In good design there are certain colors that will never be totally out.  Grey is one of those colors.  Like beige, white and terracotta, grey is a beautiful neutral that can be used to balance out a color scheme.

However, like many things we love, we can over use a color or style when we really like something.  Remember Harvest Gold and Avocado in the 60’s and 70’s?? We went waaaay overboard with those colors, didn’t we??

Now, in the late 2010’s and early 2020’s we might be going overboard with grey and white.  White ship-lap, white subway tiles, marble look floors tile and countertops.  These have their place in some homes, but not every home from here to California.  Ship-lap is great in a coastal or modern farm style home.  Subway tile shines in a cottage and marble looks can work well in many style homes, depending on what you pair it with.

Keeping these thoughts in mind, lets talk grey.  The grey trend always fits perfectly in a modern home and when paired with the right products can be quite beautiful in other style homes too.  Grey can be used to anchor beautiful design, and it plays well with other colors, but every shade in the room doesn’t have to be grey or grey and white.  We really don’t want you to spend your budget on a room that will be outdated before the paint is dry.  

Final thought for the day,  if you would like your home to carry into the next decade and beyond, open your thoughts to a design style to reflect the home you own, rather than the trend. If your home is a Cape Cod or Craftsman style home, use the subway tile trend to your advantage.  But if your home is a Colonial,  Traditional or French Country, maybe today’s trend is not right for you.

Jennifer – #tileanddesignaddict  #TheDesignTeamatTileSensations  #ResisttheOrdinary  

Drop me a line at jennifer@tilesensations.net to share your thoughts on grey or to set an appointment for a design consultation.

The post In design, is gray(grey) really on its way out? appeared first on Tile Sensations.

Who doesn’t love shopping at a local market, meeting an artist and selecting just the right art piece for your home? Selecting handmade art tile is much like that experience, and while you don’t actually get to meet the tile artist at Tile Sensations, you can definitely get a feel for each artist when picking up each piece. You can feel the love that is put into art tile and you can definitely see the artists personality. Some are solo studios, some have teams that help them. To a tile artist, work is play.

A handmade tile artist wants you to have exactly what you want, they get joy knowing that a client has commissioned them to be a part of their project. Whether you choose vibrant colors, modern styles or a hand pressed subway tile your handmade tile selection will bring a warmth and charm to your space. Art Tile is Art, with a bit of Science added in.

Jennifer – #tileanddesignaddict  #TheDesignTeamatTileSensations  #ResisttheOrdinary  

The post Made in the USA appeared first on Tile Sensations.

Life has definitely been happening around here.  For one thing, I got married and took some time off! You likely know weddings take a lot of time to plan and a lot of time to recover, so I needed that time off.  Whew!  We both still feel a bit tired.

But now I am ready to get back into the swing of things, both at home blending our “stuff” and at work designing spaces.

Thinking about our wedding and all the details that go into planning a wedding reminds me of the details you need to think about when tiling or working on any home project.  It’s all in the details.  We had so many details to remember for our wedding, from pew markers to boutonnieres to our vegan guests meal selection.  In a remodeling project you need to remember transitions, lighting, finishes and more.  Not to forget a contractor choice and a budget.  Plan, Plan, Plan and do not forget the details is true for either planning a wedding or a space.

While my hubby and I were vacationing we stopped at the beautiful Historic St Johns Catholic Church in Utica, New York.  One of the first things I noticed at the church, after I recovered from the awesome beauty of it all , was the attention to detail.  This historic Church was built in the late 1800’s and they did not miss a beat.  If you are ever in Utica we highly recommend a stop at this beautiful church.  Here are a few of the fantastic details you would not want to miss.

We took so many photos of the details it was hard to choose which to post…. so here a a few more.  Showing tile of course.  Note the borders, note the details in the floor that was installed one little piece at a time, note the solid marble moldings.  The designers of this magnificent space did not miss a beat.

Every detail is carefully placed to impact your experience here.  Unfortunately in design today, corners are often cut or a step is skipped because it might take a little longer to install or we might have to wait for the right piece to be made.  To avoid cutting corners I suggest you plan out your project.  Review the steps, the budget, the desired results before anyone begins to work in your space.  I admire our clients who plan ahead and have all the pieces and parts they can possibly get their hands on, ready and waiting for the contractor before the project begins.  It is an awful feeling when your contractor asks you for a decision you have not even thought about.   It is in these rush decisions that we end up compromising for less than the best outcome.

In my dream remodeling world I hope for you that your project is carefully planned, that the details are carefully selected and that your dream project becomes a reality. If we can help you with that, just let us know.

Jennifer – #tileanddesignaddict

The post Life Happens. . . appeared first on Tile Sensations.

Years ago when, a design degree was unheard of, design information and pictures were not so easily found and many people relied on their own instincts to create their space.  If they didn’t have confidence in their own choices they would involve family members or friends to help choose just the right sofa or dining set.  In the world of tile there weren’t many readily available options to choose from.

In the US you may remember the era of the Pink or Blue bathroom tile.  Just about everyone during that time frame picked one of these colors because it was the hip thing to do.  Here and there you might find a yellow or green bathroom, but the pink and blue were predominant.  Tile was definitely the product of choice for ease of care and the clean look it provided both in the kitchen and bathroom.  The choices were limited, so many people had duplicate bathrooms, often neatly coordinated with the sink, tub and commode in the same color as the tile.   If I run across one of these bathrooms today, they make me smile.  The bold colors, usually paired with a fantastic wallpaper was, in its day, true style.

Today our choices in design are practically unlimited.  With top notch designers leading the way we can create a space with any feel we want.
Do you love the look of homes in Bali ? You can have that!  Or do you like a Hacienda style??  You can have that too! Or any style for that matter.  Your influence might be Asian or Adirondack or. . . ?

There is no reason to not design your home in a style that you enjoy.  In fact, if you want different styles throughout your home, we will just call you Eclectic.

Rather than Pink or Blue 4″ x 4″ tile, today’s common tile of choice is the 3″ x 6″ Subway tile.  Subway tile sales in the US have skyrocketed in the last few years.  There will likely be a time, years from now, when many bathrooms and backsplashes tiled with subway tile are pinpointed to the 2010’s.  The subway tile, which is not square, is a nice choice for many homes.  But with all the fantastic options available is subway tile right for your home? A better question might be, is it right for your personality?

Before jumping on the subway tile bandwagon ask yourself a few questions.  Is it my favorite color?  Will I smile every time I walk in the room?  Will I be glad I chose it?  Does it reflect my personality?  Will it be money well spent? If the answers are yes, go for it.  If the answer is no or maybe, DON’T SETTLE!  It is time to explore the options.  There are so many to choose from! Stop by or call Tile Sensations soon for ideas.  Our staff, who are not square, would LOVE to help you on your way to a space that is truly yours.

It is time to step out of the box. . .  Don’t be square.

Jennifer – Tile and Design Addict

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