Finishes For Your Bathroom Walls

Below is a guest post on the topic of what to do with your bathroom walls. Of course consideration needs to be made to the moisture rich environment, who the primary users are, and what your preferred design style is. Paint in the proper finish, wall covering, wainscoting, panels, and tile are all options to consider.  We just remodeled a small powder room at our house and placed two different tiles that go up the wall to a height of 42″.  It adds a sense of drama in a very small space and functionally as there are no worries if someone gets messy with water.

 

Choosing The Right Finish For Your Bathroom Walls

If you are considering remodeling your bathroom, you will need to think about the finish you will use on your walls. Choosing the right finish for your bathroom is very important because a bathroom has its own special considerations, and the wrong decision can cost a lot of money to redo. Here I have outlined some finishes you could apply to your bathroom walls. I have also noted some pros and cons to help you decide which is the best choice for you.

Paint

Paint is the basic finish for any wall, and has its own pros and cons in your bathroom. On the plus side, paint is available in a massive range of colours, and if you cannot find one to suit you then you need to look harder. Paints are available that are waterproof and cleanable, so maintenance is relatively easy, and application is a simple thing that you may be able to do yourself. Against it though is that it can appear a boring finish that will start to look tatty within a relatively short time.

Wallpaper

You can buy wallpaper that will suit hanging in a bathroom, and you can add a touch of personality to a room with your choice. The less expensive papers are not as long-lasting as the more expensive examples, but will last a year or two before wear and tear takes its toll (after all this is paper we are talking about …coated or not). Paper hanging in a bathroom is best done by a professional as the steam it will encounter demands good application.

Wood

Adding wood to a bathroom wall is less in vogue now, but it can still look extremely stylish if a good job is done. Quality sealing is essential though as otherwise you could have rotten or fungi riddled wood on your walls in no time. This is quite an expensive finish to use as you have to buy and fit the wood, and then it needs sealing and maintenance. Overall I would not use wood simply because once bored with it you need to have it removed before starting again.

Tiles

Tiles are the perfect choice for a bathroom as they are impervious to water and easily cleaned, they are also available in a larger and larger selection of colours and patterns, as well as finishes. For a more expensive look you can add highlight tiles, or even a feature wall. It is true that some tiles can be expensive to buy, but the mass market ensures a great choice of reasonably priced tiles is always available. You will need the tiles fitted professionally to make sure you have no trouble in the future, and that you have the best overall effect from their application. From classic white to slate, tiles look beautiful in any bathroom.

It is easy to see my preference for the bathroom, and it has been my preference for many years now. If I was on a tight budget I would probably choose paint because it is also easy to clean and not bothered too much by water (as long as it is bathroom paint and has anti-fungicide added). However, I find paint too boring, whereas I think tiles add to any bathroom.

Author Bio:

Leslie Kramer, the author of this article, works as a customer support executive at Cerdomus Tile Studio, specialists in high-quality floor tiles. Leslie loves bird watching and visits various national parks on weekends.

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Kitchen Flooring Options To Consider

The guest post below high-lights the usual options discussed with one that might be a bit of a surprise.  A hint  it is used in commercial settings, been around for decades, might be found in laundry or mud rooms.  When embarking upon a kitchen remodel, choosing the flooring is one of the biggest decisions along with selection of the cabinets and counter tops and of course the appliances.  You need to consider the overall look and feel you are hoping to achieve, the maintainance of the material, and of course the cost when making your flooring choice.  I would like to add CORK to the list of options to consider as well.  Cork is soft underfoot and comfortable to stand on while working in a kitchen, easy to care for and eco-friendly.  My personal kitchen has cork flooring and I absolutely love it!

Guest Post:

Choosing the best flooring option for your new kitchen construction, remodel project or home renovation is not a concern that should be left to chance. The impact that the right flooring has on your interior environment and décor can be considerable; homeowners who choose their options with a bit more care may be rewarded with an end result that is able to suite their individual tastes far more effectively. Finding a tile flooring pattern to match your décor or choosing the hardwood flooring option that will provide just the right addition to your walls and cabinets will ensure that the kitchen of your dreams can be turned into a reality, one that will provide you with a more enjoyable and satisfying interior décor and atmosphere.

Hardwood flooring and other natural materials may allow you to create a cozier and welcoming environment. Different natural and hardwoods may offer you a wide range of color and tone options that may be perfect for creating a more rustic and comfortable atmosphere. Hardwood flooring can offer you a quality flooring solution that will make a wonderful complement for stained walls or cabinetry that features and unfinished appearance. Warmer than tile and more sturdy and substantial than laminate flooring, hardwood may be the material option that you have been searching for to complete the perfect kitchen.

The low-cost and superior durability of vinyl flooring has made it a very popular choice for home and apartment construction. The wide range of patterns, textures and styles that may be found for your floor will ensure that you have plenty of cost-effective options to select from. For home and property owners who are more concerned with an affordable and durable material, vinyl and laminate flooring options would be worth considering. Such materials can provide you with a way to reduce the overall costs of your renovation efforts.

Creating a more elegant and traditional kitchen environment may be possible with the use of tile flooring options. Tile has long been the material of choice for those whose tastes center on more traditional and classical aesthetics. Choosing the right tile for your renovation may provide you with a stunning way to accent your kitchen fixtures and overall design scheme, ensuring that you are able to create a more dramatic space. If vinyl flooring or laminate building materials are unable to provide you with the results you seek, tile flooring may offer you an option that will be far more appealing.

From vinyl flooring that will be able to provide a more affordable and cost-effective option for your building materials to the timeless elegance that the right tile selection may be able to provide, homeowners who are interested in creating the kitchen of their dreams will have plenty of options to choose from. Working with the right materials will ensure that your renovation efforts or new home construction will provide you with a more enjoyable environment and kitchen décor. Material selections that will allow you to more successfully express your taste and personal style will ensure that the time and expense you invest will provide you with a more enjoyable home and kitchen atmosphere.

 

Choosing the Best Flooring

Below is a guest post on the subject of the coordination of your flooring with your intended decor style.  Sometimes S Interior Design is working around a client’s existing flooring, other times changing the flooring is a part of the design project scope.   The flooring type and style will have a large overall impact on the outcome of the design and is a crucial design element to get right.

Guest Post:

Matching Your Floor with Your Interior Décor
Chose a floor carefully based on your own style,  and functions of the material.

Photo Credit: snapfiction.com

Types of Floors

There are five primary types of floors you can choose from:  (S Interior Design adds to  the list-Cork, Bamboo, Teak, Concrete)

• Carpet
• Harwood
• Laminate
• Vinyl
• TileWe love the tile that looks like wood planks!

Carpet is one of the most commonly used materials because it is affordable. It also gives off the vibe of comfort and casual. This type of floor is often popular with young families, as it provides a level of comfort and protection for babies and children.  S Interior Design  loves all wool carpeting.  Although it is more expensive, it is naturally resilient, stain resistant, flame retardant and Allergy Safe

Another popular type of flooring is hardwood, a classical option that is often paired with more ornate décor. If you have ever been to an art museum, you might recall that the floors were hardwood. Any other material wouldn’t do in such as setting. Laminate and vinyl are often used as alternatives to hardwood floors. These materials are more affordable, and they can give off the same impression as hardwood. Keep in mind, however, that these floors may not be as hardy. Finally, tile is commonly used in bathrooms and kitchens, but more consumers are looking to fresh takes on tile.  Ceramic tile, for instance, can be useful in homes with pools. Tile gives off the essence of cleanliness and it goes with virtually any type of décor.

Photo Credit: decorateitonline.com

Color

Hardwood and laminate floors are neutral in color so they can go with almost any accent piece within your home. You have a lot more options with carpet and tile, but you will have to take care in order to avoid color clashes.

If you change décor often, consider getting a neutral color. This will help prevent you from having to change new flooring every few years. Also keep in mind that extremely dark colors will make your room appear smaller.

Consider Your Climate

When choosing a flooring option, another tip to keep in mind is the type of climate and environment your floor will encounter. In general, you’ll want to keep your home at a consitent temperature for certain types of floors. For example, a hot and humid environment can have drastic effects on flooring, causing moldy carpets and structural damage. On the other hand, direct sunlight on a floor can cause discoloration or dry flooring, depending on the type. Therefore, you’ll want to examine external factors before choosing the right flooring for your home.

Bottom Line

No matter what your style, you should ultimately choose a floor that you feel comfortable with. Aside from basic colors and décor themes, you should consider the function of your prospective floor. For example, carpet might not be a good fit in a high-traffic room, while carpets are a sound choice for families with small children who play on the floor. Also consider whether the type of floor you want will be easy to clean. Once you have figured out the basic functionality of the floor, start decorating away!

 

Christine Cooney is a writer at The House Designers, writing articles on DIY and award winning floor plans on The House Designers blog. She loves learning about architecture, home décor, and house plans from top architects.

 

Kitchen Back Splash–Do You Have One?

A kitchen back splash is a perfect example of how  design elements can be both FUNCTIONAL and LOOK GREAT.  Having a back splash will protect your walls from stove top splatter from food and oil and water.  Often people will simply add a 4-6 inch back splash in the same material as the counter top.  We encourage you to take it beyond that and extend up higher, preferably to just under the wall mounted cabinets and even higher at the cook top wall.  Similar principles apply in bathroom design.

I realize that S Interior Design is a big fan of the glass tile back splash as evidenced by the last 3 kitchen remodels we have completed for clients.  Here are a few pictures that show 3 options we have used.  This illustrates that even within only the category of glass tiles, the choices are many.  One of our favorite options is from Oceanside Glasstile as they strive to  eco-friendly in their manufacturing processes.

Sandstrom Kitchen

Hymson Kitchen

Below is  a guest post courtesy of  Erin Devine on the subject of kitchen back splashes.

Selecting the Perfect Kitchen Backsplash

Selecting the right colors and textures for your kitchen back splash can be a tricky task when you consider all of the options out there. There are as many kitchen and design choices as there are back splashes to choose from. Fortunately, knowing a few “do’s” and “don’t’s” can make the process much easier.

Keep in mind that busy patterns detract from the rest of the kitchen’s décor. If any busy pattern is to be used, it should contain colors from the kitchen to tie everything in and not create too much of a focal point. Further, the area of back splashes should not be large in comparison to the rest of the wall space.

Glass tile is one of the prettiest types of tile. Glass doesn’t attract mildew or mold, cleans easily, and offers numerous color choices. The reflective property of glass tile makes it one of the most favored of tiles because it offers an unparalleled shine and rich color.

Choose a backsplash to enrich the overall look of the kitchen rather than the space it occupies. For instance, choosing backsplashes one or two shades darker than the cupboards is wise. You can also choose a color similar to the floor in the case where the rest of the interior is of a light color. With that said, choosing colors that do not mesh create an eyesore. Glass tile backsplashes create somewhat of a focal point, however, they should not contrast so much from the rest of the interior that they’re all the eyes focus on.

Backsplashes belong under cabinets and neatly contained between other fixtures. Moreover, back splashes look best when placed underneath the cabinets. On the other hand, if pulled out onto a joining wall without a cabinet to frame them, the look is awkward. Keep back splashes underneath or butting cabinets or choose one in a color one to two shades within the shade of the wall so that it blends in. However, where cupboards frame the back splash, it is safe to go with a darker color.

Avoid drastic colored tiles where the rest of the décor is neutrally toned and colored. Whatever colors are present in back splashes should tie in well with the rest of the kitchen. In the instance of a multicolored kitchen, choose small tiles with each color to create a mosaic or opt for a simple design with a dramatic border.

The idea of back splashes is to accentuate the beauty within the kitchen—to pull everything together. The idea is to add to, rather than detract from, the overall appearance of the kitchen. When things don’t “look right,” people know it. Whether a person has an eye for interior design, colors or creativity, they quickly notice if things are off. Not to mention that home is a place for self-expression, rather than being overly concerned with how others perceive their choice of décor. For this reason, establishing individual preferences is key for any interior project. Back splashes are beautiful and functional and are meant to be enjoyed, so make sure that you choose a back splash that reflects your taste and accentuates the design of the rest of your kitchen.

 

Erin Devine is a guest writer for Floor & Décor Outlets, a flooring and tile retailer with a do-it-yourself attitude and an eye for style. She loves writing and maintaining her own interior design blog, DIY Home & Floor.

The Most Important Surface In The Home and Office

We asked to co-write a blog post for UK Flooring Direct.    Given the company’s wonderful product and service offerings, we were more than happy to do so.

If asked the question, What is the most important surface in your home or office?  What would you answer?  THE FLOORING OF COURSE.   What you decide to put on the floors literally lays the groundwork for all of the forth coming design decisions.  With this design element, FUNCTIONALITY is the most crucial factor to consider.  The amount of traffic and type of traffic the floor will need to endure, the exposure to moisture, the care and maintenance for the floors are factors that must be considered.  There is an ever expanding array of options in terms of how the floor LOOKS AND FEELS; including eco-friendly options such as Cork, Bamboo and even Teak.

Bamboo Flooring

If you are in the United Kingdom,UK Flooring Direct should most definitely be on the list of vendors to work with.  They carry an extensive product line for virtually any flooring needs you may have.

Kitchen Flooring

“However comfortable and durable your kitchen floor you shouldn’t have to compromise on the appearance and even with all of these great qualities it shouldn’t have to cost the earth.”

Wood, tile, cork, laminate, vinyl and linoleum are all good options to consider for the kitchen floor.  Within each of these flooring types, many color and even format options exist.  For example, cork is available as tiles or planks.

Cork Flooring

Bathroom Flooring

“While everyone wants an attractive option it is also very important, because it is such a wet environment, to make practicality a priority. This will ensure that you get a product which can cope with the demands placed on it without being damaged.”

Do you have to use tile?  NO!!  Other good design options include laminate, vinyl and even cork (sealed of course) are great options to explore.

One design note  on tile —now increasingly popular in commercial and home environments are tiles that look like wood planks.

Laminate Flooring

Commercial Flooring

Here again many options are available.  The branding for the business will guide the aesthetic decisions, while durability factors are the primary concern.  Wood, carpet (tiles or wall to wall glue down), tile, vinyl, laminates and even cork should be considered.

A word on CARPETING—

Many people prefer to place wall to wall carpeting in the bedroom spaces so they have soft feeling underfoot throughout the room.  Carpet is also a good choice to help with acoustics in a room, especially those with high ceilings.  Here again, options for the material, look and feel are plentiful.

Suzanne Lasky, Allied ASID, is the owner and founder of S Interior Design, the exclusive provider of Pawprint Design Services™. Suzanne works with her clients to develop a winning combination of design elements that result in warm, comfortable and functional spaces that reflect each client’s personal style. Suzanne and her team specialize in residential, contract and hospitality interior design, from simple color selections, to office build outs, to restaurant, spa and hotel designs. Suzanne shares her years of expertise through the power of social media. You can follow her on Facebook, Twitter, and at this blog. To speak to Suzanne about your interior design needs, please call 480-220-4659 or visit her website at www.sinteriordesign.com.

A Guide to the Latest Interior Design Trends for Flooring in Your Home

When we were approached to host this guest blog, about one of our favorite topics, flooring, we jumped at the idea. Choosing the proper flooring from a functional and aesthetic point of view (always consider both!) is one of the most important items when re-modeling or simply re-decorating. Selecting the perfect hard or soft flooring helps to bring a room together and to unify the overall design. Sometimes for us, it all starts with the flooring and we design-out from there.

The three biggest current trends in the flooring industry are reviewed in this post and there is a suggestion that we are entering a new and hopefully more positive atmosphere with regard to consumer attitudes and desires.

Sustainable flooring is now a particularly important issue to a lot of people, and as a result, manufacturers are focusing on eco-friendly ranges and consumers are now certainly taking the environment in to consideration with their purchase, and thereby making a statement at the same time as acquiring a beautiful floor covering.

There maybe a few signs that the end of the recession may be in sight, in any case, consumers are looking to make plans to improve their surroundings and maintain or even raise the value and desirability of their homes. This is prompting a welcome increase again in new homes being built and a rise in home renovations, both requiring new flooring and pushing demand higher.

It seems to be a more widely held belief that products such as solid wood floors and high quality carpets will add to the value of your home and these choices are now seen as an investment rather than just a purchase.

With brighter news for the economy and the environment there is no surprise that the flooring style of the moment is all about bright colors.

Although interior design trends have mainly focused on neutral shades in recent years the mood and purpose for home improvements has changed and fewer people are now decorating with the intention to sell and are now more likely to want to put their own personal touches to a home.

Selecting flooring in your home is significant because the color, texture and pattern of the floor will set the mood for the rest of the room’s design. Many designers call their designing model the “floor-up” model for this very reason. When selecting a color, texture and pattern for your floor, consider the overall design you wish to pursue in a room, and select flooring that will compliment the walls, trim work and furniture.

If you are a person who changes furnishings often, you are best advised to select a neutral floor, which will easily work into any decor. This will protect you from purchasing a new floor to fit in with your design change. Ideally, a floor like hardwood could be purchased to accent the room’s trim. These floors typically look good with any furnishings. Select a hardwood that is a shade lighter, or a shade darker than the wooden trim in the room to give the room depth, and create distinction between trim and the floor. Generally, dark woods with a high sheen are considered appropriate for formal rooms, like a dining room, while lighter woods with a more natural finish are preferred in rooms with a rustic decor, or a less formal purpose, like the living room.

In an area where there is heavy traffic, or where there is a risk of water damage, avoid both wood and carpet. Instead select a tile, laminate, or vinyl flooring that will both hold up well to use and clean easily. In a bathroom, take the time to look at the permanent fixtures. If they are bright white, the floor is an opportunity to include a splash of color. If the existing fixtures contain color, a more neutral flooring is appropriate and will prevent clashing.

In an area like the kitchen, there are a lot of other design elements to consider when selecting a floor. Most importantly, the counter tops and cabinet fronts should be considered. Also, if the kitchen has canister sets, family heirloom kitchen elements or other existing decor, the colors already present in the room should be considered. Select flooring that can be worked into the room in other ways. If you are laying large tile, find one that is similar too or complements a small tile that can be used as a backsplash. If you are laying laminate, take a sample of your countertops and look for a laminate flooring that closely coordinates in terms of texture and color.

No matter what furniture and decor is in the room, remember that the floor takes up one-sixth of the visual space, more than any other uninterrupted space, with the exception of the ceiling. Select a flooring that ties all the furniture, decor and natural elements of a room together. Try to find flooring that contains the same color palate as the walls, the room trim, or the furniture. Avoid colors that are too bold, especially in small spaces where they will become overwhelming. Consider the room’s natural or artificial light source, and consider how that will affect the appearance of the flooring after it is installed. Finally, take home samples of the flooring and see how it looks in the room before purchasing enough to do the whole space.

 

About Suzanne Lasky, Allied ASID
Suzanne Lasky, Allied ASID, is the owner and founder of S Interior Design, the exclusive provider of Pawprint Design Services™. Suzanne works with her clients to develop a winning combination of design elements that result in warm, comfortable and functional spaces that reflect each client’s personal style. Suzanne and her team specialize in residential, contract and hospitality interior design, from simple color selections, to office build outs, to restaurant, spa and hotel designs. Suzanne shares her years of expertise through the power of social media. You can follow her on Facebook, Twitter, and at this blog. To speak to Suzanne about your interior design needs, please call 480-220-4659 or visit her website at www.sinteriordesign.com.

Easy Bathroom Decorating Ideas

Below you will find a guest post from Valerie Gravel representing Smart Tiles on the subject of bathroom renovation.  Smart tiles are a fabulous option for  a home owner who is a DIYer!

Before

After Smart Tile Installation

After the kitchen, the bathroom is the room you use the most every day. It’s where you get ready in the morning before you dash off to work and where you take a few minutes to relax in the evening while soaking in a hot bath or a shower. If you’re thinking of giving your bathroom a much-needed makeover, here are a few trendy tips you might want to take into consideration.

Merging one room into one:

People need more and more room to escape the fast paced society in which we live, that’s why the size of bathrooms has increased over the last few years. Merging two rooms into one like a bathroom and bedroom is a trend that has been exported from the hotel to the home and it is catching on quickly in the home renovation world.

Going digital:

Technology is all around us and we rely on it almost 24 hours a day. You can have a television in your refrigerator door now, so why not do the same for your bathroom. Imagine watching your favourite movie or television program in your bathroom while you soak your worries away in a bath. What could be more perfect than that?

Heated floor tiles:

Tiled bathroom floors are cold all year round. Heating them with a radiant floor heater is a good idea because not only will the heat prevent you from getting cold feet; it might actually help you save money in the long run. It’s true that installing a heated floor may raise the cost of your renovations, but once tiles have been heated, they retain their heat for a long time and they continue to warm the room even after the heater has been shut off. Therefore, a heated floor might help you save a couple of dollars from your heating bill.

Multiple mirrors:

Even if the trend dictates that bathrooms are becoming larger, not everybody has the space to double the size of their bathrooms. People who live in smaller houses or in apartments might want to put multiple mirrors in their bathroom to create an illusion of grandeur that will make the room look bigger than it actually is. Also, mirrors come in some many different shapes, sizes, and frames nowadays that they can look great in any type of bathroom decor.

Going green:

Renovating while still being kind to our environment is a trend that has been catching on not only in bathrooms, but in every room of the home as well. Imagine recreating a spa like atmosphere in your own bathroom. With the help of wood furniture and even by encasing your bath tub in a wooden frame, you could relax in spa without ever having to leave your home. It’s also quite eco-friendly to install low flow toilets and energy-efficient lighting while renovating your bathroom.

Painting with neutral colors:

Bathroom colors have always been neutral, and that trend never really went away. While I am not condemning the use of color in the bathroom, neutral colors should be your palette of choice if you plan to add a new coat of paint to your bathroom. It’s better to favour relaxing colors like beige, olives and pale tones. If you’d like to add contrast to your pale room, use dark furniture or colored accessories.

Choosing the right lighting:

A bathroom shouldn’t be too bright. Since the room is used for different reasons throughout the day, different types of lighting should be installed to keep things lit up or tone them down when you need to. Consider installing a dimmer switch to set the proper mood when you want to relax in the bath or the shower and install bright lights where a woman would normally put on makeup.

Changing without spending a lot

If you’re not considering to have your whole bathroom made over, you could just change a few existing elements to refresh your existing decor. Custom sinks and counter tops are all the rage and self adhesive tiles  used as a frame for your mirror or as a backsplash will add diversity to your bathroom without the need of contractors invading your home for weeks to come.

 

 

Bathroom Desgin – Clean And Fresh

Waterworks–  the decades old company figured it out a long time ago.  Their product offerings are classic, yet very current and appeal to a large audience.  The adjectives –CLEAN and FRESH FEELING  come to mind when describing the design style.

Waterworks offers a wide range of products and price points.  It will cost more than Price Pfister.  It will cost more than Delta. The price of the product is well worth the extra quality you are getting with the manufacturing and craftsmanship.

Waterworks Showroom Scottsdale, AZ

The words of designer Tim Campbell say it well:

‘A beautiful bath serves a functional purpose as the experience can set the tone for the day to follow. My intent in designing a client’s bathroom is to silently convey beauty, order and serenity. Of course, function is primary in a bathroom. ‘

The plumbing fixtures are the largest part of  the bathroom design, right?  Well, you need to remember to surround those plumbing fixtures with the proper tiles for the walls and floors.  Don’t forget the vanity and the vanity counter tops too.  Of course even in an all white bathroom, color can come into the space with your bath linens, and counter top accessories.  An often overlooked, but crucial design element is the lighting layers of light are needed in your bathroom design.

Don’t forget to complete your bathroom design with soaps, candles, and storage options

Transformational Interior Design

Design is a process.  Candace Olsen said ‘Good Design Takes Time’.  It is true!  Sometimes you can make a notable change to the interior design of  a space pretty quickly, but often the design plan needs to be developed, executed and adjusted to get it just right.  So, while we all are trained to get everything quickly, I call it the ‘microwave society syndrome’, take a deep breath and invest time into the planning process to get the best end result.

Below is a recent example of a project S Interior Design is working on.    You will see from the before and after photos the room has undergone a transformation.  New paint colors, new seating, accent tables, area rugs, window treatments and more.  Perhaps most different design element is the fireplace.  The fireplace is a focal point in the room and before it had a faux paint technique in muddy brown tones that read as ‘Tuscon’.  The new homeowners, wanted to inject color and an ethnic style element into the design.  First we painted it, then we chose tiles to place on the hearth and the surround.

Before Picture

Fireplace After Paint Color

Fireplace After Paint and Tile

Here are photo collages showing other transformational design elements in the great room and adjoining eat-in  kitchen area.

Interior Design A-Z: ‘T’ is for Tile

The journey through the design alphabet continues with the letter ‘T’.  My Facebook and Twitter friends suggested; Tables, Travertine and Tile.   The subject is so large, this post will just ‘touch on it.

Let’s talk TILE.

Choices of tile materials and types are vast.  Different rooms and functionality requirements, not to mention personal aesthetic and maintenance preferences should guide the decision-making process as to what type of tile is chosen.  For a great overview of tile materials and types , read 3 Types of Tile Types and Tile Your World.

Tile can be used as a strictly decorative design element.  Mosaic tile artwork and accessories can be used to add texture and color to kitchens, bathrooms, and display areas.  Glass mosaic tiles are beautiful and often add just the right WOW factor to a kitchen or bathroom back splash. The glass tiles are very easy to take care of in both kitchens and bathroom settings.

A few  great sites to explore are  Susan Jablon Mosaics and  Oceanside Glasstile an environmentally friendly glass tile company.

Kitchen Backsplash Using Oceanside Glass Tiles

Environmentally Friendly Kitchen Remodel – S Interior Design

Kitchen With Susan Jablon Mosaic Tile Back Splash

Kitchen Remodel Using Susan Jablon Glass Mosaic Tile-S Interior Design

Some common floor tiles are travertine,  porcelain, and in certain regions Saltillo tile.

There is tile that now looks like wood planks for those who want the look of wood without the maintenance factors.

Tile is a great material to use as a fireplace surround and on a hearth.

3-dimensional Tile Makes This Fireplace a Focal Point

Great Room Design by S Interior Design