One such factory, Brix, has given us much to admire.  From their design perspective (‘Brix is a brand…that believes in the value and culture of design.’; ‘Good design affects life.’) to the beautiful simplicity of their displays and ultimately, their inspiring product, we find ourselves drawn once again to good design, in its purest form.

Cersaie, Bologna 2011.

 Showroom, Milan.

I Frammenti, porcelain tile.

*All images via brix.

St Marie Stone

Are you working on a remodel and your budget’s a little tighter than expected? Maybe you’re finishing up a basement or mudroom, and you want a high quality item but not a high price? Or maybe you have a client who just needs a few decorative pieces to complement a field tile?

Statements has a collection of promotion items that are budget conscious but still the highest quality ceramics and stones you can find. In fact there are even a few metal and glass accents as well.  Take a look at the promotions page and see if there might just be the right thing for your next project.

Ceramic Tile and Stone Promotions

Limestone and Granite Fireplace

One of the first questions that our designers will ask you when you come into our showroom is what type of tile you would like to use in your home. While porcelain tile can be used on floors and walls, in kitchens and bathrooms, indoor and outdoor, stone tiles do have some characteristics that you should keep in mind when selecting tile for your project.

Stone, as a natural product, has a greater degree of variation from piece to piece than manufactured products. We believe that this natural variation adds to the beauty of the final installation, but it’s important to keep in mind. Even the most consistent stone will range.

All natural stones must be sealed in order to prevent stains. For harder stones like granite, you only need to seal it upon installation and very rarely afterward. Softer or more porous stones like soapstone or sandstone need to be sealed more frequently. Sealing is especially important for installations in areas like kitchen backsplashes and bathroom shower surrounds in which soap, oils, food spills and other potential stains are in contact with the stone surface frequently.

If you are considering using stone for an exterior project, it is important to consider whether the stone you choose will stand up to the elements. In the Pacific Northwest, we have all types of climate–from freezing winter to boiling summers and everything in between. As a result we encourage our customers to choose a stone that can withstand severe temperature swings even after being exposed to wind and rain. Be sure to let your designer know where you intend to install the tile so that they can help select a material that will last as long as your home (or longer!).

These are just a few of the considerations to keep in mind when deciding whether to use natural stone in your home. For more detailed information, check out the free resources available to you on the consumer page of the Marble Institute of America. MIA is also a great resource for advice on how to clean and maintain your stone tile installation once your project is complete.

How about using larger scale tiles? Statements carries a wide range of large scale tiles in various stone and color choices. Not just your basic granite and marble, instead large scale tiles come in everything from sandstone and limestone to antiqued granite.

Each tile is about ?” thick, which is great for a countertop–thicker than tile, but not quite as thick as slab. Most countertops have a depth of 25″, which is perfect because all of these large scale tiles have at least one 25″ side (in depth); some even have a polished edge on the 24″ side so your installer doesn’t have to polish an edge. The tiles also come in sizes like 12.75×25.5, 25.5×36 and 16×32

 So, no more countertop dilemmas.  Now you can enjoy the tile price with a slab look. Hope this helps, and if you have any other questions send them my way britt@statementstile.com (I will feature it on Ciao and will send you a Statements long-sleeved tee).  Thanks for reading.

Eirie field: 9×13 and 13×13 $.99 sq ft, $.99 each. Eirie decos 2×9, 4×4 and 4×9 $1.99 each

Essence: 9×13 and 13×13 $0.99 sq ft

Serena: 13×13 $0.99 sq ft

Metal borders: $1.99 each

“If you think it’s expensive to hire a professional to do the job, wait until you hire an amateur.” -Red Adair (blowout/oil firefighter pioneer)

 1. Something to consider when doing a kitchen backsplash is outlet placement. Jamen suggested placing outlets under the cabinets. This makes your design smoother and is easier to use in the long run.

2. If you have two different floors that bump up to each other, plan the thickness of the under-lamenant. Most installers can do this for you but it is still something to consider and discuss prior to picking your tile.

3. Like I mentioned last week Schluter is a great and often less expensive alternative to sometimes more costly bullnose or trim pieces

4. Very important: Make sure you or your installer remove all preexisting materials before the install. Also check for damages and see if any repairs are necessary. It is always better to start with a clean slate when remodeling. .The 20% your saving now by not doing having a clean slate now could cost you a 120% in 6 to 8 months.

5. When looking for shower pan tiles you should use 4″x4″ or smaller for proper sloping.

6. Time!! Research your tile choice ahead of time. Some tile is special order so make sure you have the time if necessary so you get something you truly want and not something you are ok with, but will hate in two years.

7. Remember your color choices. Try not to get something that will date itself in a few years.  

8. Remember it is NOT cheaper or faster to do it twice. On that note make sure your installer is a reputable one who preferably is licensed and bonded and will not take costly shortcuts.

9. When using grout and thinset, check with the manufacturer’s recommendations and always read directions about application and sealing procedures.

10. Counting the cost.  Don’t be scared of the highest estimate. The highest estimate is not always the worst. It often will cover all your bases, because remember, there are always unexpected surprises. ALWAYS!

Recently I helped my friend at LiT tile her bathroom vanity and 6″ backsplash, using the Bianco Carrara ½”x½” polished mosaic.  It looked great until I got to the end of the vanity, and thought to myself, ‘what do I finish this with?’ The Bianco Carrara moulding was too big and the cornice didn’t look right. I asked one of our trusted installers and he suggested using Schluter.

 For those of you unfamiliar with tile lingo, Schluter is a metal strip most commonly used in a brushed aluminum finish, but does come in other colors as well. Schluter is usually installed as a little strip in-between floors to ease the transition from one material to another, but can also be found on seams where the floor meets the wall.  Most recently, Schluter is emerging as a more contemporary finish piece for tile. It is great because it is inexpensive, easy to cut, easy to install and gives installations a clean, modern look. And when I say easy to cut, I’m not kidding.  Armed with much needed advice from an installer, I used metal shears and, with a little back-and-forth movement, it came apart. I finished off the corners with a little sand paper and, VOILA, perfect fit.

 Schluter can be found wherever tile installation products are sold. It comes in different lengths and thicknesses and is fairly inexpensive. Next time you are in a bind to finish off a tile and you want something modern, don’t fret–just Schluter it.

Glass: you love it you hate it, doesn’t matter. What does matter is proper installation, and questions like, ‘How do I cut my glass tiles?’, ‘What do I use to install glass?’, and ‘Where can it be used?’, are everyday occurrences for us. Well, per usual, I am here to answer some of those questions mainly pertaining to one of Statements’ favorite lines of glass, Skylights.

 When installing Skylights, the company recommends using a latex-modified white thinset which meets the standards for glass installation. This can normally be found where tile products are sold.

 When cutting Skylights, an Alpha blade or a standard glass cutter (which is commonly used in glass installation) should be used. Or, if using a standard wet saw, the company recommends a special glass blade which is usually available from several blade manufactures. (THIS IS THE ALPHA BLADE) When using the correct blade while cutting at a moderate speed, the glass should not chip, however if you do not use the correct blade, it could lead to a great deal of chipping. When finished cutting, the edges of the glass will be sharp, but don’t worry–they can be softened. Lightly sanding the edges with the use of a high quality rubbing stone will make those edges as smooth as can be. Finally, after installation, sanded grout should be used according to grout manufacturers recommendations. And voila–look at your glass install, amazing!

 A final note to leave you with about Skylights which might be useful for some applications:  The glass is made from 8mm high quality, heavy duty construction-grade glass, which is used in custom windows in high rise buildings and hotels. Due to its heavy-dutiness (I know it’s not a word but you get the idea) and its frost-proof character, the glass can be installed in any swimming pool and commercial or residential application. The 1×1′s are also great for floors, although keep in mind the gloss is susceptible to scratching and can also be slippery in wet areas.

 Just a bit of glass knowledge, I hope this helps on your next project.

 Peace out

Tile Chic