In Interior Design, compromise is part of our every day decisions.  Our client might compromise with his or her spouse to come to an agreement on the tile selected or the paint color.  A contractor might compromise with a subcontractor because they find something unexpected after demolition.  Or. . .  a designer might compromise with their client to stay in the desired budget.  I assure you there are compromises on every job-site from here to California.

I challenge you to find the compromise in each of the following pictures.  I am pretty sure you won’t find them, because well thought out compromises won’t make your project less appealing in the end.  In most cases you will forget you made them.

Jennifer – #tileanddesignaddict  #TheDesignTeamatTileSensations  #ResisttheOrdinary  #notjusttile

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Wallpaper can:

• create a huge impact in the smallest of spaces.
• enhance the architectural features of your space.
• add a pop of color, in a subtle way, when used in the back of a bookshelf.
• show off your personality. Sophisticated, Playful, Subtle, you choose the paper that reflects you.
• change the mood in a room. Use a cheery wallpaper in a dark space to brighten the feel of the room.
• cover flaws in your walls that paint cannot hide.
• protect your walls from marks and damage. If you have little ones, look for scrub-able papers.

Would you like to learn more?  Join us for a Quick One Hour Question and Answer Session.

Ask the Expert: Robert Galko Wallpaper Hanging

• Saturday, October 10th at 10am
• Tile Sensations 3413 Sutherland Avenue, Knoxville 37919
• Presented by The Design Team at Tile Sensations
• Enter to win a $100 Wallpaper Gift Certificate, must be present to win

Please let us know you are coming: Click Here     Questions?? Just ask!

Jennifer – #tileanddesignaddict  #TheDesignTeamatTileSensations  #ResisttheOrdinary  #notjusttile

The post Why Wallpaper? Find out and Win! appeared first on Tile Sensations.

The Inaugural Alzheimer’s Tennessee Designer Home and Garden Tour is in full swing daily, except Mondays, through October 14th.  The home, originally a Southern Living Style home built in 2003, has been transformed, inside and out, into a Highlands Style home.  The homeowners, Scott and Hope Davis, moved out of their home in March and won’t move back in until late October!  There is so much to see on their 14+ acre property, the main home, the guest suite above the garage, the redesigned pool and more.  Make your outing complete with a sandwich from Ham ‘n Goodies in the Party Barn and pick up a few Christmas presents in the on-site gift shop while you are there.

The Design Team at Tile Sensations is a proud participant in this designer home, along with 13 other top designers in Knoxville.  We were awarded 3 rooms to transform, so when looking for our spaces just think Organic, Pink, Animals and Bugs.  We commissioned a pair of beautiful wood art pieces for the hall, had custom window treatments made and carefully selected each item for our rooms.  All in all we had fun designing these spaces!  Sourcing from local, family owned businesses like ours was a top priority for us, so we reached out to Mango’s Decor & Co., West End Antiques and Bill Cox Furniture for the main pieces in the rooms.  Next we contacted local artists and vintage shops for accessories.  

 Nationally recognized companies, Corbett Lighting and Thibaut provided support as well.  Once they heard that the funds raised would benefit Alzheimer’s Tennessee they generously donated products for permanent installation in the Davis’ home.  Our rooms would not have been complete without their help, we greatly appreciate them.

We hope you enjoy the entire home tour, but especially, we would love your feedback on the rooms we designed.  Remember, 100% of the tour price and a portion of the proceeds from each item purchased, from inside the home or gift shop, will benefit the good work that Alzheimer’s Tennessee does in our community.

Happy Touring!

Jennifer

#tileanddesignaddict  #TheDesignTeamatTileSensations  #ResisttheOrdinary #NotJustTile

The post Alzheimer’s Tennessee Designer Home and Garden Tour – 2018 appeared first on Tile Sensations.

We stayed busy working on bathrooms, kitchens and fireplaces.  Wet bars, laundry rooms and dog showers.  We worked on residential and commercial projects.  If you drove past our showroom on Sutherland Avenue after hours, you likely saw the lights on and our team working late into the night.  We worked and we worked, loving every moment of it!

Additions to Tile Sensations in 2017 include wallpaper and late, til 7pm, Thursday hours.  Wallpaper is back, as you probably already know, so we have added wallpaper lines not available in big box stores or online.  Resist the Ordinary!

In January 2017, The Design Team at Tile Sensations, began taking on Interior Design projects.  What fun this has been!  We have worked on homes in Farragut, Bearden, Fountain City, Old North Knoxville and Downtown, as well as, businesses needing freshen ups!  We spent much of 2017 on relationships with trusted installers, plumbers, electricians, cabinet companies and more, making Tile Sensations your one stop shop.

Kitchen 919

The Design Team at Tile Sensations closed out 2017 working on the interiors for Kitchen 919 in the Orangery Village on Homberg.  Kitchen 919 is a must try.  Both for the fantastic local, seasonal food and for the ambiance.  The service is fantastic and the food delicious.  I personally recommend the Porcini Dusted Filet Mignon and the Misoyaki Glazed Butterfish, if you prefer the recommendation of Brooks Clark and Cityview Magazine just click here.  After you visit, let us know what you think of the interior selections, be sure to note the lighting in the main dining room and the photo wall and ceiling in the bar.  It was all fun to pick!

We are available to work with our clients from conception to completion of the project, Tile Projects, of course, and now Interior Design Projects too.  Or we can just come up with a design concept and let the homeowner takes the reins from there. You choose. We are here and ready to help.

2018! Bring it on we are ready!

Jennifer – #tileanddesignaddict #TheDesignTeamatTileSensations #Resist the Ordinary

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The contractor, should you choose to use one, should be the anchor of the project.  The contractor should schedule your subs, make sure codes are followed and, in general, make sure your project turns out just the way you imagined it or better.  Remember your contractor is the one who is responsible to keep your job progressing, to start and finish on time, and to try to help you stay in budget.

Before you choose a contractor it is imperative that you decide what results you want.  

Make lists, clip pictures, work with a designer, find a way to communicate exactly what you want so there are no misunderstandings.  You may spend a little money on a designer at this stage, but it will save you headache and money later, I promise. Remember that most of the dream rooms you have seen on HGTV, Houzz and/or Pinterest were designed by an Interior Designer and they may include custom pieces made just for that homeowner.

Getting started:   

• Get 2 – 3 bids.
• Give prospective contractors all the information you have gathered on your project before he/she works up a budget for you.  A contractor cannot provide you a champagne remodel on a beer budget, so please don’t ask them to.  Some will give you pie in the sky budgets, but it is your job to make sure the budget allowances are realistic.  If it sounds too good to be true, it likely is.  Be upfront with what you want.  You may have to spend a little more than originally planned or hold off on your project until you have saved enough to cover the expenses, but that is better than starting a project and being hit with unexpected expenses midstream.
• Double check the bids – One way to double check a bid is to compare allowances given with real world expenses.  Take the window allowance to the window store and ask, What can I get for this allowance? Take the countertop or cabinet budget amount to your local cabinet shop and ask what can be done for the budget allowed.   Once you have double checked 3 – 4 budget numbers you will know whether the budget provided by your contractor is realistic.  Note: Make an appointment to review bids with local shops and be willing to pay for their time. If lite information is what you need, consider emailing the information to the selected shop so they can work on your questions at their convenience.  
• Remember you can shop for your finishes anywhere you want. You do not have to stick to the list of suppliers your builder gives you.  Good design should not be limited to a few specific shops.  Pick the lighting store with a selection that makes you smile. Work with a cabinet maker that understands how you cook and of course use the best tile resource in town.  I could write pages on why to shop at Tile Sensations vs the big box stores, but that discussion on quality and service is best kept for another day.

If you don’t have time for all this, get a designer involved. A designer can do this legwork for you and I promise all this planning will help your project run smoother.

Now that you have bids from a few contractors and you’ve checked up on the allowances suggested, how do you choose one?

• Do you like him/her? This is someone you will spend a lot of time with, so let’s hope you like them. Listen to your gut.  
• Get references you can check. Find out if you can visit the previous jobsite. If so ask lots of questions about the project.  Go prepared with a list of questions so you don’t forget to ask something you really wanted to know.
• Are the budgets in your bid realistic?  If not, toss out the bid, it will only end in frustration.  If you really liked the person ask them how they managed to be so far below the other bids?
• When can the project start and what would the projected finish date be?
• Have they ever worked on a project similar to yours?   ***IMPORTANT***  Be sure the contractor you have selected is up to the task. If you choose a spec home builder for a custom project you may end up regretting that choice.  Their expertise may not be enough for your project, you may not want to be their guinea pig.  On the other hand, if they are upfront about being on a learning curve, it might turn out well.  Oh the stories we could tell . . .

Lastly know how to not be bullied by a contractor:  Yes, contractors often bully their clients. Remember, the contractor is trying to stay on schedule and sometimes they will push you for decisions just to stay on schedule; but you have the final say, no matter how hard you are being pushed.  You determine where your money is best spent.  Don’t always fall for the “we always do it this way” statement.  Changes in products and technology may make the “way we always do it” the wrong way.

• Have most of your decisions made upfront.
• Get a timeline for choices from your contractor. Knowing when your decisions need to be completed will help the entire project stay on schedule.  There is nothing worse than a call from your contractor asking for your lighting choices and you haven’t given it a moment of thought.
• Hire a designer. A designer can be the middleman on a project. A designer can communicate with the contractors in “contractor speak” and find out what is really motivating their schedule.
• Watch out for mistakes the contractor wants you to absorb. If he ordered the wrong baseboard, for example, and asks you to compromise and take it, find out what discount you will receive if you do compromise. If it isn’t enough, insist on the original choice.

All that being said a good contractor is priceless. He/she will watch your wallet, try to keep you on schedule and bring in trustworthy subs.  So take your time when picking one and if you would like a little help with the process, just call. 

Jennifer – #tileanddesignaddict

The post Let’s talk about contractors. appeared first on Tile Sensations.

We are free to worship as we please.  Free to be who we are.  Free to strive to be our best.  Free to choose our own path.  Free to speak up when we disagree.  We are Blessed to live in the United States.  Despite our growing pains we are a great nation with a proud history.

Our blessings have been and continue to be protected by our military, the Army, Navy, Air Force and Marines.   These men and women are our neighbors, our families, our friends.  We are grateful for their service and their sacrifices.

“No one has greater love than this,^j to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.” – John 15:13

On this Memorial Day I ask you to stop for at least a few moments and say a prayer for our service men and women.  A prayer of thanks for their willingess to protect our freedoms.  A prayer for all those who gave their lives to protect us.  A prayer for their families and friends who miss them and whose lives have ever been changed because of their willingness to serve.  A prayer of thankfulness and remembrance.

Tile Sensations will be closed Saturday, May 26th thru Monday, May 29th to observe Memorial Day.  We know we could be open, offer a sale and capitilize on the hype.  However we choose, out of respect, to honor the men and women who have fallen.  Some things are more important than selling tile.

Jennifer – #tileanddesignaddict

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Believe me, I feel this way too. Sometimes I think of my home as a version of “the plumber with a leaky faucet” always finding time to work on others projects, then neglecting my own. While I LOVE LOVE LOVE most of the spaces in my home, there are definitely a few neglected areas.

Right now I have major bathroom envy. One of the bathrooms in my home has been neglected. It is tiny and accessed from a seldom used bedroom, honestly I forget its even there sometimes. I forget until I have guests coming or when I see a finished bathroom that is perfectly designed. So after visiting a friend who just did a complete gut and remodel on her home I am back to having Bathroom Envy.

Do you have Bathroom Envy? Is your envy mild? Will some cute wallpaper and a new shower curtain do the trick? Or maybe it is time to change out the fixtures for more modern pieces? Or are you completely green with envy and only a complete gut job will satisfy you? Make that first decision, then jump in.

Your next step is to do visual research. You could start on our Pinterest page, we have all sorts of Bathroom pictures saved and sorted by style. https://www.pinterest.com/tilesensations/ You will quickly eliminate ideas you do not care for, sometimes I see a picture of a complete room and say to myself “what were they thinking?!” The nice thing about eliminating styles is that with each, “I don’t like that” comment, you are getting closer to a style that will fit your home and personality. As you are looking at pictures ask yourself a few questions. Do I like it? Do
I LOVE it? Would this style fit in my home? Save the ones you love AND would work in your home then think about the project again. Are you feeling inspired or overwhelmed? If the answer is overwhelmed maybe you should consider a little design help. If the answer is inspired, it’s time for a shopping trip!

Whether you decide to tackle your project alone or decide to get design help be certain to choose 1st quality products and services. While I understand you need to be mindful of your budget, do not scrimp. Be frugal, complete what leg work you can, but don’t settle for products that don’t make you smile or don’t have staying power. There is nothing worse in my world that feeling that I compromised on something I should not have comprised on, how I wish I had not settled. If necessary divide your project into stages so you can budget in just the perfect lighting or that dream mosaic.

Remember really good design takes thoughtful decisions and the investment of a little time.

Jennifer – Tile and Design Addict

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I now confess I am a #DesignAddict too. When a client walks into the Tile Sensations showroom with a design dilemma my heart starts to beat a little faster. I immediately begin to wonder, will this client want help with their dilemma? or have they already picked a design choice after hours and hours of time spent on Pinterest….   With fingers crossed I ask a few questions and hope that they are open to design ideas, whether they have seen them before or not.  One of my favorite design inspirations is a simple tile cubbie for toilet tissue. These clients did not like changing the toilet paper roll……

Design dilemmas don’t have to be about function, though function is a crucial part of design. The dilemma may simply be that the 2 people using the room like different color schemes or design styles. What to do when he wants rustic and she wants classic?  We can help with that.  Sometimes its an easy compromise, sometimes it takes a little longer to work through the design process. Rest assured, given creative time we will come up with a plan that works in your space.

A few things to remember when you are looking for help with design.

• For the best design service, make an appointment. Appointments are not required, but if you want a design professional to give you their best work, make an appointment.
• Share pictures of your space, preferably before your appointment. Also send pictures of the adjoining spaces, the more information we have about your design style and home, the easier it is to create a design just for you.
• If you have spent hours online, share your Pinterest Board with your designer before your appointment
• Bring pieces of permanent items in the room to your appointment.  Choices you have already made such as your granite sample, cabinet color, etc. Measurements of the space help too, but are not necessary in the 1st stages of design.  At the risk of sounding snarky “I have darkish wood cabinets” is not enough information. It is really hard to work on a project without the necessary information.
• If you cannot bring these things to an appointment, consider an in home consultation. While you will pay for the design consultation, you likely will save time and money in the long run.

What project has been haunting you? Why not gather all your goodies and make an appointment. Tile design, as always, is included in the price of your tile at Tile Sensations. If you need 3D images or renderings, we can do that too, there will be an upfront cost for these services, but we can credit all or most of these charges to your tile order.  I say most because if we design the same space 2 or three times, we may need to charge for a 3d model or 2.  If you need help with your other choices, we would love to help.  Our design services include selecting, fixtures, cabinets, wall coverings (we have a great selection) and more.

If you haven’t visited recently, stop in and say hi. We can’t wait to help with your project.

Jennifer – Tile and Design Addict.

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