Shower Time

It's finally outdoor shower time at our place so the search for inspiration is on.  I know, I know, it's the perfect time as we are winding down the summer here but either way it's going in.  I'm set up for exposed plumbing and I want simple.  So here are some of my thoughts.  I'll report back with the final outcome as soon as we throw this badboy together.  The 2nd photo down (the blue fez tile) is a fav because my sweet wife put this in our farmhouse bath and it's pretty badass.

via here and here

Run That Pattern

A stacked brick pattern that runs the floor and continues right up wall.  That's fresh.  A killer space that features both flow and contrast.

via Contemporist

Green Tile

An interior using green subway tiles and putting out two different vibes.  A strong, dark subway tile in the kitchen warms the space along with the texture and pattern in the chevron flooring.

The foyer does not have green subway tile but I just thought it was kind of kick ass so I threw it in.  A classy feel with the details in the moldings and the vintage hanging fixture and rose colored side lights.

A lighter, fresher side in the bath using the tiles as an accent piece

via Remodelista

Moroccan Tile Floor

Instant character.  Take the classic, timeless subway tile and drop some Moroccan art on the floor.  A fresh idea.  Showcasing how a little accent can go a long way.

via Remodelista

Kitchen Bricks

A smaller European kitchen showcasing brick details.  Look just about anywhere and you'll find some kickass brick patterns and styles across many kitchen backslashes.  In this application, however, the brick becomes the focal point of the kitchen.  It may be subtle but it's all about the detail from the stacked pattern wrapping the island to the jack on jack pattern cladding the backsplash and wall surface.  A very cool example of taking the material and design a little further without going over the top.

via Remodelista

The Green Line

Here's a creative way to connect one space to another.  Bring them both together with a continuous green glass tile threshold that stretches the length of this NYC loft.  A sweet balance with the overall color scheme from the golden tones of the travertine to the warm walnut in the hardwood.  I love the unique approach they've taken to distinguish the space.

via Remodelista

Lenny

Kickass Rockstar Lenny Kravitz shows off another medium and collaborates with Italian tile manufacturer LEA Ceramiche.  An obvious passion for creativity Lenny is also all about expressing himself in the design world.  This custom three dimensional line is Lenny's stylized version of water in black and white.  A sweet look that's been designed to mimic the idea of moving water, reflecting light and casting shadows.  You can also check this post over at Fred Flare.

via freshome

Moroccan Glazed Tile

These are nice. Moroccan glazed tiles or Zellige. I just came across them while researching and finalizing some small details on a project. Handmade so they give off a little bit of a rugged look however they have a formal feel to them as well. That's a crazy star light fixture in the photo too.

photo via Remodelista

Kitchen Lines

There's not a ton of room in this kitchen but I love the overall feel with all the little details. The walls and ceiling each present opportunity to show creativity. Anytime you can carry the line of the roof you're immediately opening the space. They tied the bead board pattern of the cabinets nicely with a larger, wider look on the ceiling. The outside wall becomes and immediate design element as it also follows the line exterior design. The soft, gray tile wall showcases that barn style architecture bringing another pattern into the design as well as slightly contrasting the colors.

photo via New England Home

Marble Vessel Sink

The custom cut, low profile, marble vessel is sweet here. It doesn't overpower and really compliments the colors in the glass tiles as well as the wood top.

photo via Freshome

Textured Tile Wall

A sweet textured river rock wall detail here in the powder room of this NYC apartment. I like the way they meshed the cool feel of the stone with the warmth of the old growth walnut flooring.

photo via ArchDaily

Brick Tile

Waterworks has amazing product and this is a sweet little collection they call Grove Brickworks Field Tile. They are tiles cut from actual brick. They're rustic and raw and you'll find chips and pinholes throughout. A ton of character and a variety of colors. They are worth checking out. The faucet is also by Waterworks. It's part of their "Henry" collection. A line named after the automaker/industrialist Henry Ford.

photo via Cool Hunting

Tile Walls

The right tile, with a cool shape and texture can compliment a few ways. These are Heath Ceramics Dimensional Collection. They're badass and I've posted about them before. Check the contrast here with the painted brick wall in the background. A genius little design element. It's subtle but each brings texture. Smooth and rough. Also, the glossy vibe and clean lines of the tile work well with the warm walnut panels on the walls.

photo via ArchDaily

Vintage Tile

Classic, vintage, backsplash tile. They're by Heath Ceramics and these are from their Dimensional Collection. A very cool 1950's inspired collection with a little modern/edgy feel.

photos via Remodelista

Bath Details

Subway on the floor. Subway on the walls. The floor is a marble and the walls are a matte ceramic. I like using the gray grout on the floor. It's a subtle way to warm the space when you go all white and it will wear well. Another little design detail are the niches. Anytime you have a thick wall and can borrow space it's a bonus. They were able to recess the medicine cabinet, giving it a flush, finished look and create shelving just above the sink and in the shower.

via Remodelista

Cool Kitchen

A few things I really like about this kitchen. It has volume, character and it's just not overdone.

I'm a big fan of the subway style tile. I just think it's timeless and can be used so many different ways. These are just sweet. I like the pattern they ran with as well as the classic color, size and the dark grout.

The stainless steel counter tops are a nice alternative along with the matching shelves. It ties in very well with the bold statement that both the range and hood make. I also like the way they used two different colors for the base cabinets on either side of the range. It's just enough to make it work and not seem weird or out of place.

Architecture by Holder Design and photos by John Merkl

Big Bath Little Details

I really like how they utilized some subtle accents in this bath. They take the white pebble mosaic from the shower floor and carry it through as a border in the rest of the bath - nice. Also, I’m not usually a fan of tile base in a bath but this I thought was badass – the tiny line of pebbles in the tall base.

Two more things I’m all over in this bath. The built-in warming drawer (usually seen in the kitchen and to keep food warm) instead of the towel (bar) warmer and if you look close you can see they used a wall mounted faucet and filler for the tub. Little things. Different things. Creative things.

photos via House Beautiful

The Dog Shower

I was reminded of this job earlier in the week and wanted to post about it. A super exciting (and at times challenging), fun, project and not to mention a great client. It was an addition/renovation that all started around a dog shower. Oh yeah. A custom dog shower with some locally hand made tiles. Sound crazy? It's sweet. This is one of the coolest "specialty" projects we've completed. The idea and design just seemed to evolved as we got deeper and deeper into the project. They had 2 dogs. They wanted a mud room with a dog door and a place to hose them off. The result was this collaboration of some really talented artists, craftsmen and a customer that just has a huge heart for their two labs. Talk about spoiling your dogs. We even heated the floors.

photo by Tim Capaldi

Old School Custom Ceramic

It's not about just putting down some cool penny tile in the kitchen. At least, not with this company. American Restoration Tile specializes in custom ceramic tile for restoration work as well as new construction. This kitchen (historically accurate) was created with a combination of a 1" hexagon and a 3/4" square border. If you have a renovation that needs to be matched or added on to, this company can help. In addition, they have a ton of custom colors and sizes. I can't say that I see a ton of ceramic in the kitchen, but after seeing some of the things that this company is putting out, I would seriously consider incorporating a historic layout.

Using Debris to Handcraft Tile

There is a company based in San Jose, CA producing and crafting some super cool sustainable tiles using recycled glass bottles. The company is called Fireclay Tile and I came across their Debris Series today while researching an interior remodel project. If you're looking for hand crafted and homegrown you should check them out. They offer more than 112 colors in both gloss and matte finishes and have a huge range of design options.

Here's the Debris Series featured in a kitchen backspash they supplied for a remodeled green home in San Francisco. I love the shade of green (or Kelp as they refer to it at Fireclay) against the black tops and bright white cabinets. It even works so well with the small accent of wood countertop they used next to the range.

(photos via Kitchen & Bath Business and Fireclay Tile)