Filed under: General, Tile
The tile industry has been doing an excellent job with using tile to portray the looks of other floor and wall materials. Manufacturers have introduced us to unique styles, like tile that reciprocates the look of silk and even the look of wallpaper (wallpaper tile). Innovation hasn’t stopped there. For the past five years, the Porcelain Tile “Wood Look” has boomed across the globe. Out of all these creative styles, this one has proved to be the most popular.
With the industry’s new inkjet technology, factories have the ability to recreate the wood grain texture which is present in actual wood. Even the sizes of these porcelain tiles replicate those of natural wood planks. Choose from styles 4-12 inches wide, with lengths ranging from 18-48 inches. The Wood Look is available in expected wood plank colors, like multiple variations of brown. However recently introduced are exotic and romantic colors like gray and ebony; colors you would never see in natural wood. What a wonderful advantage this is!
Ecowood (Wood Floor Tiles) used outdoors.
The two materials may appear similar, yet they differ greatly in quality. Actual wood is impractical in areas with moisture, like kitchens and bathrooms. Also, because of its natural characteristics it is likely to dent, scratch and lose its richness and luster, increasing its maintenance cost. Porcelain tile, however, is much more practical and versatile. It can be used anywhere in the home, as kitchen tile, bathroom tile, or even as outdoor tile! The tile glazes used in (some of) the production process provide much grip, to prevent slippage, providing safety in wet areas.
Here at Tiles Unlimited, one of our preferred looks is a 6×24 Porcelain Wood tile paired up with this 2×8 white subway tile (see image to the left). It’s both classic and modern, and wonderfully chic, clean and appealing. The 2011 world tile show displayed the Wood Look next to glossy ceramic wall tile. This combination of shiny and matte with these two particular materials proved to be the next upcoming look of 2012 and years to come. Click here for more information on the tile trends from the 2011 tile show.
Visit our porcelain tile page for more pictures of the Wood Look.
Filed under: Kitchen, Tile
2x2 Coliseum (Stone Mosaic)
What is a Backsplash?
A Backsplash is the wall space between the kitchen countertop and the cabinets in your kitchen. Most homeowners cover this space with tile; anywhere from glass tiles to stone tiles to subway tiles to tile mosaics. Kitchen Backsplash designs can be so versatile. Especially because they are like blank canvases, it really is fun to design them…just another art form!
A great technique in choosing your Backsplash tile is to take notice of the colors from your kitchen space. Take good notice of the colors and shades in your kitchen cabinets, kitchen countertop, floor tile and any other surrounding material that is a part of your kitchen design. When you come to our Queens tile showroom to choose your Backsplash, we recommend that you have handy a sample of your marble countertop or granite countertop and a sample of your kitchen cabinet.
Notice how the stone pieces in the mosaic bring out the color in the stone countertop, while the glass pieces in the mosaic bring out the creams and yellow from the floor and wall.
A great Backsplash tile idea is to use a Glass & Stone Mosaic, because it’s an easy and amazing way to truly pull out all the colors you are using in your kitchen space. There is a ridiculous amount of Glass & Stone tile mosaics, as well as Glass tile mosaics to choose from, providing more opportunity to match your Backsplash perfectly. See a perfect example of this in the image to the left.
We also have customers who prefer a more simple Backsplash style. Sometimes homeowners want their custom-made wood cabinets to be the focal point in their kitchen, or their exquisite and unique countertops. In this case our Tiles Unlimited Sales team recommends looks like the one-colored mosaic, or larger tile like the classic Subway tile (available as Porcelain tile, Glass tile, Stone tile and of course, Ceramic tile).
Simple 4x4 tile with metal decorative tile inserts.
A common look is to use a neutral Porcelain tile or Porcelain mosaic tile, and add a strip or two of Glass Mosaic for a subtle Backsplash décor. Our customers will even choose to add other Accent Tile pieces like a tile insert/decorative tile of some sort. This is a subtle way to add character, as shown in the picture on the right.
Another fun way to dress up your Backsplash is to add a beautiful Mural or Medallion, usually in the area above your stove top or sink. In this case we usually suggest a more simple tile or mosaic that compliments the colors in Mural or Medallion; typically neutral tile that doesn’t take away from the large piece of art.
Wondering what our hot selling Backsplash tile is? Believe it or not, one of our Blow Out Sale tiles, called the Bliss Glass series, sells the best! Probably because they are beautiful, good-quality Stone & Glass mosaics for an extremely low price. They are available in four different colors shown below.
Click on the images for a better view.
Bliss Iceland Linear
Bliss Cabernet Linear
Bliss Creme Brulee Linear
Bliss Bamboo Linear
Filed under: General, Tile
Each year the tile industry hosts an exclusive and massive tile show called Cersaie. It introduces all the newest and hottest tile lines and tile products for the upcoming year. It is during the fall season when Bologna, Italy awaits Cersaie’s visitors, whom come from tile companies all over the world.
After our Tiles Unlimited representative returned from the full five day event, there was nothing but excitement in exposing us to the tile, installation materials and remodeling tools of the future. Just like technology and fashion, the tile industry also works hard to keep up with the modern day’s constant advancing creative trends. The world’s booming technology has impacted the tile industry in ways unimaginable. Now tile manufacturers are able to mock almost any kind of material, including all types of fabric, wood and stone.
2012 will bring some beautifully abstract tile, detailed tile and textured tile, but mostly massive sized tile will soon grace the space of walls and floors, in linear and rectangular shapes. What will also be popular in the new year is the porcelain Wood look, the Cement look, and believe it or not, glossy tile will be making a comeback into the industry. Therefore, if you think your bathroom with shiny walls and floors is tacky and old-fashioned…think again!
As far as ceramic, Cersaie showed displays using crafty small tiles, incl
uding 3D shaped tile. Here to your left you will see a bathroom display showing tiny black and white ceramic tiles. The design proves to be a piece of art, making it seem as if the artist literally just finished his masterpiece before the photo was taken, right in the center of this bathroom. Also in the ceramic tile category were these large shiny wall tiles, with a frame-like design to them (see right). You can see here how they’ve taken what may be considered a “tacky” look, into a modern, chic revamped trend. These glossy tiles are being created into large rectangle sizes like 8×16 tile, 8×20 tile, 8×24 tile, 10×24 tile and 10×30 tile.
Wha
t will really be interesting are the glossy tiles in which are made to represent elegant stones (left). Every corner turned at the Cersaie event were shiny wall and floor tile displays of what appeared to be mock stone such as Daino stone tile, Marble stone tile, Crosscut Travertine stone tile, Calacutta stone tile, Statuario stone tile and many more.
The ce
ment tile look at the show was the most unique trend, because they were using the cement tile as indoor tile, whereas we’re used to using this type of look as outdoor tile. Available in expected gray tones and even browns, these tiles come in rectangle sizes no smaller than 12×24. The 24×48, 36×36 and 48×48 sizes seem like they would fit perfectly in commercial areas and in very large homes. Surprisingly they have a very soft, comfy and lofty feel which would look pleasant beside a burning living room fireplace.
The highlight of Cersaie was the porcelain tile wood look. These have been popular for a few years now, and the tile industry 
is only getting more and more creative in producing new designs with them. They are available in realistic wood plank sizes like 6×24 tiles, 5×48 tiles, 6×48 tiles, 4×36 tiles and more. The advancing technology in the tile industry has allowed for creation of special tile glazes that contain more realistic and defining looking textures and grainy effects. These effects even provide more grip to the tile, to prevent tile slippage, making them suitable as exterior tiles. The 2011 Cersaie show, however, displayed these gorgeous porcelain floor tiles in bathroom spaces, in conjunction with the just as current shiny wall tiles. This combination opens up for us a whole new world of modern.
And that about wraps up the most popular trends to be available to us for the new year ahead! We hope you can take advantage of this inside scoop to give you some great ideas on your future remodeling project. We invite you to stop on by our Queens Tile showroom to create your dream space. Visit us today and we’ll enjoy a step-to-step process of choosing the perfect tile for you. Click here for directions.
Filed under: General, Installation
Be proacitve, not reactive.
With Mapei’s Mapelastic AquaDefense product, you’ll be just that.
What is It?
Mapelastic AquaDefense is a premixed, flexible, thin, ultra fast-drying waterproofing and crack-isolation membrane for installation under ceramic tile or stone tile. It is used to prevent moisture.
AquaDefense applied to a resident's balcony.
Where is it Used?
This waterproofing membrane is designed for walls in adjacent rooms, and tile floors, balconies & decks over an occupied space.
Can also be used in:
-freshwater pools, fountains & water features
-tubs/showers, dishwashing areas, countertops & laundry rooms
-steam rooms (when used in conjunction with a vapor barrier)
Why Should You Invest in It?
-huge money saver- waiting until flood damage occurs will mostly likely cost triple the amount. $$$
-quick-drying: install tile after 30-50 minutes of drying time.
-apply with roller or brush – easy to install over any surface.
-bonds to a wide range of surfaces; convenient & user-friendly.
-no odor; great for confined spaces.
-prevents in-plane floor cracks from transmitting through tile or stone.
Call Tiles Unlimited today to insure protection in your precious home.
Prevent flood damage!
Filed under: General
Glass has been used in the tile industry for about 10 years. They have become so popular that manufacturers incorporate them into their tile lines, because of how they naturally enhance the appearance of the rest of the tiles. Homeowners, interior designers and architects worldwide are appreciating the beauty of glass tile. Today, over 60% of backsplashes sold are designed with glass. Not just in kitchens do they do justice, but in bathrooms, and even as glass tile accents on floors, glass tile borders surrounding doors/windows, and kitchen countertops. Something about their iridescence, and the way light reflects on them, makes the space they’re in so much more inviting.
Today there are SO many options, and glass is available as tile in numerous shapes, patterns, sizes and combinations.
The most popular combination has become the Glass and Stone Mosaic blend. There are even mosaic blends using 
glass, stone and metal material. These mosaic blends, as well as multicolored glass mosaic blends, are excellent for the intention of picking up the different colors that are in your space. For example, if you enjoy the color blue, but your kitchen cabinets ar
e
beige and your kitchen countertops are forest green, you’re bound to find a mixed mosaic with all three colors, and sure enough the backsplash is what will tie your kitchen together. If you feel like glass tiles appear showy or flashy-looking, the Glass and Stone Mosaic Blends are a perfect choice, because the natural look of the stone will contrast with the brilliance of the glass. Another way to minimize the sparkle in your space is by choosing a frosted glass tile, or a tumbled glass tile. Available in just as many sizes, they have a cloudy finish as opposed to being transparent, and are still as interesting and pretty as regular glass.
Two of our favorite styles at Tiles Unlimited are the 3×6 Subway Glass tile and the 4×12 Subway 
Glass tile. A block of glass is much simpler than combined small-cut pieces, like a glass mosaic, and can be classified as a modern version of the old-time classic tile look. The glass subways are crisp, clean and sharp. All glass looks marvelous in cool, breezy colors, but the Subway Glass tile happens to also look really stunning in warm colors like brown and taupe.
Glass Pebble
- 3D Wave Pattern Glass
Circle Shaped Glass
The styles are incredibly endless. Even choose from a 3D wave pattern glass mosaic, recycled glass tile, abstractly cut glass tiles, crackled glass mosaics, glass pebble tile or circle shaped glass tiles.
As far as layout, you can design small sized glass tile to lay in a stacked pattern, which will appear more uniform and simple, or you can lay them in a brick pattern, which tends to look busier. Even if you’re not crazy about glass, adding a small glass insert to your backsplash tile or bathroom wall or bathroom floor will add just enough character, and catch a glimpse of any light which may reflect on it, bringing your space alive.
Sometimes glass tile can be costly. Its beauty and material quality certainly deserves a high price, but at Tiles Unlimited, you’ll always find a selection of marked down glass tile mosaics from our Blow Out Sale selection. From 1×1 glass to Stone and Glass blends, you’ll be sure to walk away with something satisfying!
Please remember that for a proper installation of all glass tiles use Mapei’s Adesilex P-10-a premium tile mortar. Because glass is non-porous, a standard tile adhesive will not do the glass tile justice in adhering to surfaces. Adesilex P-10, however, is forumulated with special additives that will adhere non-porous objects to surfaces, therefore being the best choice for installing glass tiles. Mapei’s product is also a non-sag formula, making installation much easier, and is super white in color for prevention of color-alteration in transparent glass tiles.
Call Tiles Unlimited for any questions why we strongly suggest Mapei’s Adesiliex P-10, or for any questions on glass tile. We offer free quotes and free tile samples (providing they are available) so stop by our Queens Tile showroom! And if you’re still concerned with glass tiles being just a ‘fad’, trust in our instincts that this material will remain in the industry for many years to come.
A 1x1 Glass Mosaic with random Frosted pieces. Glass tiles often work well as borders, as shown here.
Here Glass tile is being used as a floor accent
Filed under: Installation
Grout is the material that goes into the joints between installed tiles. Made of water, cement and sand, it is forced into the spaces with a rubber float tool. The excess is wiped away with a wet sponge, leaving the joints filled just below the surface. After the grout dries and hardens, the tiles are cleaned with a dry, soft cloth to remove any “grout haze” left behind. Depending on the tile texture, a final cleaning may be needed, using a special detergent called Sure Klean 600.
Both sanded grout and unsanded grout are available, but are used differently. Sanded grout is typically used on floor tiles, especially outdoor floor tiles, because the sand makes it stronger and coarser. Due to the coarseness of the sand, it is used to fill grout joints 1/8” and larger, simply because its grainy consistency cannot fit into anything smaller. Unsanded grout is typically used on wall tile, and can only be used for joint sizes thinner than 1/8”.
Please note that any polished tile, like marble tile, on your floor must be accompanied by an unsanded grout, for sanded grout will scratch its delicate surface. Besides, most polished tile is always set to have very tight grout joints anyway, just because it looks better that way.
Rustic tile, whether on walls or floors, should be used with sanded grout. Due to their rough and rugged edges, setting them less than 3/16” apart will look funny, making the grout lines seem jagged. Therefore the wider they are set apart, the straighter the grout lines will appear.
Tiles Unlimited carries four types of grout: Super-Tek Cementitious grout, Bostik Trucolor Pre-mixed grout, Mapei Opticolor grout, and the newest, StarQuartz Starglass grout. Below we’ve provided some quick facts on each of our grouts:
Super-Tek Cementitious Grout
-Universally considered “traditional grout”.
-Comes in powder form—must be mixed with water and/or a grout additive.
(All cementitious grouts should be prepared with an acrylic grout additive- a formula which helps increase the grout’s adhesion, durability, flexibility, chemical resistance and density. It decreases wearing, staining, cracking, chipping, water penetration. Some grout colors have additive already mixed in. If it’s not, be sure to get a container of acrylic grout additive.)
-In stock in our on-site warehouse.
-Available in 36 colors. Check out their color selection http://www.super-tek.com/colorcharts.htm
- Sanded (Is available in 8.8 lb and 25 lb packages).
- Unsanded (is available in 8.8 lb package).
-Inexpensive—Average price ranges from $15 – $25 per unit.
-Does not clean to its original color when dirty.
-Not stain resistant grout— MUST be sealed for protection. (Ask us about our Aerosol ES01 Grout Sealer)
Bostik TruColor Premixed Grout
-Pre-mixed—50% faster installation.
-Offers color accuracy.
-Flexible and tough.
-Available in 9 lb, 1 Gallon container and 18 lb, 2 Gallon container.
-Average price ranges from $120 – $220 per unit.
-Cleans to its original color.
-Stain resistant grout.
-Never needs to be sealed.
Check out their color selection at: http://www.bostik-us.com/our-brands/trucolor/default.html
Mapei Opticolor Grout
-Cleans to its original color.
-Easy to maintain
-Stain resistant grout.
- Non-sagging grout.
-Contains BioBlock Technology http://www.mapei.com/bioblock/english/whatIs.htm
-Intense durability.
-Has a 3-part system to form the final product: Part A is the resin. Part B is the hardener. Part C is the colored aggregate.
-$120 – $150 per medium unit.
Click here to view Mapei’s stain free demo video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qAXfwz81vVc
StarQuartz Starglass Grout
-Special translucent grout specially made for glass tile and metal tile; will not alter color of the tile (where other grouts will).
-Available in 15 colors.
-Pre-mixed grout.
-Eco-friendly; composed of post-consumer recycled glass.
For more information on this incredible grout product, please visit their website: http://www.starquartz.com/starglass.html
Grout is available in multiple colors, ranging from basic neutral colored grout to bold, bright colored grout like blues, greens, reds, etc. Typically, the more abstract the color, the higher in price the grout will be.
When choosing a grout color for your mosaic tile, keep in mind that a lighter grout color will allow the mosaic to pop. Especially if the mosaic tile is being used for a tile feature wall, you want to do your best to make it stand out. If the mosaic tile is being used for a tile border (maybe for a kitchen mural), some like to use a matching color grout to give a uniform effect.
With marble tile, we usually choose a grout color that will blend in with the color of the marble, also to create a uniform effect. This will keep the marble looking classy, as opposed to creating a “grid” effect with the grout lines.
Always go with a dark colored grout for your kitchen floor, or at least as dark as you can go without over-contrasting to the tile color. Your kitchen or any other high-traffic area is prone to be exposed to dirt. Therefore the darker the grout color, the more the dirt is camouflaged.
For any questions, please give us a call or visit our Queens Tile Showroom in Glendale, NY! Our sales representatives will be happy to assist with any concerns you may have.
Filed under: Maintenance
FACT: Everyday household products will make your granite countertops and stone tile DULL! The harsh chemicals in these products actually altar the shine in your precious investments.
Our ceramic tile showroom presents you with stone cleaning information on the best cleaning products for stone available. We carry Stone Care International’s products, to ensure you are cleaning and protecting stone and protecting granite the right way and to maintain its polish. These stone cleaners do not contain the harsh ingredients typical household cleaners have. Better yet, they are the most simple, safe and effective way to care for your stone surfaces, guaranteed. These products have an insurance policy that will preserve and protect your investment so that you can have lifelong enjoyment of your surface.
Use Marbalex for stone floors and stone walls, and Marbamist for granite countertops. These are special cleaning products, safe for food handling environments. They are to be used in place of everyday cleaners like Windex, Mr. Clean, etc.
How to polish dull marble?–Use Marble Cream-Marble Restorer. Marblecream will remove dull spots on marble, remove glass rings from marble, and remove shower wall streaks from marble surfaces (*do not use on black granite).
SCI-GL Granite polishing powder is a non-acid restorer for polished granite tile surfaces. It 
comes in two forms, one designed to clean light colored granite and the second for cleaning dark colored granite. It can also be used to remove calcium build-up from fountains and exterior walls. Note that it’s for professional use only.
How to remove stains in stone? Tiles Unlimited sells a Poultice Powder designed to reabsorb stains out of all natural stone surfaces. It’s made for cleaning granite tile, cleaning marble tile, cleaning limestone tile, cleaning slate tile, cleaning travertine tile, cleaning terra cotta tile, cleaning soapstone, cleaning flagstone, and even for cleaning concrete. It also removes mildew stains from grout.
Appreciate the natural colors in your stone even more with Stone Color Enhancer-a cleaner designed to bring out all colors in your tumbled marble, slate tile and flamed granite tile. It also seals the stones surface to add maximum protection (not recommended for food handling surfaces).
Stone tile and stone countertops must be sealed. We recommend Super Tek’s Grout & Stone Sealer, which Tiles Unlimited provides for you as well. This will protect stone from staining, preventing all future complications and headaches. You will notice that when the material is sealed, the liquid beads up, as opposed to the liquid forming a puddle.
Call Tiles Unlimited today and one of our knowledgeable sales representatives will happily answer any questions you may have on Stone Care International’s cleaning and restoring products. (866)-798-3454
Filed under: Outdoor Tile
1). Determine your location’s climate. Throughout the year, will it snow or rain? Are you located in a hot climate? The elements play a huge part in selecting your outdoor tile.
2). Whether you are working on a patio, yard, porch, outdoor walkways, garage or any other exterior space, ceramic floor tile, porcelain floor tile, natural stone floor tile and natural terracotta floor tile can all be used as outdoor tile. Yet, not all materials can withstand all types of climates. Depending on your location, your tile selection may be limited. Listed below are descriptions on each outdoor tile, and which climate(s) they’re suitable for and why:
Ceramic Tile: These are used much more often in hot climates than in colder climates due to the ceramic tile’s high absorption rate of more than 3%. Locations with freezing temperatures are not suitable for ceramic tile because the frozen water will cause the tile to crack–they are not considered frost resistant tiles. If you’re sure it will never snow in your area, happily consider ceramic floor tile for your exterior space.
Porcelain Tile: This material is baked in the kiln at an incredibly high temperature, making it known for its p
orcelain extreme durability. Porcelain is also chip-resistant and porcelain is very dense, which is the key difference from ceramic tile. It is a tile for high traffic commercial areas like malls and airports. Porcelain floor tiles’ absorption rate can be anywhere from 0.5% to as low as under 0.1%, making porcelain tile frost resistant, and a popular choice in areas like northern United States.
Natural Stone Tile: Common types of stone used for the exterior are slate, granite and travertine. Finishes you want to consider for your stone tiles are flamed stone finish, cleftstone tile and bush hammered stone tile. Also keep in mind that stone tiles are common for making interesting patterns with, by laying different size tiles together. To prevent this tile from cracking in freezing temperatures, use stone that is at least ¾” thick in width.
Natural Terracotta Tile: “Terra cotta” translates to “baked earth” in Italian. Especially used in the Mediterranean, this floor tile has been around for thousands of years, and still extremely popular particularly as outdoor tile. Its clay has a reddish tone because it is oxidized when fired, giving it a beautiful, natural, rustic look. Natural terracotta is typically not frost resistant, so it’s limited to being used only in hot climates.
3). Outdoor Tile Color and Outdoor Tile Design.
Regardless of your location’s climate, always choose a rough surface outdoor tile, or anything classified as a“non-slip” tile. Whether you live in a warm climate or not, Tiles Unlimited suggest you stay away from smooth surface tiles for outdoor usage. Especially in slippery, wet areas surrounding a pool or jacuzzi, using a smooth surface tile as opposed to a rough surfaced tile outdoors could be highly dangerous.
Not only is the exterior tile texture important, but the tile size and tile color as well. There are different size outdoor tiles to choose from and many different colors to choose from, mostly ranging in neutral tone tile. Dark colored tiles are preferred because they easily camouflage dirt and mud. Choose the color of the tile based on the idea of complimenting the colors on the outside of your house. Take observation of any bricks, pavers, siding, etc. in your space for reference.
4). Installing Outdoor Tile
Be sure to use a polymer modified thin-set when installing your outdoor tile. Two thin-sets Tiles Unlimited recommends are One-Step thin-set and Superlastic thin-set (our Queens tile showroom stocks both of these for your convenience). The chemicals used in polymer modified thin-set are what create the special bond between the porcelain tiles and the cement.
When choosing the grout, you will want to use a polymer modified grout, or an epoxy grout.
Tiles Unlimited strongly suggests using Mapei’s Mapelastic AquaDefense waterproofing product on areas
with active space or levels underneath them to prevent flooding. For example, a second floor deck would need waterproofing so the garage underneath it to prevent leaks and flooding. This product also provides crack isolation, which keeps the cement together so the tile doesn’t crack.
For more information on Mapei’s products,visit their website at www.mapei.com.
Filed under: Bathroom, Kitchen
Working with a small space does not make it necessary to use a small sized tile. Yes, in the past, solely small floor tiles were used, especially in bathrooms, but the tile industry has evolved to using much larger floor tiles. Ceramic tiles and porcelain tiles are being produced larger in size year by year. Today, even a 12×12 floor tile is considered small.
If laid out correctly, a large floor tile can actually make a small space look bigger. A perfect example is a bathroom floor. Using a smaller tile in a small bathroom or kitchen will give the space a busier feel, and may cause it to look even smaller than it already is.
For those who prefer a less maintenance tile, larger is the way to go. Smaller tiles will result in more pieces, causing more grout lines to clean. A bigger tile used in a space will have less grout lines, making it easier to clean. Less grout lines shown mean more tile shown, allowing more surface to display intricate tile designs and tile patterns.
If the classic look of a small tile is preferred to cover your bathroom floor, be sure to check out all available mosaic floor tiles the tile industry provides today. Mosaic floor tiles have resurfaced and are now available in several different patterns and materials, including ceramic mosaics, stone mosaics and porcelain mosaics. Basket weave mosaic tile, pinwheel mosaic tile, octagon and dot mosaic tile and hexagon mosaic tile are just some of the different mosaic floor styles you can choose from.
*For information on tile cleaning products and even stone cleaning products, call Tiles Unlimited at (866)-798-3454. We carry an entire line of contractor products and every product you’ll need to keep your wall tile, floor tile and granite tops looking fresh.
This bathroom uses a basket weave floor mosaic, causing the space to look more busy and detailed.
A larger tile will have less grout lines, which in turn shows more surface in the tile, allowing the color variation and design to truly expose itself.
Filed under: Subway Tile
Subway tile has been used since 1904, when the New York City Subway System first opened. The classic subway tile is a 3×6 white rectangle, made of ceramic, and especially valued for its durability, as well as its classical, clean and simple look. Some may think the subway tile look has faded out, or will not fit the modern bathroom design they’re looking for. Well, Tiles Unlimited is happy to inform you that subway tile has evolved. Not only is it now also available as glass tile and stone tile, but it comes in an array of new sizes, including 2×6 subway tile, 2×8 subway tile, 4×8 subway tile, 4×10 subway tile, 4×12 subway tile, 4×16 subway tile and 4×24 subway tile. Our Queens tile showroom carries different styles like beveled tile, hand molded tile, pillow edge tile and crackle subway tile.
In the past, a typical bathroom would use 3×6 white subway wall tiles with black trim pieces, with the classic octagon and dot floor tile. Today the different available sizes, colors and styles allow us to expand our designs with subway tile. One of our favorite looks is a 2×8 white subway with a 6×24 porcelain tile wood look as the floor. Pairing subway tile with glass mosaics is also another way of modernizing the subway look. Remember, its simple look will go well with almost anything. It’s known to be extremely versatile in bathroom remodeling designs and kitchen remodeling designs, seeing as it is completely neutral. Builders working with new construction jobs prefer to use the subway look in their bathrooms because of its timeless look, and because of its ability to be accessorized with just about anything. Check out some pictures we’ve provided in which subway tile is being used.
On the left is a photo showing a similar version of the early 1900's bathroom design, using 3x6 white subway wall tile, black trimming and a hexagon floor tile. The photo on the right shows a modern twist on the classic bathroom--the 3x6 wall tile is hand-molded and the octagon floor has developed a new shape, with new colors and is made from stone.
2x8 white subway tile paired with a glass and stone mosaic and a "wood look" porcelain floor.
3x6 stone subway tile decorated with a colorful glass and stone mosaic, and a blue glass pencil.
3x6 recycled glass subway tile with a matching glass mosaic border.
Posted on March 7th, 2012 by admin
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