Checkerboard Class

With a custom tiled checkerboard pattern made of warm brown travertine and brushed ivory marble, this grand bathroom boasts elegance and sophistication.

Learn more about creating your own custom tile pattern here.

Historic Farmhouse Charm

Maintaining the home’s original charm while incorporating a few lavish upgrades (hello Italian marble floors!), this 1912 farmhouse remodel does the perfect job pairing old with new.

Scandinavian Sanctuary

Tumbled marble floors laid in a herringbone pattern give this Scandinavian-inspired sanctuary an elevated feel, while natural tones and textures offer the ultimate warmth and coziness.

Shop our curated selection of Scandinavian-chic tile to achieve a similar look.

Posh Polka Dots

White and black marble hex tiles make up the most whimsical custom floor pattern in this light-filled bathroom, proving polka dots can be posh!

Luxe Handmade Look

Elegant handmade-look tiles adorn the entrance to a gorgeous shower featuring Moroccan-inspired star and cross floor tiles and gloriously veined marble-look wall tiles.

Discover more perfectly imperfect designs when you shop our wide selection of handmade-look tile.

Modern & Moody

A high-contrast palette, large-format marble-look flooring, and a glossy herringbone shower mosaic create the most luxe and dramatic atmosphere in this modern bathroom.

If you’re looking to achieve the appearance of a high-end stone slab at more accessible price point, explore our assortment of large-format tile.

Old Victorian Allure

Elegant wall paneling and crown moldings give a nod to the history of this old Victorian-style home, while a striking Italian marble shower brings the perfect amount of modern glamour to its refreshed bathroom.

Hotel-Esque Haven

The honey-gold veining in the Calacata Evora marble floor tile complements the bold ochre and bronze coloring of the Macchia Veccchia marble-look wall tile in this ultra-luxe bathroom designed by Nikki Chu.

Learn more about this celebrity designer’s luxury total-home makeover here.

Grand in Green

Muted sage green hues and dramatic Firenze Calacatta marble bring this traditional bathroom design alive with character. Consider us green with envy!

Cozy Modern Cottage

Blending rich, warm wood with cool grey limestone from our Silver Mist collection, Julia Marcum of Chris Loves Julia created the ultimate modern cottage primary bathroom.

Explore the full space and learn more about Julia’s design process here.

Artisanal Elegance

Tumbled travertine brings a rustic, brick-like appearance to the floor of this cozy ensuite bathroom, while perfectly imperfect details from the handmade-look shower tile add the sweetest artisanal feel.

Explore our assortment of nearly 300 handmade-look tiles to bring one-of-a-kind character to your home.

So-Cal Splendor

Inspired by the atmosphere of Southern California, this bathroom was designed to feel laidback, contemporary and clean. Complete with blonde wood tones, warm beige travertine, and a wet room drenched in sunlight, it’s a west coast dream.

See more of this stunning home and read our Q&A with designer Kelli Fontana Vogelgesang of West Bay Homes here!

Marble Marvel

Donning Firenze Carrara Honed marble from top to bottom, this massive spa-like oasis truly takes luxury to the next level.

If you love this bathroom, be sure to tour the entire Mediterranean-Inspired Miami Home designed by Bria Hammel for even more drool-worthy spaces.

Refined Retreat

The use of a cool-toned, monochromatic color palette throughout this refined bathroom allows the traditional beauty of the cement-look patterned tile to capture attention and create eye-catching dimension.

Chic & Stylish

Take it from this chic space – white marble will never go out of style. Pairing our Grecian Volakas marble with soft grey tones and dazzling brass accents, this bathroom is the ultimate relaxation haven.

Design Tip: Extend the wall trim up to frame your vanity mirrors for an extra elevated, custom appearance.

Ultra-Sleek Industrial

Large-format porcelain tile creates a slab effect in this fashionable industrial-style bathroom. With cement-look tile in the main bathroom and marble-look shower tile, the effect is richly expressive and expansive space.

Shop our wide assortment of large-format tile to achieve this look.

Feeling inspired to take your bathroom to the next level? Schedule a free design consultation to get started.

We love seeing your spaces! Share your next project by tagging us @thetileshop on Instagram or uploading it directly to our Customer Room Gallery (you can find even more design inspo there, too)!

The post 16 Luxurious Bathroom Designs appeared first on The Tile Shop Blog.

Beyond being our neighbor and an incredible partner, Kelli’s designs continue to blow us away. The level of detail and intentionality put into each design showcases her true artistry. In this Q&A, we’re chatting with Kelli on her recent Trillium and Heritage projects.

The Heritage Project

House Stats

Two-story
7,706 sq. ft.
5 bedrooms
6 bathrooms

Can you tell me about the Heritage house? Is there any story behind it and the project that you want to share?

“For our original Heritage project, I was over the moon inspired by two trips that we had taken to California. I was inspired by restaurant designs like that of The Butcher’s Daughter in Venice where I could have spent the day sipping on my rosemary latte with hemp milk in this vibrant bohemian daydream for people watching. From the minimalist oceanfront beach homes of Malibu to the idealistic, almost unreal splendor of Hotel Bel-Air in LA. It was one charge of creative energy to another.”

“It’s funny, my assistant brought this to my attention the other day. When I’m dreaming up a new project, I’ll often start compiling different inspiration images, textiles, colors, and material samples to convey the home story I have in my head, to bring my ideas to light. There are many pieces and parts.”

My job as a creative in this industry is to bring forth a feeling for our custom WEST BAY HOMES. As we know, feelings change and stories need to be told. It’s a story I want to tell using the home as my canvas.

Walk us through your design process.

“In my process, my mood board pictures won’t really have any connection to an onlooker but for me, the pieces and parts click rather quickly and effortlessly. To you, it may look like an image of a gothic revival home and an abalone shell belt and you may scratch your head, but to me, it’s the wide steps on the front elevation of the Victorian porch that I’m zeroed in on and the shell belt represents the finish I’ll try to achieve for the shower tile in the basement bathroom.”

Tell us about this show-stopping wet room. Walk me through your design process.

“In my career, I have had the great fortune to design well over 100 bathrooms and I think that as you gain confidence in your career, you desire to challenge yourself – at least I do. A lot of thought and planning had to go on behind the scenes to create an epic yet approachable personal spa bathroom experience such as this. I wanted it to feel warm, although expansive. I wanted the space to feel connected to nature — a shower in the treetops is a splendid way to start or end your day. I wanted this environment to make you want very badly to interact with it. I am so pleased with the way it turned out. The kids get the sports court but the adults get this, you know!”

“We loved the buttery white-oak tone of the wood. When I looked at the space and saw the sheer size and knew how much tile would be there, I wanted to counteract all of the tile with wood. Travertine is a beautiful option that is classic. Paired with the hardwood floors, it made the floors look like one body of warmth. We chose to pair it with large format porcelain to make the space feel super luxurious.”

I want to make it beautiful. I want to make it highly functional, and I definitely want to make it fun.

What are your tips when mixing materials in a space?

“Don’t worry about what’s cool at the time. Go with what is best suited for the space and don’t get too caught up on it. Make your selections personal and go with your gut!”

How about the prep space in the Heritage project. What were you inspired by?

“You enter the house, you wash your hands. I’ve been creating homes with hand washing in mind long before COVID. The concept is an easy-to-access sink, upon transitioning into the home. The prep space is also wonderful for specific daily tasks or morning rituals like making coffee or morning smoothies. The prep kitchen is a workhorse that keeps the main kitchen clutter to a minimum. At WEST BAY HOMES, we are all about the ease and elegance of living.”

The Trillium Project

House Stats

Rambler
7,030 sq. ft.
5 bedrooms
6 bathrooms  

Since the Trillium project was a remodel, how does your design process change compare to new builds?

“With remodels, you are forced to work within the parameters of the existing home in some capacity, and you’re hired to bring forth innovative design ideas and solutions to support the homeowners in living a lifestyle that will bring ease to their daily lives.”

What were the client‘s requests for the Trillium project?

“Originally they came to us after already having a conversation with an architect who had proposed a significant addition. After I walked through the house, many of my ideas actually ended up saving them a lot of money. We cleaned the whole house up and added tons of tile, millwork, lighting, doors, everything.”

Tell me about the hidden kids’ bathroom. What was your inspiration behind that?

“With the kids sharing a room, we created a custom bunk bed, 2 closets, and a large toy storage space where the fireplace once sat. The homeowners also requested a lot of storage for books, so we had to be clever. This is how the bookcase ledge wall that opened to the children’s new bathroom came to be. It was a way to delight the children while providing the family with all the elements they wanted to incorporate into the newly designed nursery space.”

How does tile play a role in your designs?

“I use tile to make statements. It really is a huge supporting role in my designs and helps me create a strong story for the house. Whether it’s something traditional or earthy, tile is a great way to reflect the identity of what we want to say through the design. It is an awesome material for putting an exclamation point on the aesthetics of a space.”

Share a little bit about how functionality plays into your designs. The swinging door leading from the laundry room to the kitchen is ingenious!

“Prior to the WEST BAY HOMES remodel, the laundry space was dark, cramped, and a place you would not like to spend much time in. It had a wall within it that made no sense. The only thing it had going for it was 2 access points and a window. Regarding the access point from the kitchen: wouldn’t you rather have a seamless cabinetry door as opposed to an awkward door within your kitchen space. The cabinetry door opens, and surprise…your Pinterest-worthy pantry and sleek, functional laundry space is revealed. Who wouldn’t want a surprise like that?”

For me, it happens really quickly. I see a space and I know exactly what I would do to improve it.

In the half bath, you mix a few patterns of tile as well as with the wallpaper, any tips or best practices when mixing patterns?

“The clients have roots in England and Africa and also wanted a contemporary, yet timeless feel to their home. I swooned over the uniqueness of their style request and this powder bath has it all! The Zebras Wallpaper by Scalamandré was the perfect backdrop for this bold mix of textures and finish. In my mind, the powder bath is a concentrated environment where you can be a little more indulgent in your design choices than the main living areas of your home.”

My pro tip: if you’re too afraid to do something in your kitchen or great room, try it out in your powder bath. Another tip: if it doesn’t scare you a little, you’re not quite there yet. Take risks and choose materials that make your heart skip a beat.

The Fun Five

What has been your quarantine obsession?

“After being diagnosed with stage 0, grade 2, DCIS breast cancer in December 2019, my incredible family went from cancer straight into COVID and some days were really difficult. For all the challenges 2020 brought there were so many blessings and clarity for what I’ll value a whole lot more moving forward.

Health. Real whole foods and nourishment became my thing. I’ve always loved to cook, but something shifted really naturally for me during the quarantine. I craved whole, delicious, colorful, beautiful food more than ever. So I was cooking morning, noon, and night in the thick of quarantine.”

What are you streaming right now?

“I am currently not streaming any TV shows or movies. I just stumble upon something on Netflix–I am not necessarily obsessed with any specific show. I do love listening to many different genres of music. Often, I tell Alexa to play “chill electronic” music when we are working in the studio. I also enjoy listening to music on my record player. Some of my personal favorites are artists like Drake, Lana del Ray, Etta James, and Led Zeppelin.”

What is your favorite hobby when you’re not working?

“I like thrifting – a day perusing consignment shops for furniture or unique secondhand clothes is always enjoyable. I also love going on little getaways with my husband. It’s kind of strange the thing about not working because in some ways I kind of always am. Even when I’m on vacation, I’m taking pictures and drawing an idea for a floor plan on a cocktail napkin from the hotel lobby. I’m blessed in the way that my life is the beauty in my work and my work is the beauty of my life and it’s all blurred together and I am so grateful to make a living creating what I love.”

Who would play you in the movie of your life?

“Amy Adams. I love all of her work. I have read that she is gracious, hardworking, and an engaging professional and those are qualities I admire. She creates a backstory for her characters and I can relate to a creative approach like this. Her roles run the gamut from comedy to high drama and I really respect the range of characters she can portray. I could never subscribe to just one aesthetic. I am always evolving and trying new things. It’s one of the things I love most about my profession.”

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

“I fantasize about being a restaurateur sometimes. A florist? A party planner perhaps. I do believe I am doing exactly what I was meant to do and I think all roads would have led me to be a designer no matter what.”

Thanks again to Kelli for sitting down with us and for constantly inspiring us with her spaces. Keep up with the latest from Kelli and West Bay Homes on their website and Instagram.

The post A Design Q&A with Kelli Fontana Vogelgesang of West Bay Homes appeared first on The Tile Shop Blog.

“Blue is known for its trust and dependability. It’s reliable, responsible, and mentally soothing. For that reason alone, it’s one of the most-liked colors across the entire world.”—CoSchedule

Pattern Play

The color blue is said to encourage efficiency and confidence. Patterns are a great way to express your personality. Put the two concepts together, and you have the ultimate courageous look!

Liven up your patio with an energetic pattern and color. Blu Widow Hex was made to entertain and set the scene for your summer backyard bash!

Seaside Oasis

Light blue is the best color to design with when it comes to easing stress and promoting tranquility. Which is why it’s the a perfect color for creating a variety of coastal looks.

The Pixel series’ deep sea blue, teal and sea-green colors will add a nautical twist to a bathroom or kitchen. These ocean-inspired tiles are pool rated, making them perfect for adding a refreshing twist outdoor spaces.

Check out our latest signature look, Beach House Bath, in the image below. This eye-catching display features tile from our Color Market series. The light blue was pulled out of the floor and repeated on the wall to complement the bright colors.

“While the floor colors provide vibrancy and fun, the soft blue wall adds a calming effect, tying the beach vibe together beautifully.”—Kirsty Froelich, Tile Shop design manager

You can find Beach House Bath and explore more of the Color Market series’ endless colorways in a showroom near you.

You don’t have to dive beneath the ocean’s surface to find this next tile. Patchwood Deep Ocean’s wood look and dark shades of blue and grey replicate wooden planks from sunken ships.

Farmhouse Blue

Blue and white have remained a classic country palette throughout the years. The timeless duo adds a welcoming and refreshing look to any design. Our rustic Star Blue tile holds an identical coloration and feeling. Utilize the tile’s vintage charm and appearance to complete a modern farmhouse look.

The playfully patterned accent backsplash in the image below belongs to our Annie Selke Ikat collection. This bold blue tile adds a bohemian vibe to the artisanal-style subway tiles and country kitchen.

Luxurious Blue

Who knew blue stone and stone-look tiles could be so appealing to the eye? We did!

Refine your kitchen backsplash with the soft blue undertones of Victoria Grey marble and refreshing white marble. This chevron mosaic provides a perfect accent of elegance.

Aqua Blu defines the look of luxury and individuality. The polished blue stone look instantly elevates this shower.

Bold and Blue

For our last look, we were inspired by the saying “go big or go home.” Improve the atmosphere of a small space by filling it with shades of blue. While this bathroom’s courageous focal point is the blue tile, the designer brightened up the space with accents of white and gold.

Step into the refreshing shower oasis below—the glistening blue Humboldt Glass subway tiles lighten the atmosphere. We love the coordinating niche and floor tiles. The Hampton Carrara marble adds an appealing sophistication to the design.

Ready to refresh your home with the color blue? We have plenty of blue tiles to help with that. Visit your nearest showroom to see the largest selection of tile in U.S.

The post A Color Story: Blue appeared first on The Tile Shop Blog.

Hygge. You’ve probably seen this strange word floating around your social media timeline or read it on a list of the latest design trends, but what does hygge mean? Hygge (pronounced “hoo-gah”) is the Scandinavian word for coziness, comfort and well-being. By incorporating these five elements of hygge, you can foster relaxation and establish feelings of warmth in your tiled spaces.

1. Soft Textures

What says comfort more than soft textures? Adding oversized blankets and pillows to a room is highly effective because they motivate guests to lounge and settle in. Timber Trails DC created the perfect place to cozy up with a good book.

Soft textured tile can be a surprising element of hygge. While tile with a high-gloss finish expresses a modern feeling (left photo below), honed and matte finishes add more warmth with their subdued edges and texture (right photo below).

By replicating a soft touched appearance, Tessuti HD Off-White provides a subtle linen pattern and matte texture. Faux fur adds a gentle dash of luxury to complete the serene scene below.

2. Warmth

Incorporating warmth transforms an ordinary room into a gathering room. With a fireplace at the heart of your home, it will radiate warmth and comfort throughout each space. If you can’t have a fireplace, you can still achieve the hygge effect with candles and soft, warm lighting.

Surround your design with tiles that unite the fireplace with the room. Tiles with a glossy finish reflect light and draw attention to the toasty flames.

3. Uplifting Messages 

The goal of hygge is to create warm, fuzzy feelings. Display motivational sayings as artwork in a room. The message of your signage should reflect the attitude or ambiance in your home. Uplifting quotes seamlessly lighten the mood of a room. West Bay Homes created this encouraging message entirely out of mosaic tiles.

4. Color

Color plays an important role in any design because it sets the tone of the room. To revitalize your space, incorporate a color palette inspired by nature. Soft tints of grey, green, brown and pink exemplify hygge. Most of all, include tones of white throughout your home because it is the most representative color of Scandinavian chic style.

To create a feeling of luxury, embellish your design with accents of gold.

5. Nature

Bring the outdoors in with elements of nature. A common way people escape their busy lives is by immersing themselves in nature. There’s something about nature that rejuvenates the soul.

Lush leaves, bouquets of flowers or potted plants stimulate a hygge feeling in a room. The natural variations in greenery allow endless opportunities for decoration. Vibrant flowers make for great accent pieces while greenery complements the neutral colors in a room. The organic liveliness of plants inspires growth and a better frame of mind.

“Adding plants is a really easy way to bring a little bit of the outdoors in. It’s instant hygge!” – Kirsty Froelich

Growing plants in your home doesn’t require a dip into your savings account or a botany degree. The Sill is a great resource for first-time plant parents. They offer a wide variety of beautiful, inexpensive and low-maintenance plants.

Installing wood or wood look tile is another great way to bring nature into your home. Tile made of real wood creates a rustic presence and helps intensify the coziness of a den.

How can you incorporate hygge into your own home? Create a spa oasis in your bathroom with candles, fluffy robes and blush-toned tile. Complete the cabin feel in your den with the roaring flame of a fireplace, wood-look tile and accents of greenery. Boost the blissful aura in a studio apartment with welcoming signs and lush foliage. With the five elements of hygge, you can increase the sense of contentment in any space.

Need more cozy inspiration? Check out our heart-warming hygge Pinterest board and schedule a design consultation to complete your hygge home.

The post Five Elements of Hygge appeared first on The Tile Shop Blog.

Featured Mosaics: Streamline, Moderne Deco, Skyline

Gilded Glamour, a Tile Shop signature style, blends 1920s art deco design elements with details of modern luxury—and, of course, stunning tile. A gilded touch, which literally means covered in gold, is a hallmark this style is based on. Think the opulence of the Great Gatsby meets the architectural style of the Chrysler Building with a thoroughly current point of view.

Photo by Jonathan Pease on Unsplash

Elements that Define Gilded Glamour

Commonly observed in visual arts, architecture and design, art deco first became popular around World War 1 in France. Then, it was the epitome of luxury, glamour and beautiful craftsmanship. Today, this timeless style still reflects these same aspirational qualities largely defined by five major design elements: geometric shapes, black and white, polished metal, mirrors and shine. Incorporating these elements into a design infuses a space with old-world elegance and allure.

Top Tiles to Get the Gilded Glamour Look

Select tiles from one or more of the below categories, and you will have more than enough inspiration for a Gilded Glamour space of which the Great Gatsby would be envious. Use our recommended products or employ these design elements to create a unique look of your own.

Geometric Shapes

Geometric shapes are defined by simple lines, curves or outlines. The versatility of these interesting shapes makes it easy to customize a look anywhere along the spectrum from subtle to bold. To achieve the Gilded Glamour look, use geometric shapes alongside another art deco design element, like black and white or touches of gold, to highlight the lines. Even with all three art deco design elements in the image below, the overall appearance is elegant and clean. Squares, diamonds, hexagons and any geometric mosaic tiles are a good place to start.

Featured: Corbusier Mosaic

Black and White

Tiling in black and white creates contrast, highlights shapes and lends vintage appeal to a design. Avoid too many bold elements competing in a space with a simple black-and-white base that provides simplicity. A black-and-white mosaic, a bold mix of black and white tiles or an all-over wall or floor in either hue are a few options that create varying degrees of boldness in your look. Black and white get an extra jolt of glamour when they’re in a reflective material or mixed with metal.

Featured: Monroe Marquina Mosaic, Hampton Engraved, Noir Travertine Collection

Polished Metal

Polished metals, especially gold, are a quintessential feature of Gilded Glamour style and perfect for adding a gilded touch. Incorporate a metallic accent almost anywhere, from tile to shower heads to the vanity. Hints of soft brushed gold peppered throughout the bathroom below tie the whole space together elegantly.

Featured: Tempesta Neve Marble Mosaic, Bulevar White, Tempesta Neve Somerset, Tempesta Neve Barnes, Tempesta Neve Amalfi Mosaic, Bianco Carrara Curb

Featured: Bulevar White

Dural metal profiles are another decadent way to sprinkle bits of metallic shine throughout a tile design. This subtle sparkle elevates the entire space.

Featured: Dural Metal Profiles, Ashford Carrara

Reflection

Not only does it open up a space, reflection adds an element of shine which perfectly complements the luster of Gilded Glamour. Plus, mirrors and reflective elements allow a small or dark room to feel brighter and lighter. As with all the elements of art deco, the extent to which you use mirrors is up to you. A touch of mirrored tile serves as an accent piece while a fully mirrored wall becomes a statement. Take a cue from this design. The mirrored tiles are a bold element so the rest of the design is simple and monochromatic.

Featured: Camilla w/ Mirror, Antique Mirror Bevel

Shine

Polished stone, iridescent finishes, metallic details—shine is an integral part of Gilded Glamour because it serves to add the luster that enhances a space. Polished marbles and other stones define rooms with subtle shine and retain a neutral hue while bright and bold tiles make a more dramatic statement. Pair tiles with shine with other reflective elements sparingly to avoid competing focal points. Below, the crisp white marble is the perfect complement that lets these gold tiles sparkle.

Featured: Camilla w/ Gold Antique Mirror Mosaic, Gold Antique Mirror Bevel

Our Take on Gilded Glamour

Inspired by a modern take on art deco, The Tile Shop’s design manager, Kirsty, envisioned an elegant bathroom with touches of gold and lots of rich marble. Since it’s impossible to create a display with every tile we carry, she used this inspiration to design a visual that would spark ideas for our customers. It turned out so beautifully that, before long, this design dream became a reality.

An artist’s interpretation of our Gilded Glamour bathroom.

This stunning design has everything we love about art deco in a softer, more modern style. The ornamental opulence of Gilded Glamour is visible in the touches of soft brushed gold and the art deco mosaic, which was inspired by a traditional motif. The floating vanity, light fixtures and cool-grey marble modernize the style. The sleek, rounded corners of the mirror mimic the shape of the mosaic and the gold accents coordinate throughout, effectively creating a cohesive look. Layered trims accent the Moderne Deco mosaic on the framed shower wall and in the functional recessed shelf, creating another luxurious detail.

The result is an elegant and soft take on art deco style that feels timeless and modern at the same time.

Featured: Moderne Deco, Verona Blanco, Roman Silver

From an idea to an artist rendering to a real-life installation, the evolution of this idea is dazzling.

Ready to add some modern Gatsby glamour to your space? Schedule a design consultation or stop into your closest store to get inspired and start your project today.

The post Gilded Glamour: How to Tile in Art Deco Style appeared first on The Tile Shop Blog.