The foyer is an area in the house where you welcome guests or visitors into your home. This is a small entry room by the front door that is usually attached to the living room. Just like any other owner of the house, you want to impress your guests and make them feel welcome at the same time. You can achieve both of these by creating fantastic foyers with the use of marble.

There are actually three basic types of marble. The most common type is the polished marble. It has a smooth and shiny finish and exudes a mirrored effect that can be likened to that of polished wooden floors. This type can really be beautiful, but it can get costly. Plus, it requires high maintenance and is slippery than the other types. The second type is the honed marble. This has a matte finish, thus making it less slippery than its polished counterpart. This type is recommended for areas with heavy traffic. The third type is the tumbled marble.

This type is tumbled with sand and aggregate and has a smooth and authentic look to it. It resembles ancient marble statues like those in the museums and historic ruins. This type is softer and has a rounded texture making it resistant to skids. The only disadvantage of this type of marble is that it is highly porous, thus making it prone to wear and tear.

Marble gives off an air of elegance to any room. Aside from that, it also gives your guests a welcoming feeling. It is highly durable, especially for foyers that are known to be areas with heavy traffic. If properly installed and maintained, it can last for a long time while maintaining its beauty.

The most famous architectural structure that uses marble as its flooring is the Taj Mahal in Agra, India. The construction of the Taj Mahal started in 1633 and was finished in 1650. Another famous historical structure that uses marble is the Parthenon. It was actually a temple made for the goddess, Athena. Marble was used to show the city’s wealth and power during the peak of its empire.  Other world famous structures that use marble are the Cathedral of Pisa, the US Supreme Court, and the US Capitol.

Turning your bathroom into something that looks like the modern bathrooms of five star hotels is easy with the use of bathroom tiles. There are many bathroom tile designs and shapes, sizes and materials to choose from that can help create a “wow” factor for your bathroom.

Here are some ideas on how to create a modern bathroom with bathroom tiles:

1. Ceramic Tiles. Ceramic tiles are one of the most popular tiles used for the bathrooms. To achieve a modern look, you can opt to use ceramic floor tiles in solid colors such as white and add modern fittings and fixtures to add sleekness to your bathroom.

Another option to achieve a modern look by using ceramic tiles is choosing tiles that have prints and patterns on them. Just choose a pattern that will blend well to the ambiance of your bathroom. Bright colored patterns on tiles can give your bathroom a bold and modern look.

2. Use tiles of different sizes and shapes. Choose one large tile with a modern pattern and surround it with several smaller tiles making the larger tile a cool centerpiece to your bathroom.
3. Mosaic floor tiles. Mosaic tiles can give added color and ambiance to your bathroom too. Choosing a mosaic tile in bold colors or patterns can give your bathroom a very modern look.

Achieving a modern and sleek look for your bathroom is very easy with the help of the different bathroom tiles available. They are inexpensive, long lasting and exude elegance.

Ready for the ultimate in modern bath design? Take a look at this one.

Red, white and black present a dramatic and contemporary look immediately. These colors are sharp and demanding. No gentle touches in this palette. Just a splash of green comes from the plants in the space, providing a spark of natural color. Six stones lined up on the black shelves surrounding the walls provide the only other natural element.

It takes courage to use red on the floor. This choice works. The backsplash draws that same red up into the room but with an additional textural element adding interest. By incorporating the red and black, white – normally a pretty bland bathroom fixture choice – looks exciting and attractive. The vanity, sink and floor container definitely pick up points through the dramatic shaping of each piece. White towels, another normally boring selection, pop against their red background.

Is this bathroom comfy? Well, not exactly. The goal here is drama and this room reaches and exceeds that goal. Here’s the really interesting aspect of this bathroom. Those black rectangles in the lower half of the bathroom and the white ones above the backsplash may be hiding storage. While on the surface this doesn’t look like a bath focused on function, in reality this room offers more storage than most bathrooms, as well as a vanity with plenty of room for needed items topped by a large medicine cabinet with a generous spread of mirror.

Modern, dramatic, and functional: you really can’t ask more from a bathroom design.

Prior to deciding on flooring ideas for the home office, it is important that you remember floors cover a vast amount of space in the home, the type of flooring you choose for your home office will go a long way to make or break the entire design or decoration of the room.

Based on this, it becomes necessary that you consider the level of traffic that will be associated with your home office. If the traffic is such that it will be heavy, it is better to use a type of flooring that is durable and can stand the test of time and traffic. Using a carpet is not the ideal choice in this case since steady traffic tends to make the carpet look dull with time. What then are the best flooring ideas for the home office?

If from your evaluations, the traffic into your home office will not be much and secondly, you are on a tight budget, carpet becomes a solid option for your home office. From your evaluations, the traffic to your home office will be much and you wonder what flooring option that will last for you. This calls for hard flooring ideas for the home office.

Research has shown that most of the hard flooring options are durable and last for a long time which makes it worthwhile if you need home office flooring that will last no matter the level of traffic in the room. You can either choose any of the stone, tile or hardwood flooring options.

This stairway’s personality owes a lot to the tile decorating the risers. By choosing two different patterns that coordinate in color and style, the stairway has added charm at a minimal cost and effort.

Do you have a staircase, or even a few steps, in your home that could stand some additional interest? This simple solution provides color, style and a unique look. Because of tile’s tolerance for weather, you can reproduce this look both inside and outside your home.

Start by visiting our tile showroom to determine the color and style of tile that would work best for your home. If you have tile or stone floors already, look for riser selections that will complement your home. Because of the small amount of area to be covered, this is an opportunity to choose more expensive tile or stone without going over your budget.

If you are adding tile risers in a less formal area of your home such as a patio, you might want to be even more daring by choosing different styles of tile for each riser. By staying with the same style and color family, you can add interest to a previously unimportant area by adding a few tiles.

This concept can be extended beyond staircases. If you have built-in benches or planters on a patio, adding decorative tiles under the seats or outlining the edges can add style to your outdoor space. In a small entryway, replacing baseboards with decorative tiles that relate to its flooring or other design elements can help integrate the space.

Think beyond the horizontal with tile, and you may be surprised at the places they can spark up your home.

Imagine visiting Europe and starting with a visit to an inviting spa with an old-world feel in Italy. Taking a few days to mellow out after the stresses of work and family sounds too good to be true. Unfortunately, for most of us it is only a dream. But how about making your own bathroom your spa-style escape? Let’s borrow some ideas from this beautiful setting to create a bathroom that helps us relax and take a break.

While we probably can’t find someone to make these amazing stone columns and arches, tumbled travertine is a good substitute for the soft-looking stone walls and ceiling. Choose a rougher stone to set the mood of older times and add personality to your space. You could add an arch of stone to highlight the back of your spa tub and soften the lines of the room.

This light keeps the room just gently lit. You can reduce glare while still bringing light into the space by using glass block or sheer curtains for any windows. Spend the time to find a light fixture that also softens the light in the room.

That chaise lounge certainly looks inviting, but most of today’s bathrooms don’t have the space for that luxury. You could add a bench or seat with a white cushion, however, to give you a resting place while adding a sense of comfort.

Finally, while you really can’t expect to fit a 15-foot spa in your bathroom, no matter how much you want it, a deep spa tub with enough room for you to stretch your feet and some jets to help relax your aches and pains would work well. If your water isn’t that luscious blue, add towels and accessories to bring that sea-tone into your space,

Make your bathroom into a special escape just for you to relax and let go of the stresses of your day. You’ll feel better.

What’s interesting about this photo? Yes, you’re right; it’s the tile on the wall to the right. It’s amazing how adding this facing makes an otherwise uninteresting wall take on personality.

Do you have places either inside or outside your home that could benefit from adding some tile or stone? This is a simple example, but imagine it on a wall as you walk up to the front door of a contemporary home. It would add style and interest without really limiting your other design options for the front entryway.

Does your foyer catch the eye immediately? What would happen if you added a wall of slate as you walk in? How about a stone or tile mosaic instead of standard artwork?

Do you have a den or bedroom with crown molding? A simple embossed trim tile underneath it would add color and intrigue. If your fireplace seems incomplete or out-of-date, adding a stone or tile surround or even a facing that runs to the ceiling could turn it from ho-hum to the focal point of the room.

If your finished basement has columns you can’t remove, adding a tile or stone facing can turn them from a disadvantage to an architectural feature. A bar or kitchen island can also become more interesting by adding tile or stone trim.

Take a walk around your home – both inside and outside – and see where tile or stone might add some interest and style. Then visit our showroom and ask to see the newest arrivals in our selection. You may find the perfect addition for your home.

One of the most important decisions you’ll face when decorating your little one’s nursery is what to type of flooring to install. With toxins and airborne pathogens emitted from some materials, you’ll want to take special care in your selection. Appropriate flooring options are available and can be easily located with a little research. However, there are many things to consider and harmful things to steer clear of in the nursery.

Wood and Laminate

• Toxic sealants—use a water-based sealant or natural wax.
• Chemical emitting stains—buy nontoxic pre-stained wood from the factory.
• Toxic emitting glues—install floating interlocking flooring instead of gluing down.
• Use of formaldehyde in manufacturing process—buy organic laminates.
• Slick high-gloss surface—choose a matte or low gloss finish to reduce chance of slips and falls.

Cork and Bamboo

• PVC or vinyl backing—opt for a natural jute backing available on tiles and sheets.
• Use of formaldehyde in manufacturing process—confirm none has been used.

Natural Linoleum

• Odor of linseed oil—can be uncomfortable for baby’s sensitive nose and respiratory system.
• Toxic emissions—choose from other flooring above if fear even low toxic emissions.

Vinyl

• Not recommended for nurseries due to high emissions of toxic chemicals.

Carpet and Area Rugs

• Synthetic materials—choose organically grown materials such as wool, cotton, jute or sisal.
• Toxic synthetic dyes—opt for all natural vegetable dyes.
• Adhesives—pick natural backings from rubber or jute.
• Treatments and stain protectors—choose alternative natural carpeting.
• Synthetic foams, synthetic rubber, latex and plastic—buy felt pads in untreated wool.
• Dust Mites—find products which do not harbor them.
• Glues—nail down carpeting or use water-based adhesives.

Being aware of these dangers gives you a good foundation for choosing the safest flooring for your baby’s health and well being.

We love the bright colors of Mexican décor such as yellow, blue, hot pink, red and green. What is the best flooring choice to compliment these colors?

The beautiful hues of Mexico were originally inspired by nature in its many forms: Azure, the ocean; yellow, the sun; fuchsia, flowers; red, spices; and green, plants. With this in mind, a perfect flooring choice which naturally balances these colors is saltillo tile. It is derived directly from the earth and was first created in Mexico, a perfect foundation for your vibrant colors. So go ahead paint the walls you’ve been wanting to in brilliant yellow or blue, the saltillo floor will give warmth to the room and compliment the colors you choose perfectly.

Saltillo is a terra cotta tile which originated in Saltillo, Coahuila, Mexico, but is now manufactured in many other locations in the country. Each clay tile is handmade and unique in color ranging from varying reds, oranges and yellows, with many tiles having all three colors. In its raw state, after being formed and dried, Saltillo is highly porous and needs to be sealed. The high gloss shine you see on many saltillo tile floors is a result of multiple coats of sealant. The sealant brings out the colors in each tile and results in a mottled effect giving it its warmth and glow.

Because saltillo tile can be difficult to work with, you’ll need to have a professional with experience in installing it do the job. For extra interest, consider having them work a pattern or mosaic into the tile.