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Whether you are remodeling your bathroom, kitchen, entryway, mudroom, living room or basement, you will most likely be shopping for tile. But what’s the difference between tile and stone? And what should you know before you shop? Let me point you toward our tile resources and share with you some of the latest trends. With this new knowledge, you’ll be sure to impress even your Best bath and tile professional!
According to Dictionary.com, tile is a thin slab or bent piece of baked clay, sometimes painted or glazed, used for various purposes, as to form one of the units of a roof covering, floor, or revetment. In the Kitchen and Bath industry, we use tile to cover floors, walls and counter tops in many different areas of the home. Tile can be made from various types of stone, such as granite, marble, travertine, limestone, onyx and slate. You will also find many tiles made from ceramic, porcelain, glass and metal.
Tile allows you to set the tone for a space, give it an attitude and make a statement. Best offers a wide selection of tile throughout our 6,000 SF showroom, including a 2,000 SF gallery dedicated to tile. To get a better understanding of the differences between these tiles, take a look at the Types of Tile & Stone Cheat Sheet. Don’t let the industry lingo throw you for a loop. Check out our Tile Glossary or email me (marketing@bestplg.com) if you have any questions.
When you’re ready to shop, you’ll find that the art of tile is boundless. In May, I attended Coverings, the country’s largest tile and stone trade show, showcasing the latest in tile and design, and discovered that the latest trend from Europe is large tiles measuring 24” x 24” and up. Another trend already in the United States is mixing and matching different colors and textures. As you will see in our showroom vignettes, you can mix stone and ceramic, glass and ceramic, stone and glass, just about anything!
Finally, don’t pay attention to myths that you have heard. I have heard customers say that they can’t use polished stone on a bathroom floor because it would be too slippery. Yes, it is going to be slippery, but so will almost anything you walk on with wet feet! I suggest going with the look you like and always using a bath mat.
On a final note, have fun! Tile is an exciting material to work with. And I wish you the best of luck on your project!
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