February 2022 - Chris Frandsen Tiles and Baths

Focusing on the Top 3 Trends of Subway Tiles…

February 28, 2022February 26, 2022
by Jack Loche

As for people passionate about the looks and feel of their home interior, subway tiles have not stopped to fascinate them. Meanwhile, recent years have seen many adapt to stay more at home than ever before after the 2020 pandemic. The same is applicable for designers and craftsmen who pay close attention to the designs and use of tiles.

On the other hand, the homeowners have begun to conceive fascinating ideas about creating a stunning look within the home. While the trend of subway tiles continues to wax more robust in recent years. We can also consider some more traditional styles, whether through deliberate art or playing around with some of the elements.

Meanwhile, as we see the trends grow, you can also find more colorful subway tiles against the initial set of white subway tiles. It can also work for different features apart from the floor to include the walls and splashback. Below are the three most crucial focus trends in this New Year 2022 that designers and builders should look out for.

Colour

As we address the color and pattern trends in using subway tiles in 2022, we quickly think of the “Bohemian richness.” This combination involves using deep navy blue and emerald green colors while adding a glossy finish to the final surface. It also combines perfectly with the top trends of brass tapware, particularly in the bathroom and other decorative elements in the home.

The rectangular shape of subway tiles can also work for bathrooms with limited spaces as the form appears bigger. Adding a stunning color within the right texture further enhances this possibility, culminating in a modern design. You can also choose the perfect color to fit your overall style and look. If it seems complicated, you just need to follow the standard pattern of laying traditional tiles while using the subway tiles.

Size

The size of the subway tiles is also another essential feature to note when working on them. When you have a good grasp on the standard size, you can now upscale these sizes when there is more room for it. At first, the traditional tiles have a standard size of 75 x 150 mm, which is a perfect rectangle. However, the recent trends have made us see other varieties of sizes.

For example, the standard large format of subway tiles includes 100 x 200 mm or 100 x 300 mm. This large-format size is most suitable for backsplash in kitchens, depending on the size. But it is more ideal for kitchens with small spaces. Moreover, they can help you create the feeling of continuity significantly if you extend them to reach the kitchen ceiling.

Style

Regarding the new styles we have started seeing when using subway tiles for interior decorations, anyone will agree that there is more to come. Instead of seeing the standard uniform blend, we now witness drawn-like patterns, particularly for bathrooms. This trend may also continue for some time to come. In addition, since it is not advisable to paint on subway tiles, designers have resorted to splashing in some picked tiles of different colors to the rest.

Placing in some of these other tiles at random has become a new style on its own. Overall, you can still use subway tiles to create your home interior’s uniqueness and vibrant outlook. And it is not limited to the bathroom; you can also apply it to other areas in the home. More so, using subway tiles this way has influenced the human connection with your designs and attracts one’s mind home rather than travel to new places.

Unique Application of Subway Tiles for Bathrooms

Now, I observed that we have been relating these trends to the interior applications of subway tiles. Can we zero in on the specific application of these subway tiles to the bathrooms to create these uncommon effects? Below are some of the top ways of using subway tiles for your bathroom.

Create a uniformity with subway tiles

So far, all we are conversant with is the use of subway tiles on the part of a room. We can mention the floor, the wall, or a kitchen backsplash. But have you considered using subway tiles for the entire room? Even if you do not use the exact tile size all through, you can still create a design of subway tiles for the bathroom.

You may be amazed that this style brings a modern feel, especially if you try white tiles with dark grout. You can never have too many tiles for a place like a bathroom. On the other hand, lacing the entire area up with subway tiles may not work for the different parts of the home. But, hey, we are talking about your bathroom here. Try it, and you will enjoy seeing it.

Try out a new arrangement

At times, what makes the bathroom design look boring is that your designer has simply used one of the styles in the book. Meanwhile, our system abhors such repetition because it gets boring in no time. To prevent that boredom from setting in, we recommend that our designers try out styles not written in the book.

For instance, the herringbone style is not the only alternative to offsetting subway tiles. Actually, you can diversify simply by changing the angles to something no one has thought of before now. But you must be smart with it. And if you are not willing to take the immediate risk on the surface, start with a sample board to see what it will look like. You can then repeat the same process on the desired surface when you are satisfied.

Blend the Modern with the Rustic style

Some designers have tried to combine metallic accents with regular pairings. But when you hold the subway tiles as the modern element in your design, you can complement it with some rustic material ideal for the bathroom. This combination may create a ‘clash,’ leading to a unique atmosphere for more options and styles.

Subway Tiles

Best Grout Types for Subway Tiles in 2022

February 26, 2022February 26, 2022
by Jack Loche

When building your home interior, using subway tiles is a great way to make a value that can last for years to come. Without much ado, ceramic subway tiles provide an excellent way to target the right audience into your room or wherever you are targeting. And when we talk about the grout types, we start with the color of the grout that matches your subway tiles.

Meanwhile, while a simple question people may want to ask is which specific color works best, that may not be the correct answer. In other words, there is no particular grout color that matches your subway tiles. Instead, the real journey is to find the right grout-tile combination that suits your style or overall theme. Depending on the type you eventually choose, you can create a unique look with which your subway tiles can stand out with ease.

There is a connection that should match your will with the eventual creation. Below are some of the classic options of grout within our collection.

The Alabaster Grout

A good combination with a professional house flipper, Jenny Komenda, who designed an impressive subway tile kitchen. The design had warm beige and tan colors to use on white subway tiles. The first space for installation is the wall while adding the benchtop. The grout combination also shows the details, producing a warm environment with the colors.

The Light Grey Grout

White subway tiles often attract dark-colored grout to produce a beautiful combination. As long as there is a slight contrast between the colors of the two components, then you are good to go. And a grey-colored grout is an easy way to start that. Any color difference becomes a point of attraction for anyone to look in that direction.

At the same time, it also outlines the shape of the subway tiles in one of the most precise ways, with the arrangement showing its pattern. Moreover, a project involving white ceramic subway tiles matches well with gray or light gray grout. If you want to try out other colors for the subway tiles, you can use blue or grey colors to up the accent. While the grout color is a great way to complement your tiles and an excellent way to optimize your space.

The White Grout

If you want to create a tile without the grout feeling, white grout is best. In other words, the white grout on a set of white subway tiles implies that you create a blend of colors rather than a contrast. Anyone who sees this combination keeps up with the uniformity rather than being distracted by the grout lines. On the other hand, creating such a style is an excellent way to motivate a very bright and fresh look.

Remodeling your Home with Inside Grout

One of the most excellent options for home remodeling for the interior is having the right choice of materials in the overall design. A string of decisions builds up to produce the level of a final remodeled building that you have in mind. When you have the subway tiles in place, you should also have the grout in place. Depending on the space at your disposal, you can then decide how you want the combination to be.

What type of grout works best for my design?

One can describe grouts in two different ways; cementitious and synthetic grout. In between these two types are the variable materials, including the pigment, grain size material, or the blend of all. Meanwhile, another critical factor is the place and space you want to install your subway tiles, including kitchen and bathrooms.

As for the bathroom and kitchen backsplashes, a synthetic polymeric mold-resistant grout type is a perfect choice. The assurance that your structure is generally safe from everyday problems breeds confidence. Such a setup also minimizes the amount of time spent cleaning the material and preserves the aesthetic value for a longer time.

What is the best grout color to choose?

After learning about all the goodies of combining grout with the subway tiles, the next thing will be the choice of color. While some people make this choice initially, others allow it to rest till the very end. But then, let us first avoid some of the current pointers to the organic material for natural arrangements. In that way, it can become the architect’s friend on site.

The main goal of grout color is to either blend in with the same colors or contrast using different colors. Both the tiles and the grout have the same color in the former. The grout color and the subway tiles have different colors in the latter. When the subway tiles are in white, a contrasting color of the grout should be gray or black. However, bear in mind that if you use white subway tiles in a place like a bathroom, then wait for t to yellow up after some time.

What is the standard thickness for grout lines?

Many architects and interior designers prefer to keep the grout lines as thin as possible. But it does not always work. Whereas the small grout joint keeps the whole set of subway tiles together, the general thickness is one-sixteenth. Whether you choose to go by the traditional flow of things or the modern outlook, the subway works perfectly when the grout thickness is correct.

Also, designers can make an exception to the one-sixteenth rule when the conditions are right. So, a piece of general advice is to ensure the available space, grout materials, color, and other related factors come together to give an irresistible look.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the best styles of laying subway tiles are with the right choice of grout in the right thickness and perfect color. When all the variables are in place, one can be sure that the result will be stunning. After installation, the only thing left is to consider the cleaning program, in which case ceramic subway tiles are the easiest to deal with.

Month: February 2022