Tile Floors
After: Patterned ceramic floor tiles and a sliding glass door give the bathroom a fresh, modern look. Designer Susan Klimala of The Kitchen Studio of Glen Ellyn used black, white and gray for most of the space, and then added in chrome and oak accents. For the tub-shower combo, she chose a chrome barn-door track for the glass door. The change from curtain to glass lets the light from within the showering area shine into the entire room. Solitude wall paint: Benjamin Moore; Twenties Classic tile: Merola Tile via Home Depot; Levico mirrors: Restoration Hardware; Cafe series sconces: Gatco; Kelston faucets, Bancroft bathtub and Damask vanity with rollout shelves and internal outlets: Kohler
After: The refinished tub-shower combo gleams in the bathroom designed by Michelle Ruber of Encircle Design and Build. The design-build firm, which focuses on sustainable work, had the original tub refinished. Not only did that save resources, but it also saved Ruber’s clients money. That allowed them to splurge on these aqua glass tiles. Inside, the family opted to include a shower head on the left side and a handheld sprayer along the back wall. This comes in handy when they bathe their two children. While bathing the kids, the parents can swing open the glass door. When it’s closed, the clear pane gives the room a more open, airy feel. Shower tile: Ann Sacks; browse tile
After: A new frosted glass window and a clear glass shower enclosure brighten this happy bathroom, designed by Kate Dickson of Kate Dickson Design. The overhaul to the tub-shower combo makes the room feel larger and maximizes the space. The roof is sloped, so Dickson worked with the contractor to design and cut the custom glass shower enclosure. They also built a niche in the shower wall to give the clients additional storage. Betty cement encaustic floor tiles: Saltillo Imports; shower wall tile: Ceragres; shower system: Disegno via Aquadesign; Sydney tub: Hydro Systems via Home Depot; Vox Square sink: Kohler; custom vanity: JMAC Productions; browse vanities
After: A new, larger tub gives the family more bathing room. Designer Natalie DiPiazza of Custom Design & Construction had to borrow space from the hall linen closet to make this expansion possible. The tub-shower combo is finished with a glass door that is hinged against the wall. The movable door lets family members turn the water on and off without having to get inside the tub. The glass also lets the graphic blue tile be a focal point in the bathroom since there’s no shower curtain to hide the lively design element. Purist shower fixtures in Vibrant Moderne brushed gold finish: Kohler; large hexagonal floor tile: Daltile; Illica collection accent tile: Wayfair
Master Bathroom For the master bath, the designer created an elegant look using black, brass and white. Black custom cabinetry is offset with brass hardware, while an oversize black-framed shower door makes a major statement. Tile tip: The patterned tile stays timeless due to the classic color palette. Rather than installing pricy cement tile, Montgomery used porcelain tiles that are digitally printed with the same iconic designs, saving over half the cost. Shower door: Coastal Shower Doors
Bordered: When You Want an Area Rug the Family Can’t Ruin Sure, a classic patterned area rug can make a foyer look beautiful, but can you keep it from getting stained, worn and shredded? If you know the busy traffic isn’t going to be carpet-friendly, consider creating a similar look in tile, with a dramatic pattern set in a border of plain tiles. Using a plain border that approximately matches the wall and trim color is smart if you have a few walls or nooks in odd shapes. You can border out the edges, leaving a rectangle in the center, which is all the eye will see from then on.
Patterned Tile Floor Cement tile adds color and pattern to this otherwise neutral powder room, tying in with the black-painted sink and aqua step stool. The room is also near a pool, so the tile’s natural slip resistance makes it a practical choice as well. Subway tile: Virginia Tile; faucet and sink: Kohler; mirror: Rejuvenation; cement floor tile: Cement Tile Shop; see more tile
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