B& W Tile has kept the retro colors of the 1950s alive and well in their collection. With both bright and moody, simple and ornate styles to choose from, it can be overwhelming to select the right choice. Here are our tips to help you narrow down your options.
STYLE
You can never go wrong with a classic square or rectangle tile, but if the room is in need of some texture, choosing a hex or Certosa shape can add intrigue and movement to the space. “Choose a color or style that will make you smile when you walk into the room,” says Alex Vassaux, managing director at B& W Tile.
COLOR
Ultimately, it comes down to which colors will work best with your existing palette, but in general, stick to lighter colors in a smaller space to keep it open. You can get away with darker colors in a larger space for a moody or bold look. “With our color- matching program, the choices are endless,” says Alex.
TO NAIL THE VINTAGE BATHROOM LOOK, CHRISTINE SPENT A LOT OF TIME RESEARCHING.
“IN AUTHENTIC MCM HOMES, YOU SEE TILE UP TO A CERTAIN POINT ON A WALL AND THEN WHITE ABOVE IT,” SAYS CHRISTINE. “I WANTED TO KEEP THAT SAME COLOR BLOCKING AND DO IT WITH FLOOR- TO- CEILING TILES.” SHE EMULATED THIS LOOK WITH VINTAGE- INSPIRED BLUE AND WHITE TILES FROM B& W TILE. LIKE ANY HOME PROJECT, THIS BATHROOM HIT A SNAG: THERE WEREN'T ENOUGH TILES TO COMPLETE THE COLOR BLOCK DESIGN ON ALL WALLS AS CHRISTINE HAD PLANNED. SO THEY PAINTED THE WALLS TO MATCH AND WILL COMPLETE THE INSTALL WHEN THE TILES ARRIVE.
ABOVE, LEFT: CHRISTINE BALANCED THE WHITE KITCHEN WITH ROBIN’S EGG- BLUE APPLIANCES FROM ELMIRA STOVE WORKS. “THE CLASSIC WHITE SLAB CABINETS ALLOW THE APPLIANCES TO BE THE STAR OF THE SHOW,” SAYS MICHAEL. THEIR RETRO BLUE COLOR AND STYLE COMPLEMENT THE CUSTOM BACKSPLASH TILES. “THE TILE COLORS ARE INSPIRED BY THE ICONIC GEORGE NELSON BALL CLOCK,” SAYS CHRISTINE. “IT WAS A TILE IN BLACK AND WHITE, AND I WAS ABLE TO CUSTOMIZE TWO OF THE COLORS.”
ABOVE, RIGHT: THE BEDROOM CAN SERVE AS A PLACE TO REST OR A PLACE TO WORK. WITH A FUNCTIONAL DESK AGAINST THE WALL AND A DAYBED FROM KARDIEL, THIS VERSATILE SPACE CAN BE USED FOR ANY NEED. THE MATTHEWS FAN COMPANY CEILING FAN KEEPS THE ROOM COOL, AND THE SLIDING GLASS DOORS AND CLERESTORY WINDOWS ALLOW IN PLENTY OF NATURAL LIGHT.