If you are building or renovating a coastal home you may want spend some time looking at decorative tile. In the past, tile may have been more of an afterthought. Homeowners would choose kitchen countertops, cabinets and appliances without considering the backsplash.
Very often backsplash tile is installed is an afterthought with disastrous results. As any realtor can attest, the result is a kitchen that looks overly busy and mismatched.
Instead, decorators recommend that you avoid this pitfall by considering your tile choices first. Demand has driven a recent surge in new options available from tile makers. Our team found dozens of beautiful decorative tiles designed with coastal homes in mind. Just a few of the patterns we found are showcased above.
We spoke to designer, Helen Redding, from Home Depot and she shared the following tips and tricks about purchasing tile.
If you plan on using a very ornate decorative tile in a kitchen or bathroom, keep the countertops and cabinetry simple. Let the tile stand out as the “Star”.
Don’t go overboard with tile. You don’t have to cover the whole bathroom in tile, consider using it on just one focal wall.
Tile is expensive – so invest wisely. Don’t purchase it impulsively. Ask your retailer for several samples to take home and live with for a while.
Tie rooms together with tile. If you are using a decorative tile as a backsplash in a kitchen, consider repeating the tile on a fireplace surround in an adjacent room for continuity.
Lastly, when buying tile, be sure to purchase a little extra. This way, if you change the configuration of a room, purchase new appliances or accidently damage an area of tile, you’ll have some from the original lot on hand for repairs.
Tile Retailers:
www.wetdogtile.com
www.stillwaterporcelain.com
www.tstmosaics,com
www.susanjablonmosaics.com
www.msiinternational.com
www.homedepot.com
www.wayfair.com
