Tile and Granite

Hey again! Let's get right to business...

Countertops, flooring, backsplashes... these are all items that serve a huge function in a home. But don't think for a second that "function" can't be BEAUTIFUL! This is an opportunity to add "art" in your space. Yes, tile, stone, and wood can be called "art"!

I've determined that the color palette for this Parade Home will be light and airy but warm. I want this house to feel warm and welcoming, like a big, giant hug. I am opting to choose warm colors vs. cool colors... think beige instead of gray. Not only does this apply to paint but also to my flooring, countertops, and and tile. 

The first thing to make note of is where we are installing wood floors. Jamie (Eagle Nest Custom Homes) and I have decided to run wood floors in the majority of the house. Wood floors are classic... it's just that simple. From the front door to the back door you'll see gorgeous, high end, classic wood. We wanted the main living area (the public space) to be uninterrupted. This means that the kitchen will also be wood. This is a look that I've been seeing more of lately. The beauty of the contrast that the wood has against the light kitchen cabinets is undeniable. Some may be hesitant to install wood in a "wet" area but I will speak from experience here.. my family home built in the late 70's has gorgeous, super expensive, wide-plank antique pine flooring throughout the ENTIRE house- kitchen and all bathrooms. There has never been any problem with the wood/water combination and the warmth of the classic wood is indisputable.

The end of September marked the beginning of my search for the perfect tile and wood.

Here's a tip, it's much easier to pick your tile first then bring those samples to the granite yard. It's SO important to do these two steps together to ensure a perfect match. Every granite slab is unique; none of the colors are identical. You must hand select your slabs.  

Let's start with the kitchen. We already know that the floor is wood. The very first tile I noticed when walking into the showroom was a diamond mosaic marble tile in colors of light cream and taupe. I fell IN LOVE with it and designed the whole kitchen around this backsplash tile. The diamonds reminded me of the French Quarter and the color palette was perfect! In the picture below you can see it with the selected wood floor, the wall, and cabinet colors as well as a cream tile that I used to mimic my countertops. 

In this picture, I'm now at the granite yard. You can see the backsplash tile and color samples along with a slab of a "Taj Mahal" quartzite. Quartzite is a natural stone that is actually harder and more durable than granite. Quartzite is a great choice for kitchens counters- the work horse of the house.

Here's where we are currently... backsplash is installed (not yet grouted), cabinets are painted, and countertops are in. I'm in love!

Next up... master bathroom. Again, I'm using colors of creams and taupes to ensure warmth. I've decided to use a darker tile on the floor, a lighter tile on the shower wall, and a mosaic on the floor of the shower to tie together my color scheme. Below is a photo of the floor tile color that I've selected along with some thoughts for the shower floor.

I ultimately decided on this darker floor tile but in a different size and also in the matte finish. Polished floors in a bathroom scare me due to slips and falls. I used this tile in the matte finish in size 12"x24" laid in a herringbone pattern. Here's a January photo showing the floor tile, shower floor tile, and granite. 

The shower wall tile is from the same company as the floor. I specifically chose this tile for its size. It's rare to find a tile that is 24"x24". I love the clean feel that is achieved by using this larger, unexpected size. As I said earlier, I selected the polished, lighter colored version... the wall tile was recently installed and is waiting to be grouted. It's just FAB!!! Here are a few pics to prove it...

I found a new ceramic brick-look tile that Jamie and I decided to add to the powder room and laundry room. Again, this tile reminded me so much of the old, peeling bricks seen in the French Quarter! I love it!

1. I actually broke my own rule when it came to bath two (downstairs). I selected counter tops first!! I found a spectacular, one of a kind black marble at the granite yard. It was hidden behind some slabs just waiting for me to discover it! I 'claimed' it as soon as I saw it. It has a black background with gorgeous cream and taupe veining. The countertop in bath two is unusually long so it makes perfect sense to use this beautiful marble. It is so interesting and contrasts amazingly with the wall and cabinet colors.

I chose a taupe hexagon floor tile and white subways for the tub surround. I'm having the awesome tile installers use a taupe pencil molding to make a custom design on the large tub wall. They aren't very happy with me now because this will be very labor intensive. However... it's all in the details, right???!

Last up is the upstairs bathroom... I chose to use a wonderful hexagon mosaic because it showcased all colors that I've used throughout the house... cream, taupe, and black. I'm only using it in the niches of the tub/shower. The back wall of the tub/shower is the focal point of the bathroom so these niches are very noticeable. I selected a large, cream floor tile that was used on both the floor and tub walls. In the pics below, notice how it's laid... visually your eye follows the tile down the floor and up the wall. It looks so clean and cool! I love the pop that the small niches give. The countertops are leathered black granite. 

Whew!!! I'm exhausted just reliving all the options and selections for floor, countertops, and backsplashes that I made in these last few months. It's such a treat to now watch it being installed and see the ideas in my head become a reality. 

Next up will be an awesome recount of my visit to High Point Market. High Point, N.C. is the furniture capital of the world. Have you heard the phrase "kid in the candy store"? Well... that was ME!! You won't want to miss this one... tune in next Monday!