Selecting tiles for your bathroom is a long term commitment. The product with installation is often the most expensive line item on the remodel quote. There are so many styles and colors to choose from that it can be an overwhelming decision. With these thoughts in mind, many clients request classic white subway tiles. This style is featured in nearly every design magazine, blog, and HGTV show, and after this much exposure it feels, well, a little bland. This doesn't mean you should shy away from these durable, budget friendly ceramics. Instead, opt for an unusual size or play with the pattern layout. Here are a few ideas to create a stand out space:

The basketweave pattern alternates the tile direction. Make sure the tile dimensions have a nice ratio or the tiles will not line up properly. A 3x9 or 4x12 tile will create rows of 3, whereas 3x12 tile will have rows of 4.

Image Source: J Miller Interiors

Author: Sydney Piwowar

I am sure you have all seen this trend in the 2018 design magazines and Pinterest. Well news for you, it is not going anywhere in 2019. Truth is, after so much technological innovation, we are all craving a sense of hand crafted work in our spaces. These Zellige Tiles are the epitome of that. The mosaic tilework is made from individually chiseled geometric tiles set into a plaster base. This form of Islamic art is one of the main characteristics of Moroccan architecture. To round up some inspiration for you, I have pulled my Top 5 Favorite Applications and specific tile recommendations for those designs.

Bathroom Shower

Cat Skill’s Hayfield Wedding Venue used Cle Tile’s Wheathered White Tile.

Kitchen Backsplash

Nicole Hollis used Cle Tile’s Glossy Black Tile in her Design of the kitchen.

A Nook or Built In

We could not find the source of this design, but pulled a tile we think would we be perfect for this application. The rustic emerald tile in the image looks similar to Riad Tile’s .

Fireplace

Designed by Georgia Ezra, check out her tile collection, Tile of Ezra. She used her own mosaic for this space.

Flooring

For a similar look, check out this 2x6 subway tile from Zia Tile.

Author: Sydney Piwowar

I call it the “Modern Mural”. Artists used large scale murals to tell the most elaborate, and beautiful, stories through tile mosaics. So many different cultures have done this through the years and I think America has found its own. It features clean lines, purposeful choice of grout colors, and a hand made nature, expressing the amazing new technologies we have to impact our spaces. I have curated a few of my favorite images and combinations to inspire you and a tile guide to inspire your next renovation.

In the last 10 years of its rise, we have seen the good, the bad, and the ugly of subway tile. Everyone loves it though - its simple, easy to clean, and inexpensive! Despite its versatility, I cringe when clients ask for the classic subway pattern. There are so many amazing ways to lay tile, why should we limit our selves to the Running Bond pattern? I say no. I say get creative. If you aren’t sure where to start, I have curated some of my favorite LUXURIOUS & MODERN ways to lay the classic tile.

Cross Hatch

The 4-Stack Parquet

Different Scales

Combination: Traditional + Diagonal Herringbone

Stacked Bond

Vertical Stacked Bond