Home Tours

A Step Inside: Julie Howard’s “Storybook” Estate

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Timber Trails lead designer, Julie Howard, is renowned for creating beautiful homes. While her career has focused on designing new construction, in this personal project, Julie leverages her impeccable taste and expertise to transform her historic home, proving that even an existing structure can be molded to fit your personal style and family needs. To update the house, originally built in 1904, Julie incorporated slate, subway tile and marble finishing pieces authentic to early 20th-century style. With surprises around every corner, this comfortable family home exudes charm and character.

An exterior shot featuring the front porch of a grand home and Julie Howard in the doorway.
All designs are by Julie Howard for Timber Trails Development Company. All photography is by John and Maura Stoffer.

I’d never seen subway tile floor-to-ceiling on all four walls before–I had to have it!

Classic Kitchen Made Modern

A puzzle featuring a historic Christmas dinner scene inspired the floor-to-ceiling white subway tile design in this classically detailed kitchen. The tile design is unique yet still in keeping with the 1900s aesthetic, while the open floor plan makes it conducive to modern living. Julie chose the Lansdale Carrara marble subway tile for an elevated take on a timeless design. The subdued beige and grey coloring perfectly complements the cream-colored cabinets. The affordable price point–just $14.59 per sq. ft.–allowed her to use this tile more extensively.

Featuring: Lansdale Carrara

Warm & Inviting Sunroom

Sleek Adoni Black slate floor tile adds depth to this bright sunroom. In addition to hiding dirt and providing traction for wet feet (this room serves as an entrance from the outdoor pool), the rich, dark natural stone contrasts beautifully with the ivory walls, ceiling and furniture. The floor tile’s subtle veining and stylish herringbone layout feel authentic to the space, which features striking architectural details–note the stone lion’s head in the built-in fountain.

Featuring: Adoni Black.

I love the size of the Noir 3″ x 6″ tile–nice and small, just like the space!

Crisp & Clean Mudroom

Noir slate subway tile graces the floor of this sun-drenched mudroom. The brick-lay pattern complements the home’s sophisticated character, while the natural stone’s texture and veining add an organic touch, enhancing the space’s warm, earthy feel.

Featuring: Noir Subway and Noir Threshold.

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Finely Detailed Black & White Bathroom

Here, as in the other main bathrooms, Julie showcases her expertise through masterful trim work. The pairing of ceramic white subway tile with Black Marquina marble trim creates a deceptively simple design. Thin lines of Black Marquina Somerset trim run along the edges of the shower doorway and across the top and bottom of the wall, providing subtle, elegant framing, while black grout further enhances the visual contrast. We love how Julie balances the tonal values of the space with the penny-round tile floor, where the white border and grout joints create an inverse effect of the wall design.

Featuring: Black Marquina, Black Maruqina Somerset, Penny Round Matte White, Penny Round Matte Black, Black Marquina Curb, Black Marquina Skirting and Imperial Bianco Gloss

Similar materials, when used with different grout colors, can create drastically different looks.

A Teenager’s Chic, Cool-Toned Bathroom

Proving that great design is in the details, this lovely bathroom features the same white ceramic subway tile as the previous one, but pairs it with Hampton Carrara marble for a completely different aesthetic. The stylish, expressive grey marble is showcased in the Cornice chair rail, the window framing, the shower niche and the hexagon tile floor. Whisper grey grout is used throughout, enhancing the natural tones of the marble and creating soft lines in the brick-lay subway tile, while still providing contrast.

This elegant bathroom features white subway tile walls and grey marble trim and hex-shaped tile floor.

Featuring: Hampton Carrara Capital, Hampton Carrara Cronice, Hampton Carrara Hex, Hampton Carrara Skirting, Imperial Bianco Gloss and Hampton Carrara Subway.

Timelessly Elegant Marble Bathroom

This fashionable bathroom exudes vintage charm. The Hampton Carrara subway tile features subtle beige and grey veining, creating a contemporary color palette of both cool and warm neutrals. The Black Marquina Barnes and Somerset trim pieces provide a striking transition from the tile to the painted wall. The blush paint feels fresh, while evoking a sense of a bygone era. The mix of feminine colors and details (note the gold hardware and gossamer curtains) with solid black trim pieces and cabinets creates the signature bold elegance that makes Julie’s designs so appealing.

This chic bathroom features a grey and beige marble subway tile wall and bold black marble trim.
An angled view of the bathroom featuring grey and beige subway tile walls and a marble mosaic tile floor.

Featuring: Black Marquina Barnes, Hampton Carrara, Hampton Carrara Cornice, Black Marquina Curb, Hampton Niles Mosaic, Hampton Carrara Skirting and Hampton Carrara Subway.

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Bonus: A Peek at More Spaces From the Storybook Estate

Inspired to update your home? The Tile Shop is here to help every step of the way. Schedule a free design consultation today, and let’s create a space you’ll love!

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Tour more Timber Trails Homes Designed By Julie Howard

A wide angle shot of a large kitchen featuring a mirrored glass subway tile backsplash.

Chef’s Delight

Join Julie Howard as she takes you through this fabulous home featuring two stylish and spacious kitchens.

A elegant and comfortable living room featuring a blue with white floral pattern tiled fireplace surround.

Varsity Blues

Featuring charming pops of pattern and lovely blue hues throughout, this home is truly one of a kind.

This laundry room features a black and brown patterned tile floor and black subway tile wall.

Refined Rustic

Textile-inspired patterns set the tone for this contemporary home.

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