Pretty Tile
“First and foremost when picking tile,” says Slaughter, “you have to like it. It has to be pretty.” Luckily there’s plenty of that at Daltile. Consider wood look tile or stone look tile for the bathroom. There’s a high demand for durability in the bathroom and a faux look offers “the look of the real McCoy without the maintenance of the real McCoy,” says Slaughter. “You can get creative with faux types of materials in a way you can’t with the materials they represent. It offers a solution for rooms like the bathroom.”
Slaughter recently finished work on a luxury residence in Fredricksburg, Texas in the Boot Ranch development. Her favorite tile in the house? The master bathroom. It’s covered in large-format stone look tile, Haut Monde in 24 x 48 inch size. “They look like they could be excavated stone, yet it’s porcelain—perfect for the bathroom,” says Slaughter.
Panaro Blend brick joint marble mosaic on the wall
Coordination
“Secondly, your tile has to complement the things that you’ve already selected for the home,” says Slaughter. Every design has to have some continuity. If you’re crazy about that cherry red penny round tile, but the rest of the house is a traditional look in beige, you may want to rethink your bathroom tile choice.
Go neutral with elements that are more permanent and add bold and bright in the details. For instance, Slaughter used an eye-catching marble mosaic, Panaro Blend brick-joint 1 x 5/8 inch, in the powder bath at the Boot Ranch home. It stays true to the general color scheme and feel of the house but adds a touch of luxury and pop of interest in a small space. It acts as a stand-out feature of the home but doesn’t stand alone.
Mont Lucia quartzite on the bathroom vanity
Durability
“Thirdly, tile has to be durable, stain resistant, and it has to be long-lasting. You want materials that are timeless, will be around for a while, and won’t run the risk of being unappreciated in a few years,” says Slaughter.
In the Boot Ranch home, Slaughter chose quartzite in Mont Lucia for the countertops in one of the bathrooms. This natural stone is everything it needs to be for the bathroom vanity—durable, resistant, and gorgeous. It will never look dated and keeps its luxurious look for a long time when cared for correctly. And because it’s a smaller bathroom and has limited countertops, you can afford the splurge on natural stone.
Stay on target for bathroom tile you’ll love with these three simple tips from a pro. Visit a Daltile showroom near you to experience our selection of bathroom tile for yourself.