After a simple conversation with a friend and fellow trade professional revealed a gap in the market, a new business idea sparked for longtime tile setter Chase Twitchell. With 19+ years of industry experience under his belt, he knew firsthand how drain systems for tiled showers could be improved, making everyday installation jobs easier for people like himself and his peers. Thus, the idea for FloFX was born. Marketed as a brand “by an installer, for installers,” FloFX offers products like advanced bonding flange drains and premium grates that only continue to grow in popularity among professionals in the tile community.

Keep reading to learn more about tile installer-turned-FloFX founder, Chase Twitchell, and his fascinating story!

CAN YOU SHARE A LITTLE BIT ABOUT YOURSELF AND YOUR BACKGROUND?

I grew up in a small town in Southern Utah with a single mom of 5 kids. As a teenager, I got my start in the flooring trade by spending the summers with my brother, a 3^rd generation floor coverings installer. Fresh out of high school, I knew I wanted to get into the tile trade. I started as a helper for a company doing custom tile work and quickly got promoted to tile setter. A few years later, I thought I was ready to go out on my own and got my tile contractor’s license at 21. I quickly realized that I had a lot to learn! 19 years later, I’m still learning new things every day.

WAS THERE A SPECIFIC EXPERIENCE THAT INSPIRED YOU TO CREATE FLOFX?

I was talking to one of my good friends, Rod Katwyk, Owner of RodKat Custom Shower Trays, about his products and the shower drains he was using. He had a few options from some of the bigger manufacturers, but nothing that was really a perfect fit for his application. After this conversation and seeing the current offerings, I knew I could make something better. That’s when I set out to create the Universal Bond Flange Kit. With a universal outlet, it’s ready for whatever you show up to on a jobsite. Sometimes you’ll need to connect to a bare 2” waste pipe and other times you’ll need to adapt to an existing 3-piece clamping drain. Our universal kit is like 2 drain kits in one.

HOW DID FLOFX GET ITS START?

The concept started in my garage with a grinder and a piece of sheet metal. I didn’t have access to a welder, so hot glue held the poorly cut pieces of metal together just long enough for me to realize that it was a horrible idea. It solved almost no problems and carried over all the issues installers face when installing stainless linear drains – most notably, bent flanges in shipping and having to use a no-hub/rubber boot for the waste pipe connection. I quickly realized that plastic injection molding was the way to go. It brings repeatability, durability and enhanced geometry not available with stamped sheet metal. However – I had zero experience with 3D design or plastic prototyping at this time.

So, after spending the next weekend banging my head on the keyboard trying to learn the basics of a 3D design program and eventually finding a deal on Facebook Marketplace for a 3D printer, I loaded my first design and waited… 24 hours later, I was holding my 1^st 3D printed prototype. And it was garbage.  

I spent the next year making revision after revision. Each version a little better than the last. Learn a new 3D design technique – make a new revision –  print another prototype. 3D printing really was the game changer. Being able to hold and feel your prototype to see how the parts interact with each other was key to making a good product.

The current Universal Bond Flange Kit has around 78 revisions. It was finally good enough.

Below (left): Chase’s first prototype | Below (right): Current FloFX Traditional Bond Flange Kit

WHAT SETS FLOFX APART FROM OTHER COMPETITORS ON THE MARKET?

The biggest advantage we have is our installer-centric focus. I’m positive that I wouldn’t have been able to make a product that has been so well reviewed without my experience setting tile. Every part of the design was built around the installation first. I knew that it had to be something that I would want to install myself.

The under-flange mortar cavities lock the flange into the setting material for a rock-solid installation. The universal outlet sets you up for almost any drain connection you need to make and the kits come with all the grate install components giving you everything you need to install tile and grout without needing the actual grate kit in order to complete the installation. Not to mention, both versions of our drain kits offer horizontal grate adjustment to nail the tile layout with designs that prevent mosaics from sagging around the grate.

Below: FloFX PVC Universal Bond Flange Kit

WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE PART ABOUT WORKING IN THE TILE INDUSTRY?

I love talking to and meeting installers, especially when they have a problem that I can offer a quick and easy solution to. I love seeing some of the epic projects that FloFX has been used on! 2 out of 3 finalists for Floor Covering Installer Magazine’s Best Shower Award were using FloFX drains in 2022. I’m humbled to have that caliber of installers using our products.

DO YOU HAVE ANY ADVICE FOR PEOPLE WHO ARE JUST STARTING OUT IN THE INDUSTRY?

Make connections as soon as you can. Find a mentor that can answer questions and give you advice when you get stuck. As a tile contractor, I know people who are smarter than me that I could call for advice, and I don’t think I could have made it without them. The same goes for my role with FloFX.

WHO ARE SOME OTHER PROS WITHIN THE TILE INDUSTRY WHO INSPIRE YOU? 

This is a tough one because I’ve made friends with so many good people that I look up to in the industry that I would feel horrible If I left even a single one out. This is an awesome industry that I’m very fortunate to be a part of.

WHAT ARE YOUR GOALS FOR FLOFX MOVING FORWARD?

The biggest thing I’ll be focusing on in 2023 is building out a team to help take FloFX to the next level. I’m currently handling all areas of the business on my own – everything from sales and marketing to inventory and accounting. Bringing in people who are better than me at some of those things will free up my time to focus more on the things I excel at. We’ll be able to have better products, better marketing, better service and a better business overall. The future is bright!

HOW DO YOU ENJOY SPENDING YOUR TIME OUTSIDE OF WORK?

Living in Southern Utah, we’re blessed with the beautiful outdoors. I spend a lot of my free time outside. Racing dirt bikes, mountain biking and fishing take up most of my free time when I’m not playing competitive slow-pitch softball.

Shop The Tile Shop’s selection of FloFX drain grates here and be sure to visit the FloFX website to explore everything else the brand has to offer.

Stay up to date with all things FloFX on Instagram at @flofx.usa!

The post How One Tile Installer Built a Brand Trusted by Pros appeared first on The Tile Shop Blog.

primary wall tile: hampton carrara polished subway | floor tiles: hex matte black & hampton carrara tumbled

design & photography: chris loves julia

Inspired by one of the first DIY projects they tackled in their new North Carolina Modern Colonial home – a custom penny round floor pattern for the powder room – Julia created a similar look in this space with 1″ hex tiles made of matte black porcelain and Hampton Carrara marble.

This tile project ended up being the most intricate but also one of the most beautiful tile jobs we have done in a home.

–Julia Marcum

So, aside from walls lined in Hampton Carrara subway tile and the striking custom floor pattern, what is it that elevates this bathroom from beautiful to breathtaking? Trim. Trim. And more trim. While these small tile accents may seem subtle, this design proves how much impact they really can have. The sleek black pencil liner draws the eye throughout the space and offers the perfect amount of contrast, while the marble durand adorns walls with dimension and interest in the form of elegant box trim.

Keep scrolling to see if you can spot even more tile trim and finishing pieces Chris and Julia used in this space!

Gallery

For a more in-depth look at this space, as well as the renovation process from start to finish, be sure to visit the Chris Loves Julia blog. Or, if you’re itching to see more of their drool-worthy bathroom design work, tour the breathtaking Modern Cottage Primary Bathroom in their previous home featuring our moody Silver Mist limestone collection from top to bottom.

The post Chris Loves Julia’s Modern Colonial Marble Bathroom appeared first on The Tile Shop Blog.

Shower Tile: Track Stack Navy Blue | Floor Tile: Spring Time Off-White Natural Hex

design: Jacklyn Faust Interiors | Photography: Rikki Snyder & Valerie Shively

The post Project Highlight: Delightfully Bright Kids’ Bathroom appeared first on The Tile Shop Blog.

1. Brooke Pavel’s Bright Boho Bathroom

During the Fall 2020 One Room Challenge, Iowa-based DIYer Brooke Pavel transformed her home’s unfinished primary bathroom into a cozy, light-filled haven. Featuring the Picket Florencia Super Bianco, Tresana Blanco and Royal White Polished Hex Marble tiles alongside natural wood accents and gold hardware, this space is a boho-inspired dream!

2. Bari J.’s Art Deco Bathroom

Dubbed her Deco Dreams Primary Bathroom, designer Bari Ackerman of Bari J. Designs turned an everyday space into a true work of art through intricate tile design, playful colors, and a balance of unique shapes. The bathroom’s “wow” factor, a white floor-to-ceiling backsplash featuring tall pink arches, was created using our Imperial Ivory Matte Hex and Imperial Pink Gloss Hex. To complement the design, Bari incorporated a simple half-wall border made of the Imperial Ivory Matte running throughout the rest of the space.

Learn more about the process behind Bari’s Art Deco bathroom design here.

3. Banyan Bridges’ Eclectic Basement Kitchen & Dining Area

Showcasing bold pops of color and a custom checkerboard backsplash using our handmade-look Riad Grey and Riad White tiles, muralist Racheal Jackson of Banyan Bridges created an eclectic gathering space that’s as charming as it is unique out of her unfinished basement.

Visit our Spring 2021 One Room Challenge Reveals blog to get an in-depth look at Racheal’s journey renovating the space!

4. Malcom Simmons’ Lavish & Elegant Bathroom

Designer Malcolm Simmons embraced timeless style and luxury during the bathroom reno in his colonial-style condo. Walls tiled with the light-reflecting Imperial Bianco Gloss subway help the room feel brighter and more open, while the elegant Hampton Carrara Niles marble flooring adds an especially lavish touch. Malcolm’s use of multiple trim pieces, including the Noir Honed Hixton, Hampton Carrara Cardine, Imperial Bianco Gloss Square Pencil and Hampton Carrara Polished Skirting, ties the space together beautifully with a custom, polished look.

See even more of this stunning space on Malcolm’s bathroom reveal blog post!

5. Rashida Banks’ Quaint & Cozy Kitchen

Designer Rashida Banks took her early 2000s-style kitchen and transformed it into a cozy, inviting space saturated in warmth and embodying her “modern classic” style. Rashida chose the elegant Royal Satin White marble for her backsplash and extended it floor-to-ceiling on the adjoining wall. The tile’s soft creamy tones and grey veining pair perfectly with the warm cabinetry and gold accents sprinkled throughout the kitchen. Going with a more dramatic look on the floor, Rashida used the matte Aqua Nero stone-look porcelain tile for eye-catching contrast with a contemporary edge.

Head to Rashida’s kitchen reveal blog post for a behind-the-scenes look at this reno from start to finish!

6. Haneen’s Haven’s Charming Traditional Bathroom

DIYer Haneen Matt of Haneen’s Haven gave new life to her dated primary bathroom with a delightful blend of rustic and traditional style. Her use of our wood-look Truewood Beige porcelain tile on the floor creates an effortlessly warm and cozy feel, while the elegant marble shower featuring the Bianco Puro honed subway tile and Hampton Hermosa mosaic elevates the overall design with an opulent look and feel. A hidden highlight? The whimsical wallpaper-look Saltus tile showcased in the shower niches!

Explore the Spring 2021 One Room Challenge Reveals for a closer look at Haneen’s bathroom renovation.

7. Our Fifth House’s Luxe Porch Hangout

A participant in the Fall 2021 One Room Challenge, Our Fifth House‘s Carmel Phillips wanted to give her home’s blank-slate porch a stylish patio vibe perfect for lounging and reading. Using our Swan White Hex and Stream Black Hex tiles, she designed a custom patterned floor that feels fun and fresh, yet classic. Carmel’s creativity didn’t stop there, though – she also created a one-of-a-kind outdoor coffee table tiled with our Track Stack Navy. The mosaic’s small kit-kat shape offers incredible contrast against the hex flooring, while the deep blue hue adds a subtle element of color to the stylish porch.

8. Yellow Brick Home’s Vintage Chic Bathroom

Husband and wife design duo, Scott and Kim Vargo of Yellow Brick Home, took on the challenge of giving their 130-year-old Chicago flat a much-needed bathroom refresh while keeping its vintage charm intact. Wanting to keep the bathroom’s original pastel pink bathtub and sink as the stars of the space, they opted for a simple black-and-white color palette. The Imperial Bianco Gloss subway tile provides a crisp white backdrop, while the Black Marquina Marble Somerset and Black Marquina Marble Skirting add a hint of contrast. The Hampton Niles marble flooring features a sophisticated basketweave pattern that offers the perfect amount of visual interest without stealing the show.

9. Dressing Rooms Interiors’ Glam Black & White Kitchen

Ariene Bethea of Dressing Rooms Interiors Studio created a kitchen that perfectly embodies her signature “soulful maximalism” style during the Spring 2021 One Room Challenge. Her choice of the crisp Herringbone Gloss White mosaic for the backsplash pairs beautifully with deep black cabinetry for intense, eye-catching contrast. Finished with bold pops of color and luxe gold accents throughout, this space takes glam to the next level.

10. Jeweled Interiors’ Maximalist Living Room

To turn her client’s uninspired living room into an elegantly eclectic dream space, interior designer Jewel Marlowe of Jeweled Interiors embraced a bold mix of colors, patterns, and eras. Along with bright blue patterned wallpaper and funky statement-making furniture, one of the living room’s most notable upgrades was the sleek black fireplace. Jewel knew she wanted to update the original stone-stacked fireplace with something more modern and chic. Using our large-format Noir Honed Travertine to achieve the look of a dramatic and luxurious marble slab at a lower cost, the new fireplace makes for a grand focal point that grounds the color-forward space.

11. Pinch Plate Party’s Moody Artisanal Kitchen

Featuring a beautiful artisanal backsplash made of our handmade-look Riad White tile, Pinch Plate Party‘s Lauren Comer created the moody kitchen of her dreams. Wavy, uneven ripples of surface texture and varying shades of rich, creamy white give the Riad tile a crafted-by-hand appearance that instantly makes any surface appear softer. Complete with rich olive green cabinetry, warm brown tones from the Madera Miel Luxury Vinyl SPC flooring and whimsical floral wallpaper, this kitchen is a relaxing haven.

Explore the Fall 2021 One Room Challenge reveals to see even more of this alluring space!

12. Hunted Interior’s Refined Guest Bathroom

Hunted Interior‘s Kristin Jackson transformed her bland guest bathroom into a timeless and refined space during the Spring 2020 One Room Challenge. On the walls, Kristin incorporated the Glass Rosewater subway tile for its inviting greige hue that ties in beautifully with the soft veins of silvery grey and linen beige in the Royal White Polished Marble Hexagon Mosaic flooring. Styled with a few of Kristin’s favorite antique home decor pieces, this bathroom is the definition of tasteful design.

The post 12 Awe-Inspiring Before & Afters appeared first on The Tile Shop Blog.

To get a closer look at some of our favorite spaces in Varsity Blues, keep scrolling!

Family Room

As Julie explained, our Laura Ashley Wicker Sea Spray tile was the inspiration for the home’s entire color palette. We love the way it ties this family room together as a timeless focal point.

Kitchen

Offering the atmosphere of a whimsical English cottage, this kitchen is both classic and cozy. The rich blue cabinetry makes an eye-catching statement, while the handmade-look Retro Lino backsplash creates balance and adds soft, artisanal character.

Laundry Room

It’s all in the details! Using the Urban Pearl Pav and Urban White Pav tiles, Julie created a custom floor pattern in the laundry room. By placing the tiles in a traditional checkerboard layout, she brought understated elegance to this sweet and simple space.

Find even more custom tile pattern inspiration here.

Mudroom

Laura Ashely Wicker Sea Spray makes its second appearance in Varsity Blues as the home’s mudroom flooring. It offers gorgeous contrast against the warm brown details and crisp white walls.

Primary Bathroom

Featuring our Siberian Pearl marble, the primary bathroom is a true show-stopper. With refined wall paneling, gold hardware, and a boldly painted ceiling, we are swooning over every inch of Julie’s design.

Laid in an elegant herringbone pattern, the Siberian Pearl brushed marble brings an elevated, timeless feel to this space while creating incredible interest and dimension.

We love the Siberian Pearl marble because it has so many natural tones running through it.

-Julie Howard

We can’t forget about this breathtaking shower! Complete with coordinating trim pieces and a striking hex mosaic from the Siberian Pearl collection, its opulence is unmatched.

Jack & Jill Bathroom

As charming as it is functional, the Jack & Jill bathroom maintains a cool-toned palette with the Bulevar Grey tiled shower surround and Meram Blanc Carrara Polished Hex flooring. Soft veining throughout each marble hex plays effortlessly with the gentle waves of texture in the Bulevar Grey, creating just the right amount of movement.

Guest Bathrooms

The perfect place to play with pattern, Julie brought the home’s guest bathrooms to life with two unique, yet complementary designs. The first bathroom features a more sophisticated style with our cement-look Villandry Azure tile on the floor. Pulling out the rich blue tones from the Villandry Azure‘s Victorian-inspired pattern, the Imperial Slate Blue makes for an excellent shower surround.

The second guest bathroom showcases a slightly playful aesthetic with the Blot Noon Hexagon, which imitates the appearance of an inkblot. Similar to the Jack and Jill bathroom, Julie used the Bulevar Grey tile for the shower surround, while adding a luxurious final touch with the Arctic White Brushed Marble Hex on the shower’s floor.

That’s a wrap on the Timber Trails‘ Varsity Blues home tour! We hope you enjoyed your step inside and gathered fresh inspiration to create something beautiful of your own.

Explore tons of unique tile combinations in real spaces with our Tile Visualizer, or schedule a free design consultation with our tile experts to get a jumpstart on your next project.

The post A Step Inside: Timber Trails’ Varsity Blues appeared first on The Tile Shop Blog.

Kim Vargo

Kim Vargo is one-half of the team behind the Chicago-based blog Yellow Brick Home. On any given day, you’ll find her and her husband, Scott, course-correcting their way through their 130-year-old house. They’ve taken down walls, turned a kitchen into a bedroom, and love any reason to wear their tool belts and get creative.

Morgan Molitor

Morgan is a co-founder and one-half of the lifestyle brand construction2style, alongside her husband, Jamie. For 10 years, they’ve been tearing houses apart and creating new dream spaces–not only for their clients but for themselves. Morgan oversees all of construction2style‘s content creation, manages brand partnerships, is the writing guru, and lead designer. She also heads up their online education courses and workshops. She’s a forward thinker, risk-taker, and nothing makes her happier than when she gets to play a small part in making people’s dreams and lives thrive. 

Rashida Banks

Rashida Banks is an interior designer and home decor content creator based in Washington, DC. She prides herself on creating high-end, functional designs for her clients, all the while teaching her audience how to be designers of their own homes.

Kelli Fontana Vogelgesang

Designer Kelli Fontana Vogelgesang is known for her timelessly bold, inviting interiors and custom-built luxury homes. Starting her interior design career in Florida in 2003, she became a founder and creative director of West Bay Homes based in Minneapolis in 2014. Kelli believes that a home is an extension and expression of the individuals who inhabit it. Always nurturing and functional: the beauty of her projects is brought forth through her sense of what her clients consider beautiful.

Schannon Yodice

Schannon Yodice is an accountant-turned-tile setter, known online as That Tile Chick. After working as an accountant for nearly a decade, Schannon realized she was unhappy and unfulfilled in her career. In 2020, she left her 9-5 accounting job and started working full-time setting tile. Since then, she’s had incredible career growth and is happier than ever in her hands-on role.

Carmeon Hamilton

Carmeon Hamilton is a Memphis-based interior designer and lifestyle blogger behind the brand Nubi Interiors, winner of HGTV’s Design Star: Next Gen and star of HGTV’s Reno My Rental. Her work, story, and content around design, branding, and elevating the everyday are featured and referenced in Architectural Digest, Southern Living, Essence, Domino and more. Carmeon utilizes her design education and vast experience to discover the beauty in all things and help others find beauty in what surrounds them every day.

Why do you think it’s important for more women to consider working in the home design and build industry?

Rashida: Diversity is so key to keeping the industry fresh and innovative. Women have a much different life experience and see things from a different lens. Therefore, inventions and best practices can be refined and discovered simply because of varying perspectives. Women of different cultural and socioeconomic backgrounds who desire to be a part of this industry should feel welcomed because their perspective can answer issues that have never been solved, or invent new and efficient ways of doing things.

Kim: When we see ourselves reflected in any industry, it’s the boost that young women need to know that they can do this, too! As an Asian American, I’m especially inspired when I see an Asian woman putting in the work and making magic in her/their home. In a male-dominated society, it’s important for us to lean on each other in every sense of the word, from inspiration gathering to comfort to encouragement and design execution.

Morgan: There is a huge gap in the diversity within the home industry. Bringing more women into this industry is one of many ways we can help bridge that gap. I also believe there’s been a handful of stigmas around the construction industry, one of which is its reputation being that it is male-dominated – a man’s world. But we’re making strides! And as we all know, there is a huge labor shortage and looking at the construction industry it’s typically conveyed as blue-collar, boots to the ground, getting your hands dirty, and not necessarily for someone with an educational background. Which is not the case at all.

Schannon: I love proving myself to myself. Every project is a new challenge and overcoming that challenge reminds me of what I am capable of. I think if a woman is interested in this line of work, they should expect to be challenged mentally and physically but I believe everyone is capable of it. 

What advice do you have for women joining the industry?

Kelli: Do! Learn and expand your practice. The more you do the more hours you spend, the more experience you gain. Don’t let anyone talk you out of pursuing your passions and your goals, and pursue them with fierce determination.

Schannon: Many people in this industry will try to sway you towards thinking inside the box they think you fit in. Never listen. 

Rashida: Find your expertise and really go all in. There are so many sectors of the industry, and while it’s great to be known overall, I do think it’s important to find your “genius”. Whether that be building furniture, painting, construction, upholstery, a certain design style, whatever it may be, operate in your genius and make it loud enough so that everyone watching knows!

Carmeon: I want more women to study ALL aspects of this industry and consider infiltrating spaces where we are rarely seen: architecture, furniture and product design, manufacturing, production and set design, general contracting and building trades, etc. You are needed. Your voice is needed. Your talents are needed in those spaces.

Can you recall a specific experience in your career when you felt particularly empowered as a female?

Morgan: When one of our employees left our company, and after informing our current clients about this transition, one of our clients sent me an email saying how proud I should be for the woman that I just created. And how cool it was to see from an outside lens how we were empowering and uplifting her to go out on her own. To be honest, I had never looked at it that way and it was so cool to be reminded of what we have worked so hard on creating at construction2style. It goes far beyond designing and remodeling homeowners’ homes. 

Kim: Nothing fills me with more pride than when my 4-year-old daughter watches what I do and asks to help with a DIY project.

Rashida: There was a moment I felt particularly empowered. It was after spraying my kitchen cabinets. That task was more daunting than some of the laborious build projects because of how much cabinet paint finish matters. And I really wanted a factory smooth finish. When I was done, contractors saw it and wanted to hire me because of the finished product! My answer was no, but it definitely felt good!

Kelli: When I realized I was bringing hundreds of individuals with me on my creative journey. That’s when I knew that I had stepped into a place in my career that took years of experience hustle and failures to come to. It was a moment that I realized that I had done it. Then I set my sights on bigger goals. 

What is one thing you wish more people knew about women in this industry?

Kelli: Woman balance so much. Working, career-minded women have to make decisions that are difficult ones. In the end, I feel like my children see me trying and being excited and truly passionate about my work. My daughter has told me that she is proud of me. Her acknowledgment truly means the world to me. I want to show my daughter that she can have a family and a career that brings her much happiness. I tell her all the time that her opportunities are limitless. She knows that what she sees for herself she will become. We are all becoming all of the time. That is a beautiful thing about life. That is a beautiful thing about a creative career. 

Kim: Please don’t look at us and think, how do you create work/life balance? We’re not ‘doing it all,’ rather, we’re prioritizing our passion. Some days that might look like cleaning the house and finally putting that recipe to good use, and other days it might look like sawdust and nail guns. Like everyone, we have to put in the hard work.

Morgan: Women are good at multitasking, and that is no myth. Which is a trait that is so desirable and needed in the design and construction industry. Beyond the demands of home, work/life balance – women work so hard behind the scenes with clients, internal and external teams, subs, co-workers, and more. Beyond work, they are good at managing expectations, emotions, processes, organizations and growth. We know how to get things done effectively and efficiently, and don’t tolerate much because there is no time for it. We’re good at switching activities quickly and meeting the demands of deadlines.  

Carmeon: Women make up over 60% of the working designers in the industry, but very few of us, less than 30%, are in positions of power and leadership. We still have work to do.

Who are some other women in this industry that inspire you?

Schannon: A few women in this field who inspire me are Cecilia Leger – a tile setter in Nebraska, Anna of The Plumbing Princess, and Morgan Venetos of The Home Collective, a design/build real estate firm.

Morgan: Katie from @jkath_designbuild, Mercedes from @mercedesaustinart, Stephanie from @thedivinelivingspace, Amanda from @henriinterors, Danielle from @clarkandaldine, and so many more. Beyond the incredible work they do and the businesses that they have created and grind at daily, I know how hard each of them work to change this industry and take part in other acts of service to help change the world. They are confident, determined, and are there for other like-minded entrepreneurs, such as myself, to lift us back up off the ground when we continuously fall short. They are women who show up and will drop anything to help others overcome any obstacle they might face.

Kim: My peers in the influencer world are the ones that inspire me the most. To see that anyone can pull up their bootstraps, so to speak, and create a home they love is awe-inducing. While I love to examine the pages of an Architectural Digest magazine, I connect most to those on a similar level to me — i.e., moms with an idea and a tool bag.

Kelli: There are truly so many women I look up to and admire. A few of them include: @kellywearstler – a waitress and graphic designer, Kelly immersed herself in the world of interior design. She took on small jobs at first… word grew! Kelly is a fearless creature with so much to give. Always creating in limitless modalities is very inspiring to me.  @windsorsmithhome started as an antique dealer with a distinct eye for purposeful combinations of furniture, layout and architectural impact. Smith’s homes truly interact with the people that inhabit them. Her personal home caught the attention of Gwyneth Paltrow and the rest is history. @elainwelteroth is a journalist with a vision and a tenacity to go for her goals and her dreams. Now an activist, a brand partner, a writer, or a TV host, the list goes on and on, oh, and the editor of Teen Vogue magazine at 27 years old! 

Carmeon: Other women in this industry who inspire me include Shavonda Gardner, Nicole White, Erika Ward, Ajia Monét, Nike Onile, Jen Talbot, Leanne Ford, Kelly Wearstler, and Athena Calderone.

Rashida: I’m inspired by Albie of AlbieKnows, Carmeon of Carmeon Hamilton and Nubi Interiors, Shavonda of SGardner Style, Lydia of Drywall Shorty, Ashley of SmashingDIY, Heidi from Heidi Caillier Design, Julia from Chris Loves Julia, Emily of Style by Emily Henderson, Brigette of Romanek Design Studio, Athena of Eyeswoon. I feel like I’m missing so many, but those women–among many others–inspire me daily!

We truly hope you enjoyed learning more about these lovely ladies and each of their unique experiences! We are so inspired by all of the women who enter into the home design and build industry and continue to make it a more inclusive and diverse space.

The post Women Who Inspire Us appeared first on The Tile Shop Blog.

We’re so excited that it’s finally time to reveal the completed spaces we sponsored during the Fall 2021 One Room Challenge™! We have six incredible transformations to show you–complete with some breathtaking before-and-afters, so get ready to dive right in. If you need a quick recap on the featured designers we partnered with this season and their initial mood boards for the following projects, head to our Fall 2021 Designer Introductions.

JEWELED INTERIORS

Interior designer Jewel Marlowe of Jeweled Interiors decided to take on one of her clients’ living rooms for this round of the One Room Challenge™. The family tasked Jewel with creating a design that was sophisticated, soulful, and had an eclectic mix of color, pattern, and eras. Spoiler alert: she nailed it!

To bring the walls to life, Jewel incorporated a fun patterned wallpaper accented with a gorgeous greyish blue trim color. Small pops of color like mustard and coral contrast beautifully against the cooler tones to create a dynamic palette.

One of the biggest transformations of the living room was the fireplace makeover. Jewel knew at the very start of the project that she wanted to update the original fireplace, which featured a stacked stone surround, with something more modern and chic.

While she originally considered using a slab, she decided to go with the large-format Noir Honed Travertine as it would give a similar effect at a lower cost. The result? A sleek and luxurious fireplace that creates the perfect focal point for the room.

Shop our extensive collection of large-format tiles here.

To achieve more of the slab-like appearance, Jewel used a dark grout color that blended in with the deep black travertine, making the grout lines nearly invisible. The incorporation of trim and skirting pieces allowed for an especially cohesive and elevated design by offering a more polished overall appearance. How beautiful does it look paired with the inky blue paint color used for the surrounding built-ins?!

I think it is fair to say that one of the client’s favorite parts about the living room makeover is the new fireplace surround.

-Jewel

Looking to complete a fireplace refresh? Explore our favorite fireplace design ideas for even more inspo!

Check out our 2019 One Room Challenge™ reveals to see another project we collaborated with Jewel on in which she completely transformed her kitchen!

OUR FIFTH HOUSE

Since moving into her home two years ago, Carmel Phillips of Our Fifth House knew she wanted to update the library room and adjoining unfinished porch overlooking their backyard. Having always felt like the spaces were missing a number of major design elements, she was ready to use this season of the One Room Challenge™ to make them both perfect for her and her family.

A total blank slate, Carmel aimed to give the covered porch a relaxed patio vibe that would be an ideal spot for lounging and reading.

Talk about a transformation! Using our Swan White Hex and Stream Black Hex, she brought the porch to life with a striking striped patterned floor that feels fun and fresh, yet classic.

See even more creative custom tile patterns here.

The porcelain hex tiles feature unique veining and a matte finish for a high-end marble appearance, but offer increased durability and easier maintenance.

Hands down, the hexagon floor tiles from The Tile Shop were a game-changer out here.

-Carmel

Our favorite part of Carmel’s update? The tiled coffee table she DIY’ed with our Track Stack Navy tile! It adds such a fun pop of color and the small kit-kat shapes offer lovely visual contrast against the hex flooring.

Now, onto Carmel’s second project – the library! When it came to this room, Carmel wanted to design a space that was cozy and layered, grand and timeless, and sophisticated without feeling too precious. See the gorgeous results below!

A small, yet impactful update Carmel was able to accomplish was the library’s dry bar, which had remained unfinished since she and her family had moved into the home.

Using our Antique Mirror Bevel Glass mosaic for the bar’s backsplash, she created a striking focal point. The tile’s beveled edges add an extra element of dimension, while Carmel’s incorporation of stained wood shelving achieves beautiful juxtaposition against the glamour of the mirrored design.

PINCH PLATE PARTY

Yearning to update her kitchen for nearly five years, Lauren Comer of Pinch Plate Party decided it was finally time to tackle the project for the One Room Challenge™! Her goal? To create a kitchen design that was cozy, welcoming, and sophisticated.

Lauren opted for a rich color palette of greens, blacks, and browns while creating added visual interest through layers and textures. One word: stunning!

For the kitchen backsplash, Lauren used the handmade-look Riad White tiles for the charming artisanal style they offer through uneven surface textures and a variety of rich, creamy tones. She especially liked how the uneven edges brought an element of softness to the space.

Learn all about the unique characteristics of handmade-look tile here.

In the photo below it’s easy to see how the kitchen’s natural light highlights just how authentic these ceramic tiles appear with unique grooves and waves running across the surface for one-of-a-kind texture.

For flooring, Lauren chose to replace the kitchen’s hardwood floors with the Madera Miel Luxury Vinyl SPC flooring for both the appearance and practicality it offered. Not only did she love the warmth the mid-tone brown color brought to the space, but she needed something that could withstand the everyday wear-and-tear of having both a young child and a dog.

I like that this flooring gives us the look of modern wider plank flooring with the added durability and waterproofing that comes with vinyl floor tiles.

-Lauren

Explore our Luxury Vinyl Tile to learn more about the benefits of LVT and see our variety of wood- and stone-looks.

BARI J. DESIGNS

Bari J. Ackerman of Bari J. Designs is another returning designer in this season’s One Room Challenge™. This time around, she decided to repurpose the old laundry room in her new home into a maximalist-style butler’s pantry. Keep scrolling to see how, once again, Bari has blown us away with her talent!

Be sure to check out the artistic tile-work displayed in the primary bathroom renovation she completed last spring.

A longtime fan of iconic British designer William Morris’s work, Bari incorporated two of his archived prints into the pantry’s design–through both wallpaper and tile–in order to create this breathtaking vintage-inspired space.

Exemplifying one of our favorite 2022 design trends, Bari created her own custom tile pattern using two tiles from the Morris & Co. Pure Net Collection. Displaying an ornate floral pattern and cornice-like details derived from one of William Morris’s original wallpaper designs of 1895, the Linen and Black Ink tiles complement one another beautifully to create this truly chic floor.

Learn more about our exclusive Morris & Co. Pure Net Collection here.

The pantry’s backsplash features the Hampton Carrara Polished marble. With crisp white coloring and soft grey veining, this subway tile effortlessly grounds the space’s bolder elements of pattern and color while elevating the overall design with an extra luxurious feel.

JOY STREET DESIGN

Kelly Finley of Joy Street Design started the nonprofit organization Joy Street Initiative in 2018 as a way to give back to her community by designing local shelters. For this One Room Challenge™ project, Joy Street Initiative partnered with Ruby’s Place, a nonprofit committed to ending domestic violence, human trafficking, and violent crime, to help design a new youth shelter called the House of Hope. A seven-bed facility, the House of Hope provides emergency shelter for runaway and homeless youth.

When it came to renovating the existing building, Kelly’s main goal was to create a space that felt fresh, colorful, and fun. Keep reading to see the amazing job Joy Street Initiative did in transforming this building into a safe and inviting environment.

One of the most notable (and colorful!) updates was the bathroom. Featuring our Imperial tiles in Bianco, Black, Oatmeal, Sage, and Spice, Kelly designed a custom pattern for the backsplash and shower surround that felt fun, youthful, and fresh.

Throughout the rest of the shelter, including the main living areas and bedrooms, Kelly replaced all of the building’s flooring with our Madera Miel Luxury Vinyl SPC Tile to achieve the clean and classic appearance of wood with easier maintenance and increased durability.

Learn more about all of the amazing work Joy Street Initiative does here!

BLUE ORCHID LIVING

Mehr Niazi of Blue Orchid Living decided to renovate her unfinished laundry room during this round of the One Room Challenge™, yearning to transform it into a space that she actually enjoyed being in. The best way to do that? Glam it up a bit!

Since she would be the primary person seeing and using the space everyday, Mehr gave herself some creative leeway when it came to the design – and we are so glad she did!

Explore some of our favorite laundry room designs here.

A big believer that the smallest of details can make or break a design, Mehr thoughtfully created a custom tile pattern using penny round tiles for the laundry room’s floor. The combination of taupe, sky blue, and white penny rounds gives the space a classic, yet one-of-a-kind feel. Plus, the color palette ties in perfectly with the winsome floral wallpaper!

If you’re loving the custom pattern trend as much as we do, be sure to check out our guide to creating custom tile patterns for a personalized space!

And with that, the Fall 2021 One Room Challenge™ reveals have come to an end! As always, it was an incredible experience being a part of the ORC this season and collaborating with these six spectacular designers. We hope you gathered some fresh inspiration and are excited to start a project of your own! Be sure to schedule a free design consultation with one of our tile experts to get any questions answered.

The post Fall 2021 One Room Challenge™ Reveal appeared first on The Tile Shop Blog.

With the arrival of autumn comes one of our favorite times of year – the beginning of a new One Room Challenge™ season! If you’re not familiar with the One Room Challenge™, here’s what you need to know – every April and October, twenty design influencers are selected to transform a space of their choosing in just eight weeks. Not so much a competition as it is a celebration, this event is all about inspiration, creativity, and passionate design.

This season, we’re sponsoring six designers who will be incorporating our tile into their fresh spaces. Keep scrolling to learn more about each designer, plus get a special look into their design plans that are currently underway!

Jeweled Interiors

Jewel Marlowe of Jeweled Interiors is a D.C.-area interior designer with a passion for bold design and sophisticated use of color. She describes her style as “soulful glam” and loves to give her clients a polished, eclectic look.

We partnered with Jewel during the Fall 2019 One Room Challenge™ where she completed an absolutely stunning kitchen transformation. We can’t wait to see what this season has in store for her!

Design Space: Dining Room and Living Room

Keep up with Jewel’s One Room Challenge™ journey on her blog.

Our Fifth House

Carmel Phillips is a design enthusiast who shares her decorating adventures on her blog, Our Fifth House. She believes in rich color, bold patterns, and–most of all–that home should be your happy place! 

Design Space: Porch and Library

Visit Carmel’s blog to follow along with her renovation from start to finish.

Pinch Plate Party

Lauren Comer is the face behind the brand, Pinch Plate Party, where she shares about the ups and downs of turning her house into her favorite place to be! You’ll find her working on large- and small-scale DIYs, cooking up a quick and tasty dinner, or dreaming up her next dinner party. Her goal is to inspire and empower others to transform their homes into their favorite place to stay, eat, and entertain.

Design Space: Kitchen

Stay up-to-date with Lauren’s kitchen transformation on the Pinch Plate Party website.

Bari J. Designs

Bari J. Ackerman is an artist, author, designer, home decor expert and founder of the floral-filled Bari J. lifestyle brand. Bari’s popular product collections feature her celebrated signature floral style and are instantly recognizable on rugs (Loloi Rugs), fabric (Art Gallery Fabrics), wallpapers, bedding and more. Bari’s home decor book from Abrams Books, Bloom Wild, can be found wherever books are sold.

We also partnered with Bari during the Spring 2021 season of One Room Challenge™ where she designed an art deco-inspired primary bathroom complete with tiled arches – learn all about it and see the gorgeous space here!

Design Space: Butler’s Pantry

Follow along with Bari’s maximalist butler’s pantry renovation on her blog.

Joy Street Design

Kelly Finley is the CEO and creative director of Joy Street Design, a nationally-recognized interior design studio based in Oakland, CA and Atlanta, GA. Kelly studied interior design and interior architecture at the University of California-Berkeley. She holds a law degree from Stanford Law School and a business degree from Emory University. Kelly and Joy Street Design have been featured on The Today Show, in Architectural Digest, HGTV Magazine, Veranda, House Beautiful, and more. Mission-driven at heart, Joy Street Design donates 10% of all design revenue to its nonprofit organization, Joy Street Initiative, to renovate shelters supporting women and children.

Design Space: Youth Shelter Bathroom & Flooring

Keep up with the entire youth shelter renovation on Joy Street Design‘s blog!

Blue Orchid Living

A professional mental health therapist with a passion for design, Mehr Niazi of Blue Orchid Living has been using her house as a canvas to demonstrate how beautiful spaces can impact the way people feel. A color enthusiast, she’s always up for the challenge of mixing patterns, using unusual combinations, and blending eastern and western design styles.

Design Space: Laundry Room

Head to Mehr’s Instagram to stay up-to-date on her laundry room renovation.

We are beyond excited to see these magical spaces come to life by the end of this eight-week journey. Make sure you’re following us on Instagram to stay up to date on the renovations!

In the meantime, check out Part 1 and Part 2 of the Spring 2021 One Room Challenge™ reveals if you haven’t already for some major design inspiration.

The post Fall 2021 One Room Challenge™ Introductions appeared first on The Tile Shop Blog.

Get ready to step inside this breathtaking primary bathroom designed by the lovely husband and wife duo, Chris and Julia Marcum of Chris Loves Julia. The Marcums completed this project in their Idaho home earlier this year before recently moving across the country to North Carolina. Featuring our Silver Mist Honed Limestone collection, this dreamy bathroom is a perfect mix of contemporary and traditional, living up to the home’s modern cottage style.

Explore more of our favorite spaces featuring transitional style, plus tips on how to incorporate it into your own home!

When designing this space, Julia wanted to find a tile that would coordinate well with the bluish grey paint color used in the adjoining primary bedroom and closet. She fell in love with our Silver Mist collection for its beautiful mix of warm- and cool-toned greys.

I love choosing neutrals that lean toward a color, in this case, a warm blue, because it just makes it so much more interesting. 

Julia Marcum, Chris Loves Julia

Julia dives into more detail about her decision to mix tiles from the Silver Mist collection on the Chris Loves Julia blog.

Featuring mosaics, trim, and field tiles in a variety of styles, our Silver Mist collection allows for endless customization options. Chris and Julia decided to use the offset Silver Mist Honed Amalfi Mosaic for all of the bathroom’s walls, while opting for the larger-scale 8″ x 20″ Silver Mist Tile on the floor.

Shop our vast assortment of grey tile to find the perfect option for your space.

In order to create smooth transitions between the wall’s painted surface and the wall tile, as well as between the wall and floor tiles, the Silver Mist Honed Barnes and Silver Mist Honed Skirting were incorporated into the space. Trim and accessory pieces such as these are the perfect way to ensure your design feels both custom and complete.

Not sure where to start when it comes to tile trim? We’ve put together a comprehensive guide for you with a breakdown of our different trim and accessory pieces, as well as how to integrate them into your design! If you’re ready to shop, check out our extensive assortment of finishing pieces.

One of our favorite aspects of the bathroom–the shower–features the Silver Mist Honed Amalfi Mosaic as well as the Silver Mist Honed Hex Mosaic for a playful mix of shapes that creates visual interest and added dimension while remaining cohesive.

We used 5 different tiles to create the foundation of a classic space that is all the same stone, but in so many different shapes it feels really tone on tone and creates the coolest texture story when they are all paired together!

-Julia Marcum, Chris Loves Julia

The choice to continue the Silver Mist Honed Amalfi Mosaic from the main area into the shower (even on the ceiling!) helps the overall bathroom design flow from one space to the next without feeling disconnected.

A lover of mixing metals, Julia used black plumbing faucets and lighting fixtures throughout the space while creating warmer accents with brass hardware. Doing so helped her achieve a lovely balance of both masculine and feminine styles.

If you’re yearning for the effortlessly luxurious feel that natural stone brings to a space, shop hundreds of unique styles of limestone, marble, travertine, and more on our website.

Find out even more about this incredible bathroom remodel by visiting Chris Loves Julia’s blog.

That’s a wrap on this modern cottage bathroom! Drooling? Don’t worry, us too.

This actually isn’t the first time we’ve worked with Chris Loves Julia! We partnered with them on the backsplash for their very first kitchen remodel, as well the flooring throughout their last home. We are continuously inspired by their stunning design work and are thrilled to be able to partner with them on spaces such as these. As we mentioned earlier, they recently moved to a new home in North Carolina. One of their first DIY projects? Creating a custom floor pattern using some of our classic penny round tiles – check it out here!

If you’re ready to tackle a project of your own, schedule a free design consultation. Our design experts are more than happy to any questions you may have and help take the guesswork out of tile.

The post Chris Loves Julia’s Modern Cottage Bathroom appeared first on The Tile Shop Blog.