The designer behind Minnesota-based West Bay Homes brought her artfully designed tile collection to life with elegant fluted, mirrored patina and intricate floral designs.

Inlay Proper

The Inlay Proper by Kelli Fontana features a natural stone look with a bone-inlay-look floral design for an ornate, feminine elegance.

These tiles, available in Naples Beach (above), Florence Lace and Eden Ode (below), can be installed individually or together for artfully designed patterns.

The Florance Lace and Eden Ode are used here to create an elevated checkerboard pattern that is both bold and whimsical. Watch how the tiles beautifully transition from day to night with subtle shifts in tone.

Tommas Classico and Tommas Carrara

The fluted Tommas Classico and Tommas Carrara by Kelli Fontana will enliven your space with natural dimension and shading. The Tommas Carrara features soft grey veining, while the Tommas Classico has a winter-white surface. A foundational element that will complement a variety of design styles, this stunning, marble-look tile is soft and poetic, while still maintaining a strong presence.

The Thomas Classico by Kelli Fontana fluted tile adds texture to this elegant and inviting dining room wall. The large-format tile requires fewer grout lines, making this wall feel tall and expansive.

Patina Mirror

The Patina Mirror tile by Kelli Fontana, available in Siren, Eclipse and Gilded, captures the light, transforming your space as the room dims and brightens. The patina finish gives these tiles an antique appearance, blurring the lines between old and new and creating a chic timelessness.

The Patina Gilded Mirror lends a touch of glitz and glamour to this kitchen backsplash. The reflective surface adds a sense of depth, which transforms the space as it transitions from day to night.

The patina tiles are strong enough to function alone, but they also make for a dazzling accent. This pantry uses the Patina Gilded Mirror tile to add shimmer to the design. The patina effect complements the glossy sheen of the Splendours Brown for a sleek, sophisticated space.

We hope you found inspiration to use the timeless pieces from the Kelli Fontana tile collection in your home or business.

We love seeing your spaces! Share your next project by tagging us @thetileshop on Instagram or uploading it directly to our Customer Room Gallery (you can find even more design inspo there, too)!

The post Introducing The Kelli Fontana Collection appeared first on The Tile Shop Blog.

“While we might be great at communicating, we are not always great at agreeing on architecture and decor,” Cristin said. “Zach is from the mountains and loves modern design and rustic elements. I’m from a small town in South Carolina and love all things southern, traditional and cozy.”

Kitchen

As we look through the rest of their mountain home, we think it’s safe to say they did an amazing job at deciding every design detail.

How gorgeous is the Meram Blanc Carrara Marble backsplash? The stone’s white undertones and light-grey veining beautifully unite with the white cabinetry and reclaimed wood accents.

Laura Ashley Laundry Room

The combination of black cabinetry and light-toned tiles creates a stunning contrast in Cristin’s laundry room.

This backsplash is so charming, we just had to include a close-up view! Patterned backsplashes are a great way to add a personalized statement in your home.

Love this look? Check out the rest of our Laura Ashley collection!

Porch Palace

Disclosure: If you get porch envy easily, then you might want to skip this section. From stunning views to charming decor, this space has it all!

“I thought it would be fun to embrace the bohemian trend,” Cristin said. “I decided to mix several patterns of textiles to pair with our simplistic furniture and keep everything neutral and inviting.”

See all of Cristin’s modern-neutral porch decor here.

Mudroom

Before Cristin visited The Tile Shop, she wanted a small, dark slate-looking floor tile for the mudroom. But to her surprise, the in-store inspiration helped Cristin choose a tile that best fit the smaller space.

“The larger sized Nain Negro really helps open up this narrow space. The tile has the look and feel of slate, but it’s actually a durable porcelain tile,” Cristin added.

“The in-store tiled displays really helps you gauge different sizes and colors and how it will look in your space,” said Cristin.

Master Bathroom

“The Tile Shop helped me tremendously with this space as we had to decide what patterns and sizes would best complement each other and how much tile we would need for the shower and floor,” Cristin said. “I also learned all about niches in the shower wall, polished edging, Dural systems and all finishing pieces when designing a bath.”

Welcome to Hampton Carrara heaven! From herringbone patterned floors to offset pattern shower walls, this master bath shines with elegance.

Guest Bath

“Our guest room is downstairs in what I lovingly refer to as man land—this is where all of Zach’s favorite rooms are,” Cristin explained. “We wanted the bathroom to be dark, moody and rustic.”

Children’s Bath

While the other bathrooms in the house showcase lavish marble appeal, Cristin wanted a clean, simple and affordable tile design for this last space. Luckily, she didn’t have to sacrifice her style and was able to achieve her goal with the stone-look tile flooring. Calacatta Bianco unites the durability of porcelain with the stunning look of marble.

Looking for design inspiration or DIY tile installation tips? From inspiration and tile samples to free design services, we’ll partner with you for every step of the way.

Follow Cristin Cooper on Instagram for lifestyle tips and home décor inspiration.

The post Cristin Cooper’s Mountain Hideaway appeared first on The Tile Shop Blog.

What inspired the overall look and design for Refined Rustic?

“Tile is always my starting point. It’s the first item I select for a home, and it sets the tone,” Julie said. “The Annie Selke tile used in the basement bath and the laundry room were just introduced by The Tile Shop, and I loved them. They are what set the tone.”

Eye-Catching Entrance

The entrance of your home should set the tone, and Timber Trails did exactly that. The black features, warm wood flooring and courageous wallpaper greet you with open arms.

Dining Room

Behold, the grand dining room. This stunning space is Julie’s favorite room in the entire house. “It is the first thing you see when you walk in. I love that the white paneled walls are offset by the black ceiling,” Julie said.

“When people see a design and say, ‘I never would have done that, but I love it.’ That’s when you know you’ve done your job as a designer.”—Julie Howard, designer for Timber Trails DC

The hallways in this home stretch as far as the eye can see, connecting you to countless uniquely designed rooms that stimulate and inspire.

Laundry Room

“We used Annie Selke Ikat Black in the laundry room because, to me, a laundry room should be fun. It doesn’t need to match the rest of the house because half of the time the door is closed,” Julie said. “Plus, who enjoys laundry? It’s nice to design a laundry room that makes you smile when you enter.”

“I’ve never been scared of black. I painted my first adult bedroom black 20 years ago, and it is still my favorite room I’ve ever designed,” Julie said. “It’s certainly caught on over the years as I’m seeing it on more walls and in more kitchens and baths. Black doesn’t date, and you don’t tire of it.”

Victoria Grey Bath

Victoria Grey marble defines luxury. Its versatility and stunning appeal makes it perfect for numerous styles. We especially love the eye-catching stone mosaic rug look framed by Victoria Grey stone.

Kitchen

While the tumbled marble softens the space for a traditional feel, the accents of white oak warm up the kitchen for rustic, farmhouse appeal. The sleek counter tops and appliances are incorporated for a flair of contemporary style. What do you get when you unite these amazing designs? The always trendy transitional style.

If the space wasn’t already perfect enough, the added elements of hygge, like greenery and wood features, add in the perfect sense of comfort. Read our blog post on what makes Scandinavian looks so chic!

Living Room

As a member of our Pro Network, Timber Trails DC has maintained a strong and meaningful partnership with the Lombard, IL location and store manager, Kevin. Together, Timber Trails DC and Kevin have completed over 40 homes!

“We have a great push and pull. He keeps me in check when I tend to go too far, and he’s on top of everything down to each tile I need,” Julie said. “Kevin makes me feel like I’m his only client, which is great when you call in a bind, which I often do!

Master Bath

Siberian Pearl marble accompanied by deep black and gold features—dramatic elegance at its finest!

“The marble in the master is so pretty because it is a white marble, but it has a lot of warm tones in it and is different than a white and grey Carrara marble,” Julie said.

Master Bedroom

Jack & Jill Vanity

How charming is this beach-inspired Jack and Jill bath? The repetition of the wood-look tiles on the wall and floor create such a pleasing, cohesive look.

Basement Bath

We end this home tour with one of our favorite spaces in the house: the basement bathroom. This space encompasses the three colors that are used throughout the house: black, white and brown.

We love the juxtaposition between the black and white features in this bathroom. While the patterned floor tile proudly catches your eye, the shower tiles contrast the bohemian pattern with a classic, solid-white subway. Notice the black grout lines in the shower—darker colored grouts create more character and add a more pronounced look to the grout joints.

Stay up-to-date with Timber Trails DC and all of their stunning builds by following them on Instagram.

Are you a home developer or interior designer? Let’s partner on your next project. Join our Pro Network program and receive specialized pricing and services.

All photography by Stoffer Photography Interiors

The post Timber Trails’ Refined Rustic appeared first on The Tile Shop Blog.

Jenni Radosevich

Can you give us a little background about your education and work experience and how you got started before you created I SPY DIY?

I went to the University of Wisconsin—Madison for magazine design and journalism and then I moved to New York and started working at InStyle magazine. While I was there, I started a DIY column and it ended up taking off. That’s where I SPY DIY came from.

The column led to my blog, and then Random House asked me to write a book which came out in 2012. Eventually DIY fashion turned into DIY home when I moved back to Wisconsin. My fiancé convinced me to buy this fixer-upper house to renovate, and then a friend suggested I pitch the renovation to HGTV. I ended up doing a pilot that aired three or four times. They decided not to pick it up but I was fine with that because I learned doing a TV show is a lot of work! Since then I’ve been working on different renovations for my fiancé’s rental properties and then began my next big project: the Barnhouse.

How long ago did you make your I SPY DIY blog and renovating a full-time career?

In 2012. Right when my book came out, I left InStyle, and I’ve been doing it ever since.

Were you surprised that everything took off so quickly? It sounds like a whirlwind!

Yes, it was crazy! That was back when DIY was just becoming a “thing”. I had CNN calling me and asking me to tell them about DIY. It took off really quickly and it’s crazy to see how many other girls have been doing DIY since then. It went from being 3 or 4 of us to a ton of DIYers.

Was your first renovation intimidating? How were you sure you could redo a house from the bottom up?

Having TV cameras film your every move was good motivation. I had to fake it until I made it! It was a bold move, and it paid off. It was a quick way to dive into the renovation process, and I didn’t really have a chance to fail because I just had to keep on going. (Note: She redid the entire home in just 4 months!)

What was your process like? Did you have a vison for the house as a whole or go room by room?

I have no idea how I pulled that off! We had a budget, and The Tile Shop was awesome for that. I started by picking out what I could afford for materials, and it ended up being a lot of subway tile. In the bathroom, I used more interesting patterns to use these simple subway tiles and elevate the look.

“Every other room I just kind of tried to go with my gut instinct and not second guess myself. If I liked something, I moved forward with it because there wasn’t time to rethink.”

It’s been interesting with the Barnhouse because I have more time to make decisions and ask my readers. It’s more interactive, but it comes with definite pluses and minuses.

Your style certainly inspires a lot of people. Where do you find inspiration and ideas?

It’s tough because I try not to do what everyone else is doing. I think that with the last house, I did look at other people’s projects too much because I didn’t know what I was doing. Now, I try to go with my gut. The Barnhouse has an older feel so I look more at European-type kitchens. I was just there for a couple weeks, and I tried to pull a lot of inspiration from what I was seeing. Since we’re calling it the Barnhouse, I’m trying to do more antiquing and finding older pieces so the house has a more authentic feel because it was built in 1875. I’m trying to stay away too much from Pinterest and all those places that you typically get inspiration because I don’t want to be too influenced.

How do you describe your design aesthetic? Or do you have one? It sounds like it changes based on the project you’re working on.

I used to think I should have a certain aesthetic that you can tell from house to house is mine. But ultimately, I think every house needs something a little bit different. The last house we fully gutted, and we were starting from a clean slate. And this one, there was already a character about it and the super-modern vibe didn’t feel right. Painting the exterior red is something I never would have done but everyone in the neighborhood loved the big red house that become known as the Barnhouse. I didn’t want to lose that uniqueness. I try to take the character that the house has given me and work with that.

“Every house needs something a little bit different. I try to take the character that the house has given me and work with that.”

What is a typical day, if there is one, like for you? 

The best days are the ones where I get to run around all day and go shopping for the houses. Today I was running around getting lighting, working with the electrician and now I’m off to find a mirror for the bathroom. My days involve a lot of troubleshooting for the houses and figuring things out. I do a little computer work, but I try to stay off it as much as possible. I’ll post Instagram stories to get my readers’ opinions and show them the process. I try to cut things off at a decent time, and then I hang out with my puppies.

Do you have a favorite Tile Shop tile you find yourself coming back to?

In the Barnhouse’s upstairs bathroom and kitchen backsplash, I used Splendours in white. It’s a subway tile, but it has a hand-glazed look. I just love that it’s irregular, organic and handmade looking. I definitely see myself using that one again because it’s an elevated version of a subway tile.

Featured: Splendours White, Laura Ashley Mr Jones Charcoal Matte

I love the Laura Ashley Wicker Dove Grey tile I used in the master bathroom, too. It’s patterned, but it’s not too overwhelming. It feels serene in the bathroom. I am so happy with how that one turned out. I would love to use that one again in another bathroom.

Featured: Imperial Bianco Gloss, Laura Ashley Wicker Dove Grey

Oh my gosh, the Bricklane White tile that is on my kitchen floor and entryway floor is my favorite thing. I think that’s my favorite tile in the house. I love that The Tile Shop always has something for my budget, whether it’s large or small.

Featured: Bricklane White

Do you have any tips for people designing with tile? 

Tile can be overwhelming, but you can do really cool things on a budget, like I did in my bathroom upstairs. We used a herringbone pattern. Installing the tile in unique patterns and using a darker grout can have a high impact. The combination of black and white always pops. If you’re going to use a statement tile like Laura Ashley, pair it with something less busy like a subway tile and use similarly colored grout so you don’t have an overwhelming tile on both the floor and the wall. Pick which one is going to be your statement and then have the other one be more neutral. In a small space (especially one without a window), consider using lighter tiles to brighten up the room. Look at size of your space and the light before you pick the tile. If you have a bathroom with a lot of light, you have the option of using a darker, bolder tile.

Featured: Imperial Bianco Matte, Silver Hex

What do you pick out first in a room?

It depends. For me, I like to use neutral tiles because they’re more permanent than everything else in the bathroom. Then I use accessories and other pieces in the room to add pops of color. It works great for me because I love to change things up so often and everything I decorate with can be an accent.

What do you like about working with tile?

Since it is more permanent, it can be daunting. It’s not as easy as changing up a paint color. But I like the big impact that it makes. In this house, we did a lot of fully tiled walls. The bathroom tile goes up to four feet all the way around the room and it just makes it look expensive and finished. It really elevates a space. Especially in a kitchen, once you put the backsplash in, it ties everything else together.

What advice would you give someone trying to get into remodeling or someone that has never redone a house before?

My advice is to make a decision and stick with it. There are always going to be a million options. The most important thing is to be decisive. When you start second guessing things and making changes, that’s where things start getting costly.

What’s your favorite part of your own house?

The upstairs bathroom, the clawfoot tub and how that whole room came together. It’s super serene. It’s also one of my most popular rooms in my house on Instagram.

Featured: Imperial Bianco Matte, Hex Matte Black

The Fun Five

What’s your dream vacation?

3 weeks in the south of France.

What are you streaming right now?

I’m desperately looking for something to watch! I liked watching Queer Eye. I watched them all on the plane for my recent trip. It’s great to have in the background and I cry in 90% of the episodes.

What is your favorite hobby when you’re not working?

Antiquing, even though it is kind of work. I love thrifting. Whenever I’m having a super stressed day I got to Antiques on Pierce. It’s a four-floor massive antique store. I go there and wander around for an hour and it relaxes me. Everyone is nice to me and they have me a VIP (very important picker) card. It makes me calm.

Who would play you in the movie of your life?

Who I’d want it to be would probably be different than who it would be. It’d probably be a cute girl like Ginnifer Goodwin. I’d want it to be Rachel Bilson.

If you weren’t doing what you’re doing, what would your career be?

Something in the creative field. Maybe graphic design, which I did earlier on, working at an advertising agency or visual merchandising in a store.

Follow along with Jenni’s Barnhouse projects and more on her website, Instagram and Facebook page.

The post Spotlight On: I SPY DIY appeared first on The Tile Shop Blog.