Thursday, January 27, 2011

Tile Talk Newsletter - January 2011

Project Pick: Rust Capuchinas Backsplash
Colonial Antigua Rust Capuchinas
>> View Design Idea
Antigua Colonial Rust Capuchinas relief tiles are an eye-catching backsplash in this bathroom because there is both texture and variation in color tone.

The glaze reacts differently to the tile's texture, leaving a satin gloss finish on the flat areas; matte on the relief.

Antigua Colonial Capuchinas 6"x6" tiles in three different glazes:

Green Capuchinas Relief Deco Rust Capuchinas Relief Deco Sand Capuchinas Relief Deco
Green Rust Sand
Do you want to know how these relief tiles are made? Gain a deeper appreciation for the craftsmanship that is required to create each tile by hand, one at a time:

>> Blog Post: How Relief Tiles are Made

Ring in the New Year - SAVE 15% When You Spend $200
Barcelona Tiles
Barcelona San Jose
To help you start the New Year right, receive 15% off all online tile purchases when you spend $200 or more. Just place your order online before January 31, 2011.

Use coupon code: CHEERS during checkout. This offer is good for any online order!

>>Blog Post: Tile Ring in the New Year



Design Challenge Question & Five Different Designs
Do you know why you should never put molding directly against the ceiling in the shower? Find a tile you love but aren't sure how to design with it? It's cold out, we all get "brain-freeze."

Find the answer to these important questions and see five different designs using only 6"x6" field tile and trim. See the versatility of using basic tile formats to create different designs to suit a variety of lifestyles.

Design Sketch

>> Blog Post: Tile Designs for those "Brain-Freeze" Moments

Tuesday, January 25, 2011

New Cuban Heritage Cement Tile Patterns

Have you seen the new Cuban Heritage cement tile designs? One pattern that really catches my eye is the bold, big zigzag pattern in Design 260.

Cuban Heritage Cement Tile Design 260-2B Detail
Cuban Heritage Design 260-2B Detail

It's big because it takes eight 8"x8" tiles to make a complete pattern. It's bold because it doesn't have a border. Believe me, this pattern stands on its own!

Cuban Heritage Cement Tile Design 260-2B
Cuban Heritage Design 260-2B Installation

Like all our Cuban Heritage cement tiles, this pattern comes in three great colorways: one traditional and two contemporary.

Cuban Heritage Cement Tile Design 260-1A
Cuban Heritage Design 260-1A

Cuban Heritage Cement Tile Design 260-2B
Cuban Heritage Design 260-2B

Cuban Heritage Cement Tile Design 260-3A
Cuban Heritage Design 260-3B

What do you think of these designs? Do you have a favorite. Leave a comment, let us know. Take a look at the other new patterns: Design 230, Design 240, and Design 250. Remember, like any cement tile, these patterns can be customized with any color in our Heritage Solid Color cement tile line for that perfect design touch.

Tuesday, January 18, 2011

Tile Design Ideas for Those "Brain-Freeze" Moments

Whether you are a design professional, a sales associates or a home owner shopping for a new and beautifully tiled bathroom, a design "brain-freeze" can afflict us all. You've found the perfect tile but just can't come up with a way to design with it that you love. I know that I've been there. To prevent another creative block, I developed a series of tile layouts that provide design solutions that are easy to work with based on these design and budget criteria:

  • Use a 6"x6" tile - it's efficient and cost-effective.
  • Non-trendy for enduring style.
  • Simple design that is always in good taste.
  • Keep embellishments to a few key pieces.
  • All designs suitable for different tile types:
    • Ceramic
    • Glass
    • Stone
    • Porcelain

I am going to use the identical small bath - a typical 8'6" x 5' with a shower - to showcase how the same 6"x6" tile, a medium sized molding and 6"x6' base can be the foundation for many design expressions.


A typical small molding, say 3"x6"


A typical base 6" x6"

LIFESTYLE: Classic, traditional.
LAYOUT: Staggered joints, also called Running Bond.
TRIMS: Bullnose and molding stopends.
DESIGN OPTIONS:

  • All tile one color
  • Molding and base in contrasting color

For those of you who have read my August post, "Keeping Tile Costs Down", you should recognize right away that I am utilizing the design principles described there. If you haven't read this post, it is a good companion to this one and worth reviewing

LIFESTYLE: Traditional.
LAYOUT:

  • Mix of diagonal and on-the-square provides visual action.
  • Details at the top of the shower walls draw the eyes up to emphasize height in a small room.
TRIMS: Bullnose and molding stopends.
DESIGN OPTIONS:
  • Inserts in shower can compliment or contrast.
    • Stone to compliment the floor or vanity stone slab top.
    • Ceramic to compliment the wainscot.
    • Glass or metal to contrast.
  • Color blocking adds dimension.
    • Wainscot in one color.
    • Shower upper area in another color.
    • Can be subtle or dramatic.

LIFESTYLE: Traditional.
LAYOUT:

  • Mix of diagonal and on-the-square provides visual action.
  • Details at the top of the shower walls draw the eyes up to emphasize height in a small room.
TRIMS: Bullnose and molding glazed ends.
DESIGN OPTIONS:
  • The diagonal areas and square areas can be switched.
  • The wainscot and shower lower tile can all be the same (either diagonal or square) with the upper shower area contrasting.
  • Areas may be color blocked by tile direction.
  • Note: make sure the molding profile is low enough to fit behind the shower head.

LIFESTYLE: Modern or Contemporary.
TILE LAYOUT:

  • On-the-square for geometric simplicity.
  • Consider a more geometric molding.
TRIMS: Bullnose and base stopend.
DESIGN OPTIONS:
  • Note: The base tile has been turned upside down and used at the top of the shower.
  • Contrast the molding and base with the field tile by using a subtle color change.
  • A more contemporary washstand will ramp up the modern look.

LIFESTYLE: Eclectic or Contemporary.
TILE LAYOUT:

  • On-the-square for geometric simplicity.
  • Staggered joints for geometric design action.
  • Consider a more geometric molding as above.
TRIMS: Bullnose.
DESIGN OPTIONS:
  • Consider a subtle color accent with the two-tile staggered upper shower area as shown.
  • Color block the square and staggered tile areas.
  • The accent area at the top of the shower draws the eyes up to emphasize height in a small room.
  • A more contemporary washstand will ramp up the modern look.

Five different designs have been created with only a 6"x6" field tile, a molding and a base. This shows the great versatility of using basic tile formats to create many different design looks to suit a variety of lifestyles. All five will stand the test of time and result in happy end users. With these five tile layouts, now there should never be another tile design "brain-freeze".

DESIGN/CONSTRUCTION QUESTION: Does anyone know why I never put the molding directly against the ceiling in the shower?

Tuesday, January 11, 2011

Top 10 Hand Painted Tiles of 2010

It's our official salute to the top 10 best-selling hand painted ceramic tiles and cement tiles of 2010! Drum roll, please….

  1. Yucatan Blanco 6" x 6" Hand Painted Field Tile
    I know, it's even hard for me to believe we sell more white tile than anything else.

    Yucatan Blanco Hand Painted Field Tile

  2. Classic Cluny – Colorway A 8" x 8" Patterned Cement Tile

    Classic Cluny Cement Tile

  3. Portuguese Oporto 6" x 6" Hand Painted Deco Tile

    Hand Painted Portuguese Oporto Tile

  4. Mission Alcala 8" x 8" Patterned Cement Tile

    Mission Alcala Cement Tile

  5. Spanish Cadiz 4" x 4" Hand Painted Ceramic Deco Tile

    Spanish Cadiz Hand Painted Tile

  6. Spanish Andalucia 6" x 6" Hand Painted Ceramic Deco Tile

    Classic Cluny Cement Tile

  7. Heritage Neon Green 8" x 8" Solid Color Cement Tile

    Heritage Neon Green Cement Tile

  8. Portuguese Oporto 4" x 4" Hand Painted Deco Tile

    Hand Painted Portuguese Oporto Tile

  9. Barcelona La Merced Small 3" x 3" Hand Painted Deco Tile

    Barcelona La Merced Small Hand Painted Tile

  10. Gossamer 6" x 6" Soft Crackle Field Tile in Honey

    Gossamer Soft Crackle Field Tile in Honey Glaze

Which one is your favorite? Let us know, we'd love to hear from you.

Ranking is determined by actual sales by tile (excluding molding and trim) for calendar year 2010.

Tuesday, January 4, 2011

Hand Painted Tile Ring in the New Year

Start the New Year right with hand painted tile and savings from Avente Tile. Get acquainted with our hand painted Barcelona tiles. In this post, we feature our Barcelona San Jose tiles in different size formats including finishes trim and sinks to create a coordinated designer-style look with ease.

Barcelona San Jose Quarter Design Hand Painted Tile for a Back Splash
San Jose Quarter Design Back Splash

Barcelona San Jose Hand Painted Tiles
San Jose Hand Painted Tiles

To help you start the New Year right, receive 15% off all online tile purchases when you spend $200 or more. Just place your order online before January 31, 2011. Use coupon code: CHEERS during checkout. This offer is good for any online order!

We appreciate our fans and followers and share special deals, tile tips and ideas on Twitter and Facebook.

Best wishes for the New Year and Cheers from Avente Tile.