Tile in Style

Forget the cold, hard, austere reputation it has unrightfully earned; with its array of colour, texture and pattern, tile has the ability to warm up and add a luxurious touch to any room — not just kitchens and bathrooms.

From feature walls and fireplaces to full-floor coverage in materials such as clay, travertine, marble, metal and ceramic — or any mixture thereof — tile comes in an almost dizzying array of options. It’s also made to last. Its ability to withstand decades of wear in homes across Europe and Asia, where it has been a popular choice for centuries, is an endorsement that tile will survive whatever today’s homes full of pets and kids can throw at it.

Before you dig into the grout — or hire a professional to do so — here are some tips from design experts who have been around the tiled block a time or two.

Shelley McAneeley, designer and owner, Euphoria Designs
“Tiles can change the expression of a room. They create texture and depth that you can’t achieve with paint, because tiles are three-dimensional and have a curved softness to them. The glazing becomes fluid at a certain point. You can manipulate it to flow, and then it gets frozen like a photograph. I try to use them wherever I can because they are durable and it is easy to make more pronounced textural shifts, as well as subtle colour shifts. Choosing the correct tile, whether it is stainless steel, copper or homemade using clay, comes down to the preference of the person and the function.”

Tara Holder, design consultant, estimator and sales, Contempa Carpet Co.
“Finger tiles are a popular option. They can measure anywhere from miniscule up to five-eighths of an inch and come in everything from natural stone to glass and stone mixtures. They are mostly used in two ways. In an ensuite shower, for example, finger tiles can be used on one wall from floor to ceiling, with bigger tiles used on the sides. The other option is creating lines, insetting a six-inch line from floor to ceiling. People are going away from taupe and opting for strong colours such as blues and greens.”

Kasey Clark, design consultant, Empire Kitchen & Bath
“Tiles are being used almost as a replacement for wallpaper as a way to create a feature or accent wall. This can be done with large-scale tiles — up to 15-inches-squared — combined to form an even larger pattern. Bold colours, especially purples and bright greens, can create a really contemporary look. Patterns are also created using water jet technology, which basically uses high-pressured water to puncture designs into stone. Patterns that would have been done using smaller mosaics before can now be created on one larger piece.”

Beth Balcom, design and sales, City Tile
“There are basic tiles you can get anywhere, and then there are beautiful, stunning handmade tiles. Tiles that you hold in your hand and think, ‘My god, this is gorgeous. How did they get this finish or shine or depth of glaze?’ It’s like fine china; some of the stuff I see just blows my mind. There’s a passion you can see in the people who create these tiles. It shows in the way they hold the tile and show it to you or take it out of the box. It’s not just something you lay on your floor anymore, although it can be that, too.”

Jennifer Nordstrom, interior designer, The Tile Shoppe
“I’m seeing a lot of people opt for stone lately, especially in larger formats. Instead of selecting the standard 12 by 12-square, stone in 12 by 24 or 18 by 18 formats are being used, especially in bathrooms where homeowners are taking out the bathtub entirely in favour of one big shower. Larger stone takes a little more time to install, but it is worth it. Cobblestone is also a beautiful option, especially in large areas. I’ve seen it done over entire main floors, either alone or in conjunction with hardwood.”

Tim Weilermann, resident manager, Flesher Marble & Tile
“Wall tile used to run in horizontal patterns, but now we are seeing a lot of feature walls with tile running vertically from floor to ceiling with accent strips of glass or mosaic tiles. Another current trend is vein-cut travertine, which creates vertical lines in the stone itself, giving it a striped look. Dark colours are popular as well as copper tones and tiles with a glossy metal sheen, which is reflective in the proper light.”

Gwen Draude, interior designer, Icon Stone & Tile
“People are becoming much more vibrant and optimistic in their colour choice. They are getting away from browns and greys, which can be a depressing palette that lacks energy. I’ve used apple green and tangerine orange. It’s more uplifting, generating energy instead of sucking it out of you. We have tile that can be used as art it is so funky. Create a backsplash and then use a framed tile in a larger format to compliment the mosaic.”