Throughout the home, tile is well-established as a reliable and thoroughly versatile material. Whether it’s used for adding a pop of color to a kitchen backsplash, lending a classic tone to a fireplace or creating a timeless pattern on a floor, tile continues to garner favor from both decorators and contractors alike.
This year tile makers have ventured beyond the tried and true with some truly innovative decorative tiles that allow homeowners to use tile to get the look of more expensive materials and decorative elements. Decorators are stepping “out of the box” per say with tiles that can brighten up a room with innovative uses of color, shine and texture that might have you second guessing if it’s really tile. Below we’re highlighted some of our favorite tile innovations.
Modern
These tiles replicate the look and feel of the Avant Guard or Art Deco time periods. Some tiles mimic the look of natural stone in a variety of colors while others have unusual patterns printed on the clay slabs.
Retro
Just like it sounds, Retro tiles offer a flashback to the 1970s with digitally printed tiles that imitate the look of bronze, gold, alabaster and marble. “Far Out” geometric shapes of hexagons, diamonds, circles and zig-zags are also available.
Shiny
If you’re looking to add a bit of shine and shimmer to your interior, consider a bit of instant glamour with metal and mosaic tiles. The shiny surface of the tile will help to brighten interiors with the reflection of light.
Textured
For a sleek look, consider the addition of textured tiles in stainless steel or concrete designs. One of the more popular of the textured styles mimics the look of everything from aged wood barrels to planks of traditional pine, oak and cherry wood.
Contemporary
If you’re looking to copy the feel of an in-house art installation, consider tiles with elements of graphic design or contemporary street art. One glance and you’ll see that these tiles are about as far away from basic tile as you can get. Consider this as a less-is-more application and concentrate it in one space such as an accent wall.
Considering that it was the color, shine and texture that first attracted you to these interesting tiles, make sure you use a Tile & Grout Cleaner that will keep them looking brand new. The “Natural” Cleaner from Rock Doctor is designed to remove grease, dirt, oil and soap scum from tile and grout. Rock Doctor’s Tile & Grout Cleaner can improve the color and appearance of tile and is safe for use on glazed, ceramic, natural stone, granite and unglazed tile. It’s also a perfect option for use on colored grout.
No matter is your tastes run more modern than traditional or slightly more contemporary than retro, Rock Doctor Tile & Grout Cleaner is the product that will keep all of your tile looking its best.
This article was brought to you by Rock Doctor, which offers a line of specially-formulated stone cleaner, stone polish, and stone sealer products. Rock Doctor stone care products can be purchased through a number of fine retail stores, including Wal-Mart, Lowe’s Home Improvement, Bed Bath & Beyond, Ace Hardware, Do it Best Hardware, Hy-Vee, and Wegmans.
