weren’t doing what you do, what would your career be?

I would love to be a realtor because I love seeing people’s homes.

The post Spotlight On: Kirsty Froelich, Tile Shop Design Manager appeared first on The Tile Shop Blog.