Tile Workbook: New Looks With Classic Subways - TEST
You could pick a lighter grout, which leads to a more subtle pattern, like this backsplash done in 3 inch by 6 inch gray tiles. The straight herringbone design is more difficult than a typical installation and takes longer so there can be a higher cost for install, says Melissa Couture-Peterson, a designer with Designs of the Interior. If you aren’t careful it can start to run crooked. Tile Source: MSN
Pattern with color. Architect Michael Howells used two different colors of handmade 3 inch by 6 inch subways to create a straight herringbone pattern on this bathroom floor. No two tiles are alike which leads to the illusion that more than one hue is in play. He wanted a Western vibe and liked that this was a nice break from the regular subway layout. Source: Heath Ceramics
Coursing. Color and an alternative layout blend here to create a subtle textile-like design, Daniel Ewald, etA architect, says. This is a moderately more complicated pattern with three colors of 2 inch by 8 inch subway tiles. The design, called coursing, does require careful alignment and installation, Ewald says. Home owners should check to make sure installers are comfortable with it and should expect to pay more for the work. Source: Heath Ceramics
It’s important to understand how a pattern like this will look in your space, says Kali Robledo, social media manager for Fire Clay Tile. She suggested getting samples from your tile supplier and putting them in the space. Home owners should also do a mock up on a large sheet of paper, sketching out a scaled version of the pattern or use a designer who can provide a digital rendering.
Mirrored finishes. Manufacturers have emerged with new, interesting materials for subway tiles, like this mirrored subway with an antique finish used in a powder room. Designer Jacqueline Fortier wanted an elegant tile that felt antique to honor the 120 year old home. She likes the drama it adds to the wall and the fact that it’s not an in-your-face-mirror you would normally see over a vanity.She mixed two finishes, gold and silver so it would look like a naturally aged mirror. Source: Ann Sacks
It’s easy for a mirrored tile to look gaudy, she says, but the fact that it’s a classic shape tempers the effect. It comes at a price, though, she says. It costs about $87 a square foot, a big hike in the cost of the usual subway tile which you can pick up at a home supply store for as cheap a dollar a tile. It’s also worth noting that this is a wall tile, not meant for shower enclosures or flooring, she said.
Straight herringbone. This pattern feels fresh, but has actually been around for thousands of years. For this project the owners wanted a neutral color palette with pattern so Krykorka suggested this layout, different from the traditional herringbone pattern which is set on a diagonal.
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