If you are thinking about a bathroom or kitchen renovation,  tile can be one of the larger components on the job.  With all of the styles available, picking the right product for your project can sometimes seem overwhelming. Here’s a quick lesson on tile that may prove helpful.

One of the first things homeoweners can run up against when thinking about tile is the difference between porcelain and ceramic. Here are some simple differences. Porcelain is denser, more durable and has a slightly lower water absorption rate than ceramic. Porcelain tile generally is more expensive that ceramic and may require a higher labor cost to install.  Generally, for most home projects, ceramic tile is the product of choice and is more that adaquate in terms of durability.

Tiles come in a multitude of sizes.  If you are working with a smaller bath or space, you may like the look of a smaller tile such as a 6″ x 6″ or a mosaic tile that is typically based on a 12″ x 12″ mesh screen. These mosaic sheets are easy to trim down to fit around plumbing or wall angles and can replicate the look of vintage tile styles often found in older homes.  A large 12″ x 12″ tile (or larger) can create a smooth finish on a floor with fewer grout lines. The only challenge is to make sure the grout lines you do have are centered on the room and make sense in the layout. If you are installing a shower floor in your project, the general recommendation is to use a smaller sized tile.  The installer needs to get a slight slope to floor drain and this can be tough to do with a larger tile. Smaller tiles also means more grout which can create a safer floor finish in a shower. More grout can equal fewer slips on wet tile. When looking at wall tiles, it is important to ask whether the tile you are looking at comes with bullnosed edges (smooth edges on one size) or whether there is a finished cap piece available.  Anywhere the tile ends in a shower, there will need to be a smoothed edge of tile. Nothing is worse than a beautiful tile installation but a poorly thought out edge detail.

Grout color is another important aspect of the overall design. One can use a contrasting color and have the grout play a larger part of the design. White subway tile with a dark grey grout can be striking. Selecting a grout color that matches your tile as closely as possible can create a continuous, monolithic look and can eliminate the visual “noise” of a space. Unless you love to clean, white grout is typically discouraged.

Installation patterns are also seemingly endless. A few basic styles are either straight, diagonal, or a running bond. A running bond is a staggered pattern that is often employed when using rectangular tiles, or subway tiles.

Now once you select the majority of your tile, sometimes called field tile, you may want to add an accent tile. Overwhelmed yet?  If you need a hand, Home ReBuilders has designers on staff who can walk you through some tile selections. Tile can be one of the best paints in your palette when creating your renovation.

Lighting can sometimes be an afterthought when designing a space.  After wading through endless material selections and making countless design decisions, sometimes homeowners are just out of steam.  Unfortunatey this can create a real missed opportunity to bring your renovation or new construction to life.

Lighting choices are one of those design decisions that need to be made fairly early in the construction process.  Right on the heals of your framing being completed, electricians are on their way to run wires and switches that will be covered with drywall, yet critical for completetion and installation of lighting.  Questions will come up early in this process.  How high off the floor would you like your sconces placed?  Would you like dimmers installed? Would you like a two switches to operate the same light, also know as a “three way switch”? Lighting can also be effected by the placement of ceiling joists. Nothing is worse than starting out to center a light in a room and finding new joists are laid in the spot you would like the fixture.  Any art you’d like to highlight? It is important to pick the type of fixture and place it the correct distance from the wall so the angle of the light hits the center of the artwork.  Sconces can create a warm presence in a room.  Mounted on either side of a mirror or wired onto a built-in bookcase, they can take a room from good to great.

Spend some time early in the design process thinking about lighting. The end results will be worth it.

Atlanta Homes and Lifestyles magazine has asked Home Rebuilder’s to design, build and install a bath display in their Luxury Living event at Phipps Plaza.  The catch for a challenge like this one is designing a bath to display a range of interesting products without the assistance of any physical walls and have it all done and ready in a few short weeks.  It was thrilling!

Our design staff began with concepting a space that was neither to slick and modern nor overly traditional.  We envisioned a clean, loft life space with a contemporary aesthetic coupled with some warm textures like a stained wood floor and painted horizontal planked walls elements.  We added some custom metal work in the form of vanities and a shelving unit as well as a shower door unit that evoked salvaged factory windows.  Some terrific local suppliers donated materials and products including cabinetry, lighting, mirrors and cabinetry.  Our friends at DogGoneHandy worked some incredible late-night hours to install this at Phipps Plaza.  Come by and take a look.