Sharing Your Style in Tile

Today’s colors, designs, and materials open a world of creative opportunities

Travertine, stone, and slate offer designers and homeowners an expanded array of choices that encourage individual creativity and personal expression. A bathroom remodeling project becomes a demonstration of your personal vision. An entry way offers you the opportunity to show your individual style. By exploring this expanding world of materials and design options, you can create for yourself the look, the durability, and the style that expresses your personality and your good taste.

With that in mind, designer Barbara Pannitteri has some helpful suggestions that can save you time and inconvenience and make the entire process easier. These can help the installation process go more smoothly and assist you in selecting the design elements that will add the best value and style to your home.

Stone

Natural Stones are ranked from hard and durable to softer stone in this order: quartzite, granite, marble, and soapstone. Natural stones are known to stand the test of time compared to other materials. However natural stones do require care and maintenance to protect the beauty and functionality of your investment.

Travertine

Travertine is a durable, natural limestone formed near hot springs, available in colors like white, cream, tan, and walnut. Highly prized for flooring, pool decks, and walls, it offers a luxurious, rustic, or modern aesthetic. While generally strong, it requires sealing to prevent staining and scratching, and it is sensitive to acidic substances.

Slate

Formed from fine layers of clay or volcanic ash, slate is prized for its ability to split into thin, flat sheets—a quality that makes it a go-to material for tile. Durable, weather-resistant, and naturally high-grip, it’s ideal for outdoor use and high-traffic indoor spaces, offering a look that feels both rustic and modern.

Planning

With so many options available, designers are quick to explore the mix of materials and colors in manner that suggests an inclusion of Art Deco ideas.

In support of this trend, manufacturers are bringing materials that suggest a hand-made, artisan origin. In like manner, plumbing fixtures are featuring a return of classic copper and bronze finishes.

If your plan includes bathroom remodeling, you should also consult a local glass company that specializes in bath and shower enclosures to help installation go more smoothly.

Helpful hints

When you are planning to consult your local tile and flooring provider, here are a few things to consider:

Bring with you some examples of your ideas from magazines that inspired you.
Keep an open mind as you go forward in considering options.
Don’t give up on what you like and go for what you really love.
Be able to tell your designer what you like about what you are sharing.
Consider whether your vision is in keeping with the general styling of your home.
Realize that within material and design options there are pricing options.
Designers will help you get started and don’t need you to have a contractor.