Tile Treasures

A few handmade tiles can give a custom look to an otherwise stock kitchen.

It's already common practice to specify low-cost ceramic tile in less-visible places in the kitchen and bath, then use the savings to pump up the backsplash or tub surround. But this strategy is now spreading from the wet areas to the rest of the home.

Roger Mayland, president of North Prairie Tileworks in Minneapolis, sees more and more interest in tile from production builders. "We're working with a developer of town homes who wants us to design a relief piece for a fireplace surround," he says. "The relief tile will be used throughout the house and the community facilities to provide continuity in design."

But tile — like the bright, bold paint colors that have become a hit with buyers — needs to be chosen carefully, or it can look out of place. "Tile should be consistent with the overall aesthetic of a home," says Melissa Clements, CEO of Eco-Friendly Flooring in Madison, Wis. "If you have a traditional-looking brick house in Dallas, you wouldn't want to use Japanese tile. Strong tones, chocolate-colored matte mosaics with metal tile accents would make a better fit."

Clements advises against the popular tactic of using stone or stone-look products everywhere, especially where there's little or no stone in the surrounding landscape. "If stone is not indigenous to your area, use porcelain with a matte finish in a simple pattern instead," she says. "It's timeless, so twenty years down the road, it won't need to be torn out."

"Clements also suggests using tile to help balance open floor plans, by making sure that the tiles match the home's design elements. "Should the tile have pizzazz and go to the ceiling? If everything is midline, and you have hanging paintings and a [quiet] design, don’t go too crazy with the tile; it will steal the focus."

When it comes to creating memory points, the top three trends are small tiles, glass tiles and custom tiles.

According to Clements, half-inch-by-6-inch matchstik tiles have hit the mainstream. They come in easy-to-install sheets, like mosaic tiles. "I've seen them in metal, stone and recycled porcelain with a matte finish. They're perfect for use on tub surrounds or backsplashes."

Glass tiles, especially those rendered in sea hues, have grown in popularity over the past five years. "Glass evokes an emotional response because of its texture and depth, and because of the light reflecting in it." She says that sandblasted sea glass is a good fit for kitchens and baths. "The temperature of it is cool; [potential buyers will] want to touch it," she says, which will make them more likely to remember the house.

Matchstik tiles are becoming more popular, and because they come in easy to install sheets — like mosaic tiles — installation costs are low.

Custom tiles are also gaining more attention as memory points in models and custom homes, because of their uniqueness and because they highlight a builder's commitment to quality. Custom tile costs about twice that of standard tiles, but using them sparingly will add little cost to a project. Mayland sees more builders ordering custom-made tiles for places where standard tile would have to be cut in order to fit, such as around door openings, windows or cabinets. "With handmade tile, people are drawn to the pooling and shadowing, and you lose part of that when you cut the tile."