Part 2 of an interview with Zoe Voigt, a freelance writer, blogger, and tile aficionado. (Link to Part 1)

RC: Do you have a favorite tile that you would use for your next project if money were no object?

ZV: Oh, yes! This is an easy question, although with being a writer, money will always be an issue. Here’s my dream home in tile:

Around the fireplaces, (and there will be several, since this is a dream house after all,) Motawi; kitchen backsplash, Trikeenan; mural in the dining room and (why not) the master bath too, New Ravenna; floors in the dining and living area, Cuban Heritage Cement; exterior cladding, Stonepeak’s anti-pollution porcelain; Olympic-sized pool outside, Oceanside Glass. I’m still deciding about what to put in the interior lap pool, so I’ll have to get back to you on that. Actually, I think I’m going to save the rest of this list for a future book. Thanks for asking a good question, I’ll be sure to mention you in the acknowledgments!

RC: In your blog, Tile Style, you often feature smaller, specialty lines. Tell us about some of your favorite specialty lines and how you found them.

ZV: Those handmade tiles are my favorites. They’re artistic and they just have so much character.

I find most new products at tile shows, which I attend regularly. Coverings is the big one, of course, there’s also Surfaces, but it shows all kinds of flooring, not just tile. The small, bi-annual Moravian Tile Show in Pennsylvania will often have interesting antique tiles and small artisan manufacturers. The other way I find new products is through press releases and by following manufacturers on social media sites. Lots of PR representatives contact me so that I am aware of their company’s new products.

RC: If you could give one piece of advice to someone remodeling their home with tile, what would it be?

ZV: Hire a qualified installer. Nothing ruins a tile job like a crappy do-it-yourself installation. I love all kinds of tile, but I’m a huge snob when it comes to leveling and groutlines!

Many thanks, Zoe, for taking the time to answer our questions. For more from Zoe Voigt, see her article in Tile Dealer or follow her TileStyle blog.