Classic Subway Tile Sets a New Course [TEST]
2. Coursing. The combination of colored tile and an alternative layout creates a subtle, textile-like effect, says Daniel Ewald of etA architect. This design, called coursing, requires careful alignment and installation, Ewald says. The moderately complicated pattern in this bathroom project involved three colors of 2-inch by 8-inch subway tile. “Homeowners should check to make sure installers are comfortable with [doing this work], and should expect to pay more,” Ewald says. [Can we make this into a quote? It would help the story’s flow.] Source: Heath Ceramics
This kitchen backsplash also features a coursing pattern using three colors, but it is oriented horizontally. Before committing to a bold pattern like this one, “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. [Can we make this a quote?"]
3. Straight herringbone. This pattern feels fresh, but has actually been around for thousands of years. In this project, the homeowners wanted a neutral color palette with a pattern, and architect Krykorka suggested this straight up-and-down design. A traditional herringbone pattern is set on a diagonal.
To give the homeowners a sense of what the design would look like in their bathroom, Krykorka created a 2-foot by 2-foot mock-up on plywood.Ultimately the homeowners chose standard 3-inch by 6-inch subway tiles in white [gloss finish? matte?] and used dark grout to emphasize the lines.Tile Source: Dal Tile
Using grout that more closely matches the tile color yields a more subtle pattern, as in this backsplash done in 3-inch by 6-inch gray tile. Laying tile in a straight herringbone design is more difficult than many typical installations, says Melissa Couture-Peterson, a designer with Designs of the Interior. Even experts must be careful that the pattern doesn’t start to run crooked, she says – and the extra time involved can result in higher installation costs. Tile Source: MSN
Martin says he likes that custom grout can offer a pop of color without the big commitment of colored tile.In this bathroom, [Martin used? Sounds like we are still talking about him. If it was not his project, let’s say “green grout emphasizes… and continues the…"] green grout to emphasize the traditional subway layout and continue the wall color.
6. Mirrored finishes. Manufacturers are developing new, interesting materials for subway tile, like the mirrored tile used in this powder room. Designer Jacqueline Fortier wanted a tile that felt elegant and antique to honor her client’s 120-year-old home. She appreciates both the drama it adds to the wall and the fact that it’s not the in-your-face-mirror one typically finds above a vanity. Fortier used a combination of two finishes, gold and silver, to give the wall the look of a vintage mirror. Source: Ann Sacks
Mirrored tile can look gaudy, she says, but the classic subway-tile shape tempers the effect in this small bathroom. Glamour and shine come at a price, though, Fortier says. This tile costs about $87 per square foot, whereas 3-inch by 6-inch white subway tile typically runs about $XX per square foot at home improvement stores. Fortier also notes that mirrored tile is meant for walls – it’s too slippery to safely use for shower enclosures or flooring, she says.[Can we list source of this tile?]
Subway tiles are versatile, easy to find and can be inexpensive, making them a great go-to choice for bathrooms, kitchens and more, says Zuzanna Krykorka, an architect with Studio Z Design. The classic 3-inch by 6-inch rectangular subways tiles – which draw their name from their famous use in the New York transit system [accurate? would be nice to include] – have been in use for more than a century, and now come in many more sizes and colors. Creative souls just keep finding fresh ways to use them; here are six ideas: 1. Pattern with color. Architect Michael Howells wanted to give this bathroom a Western vibe. He used two colors of handmade 3- inch by 6-inch subway tile to create a straight herringbone pattern on this bathroom floor [in what city?]. (See below for more on straight herringbone patterns.) None of the tiles are exactly alike, creating the illusion that more than two colors are in play.Source: Heath Ceramics
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