serious METALLIC EMBELLISHMENTS – ceramic tile

           Let’s see – where were we before Valentine’s Day interrupted our mental design flow?

 Oh yes – ( now we have put that to rest! ) we were exploring options in the world of tile: ceramic tile, stone, granite, limestone,  porecelain,  glass, metal,etc. Today I want to give you one more serious idea.

 Do you want to have some fun with a tile project?

**EMBELLISH**

Think metal.

Think seriously fun!

 Use metal tiles over a large expanse of walls or pare it down to the backsplash, or use it more sparingly as an appreciated piece of fine art. It’s all in the eye of the beholder.

Scroll down and see  actual products available as embellishment pieces. When these items are decided upon, quite often the design idea behind it is to repeat other metal objects in the room. . . stainless steel appliances, perhaps, or maybe an oiled bronze chandelier. Go wherever your imagination leads you. 

But, pay attention here: USE CAUTION when embellishing. The metal accents are serious pieces to add. 

If you walk into a kitchen and the backsplash screams,

“LOOK AT ME! LOOK AT ME!”

then you have made a mistake. You want to add an ornamental element inside your scheme. Balance, balance, balance, is always the goal. You wouldn’t wear ALL your jewelry at one time, would you? Same, same. Observe the power in these accent pieces.

 

 

 The bathroom below is staged in the simplest of fashion. The metallic tile is crisp  and unfettered. The look is uptown, yet prudent , and completely wild with style!

 It is just one more way to use metallic tile. And notice there is no overkill in the design. Because the metal tile packs such a visual punch it is capable of holding its own and holding your attention.

No fou-fou required.

 

Stop in the store to see more seriously fun metallic tile!

FYI: In Hiawatha you can see many of these embellishments installed on  the display floor of WOODHARBOR DESIGN SHOWROOM,

located at  1737 Boyson Road.

Be sure to mention that you read about it here !

ENJOY! 

 

Dianne Ross

Interior Designer/Phelan’s Interiors

363-9634

Travertine: one type of stone tile

TRAVERTINE

casual, relaxing, and inviting

 

     THREE  BEAUTIES

 

 “Commonly found in Southern Europe, travertine is a stone that is earthy, rich and warm – a classic beauty in colors ranging from subtle creams to dark browns, reds and golds.

 

 

Travertine is a perfect choice for any setting – warm, cool, or neutral. Find it in tumbled, chiseled, honed, or straight-edge styles. Use it on floors, walls, or backsplash.”  

Quoted from: Tile –  Design in Style ’08 Ultimate Resource Guide

 

Find more photos on line  by visiting daltile.com.

Find the real deal in Phelan’s show room.

 

Next week we will continue with LIMESTONE and SLATE.

 

Dianne Ross

Interior Designer/Phelan’s Interiors

363-9634

BLING it on HOME with glass tile!

 

 

 Look at these cabinets with the back-splash done in glass tiles from Daltile. Bling as elegant as a flawless diamond. It begs a second look. These are white iridescent tiles. See the mercury glass pieces on the counter top? Notice the icy crystals on the chandelier?    Bling it on home!

KraftMaid Stock photo

Actually this kitchen does look somewhat like a wedding cake! Not prissy. Not fussy. Not trashy. But rather, it is well thought out, perfectly executed, shimmering BLING.

Tiles have come a long way in the past 5 years, just as the word bling (or phrase Bling Bling) is now formally recognized in the dictionary! It wasn’t there 10 years ago. Originally referring to jewelry only, the word has morphed in definition and direction,  which now includes home accessories.

 “Hollywood Glam” is part of our everyday vocabulary and everybody wants a little piece of it! Glimmer and shimmer are living among us and they are not going away. They are getting bolder as they mainstream into our decorating schemes. Surprisingly affordable, glass tile and metallic colored ceramics have joined glass block to shimmer in bathrooms and kitchens.

People are drawn to things that sparkle. It’s a part of our nature. It’s pleasing and energizing. Take a trip to Daltile.com and look at the the glorious glass and metallic colors available in ceramic tile.

When it stops snowing – or BECAUSE it is still snowing – stop into our showroom to see  and touch these sparklies for yourself! Then BLING it on home! No one really NEEDS a fabulous diamond, but kitchens and bathrooms are pretty much a part of our daily lives. Why not make them as glamorous as possible?!

More next week on natural stone tile. . . .or would you rather see more about home accessories in the category of BLING? 

Drop me a Blog to make your wishes known.

 

Okay,  I just couldn’t stop myself with this tile! Here is yet another photo of drop-dead-gorgeous iridescent tile. ENJOY!

 

 

Dianne Ross

Interior Designer/Phelan’s Interiors

363-9634

towel bars suck

Philosophically, I am opposed to towel bars. Really.

 

 From a pragmatist’s point of view, they make no sense either. The towels hang beautifully tied with fancy tassels for “company”,  which is code for “NEVER TOUCH THESE TOWELS.”  Artistically is the only way to approach a towel bar because they serve no real function. And artistically they get an F.

 However, when you try to actually  use  a towel bar, the towels get all scrunched up and shoved together. Ugly. Dysfunctional. Confusing. . . are the towels fresh or dirty? Who can tell? In the design world, towel bars are like being sucker punched. It’s only my opinion.

 I’d like to meet Mr Towel Bar (the inventor) because I have a hunch that he’s a honey lipped, sweet talker. And what makes me even crazier is that no one has had the nerve to call him out. Nope. We just go on buying more towel bars. Like sheep to the slaughter. Towel bars, towel bars, towel bars. 

May I make a suggestion?

Buy a handsome, iron coat rack or hat rack or whatever you’d like to call it.

 Doesn’t this LOOK better? After a shower you can throw a towel from across the room and it will land in an eye pleasing position! Doesn’t this FUNCTION better? Everybody, even the guests can use it!  Doesn’t this, in fact, embrace all philosophic truths? That all beauty is good, and all goodness is true, and all towel bars suck?

 

Dianne Ross

 Interior Designer/Phelan’s Interiors

363-9634