Kitchen Backsplash Tiles
From Home Improvement
Kitchen backsplash tiles are a wonderful way to customize the look of your kitchen and they don't have to cost a lot of money. Different tiles are suited to go with different kitchen décor -- from the country kitchen to a sleek, modern look.
Types of Kitchen Backsplash Tiles
The most popular kitchen backsplash tiles are made of ceramic tiles or porcelain tiles. These are also the most cost-effective and the easiest to install yourself. Most home improvement stores and home improvement catalogs have a wide variety of tiles to choose from.
You can select glazed or unglazed tiles (glazed tiles are easier to clean) and pick tiles that are all one color or a variety of colors. You can design a mosaic using kitchen backsplash tiles, or use just a couple of tiles of a contrasting color to really make your backsplash pop.
You can also find tiles with designs on them. Some of these are quite simple and repeat motifs on each tile, while other designs make a full picture across the whole backsplash, adding a touch of art to the kitchen.
Stone Tiles
Natural stone tiles are another popular choice for the kitchen backsplash. They make a lovely choice in a kitchen with granite countertops and stone floors. Limestone, marble, and even plain old rocks can be used successfully in a backsplash, depending on the look of the rest of the room.
Jagged pieces of stone can be used for a more natural look, or you can buy stone tiles that are as easy to install as ceramic tiles but with a much fancier look. You can create a very modern look by using the same material that was used in your kitchen countertops to make your backsplash.
Glass Tiles
Speaking of modern looks, glass kitchen backsplash tiles are an interesting choice for a kitchen full of sleek steel appliances or with an aquatic or beach theme. Glass tile is a popular choice for showers these days. The tiles come in all the colors of the rainbow and can be purchased in a couple of different sizes.
Glass tiles are a great choice for a mosaic project. You can even buy pre-mixed sheets of colored glass tiles, which are easy to install and look like they took a lot more time to put up than they did.
Choosing the Right Backsplash Tile
Picking the material and colors for your kitchen backsplash tile is a personal choice. The materials you choose are based on a variety of factors, including what look you are going for, what your appliances look like, the material of your countertop and your budget.
Ceramic tiles are a good choice because they are relatively inexpensive, are easy to install and clean and come in a wide variety of colors. The downside is they aren't incredibly customizable, unless you want to hand-paint the tiles yourself (which can be a lot of fun for an accent in your backsplash design).
Glass tiles are also easy to clean and can be easy to install if you use sheets of tiles or larger tiles. Basic glass tiles are not that expensive, but customized color combinations or different textures will cost you more. And if you break a tile while installing them, you're in for a mess.
Stone tiles that are like traditional tiles are easy to install, but they can be much heavier than other tiles, as well as more expensive and more difficult to clean. More natural looking stone requires specialized knowledge to install and can be astronomically expensive. Going with a material like marble will also take a big bite out of your remodeling budget.
The most important thing to do when considering your backsplash tiles is to make sure you have your countertop picked out first. Then you can match (or contrast) colors, materials, texture and style with what is going to be the main focal point of the room. You should also have the countertops installed before you install your backsplash to make sure everything lines up properly.
Comments
Moroccan tiles are a testimony to their deep heritage and rich culture and are usually handmade or handcrafted. The practice of making handcrafted Moroccan tiles has been passed down through the ages. They are the true epitome of Moroccan culture and heritage. They showcase the different colors and designs that have influenced Moroccan design since the early days of Middle Eastern culture. Many people have loved the designs and the colors that handcrafted tiles bring to a room.
Why Are They Unique?
Handcrafted Moroccan tiles are unique because they are traditionally handcrafted by Moroccan artisans using a unique clay found only in Fez. Moroccan tiles also known as zillij or zelliges are handmade specifically in Morocco and wood fire is used to make them hence the natural variations in their color tone and shade. It is this aspect that makes the tiles unique even from each other.
The fact that customers are often encouraged to design their very own tiles with designs to suit their preferences. The choices of tiles are varied both in color, sizes, patterns, and designs.
Zellige Tiles:
Zellige tiles also know as zillij often come as loose geometric shape tiles and are assembled into repeated colorful patterns.customers can make their very own Moroccan designs to suit their color preferences and tastes. Other tiles come pre-assembled and can be used to make up Moroccan inspired areas in the home. These pre-assembled tiles are also handcrafted but they already have designs of their own and they are already glazed compared to the designs your own tiles which will have to be fired up when you have decided on the design. Some stores even have a sticky paper backing where you can try out several designs. This is part of the uniqueness of handcrafted Moroccan tiles.
Some specialty stores carry tiles that are bigger in size and already have designs of their own. Some are handcrafted while others are made, with the aid of modern technology so technically, they are not quite the same because they are probably not made in Morocco nor are they handcrafted. The handcrafted Moroccan tiles are more expensive than the other Moroccan inspired tiles due to the intense labor and time consumed to make these gorgeous tiles.
In spite of their price tags, many people still prefer handcrafted Moroccan tiles due to their organic characters, authenticity, and uniqueness. Many prefer to design your own tiles because they can really integrate their ideas and likes into the design. Saint Tropez Boutique of San Francisco offer this as part of their service, before having the tiles created individualy for their clients in the old city of Fez, Morocco and flown to anywhere in the world.
For more info, please contact: Mark Logan Saint Tropez Boutique 25 Evelyn way San Francisco, CA 94127 (415)-513-5920 sainttropezstone.com sainttropezboutique.net sainttropezboutique.us
-- Contributed by: david calvinThis page has been accessed 4,388 times. This page was last modified 22:33, 22 March 2007.
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