Tile Keeps Your Kitchen Current

Since the kitchen is considered the heart of the home, it's nice to keep it updated. We eat, entertain, and even do office and school work in our kitchens. When you're ready for a remodel, or even a change in appliances and surfaces, you want what you select to be enduring. Flooring is often wood, vinyl, cork, or tile (porcelain, ceramic and stone are the most popular).  Backsplashes are most frequently tile, although beadboard, stainless steel, and even painted finishes are used. We love tile since it's incredibly versatile, comes in a huge array of materials, patterns, colors and you can find or cut nearly every size and shape. The choice to use tile is a good one for flexibility, design freedom, ease of care and customization. 

Large scale tile makes small spaces seem larger.

Using tile is one of the best ways to customize a kitchen and allow for changes later. You can create patterns, add accent tiles, and then pop some out and replace with a different color or material over time.  In a small kitchen, swapping the dated 12" x 12" straight lie ceramic with a safer, larger, 24" x 12 porcelain tile, was easy, budget conscious, and made the room appear larger.  Consider porcelain instead of stone for busy kitchens. It's to care for, and even if you love the look of stone, you can have it since many manufacturers offer stone-looks that eliminate larger grout lines, filling holes, and regular surface sealing.  With rectified tile, you can create tight patterns and minimal grout joints for a very finished, nearly seamless look.

The Arts & Crafts influence backsplash in this kitchen can be changedby popping out the green accent tile and replacing with another materialor color in years to come.

For backsplashes, there are nearly unlimited options that can be combined. Let's say you opt for a 4" x 4" stone backsplash, and decide you want to update in 10 years. You can change some of the tiles for glass, and create a border, a pattern, and make a change in color. For very traditional kitchens, I love to create a custom pattern over the stove or cooktop.  I consider the options the client loves today, and allow for the possibility of changing out some of the decorative tiles over a long period of time, while leaving the field tile in place.  Ten years ago, I designed a backsplash with granite and porcelain tile.  This year, we're popping out some tile and replacing it with metallic tile.   Glass tile is hugely popular now. Some installations are Mid-Century Modern style and will be enduring, and some are highly colored and patterned and may become dated over time. Changing out tiles, especially mosaics, will be easy over time. Recycled glass tiles are less popular, but with environmentally conscious products being more favorable and available, they will likely be enduring for many years.

Glass backsplashes are gorgeous. This one has recycled
tile and a crisp ceramic accent tile.

Awesome tile for your bath

We don't like to use the same tile for a client - EVER. So, seeking out new products, suppliers, and styles is our forte. Take a look at the ones we've found for our showroom! Come by and take a look!

5 Designer ideas to update your kitchen.

When you want to add a little bit of glamour to your kitchen, try these ideas:

1) Use a detailed edge on your counters. Whether you elect to use a double rolled edge of stone on the island, or a beefy 2" edge to your quartz, the look will be elegant and dramatic. 


2) Dim all of your lights. Place all recessed and other fixtures on dimmers so you can create ambiance when all of your prepping is over.  

3) Build your electronics in. Add receptacles, cables, etc.. in for laptops, phone charging and TV and video watching. Having them in a central location can assist with homework, cooking practice and on-line research.

4) Add furniture touches to your cabinets.  By upgrading basic cabinets with details like scroll legs, inlays, and veneers will enable the kitchen to blend more seamlessly into your decor.

5) Provide glamour with lighting and fabrics.  Rather than use a basic fabric on your chairs and barstools, use a durable, stain resistant acrylic.The patterns and colors of sun-resistant fabrics are dynamic and you can have a plush velvet with easy clean-up. Opt for a chandelier with glass or metallic elements over the island or to anchor your table. Glamour has never been easier to obtain.

Options for finishes when updating your home.

When remodeling or updating your home or apartment you look for products that do a great job and have major impact but reasonable costs.  Here are several alternative finish materials to consider:

1) MDF versus wood.  For trim moldings, baseboards, crown, casing, etc...solid wood is authentic and if you have an historic home and need to maintain history, use wood. Using MDF does not detract from the appearance or performance. The cost is significantly lower and the longevity - when primed and painted - is the same. Made without formaldehyde, there is no longer any off-gassing.

2) Plywood versus solid wood.  The durability of plywood is well-known.  Using it on floors, for built-ins (edge-banding required for a finished edge), and doors. 






3) Salvage yards versus new.  Builder's supply yards, Habitat for Humanity resale stores, and those in your local area, can be a great resource for bathroom vanities, flooring, doors, mantles and more. You can often find older pieces with lots of architectural detail that simply need refinishing.




4) Spray versus sandblasting glass.  For cabinet doors, glass insets in doors, sidelights, etc...purchasing sandblasted glass for its obscurity is costly.  Try Krylon's Frosted Glass Finish for a highly cost-effective alternative. Window film is the next option!

5) Wood versus granite counter top.  Granite can cost up to $50 per square foot and is often not affordable.  Butcher block and other solid species are significantly less expensive and provide a warm, custom finish.  

6) Laminate versus solid surface counter.  The look of granite without the cost is easily found with laminate counters.  Many manufacturers offer laminate - Wilsonart and Formica among them - and the properties of the new laminate far exceed the previous generations of the materials. With a tremendous variety in color, texture and edges, you can find the style and the budget level that suits your project.

7) Concrete versus stone.When paving your exterior spaces, consider a concrete product instead of natural stone.  The look is slightly different but the resulting durability and competitive cost are well worth the switch!

Jewelry for your doors and drawers makes a fabulous statement.

Whether you are updating a kitchen or bath, refurbishing a piece of furniture, or just looking for a change,  using decorative hardware will make a custom design statement.  These are some of the pieces we love, and they are available at A Touch Of Tradition Home & Garden Shoppe in San Diego. Many come in 6 or 7 finishes - chrome, nickel, brass, oil rubbed bronze, silver, antiqued, and black.

Sophisticated polished nickel pull for cabinets and furniture.

The right hardware can often set the style for your space even if very little else changes. For example, you can change a kitchen whose cabinets are in good condition by using pulls in lieu of knobs.  Make them a different style from the existing and enjoy the transformation.  

Glass and chrome - artistic yet classic.

Available in 5 finishes, this knob is elegant and traditional.

Dressers and chests whose style is dated in your home, can be updated with new pulls or knobs.  Antique pieces are ideal for hardware changes, since they will dress up the furniture yet be removable if the piece needs to be sold. Schaub Hardware has several lines of decorative, traditional hardware perfect for this application.










Linen closet and other hallway storage cabinet doors and drawers reap benefits from new hardware. What was a wall of doors can become a work of art with hardware like pieces from Vicenza Designs.  Even simple hardware from a big box retail or hardware store can have a huge impact on cabinets and closets.

Add appliance pulls to larger pieces of furniture. Try adding an element from nature - like these textured bamboo pulls - for a casual yet enduring style. 

Bamboo textured, casual and classic. 7 finishes available

 Have a specialty area in your home like a wine cellar?  Use an elegant pull with a theme, to create a stunning, custom space.

Satin nickel and granite for a modern kitchen.

To update a casual kitchen, try these pulls with a brushed metal finish and a stone center. The metals will add sophistication and the granite will provide elegance and artistry.

Lions head style for a European look. 6 finishes.

A wonderful themed knob in nickel.

White baths - timeless and classic

Transitional style.

With so many options in stone, porcelain and ceramic tile, we don't often think of the design possibilities using white. Using textures, varying scale, and changing the shades of white in tile and slabs, can create dramatic baths whose designs stand the test of time. Using accent hues in cabinetry, mirrors, and lighting, a white bath will be timeless.  With classic elements, these baths demonstrate how stunning simply white can be.

Classic and traditional.

Cottage casual and minimalist yet comfortable.

Classic and elegant with cabinetry as the accent hue.

Should you use stone or not?

When selecting surfaces for your floors, walls and counters, also consider the long-term cost of maintenance. With a huge variety of color and size options, the cost to purchase install your surface, as well as costs to maintain should be the determining factors for selection.  Here is a brief guide to surfaces and their care:

 Recommendation from the designer: Porcelain tile and Quartz counters are two of the most durable, easy care, competitive cost alternatives.  For both, the selection of colors, ways to use, and overall performance are fantastic. The options in porcelain tile sizes and styles are ever-increasing, with trim tiles to finish edges. I prefer porcelain and quartz to their natural stone counterparts.

1) Granite: Porous, igneous stone. Tile and slab available. Must be sealed annually in baths, more often in kitchens. Stains and etches. Don't let oils or vinegars sit on surface too long. Great heat resistance. Be aware that some colors have radon. Not impervious to bacteria. Clean with stone cleaner to avoid removing sealer or dulling shine. Don't use acidic products or shine can be dulled.

2) Quartz: (Silestone, Cambria, Caesarstone, etc..) Stone-epoxy composite.Tile and slab available. Non-porous so no sealer required.  Heat and stain resistant. High durability. Often embedded with antibacterial compound. Clean with almost any household cleaner. Some versions by Silestone are 'green'. Colors can be stone-like or unique in pattern and particulate.  This bath uses a fossil-like quartz in a soft white. 

3) Travertine-limestone-soapstone-marble-slate: These are all porous stone products that can be used on counters, floors and walls. Tile and slab available. They MUST be sealed often so water and products don't penetrate.  All are stainable and prone to scratches. Soapstone has good heat resistance. Requires regular cleaning with stone cleaner or neutral non-abrasive cleaner.  Products for ceramic tile may NOT be used on these stones. Soap scum is difficult to remove. Special products are available to help remove stains.

4) Porcelain: A subset of ceramic tile. Highly durable surface for floors, walls, and even counters. Generally through-body color with a glazed surface. No porosity. Clean with nearly any household cleaner. Recommend that you seal grout after installation for best stain resistance in high use areas. Patterns, colors, and sizes nearly limitless. Unique stone-like patterns available for more durable, easy care surface than real stone.

5) Ceramic: Made from clay or other inorganic materials, hardened by oven firing and usually coated with some kind of glaze.  Ceramic is easy to clean and doesn't harbor germs.

6) Solid surfaces (Corian, Corinthinan, Wilsonart, etc...) : Solid, manufactured with plastic or acrylic. Durable, non-porous, stain and bacteria resistant. Not heat resistant. Through-color and easy to buff scratches or make repairs. Often has integrated sink options. Seams are inconspicuous.