wood-look tile Archives - Page 2 of 3

Flooring Contractor Reviews Trends for 2020

Can you believe the year is half over? Perfect time to pause and review what’s trending in floors for Orange County. Inspired Remodels, an Orange County flooring contractor, shows what’s going on with flooring in local homes.

The Return of the Blonde Bombshell

Light colored plank flooring is making a strong comeback. The honey oak of the 80’s and 90’s was so overused it almost killed blonde wood.

That’s a shame. Because light oak or bamboo hardwood flooring adds warmth to kitchens, living areas, and bathrooms.

Hardwoods like bamboo are hot, but honestly any hardwood floor, blonde or not, is an investment with long-lasting returns.

The floor in this kitchen combines light wood and wide planks in a staggered design that’s just stunning. Because light wood is even more susceptible to fading from UV light, pick a plank with UV and scratch resistant coatings.

Wood Look Tile

Wood look tile is showing up all over the house. No longer confined to bathrooms or children’s playrooms, it’s gracing kitchens all over Orange County.

Wood look tile can emulate wide or standard plank widths. Some wood look tile even offers graining, so not only does it look like wood it feels like wood too.

You’ll find this tile in almost every hardwood tone you can imagine. From oak and ash to mahogany and Brazilian cherry, there’s a wood look tile to match your decor. Stop by the Inspired Remodels showroom and view samples.

Alternative Patterns

Recently, we took a look at some of the more common tile patterns. Doing something as simple as turn the tile 90° and installing on a diagonal can make a real difference.

Diagonal install patterns make small spaces look larger. So, they are perfect for small powder rooms, bathrooms, and even galley kitchens.

Herringbone patterns like the one above add instant elegance. The vee shape created by the overlapping tile ends draws the eye out. It’s a great way to make a room appear larger and provide a touch of drama. Similar to the chevron (same design with mitered ends), the herringbone doesn’t require as much labor to cut the wood or tile flooring so this pattern usually costs less to install than the chevron.

Geometric shapes like the polygon shaped tile to the right are migrating from backsplashes and shower walls to the floor.

We’re glad to see them make the move.

Geometric shaped tiles are one of the best ways to give any room a completely custom look. Use contrasting grout to accentuate the tile shape!

Flooring as Art

No longer a simple surface for foot traffic, this Orange County flooring contractor is seeing a demand for flooring as art.

Whether it’s a dramatic entry way or a fun and funky bathroom, art is no longer reserved for the walls of a room.

Trusted Orange County Flooring Contractor

Trust Inspired Remodels to be your flooring contractor for your next remodel.

Wood, tile, carpet, polished concrete, or stone. If you want it on the floor, Inspired Remodels can make it happen. Call (949) 716-1938, Contact Us online or stop by our showroom.

See the latest trends in flooring and get inspired with Inspired Remodels.

mixing metals in a strong kitchen renovation trend for 2019

Flooring Contractor Dishes on Wood-look Tile

Wood-look tile looks like a long-term trend. Tile can go where wood wouldn’t dare. Advances in tile-making technology are producing tile that looks close enough to wood you might fool termites. That is until they take their first bite. If you’re considering wood-look tile, get the scoop from Inspired Remodels, the Orange County flooring contractor that knows wood-look tile.

What is Wood-Look Tile?

Wood-look tile is a ceramic or porcelain tile that looks like wood. It is what it says. However, porcelain and ceramic are different. Porcelain is better suited for the kitchen. It resists stains better and is more durable.

Some wood-look tile incorporates grain. Not only does it look like wood, it feels like wood under your feet. But, it outperforms wood time and again.

What Makes Tile Better Than Wood?

Tile is durable. So is wood, but wood needs to be refinished. Tile floors don’t need to be refinished. Wood shows scratches, nicks, and dings. Tile stands up to abuse.

Water swells wood. Porcelain tile doesn’t absorb water. To qualify as porcelain, water absorption must be one-tenth of one percent or less (< 1/10th of 1%). That’s why wood-look tile is perfect for bathrooms, mud rooms and spa retreats. All the beauty of wood without the water-damage worry.

Maintaining tile is easy. Wood maintenance requires special products and techniques. Wood-look tile does not. Vacuum, sweep or mop. The choice is yours. Just keep it clean and it looks good for years.

Wood-Look Tile is Versatile

Wood-look tile is at home in any room in your home. It looks well with dark cabinets. Install it with light cabinetry. Doesn’t matter the wood used to make your wood cabinets, wood-look tile has an option to complement it. In the kitchen, it works and plays well with all appliance finishes. In the bathroom, you can use any color fixture. Any flooring contractor will tell you that wood-look tile doesn’t limit you, it actually makes more choices available.

Wood isn’t appropriate for high-traffic areas. Wood-look tile is. Foot traffic is no match for tile. It takes a beating and cleans up with a mopping. You can’t say that for wood floors. So, wood-look tile is perfect for entryways and mud rooms. You can even use some wood-look tile on exterior spaces to unify your home, inside and out.

Start with the Flooring Contractor that Knows Wood and Tile

Before you start shopping new floors, start with a flooring contractor that knows the pros and cons of all flooring. Call Joe at Inspired Remodels. Expert advice isn’t far away. Inspired Remodels is the Orange County based flooring contractor that works with all flooring materials. From porcelain, ceramic and glass tile to wood and high-end laminate, Inspired Remodels knows the brands that last and the looks you’ll love. Call (949) 716-1938 and schedule your consultation today.

Bathroom Remodeler Gets Creative with Tile

By Inspired Remodels / Bathroom Remodel / Comments Off

Inspired Remodels, the inspired Orange County bathroom remodeler, has been getting creative with tile. Take a look at these recent jobs and you won’t look at tile the same way again.

Pebbles

Natural materials are so incredibly cool. That’s why they are hot. In the bathroom, pebbles bring to mind visions of bubbling brooks and babbling streams. Water and rock are paired in nature. That’s all the inspiration Jason and Joe Mueller need to create amazing bathrooms.

This soaking tub is perched on a pad of pebble tiles. The contrast with the wood is pleasing to the eye because wood and stone complement each other. Wood, water, and stone. It’s the beauty of the forest stream in your bathroom. Now your eyes may not see a forest stream, but your soul senses the spirit.

Pebbles are the basis of this shower floor and also provide an accent stripe on the wall. Once again, its wood, water, and rock. Except this time, the wood is tile. Just close your eyes and you are transported from your Orange County bathroom to the outdoors, showering peacefully in nature. It’s inspired!

Wouldn’t You Know – It’s Not Wood

While wood provides natural beauty to the bathroom, it’s not terribly practical. Water ruins wood. It softens wood. Water promotes the growth of mold and wood fibers provide the food for fungus to grow. That’s the last thing you want in the bathroom, mold growth. Water also causes wood to swell. So, Inspired Remodels is the bathroom remodeler that gets wood looks into the bathroom without using wood. They use tile!

These tiles so perfectly emulate wood many of them even have grain and texture. Your toes won’t know it’s not wood, your eyes won’t know it’s not wood, but your mop will know for sure it’s not wood. Wood look tile is cleaned like standard, ceramic or porcelain tile. Get out the vacuum, get out the mop, get out the Swiffer. However you prefer to clean, you can use that method to clean this wood-look tile.

Like the look of reclaimed or distressed wood but not the price tag? Wood-look tile is the perfect solution. You get the historic, rustic feeling without breaking the bank.

This tile gives you the look of reclaimed wood with the price and ease of care of tile. As a bonus, it’s much easier and more practical to install radiant heat under tile floor. Wood expands and contracts under heat. While it’s possible to install radiant heat under some wood floors, it’s not practical for all wood floors.

Radiant heat is perfect for keeping the chill in the bathroom at bay. Tile and radiant heat are easy to install together. Wood-look tile allows you to get the warmth of radiant heat and and warm look of wood without the hassle of actual wood floors.

Inspired Bathrooms Start with an Inspired Bathroom Remodeler

Need a little inspiration for your next bathroom remodel? Contact Inspired Remodels. Want to freshen up a guest bath, redo a half bath, remodel a shower, or create a new master bath spa? Harness the creativity of Inspired Remodels. From pebbles, to wood-look, to the latest pattern tiles, Jason and Joe make your dreams reality.

Call (949) 716-1938 or Contact Us online today.