encaustic / Cuban / cement tiles (backsplash + floor)
We recently had the most marvelous tile installed in our laundry room, and I posted about it in the Decorating forum. palimpsest suggested I share the info over here so here I am!
Obviously I love color and pattern (although if you've seen my serene kitchen you wouldn't know it!) and I chose to do a vibrant patchwork pattern. But this isn't how it has to be -- these tiles come in solid colors as well, and you can make a deliberate pattern or whatever.
We got our tiles from Villa Lagoon Tile and worked with the owner, Lundy. She was a joy and so helpful. I didn't choose the patterns but instead said to her "colorful & busy!" and she complied. I am really happy.
I'm going to say it ended up costing, inc. freight (it came on a pallet), like $10 per square foot. Before installation I sealed it with Miracle 511 twice, then sealed it again after it was laid but before it was grouted. Since it was grouted I've waxed (using paste wax and a buffer) a few times. It cleans up like a dream! It is insane how easy it is to clean. I've been a painting maniac in the laundry room and every little splatter just peels right off, no staining. I credit both the sealing and waxing. However, in socks it is slippery.
I'm still painting (the gingham pattern) and not done (knobs) in here, but this gives you an idea what a beautiful space it is with these fabulous tiles!
Comments (16)
suzanne_sl
13 years ago
pinch_me
13 years agoremodelfla
13 years ago
mtnrdredux_gw
13 years agodee850
13 years agomarthavila
13 years agocardamon
13 years agosabjimata
13 years agormkitchen
13 years agoGood Morning Kind People! Thank you so much for all your nice words. I swear I only posted so there'd be a picture / info (vendor, prices, installation) about these tiles, but you all have just made my day. Thank you!!!
My 4.5 year-old son has a rare and profound neurological disorder (Encephalopathy with Status Epilepticus during Sleep (ESES), the Penelope Syndrome). He was mostly toilet-trained, able to speak, and then fifteen months ago he lost both of those as well as the ability to understand language, concept of danger, learned memory, etc. Since we're back to diapers and we change his diapers in the laundry room, I wanted to make that space as chipper, colorful, inviting as possible. We also do A LOT of laundry (like many Special kiddos, he is a v. messy eater due to Sensory / fine motor issues -- doesn't bother me).
Here he is "helping" with the tile install:
He's chewing on a chewy tube -- that back of the jaw pressure feels good to him, similar to people who gnaw on pencils / chew gum.
maggie and sabji, thank you for the compliment about my painting! It's actually fun and soothing to paint those squares. It's taking a while but since I'm enjoying it that's okay by me!
sabjimata -- are you talking about the grid on the wall or the pattern on the floor? Both were done solely by me, and I want full credit! Full! Re the floor, I told Lundy, the owner of Villa Lagoon Tile, that I wanted no solid colors and lots of vibrant patterns. She told the warehouse, who picked and packed them up. It was a big, fun surprise as I opened all the boxes and laid them out in the garage as my "dry run." There were no black & white, no yellows, no greens, so I contacted Lundy and she sent me some more so I could get a better mix (for what I was after).
Nate, our sweet tile helper, removed the washer and dryer and old vinyl floor, and then he and I dry laid the tile in the laundry room. I tweaked some things and then we laid them -- that "we" was more Nate than I, admittedly.
But, I bet Lundy could and would design a pattern if that's what someone was after. She really is great.
Thank you again everyone! They really are a fun, inexpensive, durable way to get some color / pattern (bright or subtle) in any space, and I really believe they'd be terrific in a kitchen. **Except they are slippery in socks.**
adel97
13 years agoboxerpups
13 years agokathylquiltz
13 years agormkitchen
13 years agoideagirl2
13 years agohapahaole76
12 years ago
italyvespa