Tile: classic v trend

[munkii]

This seems to be a regular discussion on this board, and I happened to come across a designer's view on the topic this morning. Here's the main takeaway:

We all think that a tile type or shape is classic and in one sense, it is. When you see that particular shape nearly everywhere you look, especially in a very high end kitchen in a crazy expensive home, it may be amazingly beautiful, both dream worthy and swoon worthy, but it's still a trend. Possibly, it is a huge trend and from my perspective, probably a tile trend that will last 10 years or less (kitchen trends last much longer than fashion, but alas, they then trend downward fast.) Therefore, your kitchen will look dated to most of the world at large as a new shape and material has made its debut to the masses, washed and unwashed.

The Kitchen Designer: www.thekitchendesigner.org/journal/2012/3/13/tile-trends-a-brief-history-of-the-kitchen-backsplash.html

[tarheels]

Yup. The best you can do is try to choose something that won't offend your future self with "what was I thinking?!"

[pitterwoo]

yeah kitchen and bath trends bum me out because it tends to be stuff that's so permanent.

My mom used to joke that she was glad that she didn't get her early 90's kitchen remodel when she had wanted to do it because it would look terrible. I still have a stack of her kitchen planning mags from when she actually got down to it in the early 2000s. I love to look through for things that still look good.

[auntie]

Jan 12, 2013 10:17:17 GMT -5 pitterwoo said:

yeah kitchen and bath trends bum me out because it tends to be stuff that's so permanent.

My mom used to joke that she was glad that she didn't get her early 90's kitchen remodel when she had wanted to do it because it would look terrible. I still have a stack of her kitchen planning mags from when she actually got down to it in the early 2000s. I love to look through for things that still look good.[/quote]

This is what I did when we gutted our old kichen. I spent hours at the local libray canvasing old decorator mags, especially the ads for things like Armstrong Flooring and random cleaning products where the context of the artwork was more "background". But even so, I got suckered in by an appliance garage. OMG remember those? WTF was I thinking?

I think there are certain tiles that will become "dated" in some situations. Like subway tiles- a classic in certain vintage bathrooms and subways, of course, but in kitchens? I think they'll look less fresh in a few years. And that funny moorish style interlocking? Probably sooner, I have friends who gutted kitchens with that tile in harvert gold, spanish red and avacado when they bought in th 1980s.

I suppose you could avoid this by picking something really bland, but that would be sort of sad. I have a teeny tiny kitchen and plan to install Mercer tiles. I hope they don't weird out prospective buyers.

[sratsey]

Chances are, not only will trends change in and out, but in a decade, it's likely your own tastes will change as well. My style has evolved throughout every decade of my life. My first apartment in my 20s(floral, country chic) was very different from the first home I put together in my 30s (tuscan), which subsequently was very different than the home I'm not putting together at 40.

Trend or not, I think your home, and especially the kitchen, should be decorated as a place that YOU will love every time you walk into it. If that means subway tile or that odd shaped tile, or glass tile...so be it. I can't be too caught up in how I might feel about something in 10 years.

[SusanBAnthony]

I am boring, i think, auntie. I would put in a very plain colored kitchen in terms of tile, etc, and just accent with stuff hung on the walls or on shelves. I have no desire for colorful or otherwise trendy tile because I know I will change my mind, and I want it to last 30 years, darn it!

But my house will never be on a blog or magazine anyway so I think boring and safe is ok

[simpsongal]

I think that's one reason drawing off historical designs is a safe bet. Subway tile and glass tile (particularly the long rectangular ones with borders) may look a bit"2000s" or "2010s" b/c it's being used so much. That said, I still think it's pretty safe and classic like damask wallpaper or white shaker-style cabinets.

[ktzmoh]

I kind of agree - I really think the best you can do is try for not-tacky and put in what you love. No matter what it will look dated in 10 years. But like a PP said - my tastes will change too , so maybe I'll want to update regardless?

IDK - we made some hasty decisions when redoing a bathroom because we were very pressed for time and didn't take our time to decide what was smart. But it doesn't bother me too much. In 6 years I'll want a do-over anyway.

[heliocentric]

Tile is fairly easy and inexpensive to swap out, though, right? If the rest of the space is good, an outdated tile doesn't seem like a huge issue.

I like when people chose really unusual things. Since they are likely never in, they are less likely to go out.

[simpsongal]

Tile can be a pretty big deal to replace. A lot of times you have to demo the wall area and install new backboard. Professional tile installation on the floor is quite expensive. We priced it out for our kitchen and it was almost half the cost to put down solid oak, finished-onsite hardoowd floors.

[EloiseWeenie]

I've bookmarked this picture for the backsplash if we ever get to buy our dream house and redo the kitchen. Will I hate it in 10 years?

[munkii]

Jan 12, 2013 10:26:29 GMT -5 auntie said:

I think there are certain tiles that will become "dated" in some situations. Like subway tiles- a classic in certain vintage bathrooms and subways, of course, but in kitchens? I think they'll look less fresh in a few years. And that funny moorish style interlocking? Probably sooner, I have friends who gutted kitchens with that tile in harvert gold, spanish red and avacado when they bought in th 1980s.

This homeowner actually installed it in avocado, and my guess is this is recent based on the date of the jpeg url.

[pitterwoo]

Jan 13, 2013 0:36:35 GMT -5 EloiseWeenie said:

I've bookmarked this picture for the backsplash if we ever get to buy our dream house and redo the kitchen. Will I hate it in 10 years?

If you love it now, I think it will still hold up for you in 10 years. I think a neutral tile with a pretty layout pattern will be neutral and interesting longer than a plain layout with a more trendy tile color and shape. That's my plan anyway.

[wawa]

Jan 12, 2013 17:41:24 GMT -5 heliocentric said:

Tile is fairly easy and inexpensive to swap out, though, right? If the rest of the space is good, an outdated tile doesn't seem like a huge issue.

I like when people chose really unusual things. Since they are likely never in, they are less likely to go out.

oh lord no.

I guess backsplashes are not THAT bad, but it's still a messy and fiddly job. Probably 2 weekends at least for the average DIYer unless it's a really small area. And tile itself is not really cheap unless you're going with really basic stuff.

You start getting into floors and bathroom shower surrounds and yeah...no. Not cheap. Not easy. Not quick. Not to do it correctly anyway.

[vanillacourage]

Jan 13, 2013 0:36:35 GMT -5 EloiseWeenie said:

I've bookmarked this picture for the backsplash if we ever get to buy our dream house and redo the kitchen. Will I hate it in 10 years?

That looks like a nightmare to clean after frying bacon or cooking marinara-sauced pasta. Beautiful though!

[jena]

Jan 13, 2013 18:22:58 GMT -5 vanillacourage said:

Jan 13, 2013 0:36:35 GMT -5 EloiseWeenie said:

I've bookmarked this picture for the backsplash if we ever get to buy our dream house and redo the kitchen. Will I hate it in 10 years?

That looks like a nightmare to clean after frying bacon or cooking marinara-sauced pasta. Beautiful though!

Ha! That's what I was thinking - she'll only hate it if she actually cooks and is the one that has to scrub crap out of all those little nooks and crannies. But if it's not behind a stove? I love it.

[EloiseWeenie]

I cook all the time, but luckily my H cleans the kitchen I do have concerns about the cleanability (just made that word up) of that texture.