Tile Tales and Great Resources

Today tile and all the wacky  and wonderful things you can do with it takes center stage.   Whether your style is wild and crazy or serene and sedate there are many ways to be creative and many types of tile to consider.  Depending on the complexity of the installation it is also a great candidate for the savvy DIY expert.

Sometimes less is more, as is the case with the tile installation above.  I love the vertical direction of this glass pencil tile suggesting water running down the wall.  The aqua, beige and white palette is also beautiful!

Recently I discovered this great resource where you can learn everything you need to know about tile.  It is Drury Design's Interior Design Tile Style Guide. It will give you the low down on style, pricing and even durability.  In addition, the  Ceramic Tile Distributor Association (CTDA) launches their new website, CeramicCentral.com featuring content (not limited to tile) from a wide variety of sources including yours truly.  You can always search the content right here at KFL.  Just scroll down the side bar on the right. Check them out!  In the meantime, for your visual enjoyment, here are a few more intriguing design ideas that have caught my eye, and why.

This one goes in the "wild and wacky" file and I love it!  Definitely not for the feint of heart and probably not for the DIYer.  It is a showstopper and is a perfect example of how you can create a statement that is totally unique.
The basket weave texture of this wall of tile enhances the adjacent smooth wood surface and the stunning turquoise complements the warmth of the wood.
This is one of my favorite kitchen tile applications.  I say if you're going to tile behind a hood, go big or go home.  Yes tile all the way up for a complete and dramatic look.  Incidentally I also feel the same way about floating shelves.
All these photos can be found at Houzz