HGTV & DIY Network are great sources of inspiration for the new home construction and remodeling industries. Their shows are full of creative design ideas and beautiful materials. The problem is that they do not accurately represent the actual and true costs of building a home or rennovating an existing home. Their “budgets” leave out important expenses that cannot be avoided when undertaking a new build or a remodeling project in the real world. We are going to walk you through the real costs involved in building or rennovating so that you can have realistic expectations with your builder or remodeler.

Plans and Permitting

How the design is paid for and the fact that permits are required for most of the projects shown on TV is rarely discussed on any of these shows, however there are costs associated with those necessary steps in the real world. In order to get the design drawn up and have architectural drawings of your new or remodeled home, you are paying for that either through a design fee, hourly rate or the costs are rolled into your construction contract. Permits can also be a significant expense depending on the project you are undertaking and need to be accounted for. Also note that someone has to take the time to pull the permits, and meet with multiple inspectors throughout the course of your build or remodel, and that all costs money too.

Demolition and Labor

On TV you usually see the Home Owner involved in the remodel demo process, and sometimes they even bring in a huge crew of family and friends. That’s called free labor, and it’s not part of the budget you see on a reality TV show. In the real world the demolition is going to be part of your remodeling expense along with all the labor to build your project. These reality shows don’t include labor in their budgets either. The labor of all those hunky carpenters you see on TV is paid for by the show, and its commercial sponsors. So the overtime you would pay in real life for all those long nights of construction doesn’t factor in to those television budgets at all.

Material Selections – Tile, Countertops, Cabinetry, Fixtures.

Selecting your tile, cabinetry, the perfect countertops and all your fixtures takes a lot of time in the real world. Homeowners visit show rooms like ours and work within a specified budget for each element. These budgets are set forth during the initial stages of creating a contract with your builder or remodeler. Often home owners work with designers to narrow down all the choices out there – most builders will have on-site designers that are assigned to your project and are a built in part of your contract.

Here’s where it get’s shady on the reality shows and what throws off the expectations of what an actual budget would be vs. what you see on these shows…. On a reality show home owners are usually shown their products in the great reveal — or maybe you see them picking from a few choices the designer presents. That’s because the products are preselected on reality shows. The majority of these selections on a reality TV show are either 100% donated from the vendors, or are signficantly reduced in cost — all in exchange for publicity and the abilty to market their products to these vast audiences of home enthusiasts. That’s right, FREE – Free, free, free! And therefore not even close to a true representation of what your budget allowance should be for selections.

Furniture

Furniture is never included in the budget of a reality TV show and it’s rarely part of the costs associated with building or remodeling in real life.The homeowners on these shows do not get to keep the furniture. I repeat – all that great furniture is not theirs! The furniture is just a prop for the show. Once the cameras are off it all gets taken away. Your builder or remodeler would likely never include furniture in your budget, and they certainly are not going out an picking couches, beds, chairs and dining room tables to surprise you with once you move back in.

So just how do reality designers come up with the budgets they present on TV? Your guess is as good as mine. Perhaps they use a random number or maybe there is some truth behind it and the few things that the show cannot get for free are added up to create the budget. Each show probably has their own method, but the important thing to remember is that they all have major holes in them. In reality there is a cost associated with each part of your build or remodel. Just remember that those costs will vary based on the part of the country you live in and the products you select, but whatever they actually are in reality they will be much, much more than you saw on a television show! Sorry, but the truth hurts!

If you are building a custom home or remodeling your current home in Wilmette, IL, Delafield, WI or Lake Geneva, WI, you should visit our showrooms in the area. Our showrooms are filled with marble, ceramic, porcelain, terracotta and cement tiles for uses on floors, walls, backsplashes, fireplace surrounds and more. We also offer custom tile and interior design services. Our clients rely on us for interior design help when they build their custom home or are working on a remodel. Call any of our showrooms today for an appointment.

1904 gave birth to the official Subway Tile thanks to Architects  George C. Heins and Christopher Grant La Farge.   Heins and La Farge are credited with Designing New York Interborough Rapid Transit Stations, better known today as the New York Subway Stations.

The Original 3×6 Subway Tile brought beauty, brightness and ease of care to an otherwise dark and unattractive, but necessary place.  Because of the Subway Tile’s simple but functional form and its penchant for being easy to clean, it made a fast transition into bathrooms, kitchens and commercial spaces in the 1920’s and 30’s.  Some would say the height of Subway Tile popularity, that is until its resurgence in the past decade.

Today the iconic 3×6 tile staple has morphed and changed with the times.  We have seen the classic idea of the Subway Tile updated by its dimensions — 2×8, 3×12, 4×10 and beyond.  The updated tile dimensions lend themselves to not only a classic brick pattern, but herringbone, 1/3 stagger and stacked formats as well as basketweaves and mosaics.  The options are endless and give clients the opportunity to create a space that is unique and wonderful. 

Along with the change in dimensions there is also myriad of colors such as beautiful blues, greens, greiges, ombres and watercolors that keep the look fresh; subway tile in materials such as clay, marble and cement also keep Subway Tile moving forward.

One of the biggest changes for Subway Tile are both textured and patterned formats.  We are seeing handmade looks with movement -not a perfectly flat tile, which makes it look expensive and a bit more traditional.  We are also seeing three dimensional designs that are very modern in various shapes and sizes in subtle colors but bold in their statement, as well as beveled and inverted styles that make a stacked pattern fascinating! 

Some have asked, is the Subway Tile on its way out?  We would reply that not only is the original white 3×6 a timeless classic that will never go out of style, but all of our updated and interesting subways give us so many  options that we will keep them as our go-to tile of choice, creating timeless looks for years to come.

If you are building a custom home or remodeling your current home in Wilmette, IL, Delafield, WI or Lake Geneva, WI, you should visit our showroom in the area.  Our showrooms are filled with marble, ceramic, porcelain, terracotta and cement tiles for uses on floors, walls, backsplashes, fireplace surrounds and more. We also offer custom tile and interior design services.  Our clients rely on us for interior design help when they build their custom home or are working on a remodel. Call any of our showrooms today for an appointment.

After living locked away all spring, most of us are looking to embrace warm weather and sunshine inside and outside of our homes in an effort to enjoy summer living all year long! When we think of years past and endless summers, we tend to think of Lake Homes and cottages on water that emit the old school ideas of oars, rope décor and lots of red, blue and yellow- there might even be a good bit of striping and possibly madras plaid.  Today that quintessential home no longer needs to be on the water and the colors have expanded from the old school classics (although we still love old school) to a wide range of tile and looks that emit a warm weather feeling.

Let’s start with the Classic Lake House.  We still love the blue idea, but it is no longer a theme.  Beautiful shades of blues, from pale sky blue to deep indigo- kitchen cabinets and islands as well as bathroom vanities seem to celebrate their freedom of color.  Along with the cabinet colors, we pull in tile that directly reflects the water and sky.  With beachy porcelain wood flooring, weathered Hexagons or fun patterned cements that are whimsical and make you smile every time your sandy feet walk across the floor! When this is all paired with a handmade tile (or tile that looks handmade) with uneven edges, undulation and color variation you find yourself in a wonderful space that you look forward to spending time in and it all lends a sense of casual living and easy care which is a summer essential in our book.

One last thought – we cannot forget about wallpaper in a lakehouse — the old school classics of sail boats, plaids or florals have given way to a whole new world of fun, breezey options that add that extra punch of color or whimsy you can only do in your lake house.

The country home seems to have a strong Summer feeling all of its own.  When your view is lush green fields and towering trees, we look to reflect that in some way on the inside and deck/patio living become our gateway.  The color green is an easy and unexpected way to pull in the outdoors all year long.  Forward tile trends show earthy tones such as soft yellows and oranges and pops of blue along with the base colors of warm greens and grays.  This gives a corridor to wood dimensional tile as a feature wall or a mosaic patterned clay that reflects warmth in its distressed edges revealing the clay base.  Truly an organic approach to an unfussy, but seriously comfortable style that is timeless…. 

The City Home adapts to a faster paced lifestyle and a more streamlined, sophisticated approach to Summer.  Think of unfussiness and clean lines, mirroring the linear feel of a cityscape and a great linen dress on a hot urban day.  Metal cabinets that reflect light or a wood grain cabinet that disappears entirely to make the focus on minimalism and elegant simplicity.  Large format porcelains with clean lines for flooring throughout an entire space with a full marble backsplash that keeps the look contemporary and classic at the same time.  

No matter where you live, the options and ideas are endless to bring Summer Living inside of your home.  Whatever your style and whatever evokes that sunny, warm feeling can be transferred into your home in unexpected and remarkable ways! 

If you are building a custom home or remodeling your current home in Wilmette, IL, Delafield, WI or Lake Geneva, WI, you should visit our showroom in the area.  Our showrooms are filled with marble, ceramic, porcelain, terracotta and cement tiles for uses on floors, walls, backsplashes, fireplace surrounds and more. We also offer custom tile and interior design services.  Our clients rely on us for interior design help when they build their custom home or are working on a remodel. Call any of our showrooms today for an appointment.

Like most of us “sheltering in place,” we see every nook and cranny of our home space with a much more critical eye – how could you not when you’re staring at it 24-7?!? That ugly bathroom floor that you never got around to replacing when you moved into your house 10 years ago and now you can’t look at it one more day? We’ve got you covered!! We wanted to share how easy it is for us to help you create a beautiful space virtually. The project we are sharing here was done completely without in-person contact and it was just as much fun, and just as rewarding for the client (and for us) than if they had come to the showroom and made all their selections there. It really is easier than ever before thanks to technology. During this time of social distancing, and what will likely become somewhat of a new – normal, technology has been and will continue to be a life-saver. Phone calls, emails, Facetime, Zoom conference calls … all helping us keep in touch and stay connected.

We utilize these same virtual communication tools to help current projects progress and jump-start future ones. A quick email can start the process of a virtual design project — have an idea of something you’d like for your kitchen backsplash or a “look” you’d like to achieve for a bathroom remodel? Send your tile designer photos of designs you’ve found online that you like – this gives the designer an idea of your style and the direction of the project. Also send along pictures of the existing space & layout which will also assist in the design process. Pictures of cabinetry, countertops and fixtures can also be useful. We then can schedule our first official design conference call to start flushing out ideas. We’ll then virtually send you mock ups of ideas for the space and tile placement/tile design and pictures of tiles and stones that could work in the space. Through these virtual meetings, we’ll pair down tile selections to your favorites for each area.

Once a design plan is established for the project, the fun part starts – tile samples! Tile samples can be sent directly to your home. We feel that being able to see how the tile looks in the designated area along with how the lighting in the space works with your selections are key in the selection process. Having access to tile samples will also be helpful once it comes time to pick out paint colors and any other accessories for your space. Even grout selection can be done virtually — we’ll make recommendations for grout based on your tile selections, send grout samples directly to you, and follow up with a quick FaceTime meeting with your designer to make the perfect grout selections.

After selections have been finalized, CAD (Computer-Aided Design) drawings will be done. This way you will be able to see a bath floor layout, shower wall elevation, or backsplash rendering with the tile selections you have made. The beauty of these drawings is that they give you an ability to see a concept of your new space as well as different layout options. If you are debating between a subway pattern or herringbone pattern, two options can be drawn, helping make your decision that much easier. Any tweaking that needs to be done at this point can be done via email or a phone call. We’ll order everything and if you need help with installation we can coordinate with our preferred installation teams to get you on the calendar. All invoicing and payment can also be done 100% virtually.

We miss seeing all our clients but wanted you to know that your project doesn’t need to be put on hold due to the current “Social Distancing” situation. As you’re spending extra time at home, look around and see what projects we can help you with virtually – we are here to help make the design process simple, stress-free and enjoyable.

Spring is finally here. Time to freshen things up around the house…a “zhuzhing” of sorts. Maybe a new backsplash or bathroom floor — and you don’t want to spend too much on the tile so you make a trip to your local big box store. What could possibly go wrong? Well, sometimes more than you think.

COLOR CONSISTENCY: One of the biggest issues with buying tile from a big box or online discount retailer is an issue with the shading and sizing of the tiles from box to box that you are purchasing. Big Box stores or online discounters tile can have a large amount of color variation from box to box as each batch of tile can be from different dye lots of the same “color” tile. This results in an install that — while you are technically using the same color tile — the shade of that color is off from box to box and so it looks completely different on the wall and doesn’t match. This would be fine if the tile is supposed to be shaded and not a solid tone, but typically that is not the situation; you want your tile to all be the exact same, consistent color on the wall or floor. When you buy from a small specialty tile retailer you don’t have that problem. On every box of tile there is a dye lot number which is sometimes called a batch or shade number. Different batches or productions of tile will have different numbers. Batches can be different in both color and size from run to run. Because specialty tile stores have strong 1:1 relationships with their vendors, we work with our vendors to require that every order placed use the same batch and dye lot. The result is your tile will all be the same size and color from box to box and the vendor knows to only send tiles from the same dye lot for each specific order.

TILE SELECTION: The other bonus of buying from a smaller specialty tile retailer is that typically there will be more design and style options to choose from for each line of tile. Variety in mosaics, shapes and sizes, along with colorways from each tile line carried will be greater in a specialty store than you will find at a larger big box store. At a Big Box store, every item on the store shelf has to earn its place and only the most “popular” items that sell the most will get a shelf spot. Finding exclusive, unique tile in an array of color choices are not hallmarks of buying through a big box store — what you see is what you get. In contrast, a specialty tile retailer has carefully curated a showroom full of possibilities as well as access to much more than what their showrooms can display (not to mention a nicer atmosphere!).

TILE QUALITY: Some manufacturers sell to both the big box stores as well as the smaller specialty tile retailers. While it’s possible that in some cases they are the same tile, often the tile from the big box stores are produced specifically for that larger retailer and designed to meet a certain price point. This results in producing tile that is often lower in quality in order to meet the necessary sales margins of the big box stores, so the tile you are buying is not the same as the higher quality version of that tile you’d find at the specialty tile shop.

TILE KNOWLEDGE: Knowledge and education are the pillars of a tile specialist, and finding tile expertise at a big box store can be hit or miss and not necessarily comprehensive. When you shop at a smaller specialty tile retailer, you’ll find a much higher level of expertise around the differences between all types of natural stone and their corresponding finishes as well as porcelain, ceramic and other specialty products. Tile thickness, slip resistance, wear and installation requirements of each product should be considered before selecting tile, and a smaller specialty tile store is much more focused on those small details. Additionally, most smaller tile stores work in unison with their own installation teams for a more coordinated effort which means less work on the consumers side of finding an installer.

And we’ve of course saved the best for last….

DESIGN SERVICES: Everyone deserves the luxury of beautiful design, and it doesn’t have to cost a thing! A smaller tile showroom has complimentary, on-staff designers who take the intimidation out of the equation by partnering with the customer to help them achieve their vision — it’s a much more one on one experience and the customer feels confident in the selections they are making. Things like complimentary creative concept designs, material selection CAD drawings for each project, power point detail for each space and personal project management from design to installation are things you will only find when working with a smaller tile specialty store.

So while you will always find a decent price point at the Big Box store – buyer beware – there are some important distinctions and a lot of value in paying slightly more for your tile from a smaller, specialty tile retailer. Happy Shopping!

If you are building a custom home or remodeling your current home in Wilmette, IL, Delafield, WI or Lake Geneva, WI, you should visit our showroom in the area.  Our showrooms are filled with marble, ceramic, porcelain, terracotta and cement tiles for uses on floors, walls, backsplashes, fireplace surrounds and more. We also offer custom tile and interior design services. Our clients rely on us for interior design help when they build their custom home or are working on a remodel. Call any of our showrooms today for an appointment.

There is a lot to be said about a good niche in your shower. They eliminate shower caddies that have layers of soap scum on the bottom, or messy stacks of bottles that are quite an eye sore. Niches serve both form and function — but the ability to create a true one of a kind design element is what sets the most current types of niches apart from your “standard” niche. Beyond that, we’re beginning to think that the ledge could be the new niche — or at least making it’s way into more forward thinking bath designs.

The first step in creating a perfect shower niche is to carefully plan it out — so first things first – lets set forth the key things you need to consider when planning out your niche:

1. Wall Placement – what wall is best for the niche?  

There are a few key things to consider when picking which wall should be used for the niche.  The biggest factor to think about before you get excited about a specific placement and layout is to confirm your plan does not interact with any plumbing or electrical. Additionally, if you’re in a cold weather climate, the outside wall is not an option for niche placement. Also based on where your shower head is placed, you’ll want to set your niche away from the stream of the water. Speaking of water, don’t forget you must waterproof your niche just like you’d waterproof the walls in your shower. Your contractor/installer can guide you on which waterproofing system they like to use and why.

2. Niche Placement – Where should I position my niche on the wall? 

Most standard niches are typically between 4-5 feet off the ground — think between chest and eye level. However, we are seeing a departure from standard and as we will detail below, putting niches lower is becoming a popular trend and a cool design element to your shower space. Think about how you want to use the niche space – is it a storage area only, or would you want to rest your foot on it for shaving?

3. Niche Tile Selection – The big debate…

We are seeing alot of trash talking on design blogs and Instagram/Pinterest about using a special “feature” tile within the niche so that it pops / stands out. Some designers say using a contrasting tile from the field tile is a sure sign of a dated niche/shower design and push for using one tile for both the shower walls and the niche. Others feel like using a secondary tile for the feature draws your eye to the shampoo/bottle mess within the niche and should be avoided so that the mess “disappears” (like it would disappear because the tile matches?). We are here to say that if you love a combination of your field tile + a different tile in the niche, go for it. There is no right or wrong, and as long as your niche is executed correctly, finished well, and looks great – there is no such thing as a “dated” niche. There are however, trends in niche design that are new over the last year or so, and we are going to highlight a few of those below. Maybe you’ll choose to go with a newer design idea instead of a more traditional “standard” niche – but either way have fun and pick something you love! Here we go:

The “Hard to Find” Niche: Often found in that half wall (sometimes called a “pony wall”) that feels so random, this is the perfect place for hiding all your shower products like shampoo, soap, razors etc. that no one but you needs to see.

The Double Niche:  We are seeing several versions of the double niche. You can have “personal” niches (i.e. “His” and “Hers”) where you get your own space for your own things. We design a lot of double niches where there’s one standard size niche where your taller bottles go, and then directly below that is a lower/shorter niche for things like razors, soap, etc. If you put your niche really low, it can also be used as a foot rest for shaving….bonus!

Wall-mounted shelves: This is a great option when you are doing a stone (marble, limestone etc) shower. It’s so simple yet elegant – just match the same material as your shower walls and do 1-3 narrow shelves of the same material (or if you are doing a stone material threshold and/or bench, match your shelves to that). It is such a pretty look and ties in so well with marble showers.

The Long & Linear Niche: Often spanning the full wall, or at least a large portion of it, these niches are long but short if that makes sense. They typically run horizontally, often about 3 – 4 feet off the ground, and are much shorter in their height than a standard niche. They still hold your taller bottles, and there is plenty of room for everything despite being more compact in their height. We do love the design element of a good linear niche – they are pleasing to the eye and feel updated and fresh. Set vertically, you get an entirely different vibe.

The Ledge: The new comer to the group, the ledge is making a serious move into bathroom shower design. It still provides a place to put whatever bottles you need in a way that’s less obvious since it’s a continuous line across your wall. The Ledge is basically a shelf sitting at about 3.5-4 feet off the ground running across the entire wall that it is on – versus a niche which is a cut-in, recessed hole in the wall. Our favorite part of a ledge is there are no limitations on height for storing all your shower product essentials. For us, a ledge feels more spacious while at the same time gives the entire bathroom a more streamlined, well designed look and feel.

If you are building a custom home or remodeling your current home in Wilmette, IL, Delafield, WI or Lake Geneva, WI, you should visit our showroom in the area.  Our showrooms are filled with marble, ceramic, porcelain, terracotta and cement tiles for uses on floors, walls, backsplashes, fireplace surrounds and more. We also offer custom tile and interior design services.  Our clients rely on us for interior design help when they build their custom home or are working on a remodel. Call any of our showrooms today for an appointment.

Today, there is more variety in #tile design than ever before. The ability to take a simple tile and create a striking design by using a unique pattern can be the difference between blah and Ahhhh. There is also more choice in tile shapes, color and texture than in years past creating even more design options. A decade ago, tiles were typically focused on function not form — but today, a tiles aesthetic impact is just as important as their function. Below, we break down some of the latest and greatest in the use of pattern tile itself, or in the creative installation of tile, to help give you some new and innovative ideas for your space.

Hurray for Herringbone:

Herringbone is a classic tile pattern that has long been used on hardwood floors, but is making its mark in kitchen backsplashes, bathroom floors and shower walls in a variety of materials – ceramics, natural stones like marble and slate, as well as porcelains.

Essentially, a herringbone pattern is made up of rectangular tile pieces that meet at perfect straight edges to form a “zigzag” pattern. Because it uses rectangular tiles instead of angled tiles, the pattern will look broken or staggered, the result being an asymmetrical, eye-catching aesthetic.

One of our favorite ideas we’ve seen is the “jagged edge” finish of a herringbone laid tile. Forward in it’s thinking this design takes a room to the next level.

Go Bold or Go Home:

Whether on a floor or wall, a graphic pattern tile is the perfect way to draw attention to a specific area of the room. Either in soft subtle hues or bold contrasting colors the intricate patterns available really add a pop to a floor or wall application. Patterened tile comes in a variety of materials – most popular are cement (encaustic), terracotta and even porcelain. Cement and porcelain are great for indoor and outdoor areas, as well as showers/wet areas, and terracotta is a great option for any indoor dry floor or wall application. We are also seeing hexagons and even subways in prints and patterns so literally any wall or floor can get in on the pattern craze!

If you are building a custom home or remodeling your current home in Wilmette, IL, Delafield, WI or Lake Geneva, WI, you should visit our showroom in the area.  Our showrooms are filled with marble, ceramic, porcelain, terracotta and cement tiles for uses on floors, walls, backsplashes, fireplace surrounds and more. We also offer custom tile and interior design services.  Our clients rely on us for interior design help when they build their custom home or are working on a remodel. Call any of our showrooms today for an appointment.

Happy New Year! With the new year comes new trends in the world of tile. While it’s only January, here are our top predictions for what will be trending this year:

1) Singing the Blues: Each year Pantone chooses a color of the year, and this year it’s a blue – Pantone – 19-4052 “Classic Blue” – they describe the color as “stilling calm, confidence, and connection, this enduring blue hue highlights our desire for a dependable and stable foundation on which to build as we cross the threshold into a new era. Timeless and enduring blue hue, PANTONE 19-4052 Classic Blue is elegant in its simplicity. Imprinted in our psyches as a restful color, PANTONE 19-4052 Classic Blue brings a sense of peace and tranquility to the human spirit, offering refuge. Aiding concentration and bringing laser like clarity, PANTONE 19-4052 Classic Blue re-centers our thoughts. A reflective blue tone, Classic Blue fosters resilience.”

What does this mean for you? Well for one, expect to see lots of “things” in this hue of blue – kitchen and bathroom cabinetry, kitchen islands, paint, clothes, appliances and so much more — including #tile.

A hue like this blue lends itself to a great dark + light palet – so look for this color paired with lighter neutrals. For tile, we are seeing it in subways, cements, and small mosaics as well as in combination with other blue hues. We are a bit #tileobsessed with this color, FYI!

Beyond blue, you’ll see warm tones make a big comeback in 2020. Natural colors like beige, cream and brown will begin to replace the greys; you’ll see warmer tones in general.

2). Enter a New Dimesion: We will continue to see the growth of dimensional tile across materials and sizes – from smaller mosaics to larger format porcelains, dimension is not going away. With ceramics, porcelains and cements entering the dimensional space, there will be alot more options to choose from in the coming year.

3). Terrazo A Go Go: Terazzo has been making a huge comeback around the country in the last two years, but we here in the midwest haven’t seen much of an embrace of this tile. But get your big girl pants on because it not going away and it’s only going to get more popular in 2020. There will be larger scaled terrazo’s, as well as more mixed material terrazos (think cement + metal). While some think of it as a more industrial or commercial application, we think the trend to use it in bathrooms, laundry rooms and kitchens will only grow in the coming year.

We are all so ready to say goodbye to 2020 – and despite it’s many challenges for ourselves and our clients, we at Bella did have the opportunity to design many beautiful spaces for our clients during the year of Covid-19. So we thought it would be fun to take a look back at some of Bella Tile & Stone’s favorite projects from this past year. In a time when we all have been home more than ever, living in spaces that are fresh and new can make all the difference. So sit back, enjoy the tour, and warmest wishes from all of us at Bella Tile & Stone for a happy, healthy 2021!

#12: A Fireplace For All to Gather Around: I mean, how beautiful is this fireplace? The warmth of the wood mantel combined with the marble herringbone which brings a sophistication to the entire space – we can’t get enough of it! This living space is part of our great Partner Miller Marriott’s 2020 Model home which has now sold – how lucky are these homeowners?

#11: Looks Like Wood Parquet but it’s Porcelain: This lake house lower level has the most fabulous porcelain wood look floor – it looks like fancy wood parquet but it’s the most durable, practical large format tile you can imagine – with the style of a high end parquet floor. Walk in wet from the lake and no one’s going to be mad at you – these floors can take pretty much anything and they will last a lifetime!

#10: Lake House Fun For Everyone: We simply cannot get enough of these adorable lake house bathrooms using ceramic penny tiles to customize the floors with kitchy verbiage (not to mention the amazing Whale wallpaper)! We always say that having a lake house allows you to get creative and bold – do things you wouldn’t do in your more formal spaces – and this pretty much tops our list of favorite ways to have some fun with your space.

#9 Getting Creative : Our clients wanted to figure out a way to use a tile they absolutely loved but could not afford to use in a large way, or even in a small way – so we all put our heads together and came up with a way to implement using just one 6×6 tile in the niche of their Master Bath – a special pop of beauty that really stands out.

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#8 Let the Sun Shine In: When we suggested a black floor tile for this sun porch the owners took a big leap of faith that we knew what we were doing – and we are proud to report that they are so glad they trusted us on this one! We knew that the amount of light coming through the black trimmed windows in combination with painting the brick white would be a stunning backdrop for this floor. Set in a herringbone pattern it brings a whole other level of cool to the space.

#7 So Fresh and So Clean: The white & Blue patterened hexagon floor (which is so cool!) paired against the blue subway tile and white vanity and walls gives this room such a clean and fresh feel – what a light and bright space! Photo cred for this gorgeous bathroom goes to @Christinagphoto

#6 Who Cares How Much Laundry You Have? Doesn’t matter how many loads of towels, sheets and clothes pile up in this house – the homeowners get to be in this awesome space to get their laundry done – no complaints here!

#5 Cocktails Anyone? This design included the bar area with the antique mirrored subway, and a full lower level of wood look porcelain set in a herringbone pattern on the floors. We love the pop of red on the bar chairs to give it a speakeasy vibe!

#4 Calgon, Take Me Away! The standout in this room is the feature wall of dimensional ceramic pickets that surrounds the large soaking tub – dreamy and soothing on a dreary or a sunny day! The warmth of the porcelain wood look floor brings it all together.

#3 Old Meets New: Look at this stunning floor – made from recycled glass they are tiny hexagon tiles that make up this beautiful patterned mosaic. The texture of the floor is pure luxury – so soft on the feet! We love how this tile brings an updated, fresh feel to an old school classic. The fun blue and white theme carried out in the shower and the bathroom walls makes for one spectacular lake house bathroom!

#2 We Can’t Even….. Believe someone gets to live in this house and have an entire spa and sauna all to themselves! The standout of this design was both the amazing wood look porcleain wall feature – we used it on both the shower walls and the vanity wall to make quite a big impact, and the stone floor – in such a large space the stones are quite dramatic and gives such an earthy, natural feel to this entire space. We are quite proud of this one!

#1 Kitchen Dreams Really Do Come True! This kitchen is everything. From the beautiful rustic custom hand painted spanish tile backsplash to the stunning range hood and light fixtures – we don’t want to be anywhere else but here for the rest of 2020 and beyond!

That’s a wrap on our 12 days of Tile Countdown, not to mention a big goodbye to 2020. We look forward to designing more amazing spaces together in 2021! Cheers!

If you are building a custom home or remodeling your current home in Wilmette, IL, Delafield, WI or Lake Geneva, WI, come visit our showroom in that area. Our stores are filled with marble, ceramic, porcelain, terracotta and cement tiles for uses on floors, walls, backsplashes, fireplace surrounds and more. We also offer custom tile and interior design services. Our clients rely on us for interior design help when they build their custom home or are working on a remodel. Call any of our showrooms today for an appointment.

Last time we looked, it was 80 degrees, sunset was at 8:30 pm, the grass was green, and flowers were still blooming. How did we get to November already? The holidays are literally right around the corner and who’s ready? The reality is, we are never really prepared for the onslaught that is the holiday season. Thanksgiving is basically here and from there, we’ve got the countdown to Christmas/Hannukah.

For many, the holiday season is a reason to get the house in shape and make some needed updates and / or renovations. If you haven’t planned well in advance for those changes, they may need to move over to a New Year’s resolution for January. Don’t fret though, as there are some things that can be simple and quick fixes that make all the difference:

Kitchen Backsplash – No matter how hard you try to get your guests out of the kitchen, they always end up hanging out in the kitchen — so make it a WOW when they walk in. Have you been looking at blank painted backsplash walls for years that you have been wanting to tile? Or is it time to take the plunge and pull out the old backsplash from the previous home owner that you’ve never liked but kept saying you’ll re-do it but never have. It’s a small space that can make a big impact.

Fireplace Surround: This is such a fun area to focus on and will make a huge difference in a room you’ll be using alot during the holidays. Pick a beautiful marble mosaic for your surround – it’s classic but updated — or go with a great cement or terracotta pattern that adds a pop of color and pattern. Paint can also tranform the wood trim on the fireplace – painting it a crisp white can really improve the overall look as well.

Wallpaper – Talk about a quick transformation – there are so many great designs and patterns in every color pallette you’d ever want. Plus, with peel and stick removable wallpapers, you really can do this on your own because you can take it off as many times as you need until you get it right. Or find a paper you love and typically wallpaper hangers can squeeze in a small job even if they have a full calendar.

Furniture and Artwork – A quick refresh is simple and it doesn’t have to break the bank. Stores like HomeGoods have some really great artwork, throw pillows & blankets, large mirrors, rugs, and substantial furinture pieces that are on trend at truly reasonable prices. Just a few tweaks can make rooms feel like new.

Or, if you run out of time, light lots of candles and dim the lights so it looks warm and inviting, without making any changes just yet!

Cheers to a great holiday season for all.

If you are building a custom home or remodeling your current home in Wilmette, IL, Delafield, WI or Lake Geneva, WI, you should visit our showroom in the area.  Our showrooms are filled with marble, ceramic, porcelain, terracotta and cement tiles for uses on floors, walls, backsplashes, fireplace surrounds and more. We also offer custom tile and interior design services.  Our clients rely on us for interior design help when they build their custom home or are working on a remodel. Call any of our showrooms today for an appointment.