By ROBIN MINDT
January 2006

All signs point to tile as the new "in" décor material for the home. With the United States ceramic tile industry having grown more than 10 percent in 2004, and projected to grow another 7 percent each year for the next five years, gone are the days when tile was just for the bathroom. Major home retailers across the country are selling tile alongside traditional floor coverings, wall coverings and surface materials, opening up a world of options for the home.

No limits

Creative designers and home do-it-yourselfers are using tiles in all shapes, sizes, colors and finishes throughout the home. "I’m seeing tile used for flooring, kitchen backsplashes, shelves, built-ins and even staircases," says Patty Wollemann, operations manager for Butler Tile in Waukesha. "Tile is a great way to add interest and beauty to the risers of staircases, or a built-in nook."

The widespread use of in-floor heating has made homeowners more likely to use materials that would otherwise be considered too "cold" for a bedroom or living room floor. And with many finishing their lower levels, homeowners are looking for ways to spice up the basement. Other new tile uses include kitchen tops, windowsills and sunrooms.

"For years, tile was an afterthought," says Devika De Marion, design and sales associate for Colleen Horner, with locations in Milwaukee’s Third Ward and Pewaukee. "Now we’re seeing people design a backsplash, entryway floor installation, fireplace surround or wall mosaic first, then complement it with other materials. It’s a trend toward a much more artistic approach to home design, with an emphasis on unifying an artistic theme throughout the home, especially with open-concept designs."Jim Dierkes, store manager of The Tile Shop in Milwaukee has noticed tile’s emergence as a decorative accent. "I’ve seen tile used to frame mirrors or other flooring and wall coverings," says Dierkes."Some even use large tiles as wall art," adds De Marion. "Large floor-panel tile can be wall-mounted alone to add a three-dimensional artistic element to a room, or be installed with mosaics of stone, ceramic, glass or combinations of those materials around."

A twist on tradition

With tile becoming an integral part of home design, a variety of tile styles and designs have grown in popularity. "In general, people are getting more adventurous," says Robin Swernoff, president of Lakeside Stoneworks LLC in Brown Deer. "But there is still a tie with more traditional styles. It’s traditional with a twist."

Natural stone tiles are extremely popular right now, reminiscent of traditional slate or limestone floors (even sidewalks) throughout Europe. "Stone is durable and cleanable," says Dierkes. "Homeowners were hesitant to use this material for fear it wouldn’t stand up to heavy use, but with proper maintenance and care, there is no problem with using stone anywhere in the home."Depending on the cut and finish, stone can take a traditional or contemporary look. Slates come in colors ranging from dark blue and green to rust or copper — sometimes all in one tile. Ceramic or porcelain tiles can be made to look like natural stone, for those still concerned about maintenance.

Natural and man-made limestone tiles are typically most traditional looking, but glass, metal and other types of tile are being used to decorate and accent this classic element. Decorative strips, edges, faces and borders are used in flooring, walls and surfaces."It’s the way tiles are combined that can merge traditional and contemporary," says De Marion. "Stainless steel, cast bronze, copper and brass are all being combined with stone and other more traditional materials in the home."Mosaics combining a variety of tile sizes, materials, shapes and colors can add flair to any tile installation or frame more traditional pieces.

Old is new

Designers are seeing colors and materials that were "hot" long ago regaining popularity. "It" colors this year, according to De Marion, are celery green and primary colors. Once loved in the ’70s, then shunned in the ’90s, bold shades of green and orange were featured prominently at recent tile industry trade shows.

"Glass is really coming back as well, whether used as accents or entire applications," says De Marion. "We’ve seen concrete tiles mixed with glass accents, similar to restaurant or commercial applications from the ’30s or ’40s."

Traditional decorative designs are also coming back. Once, scrollwork and other relief sculpture designs were commonplace in commercial and residential designs. Patterns and decorative finishes are again en vogue, with both traditional and contemporary flair. Homeowners are choosing bold metal pieces with imprinted or embossed shapes. For a personal touch, homeowners can even choose to create a monogram or "logo" for their entryway or home focal point. Tiles that are beveled to create creases between tiles are coming back, while hand-cut or imperfectly shaped tiles are contemporary takes on the traditional.

Must-have trends

Among newer trends, Colleen Horner is seeing nature reflected in tiles, such as leaf shapes, which are placed and grouted together to make a solid floor. They also showcase large fields of small tumbled river stones, chosen for their similar size and shape, which fit together to create a uniform and fairly flat flooring surface.Swernoff says mosaics or patterns meant to create "walkways" in fields of tile, whether in a foyer, area in front of the kitchen sink or under the dining room table, are trendy. Also, Swernoff is seeing rectangular, rather than square, tiles being applied both in a "brick" or "subway" pattern and a uniform, traditional tile pattern. Local tile experts mentioned decorative finishes, such as crackled glass, matte finishes and painted designs, are used often — especially by homeowners with a flair for the dramatic. "We always love those that are willing to be bold," says Dierkes.