Ceramic Flooring: 6 Patterns For Any Room

Ceramic Flooring: 6 Patterns For Any Room

You’ve finally chosen the perfect style and color of ceramic tile to update the look in that room you’ve been dying to renovate. Whether it’s the kitchen, living room, bedroom, or bathroom, ceramic tile is a great way to change the look and feel of your home décor. 

But now you’ve got one more decision to make – installing your ceramic flooring in a pattern that’s best going to complement the room. Consider one of these 6 tile layout patterns to take any room from boring to exciting:

1. Straight lay pattern

The easiest tile pattern is a straight lay. Ideal for smaller rooms that you want to make feel bigger, the straight long lines of tile and grout will result in a modern design that draws the eye outward in all directions. You can use a straight lay pattern for almost any size of tile, from square to subway to plank shape. 

2. Diagonal tile pattern

Take the straight lay pattern and turn it 45 degrees and you have the diagonal pattern. Also known as a diamond pattern, laying tiles down diagonally can make a room seem wider with a more visual flooring impact. This classic pattern can be used with any shape of tile – when using small square ceramic tiles, consider using a darker colored grout to create more contrast.

3. Basketweave floor pattern

Use the basketweave pattern in small rooms, such as the bathroom or a short, narrow hallway. Getting its name from baskets that have been woven with interlacing fibers, the basketweave pattern results in an intricate floor design that becomes the focal point of the room. Tile shapes that work best with this layout are square and rectangular tiles – use two colors in an alternating pattern to add even more contrast and visual appeal. 

4. Windmill pattern

Using four rectangular tiles and laying them out in a frame around a small square tile will give you a windmill pattern. By using smaller tiles, you can add a mosaic look to a room, creating a visual pattern that’s pleasing to the eye. Consider using lighter colored rectangle tiles with a darker shade for the center square when you want to make a room seem larger. For bigger rooms, such as the kitchen, a larger scale windmill layout with bigger tiles will give the area a cozy atmosphere.

5. Running bond tile pattern

The running bond layout is created by placing each tile edge at the center of the tile above and below. The resulting pattern gives a room a continuous and streamlined flow from corner to corner. This tile layout works well with grout in a contrasting lighter or darker color to add even more interest to ceramic flooring. 

6. Checkerboard layout

To achieve a checkerboard look you’ll need to use tiles of two different colors. Lay out the tiles in a diagonal or alternating straight pattern to give a room a dramatic makeover. While you’ll often see the checkerboard pattern used with black and white tiles, don’t this limit you. Other great color combinations can be created using two different shades of blues, greens, or browns.

For help deciding what tile layout pattern to use in your next home project, get in touch with the experts at Ceramique au Sommet.

Choosing The Best Tile Shape For Your Home Reno

Choosing The Best Tile Shape For Your Home Reno

Using ceramic tile in your home renovation opens up all kinds of creative design possibilities. But whether you’ve decided to use tile on floors, as a backsplash in the kitchen, or in the bathroom, it can be confusing navigating your way through all the different types of available tile shapes. Making your choice is easier when you break down tile shapes into these five categories:

Square tile

Still one of the most popular tile shapes, square ceramic tiles come in all sizes. Easy to work with, tiling walls, floors, and shower stalls with block tiles results in a clean and streamlined look. Mixing and matching colored square tiles creates a more interesting design, quickly taking a room from boring to exciting. Play even more with design by using different sized square tiles in the bathroom or kitchen.

Mosaic tile

Commonly used for elaborate tile designs, don’t be intimidated by mosaic tiles. These tiles are typically a small square shape, from 2 inches down to a ½-inch. Mosaic ceramic tiles come in a wide variety of patterns and colors and are ideal for mixing together to create bold splashes of color on bathroom walls and on the floor. If you’re tiling a small room, consider using mosaic tiles to border larger square tiles to create a unique layout.

Penny tile

First seen in the early 1900’s, penny tiles are small in shape, with standard size of ¾ inches up to 1-inch. These tiles can be used on both walls and floors, giving any room a contemporary style. Often seen in black and white for a classic look, penny tiles are now available in a wide range of patterns and colors. Stick to one basic color for an even and linear look or incorporate a random color and pattern into your home reno when you’re going for a bolder look.

Subway tile

One of the biggest trends in home design for 2020 is subway tiles. These rectangular tiles come in a variety of different sizes, with widths from 1-inch up to four inches and lengths from 4-inch to 16 inches.  While subway tiles are typically used on bathroom walls and as backsplash in the kitchen, many home designers are using them on kitchen, bathroom, living room, and hallway floors. If you want to make a room look more spacious, choosing larger sized subway tiles can create a longer and straight design.  

Plank tile

Another new tile shape that’s trending is the plank tile for use in flooring. Using the latest technology, ceramic tiles can be manufactured with patterns to make them look like natural hardwood or stone. Different from subway tiles, plank tiles are wider and longer, with widths from 4-inch up to nine inches and lengths from 12-inch to 28 inches. Best used in a medium to large space, you can create interesting patterns with plank tiles by laying them in a herringbone or basket weave pattern. 

Still confused as to what the best tile shape is for your home reno? Contact the experts at Ceramique au Sommet for more information about ceramic tiles and how to use them in your home design.

Choosing Kitchen Tiles For Flooring



Your kitchen is perhaps the most used room in your home. It’s where you cook meals and where your family gathers to share food and stories about their day. Whether you’re designing a new kitchen or updating your old kitchen with a new look, choosing the best tiles for flooring can seem complicated. It doesn’t have to be. We’ve broken down what you need to know to select tiles that are both functional and fabulous for your kitchen project.

Tile Durability 

The floor tile you choose needs to be durable and able to stand up to heavy traffic, children, pets, and spills. When buying tile, make sure it’s been designed and intended for use as “floor tile.” Other tiling may look similar but lack the durability and safety for flooring.

Focus on Color and Design

Floor tiling looks best when it fits into the overall design and style of the kitchen. Start with your cabinetry. If you’re looking for harmony, tile that has some of the natural color tones of the cabinets can create a cohesive look. Or maybe you want to make a statement with contrasting colors and patterns. The one thing to keep in mind is that lighter flooring can make a space look bigger and brighter, which is ideal for smaller kitchens. 

Tile Size

You have unlimited tile sizes to choose from, all the way from smaller tiles that look decorative to larger 24-inch tiles that make a statement. Take into consideration the size of your kitchen. Larger tiles will have less grout lines, which can make the room look larger. Smaller tiles can be used to define the space by creating an edge or a border with larger tiles, giving a luxurious look and feel to your kitchen.

Tile Shapes

Although square tiles are most commonly used for flooring, don’t limit yourself to this trend. Other shapes include hexagons, octagons, and rectangles. These different tile shapes can create a bold look in your kitchen, adding to the overall design. For instance, hexagon tiles have a contemporary look while rectangle tiles can bring a more modern and sleeker look to the room. 

Flooring Porcelain Tiles

One of the biggest decisions you’ll have to make about kitchen flooring is material. Wood, porcelain, ceramic, and granite are all options. If you’re looking for flooring that’s durable, long-lasting, and aesthetically pleasing, put granite at the top of your list. Granite tiles are available in different colors and patterns and can increase the property value of your home. Resistant to scratches and stains, granite works well for families with small children.

Tiles are Easy to Clean 

Your kitchen space is going to go through a lot of wear and tear with spills and items dropped on the floor. This means that kitchen flooring needs to be easy to clean and maintain. Look for flooring that’s going to hold up to daily sweeping, mopping, and scouring and that’s resistant to cracks.

Choosing the right tile flooring doesn’t have to be confusing. Contact Granite au Sommet to answer all your questions about granite flooring for your kitchen.

Tips for Tiling Your Shower with Ceramic Tiles

Tips for Tiling Your Shower with Ceramic Tiles 

Ceramic tiles are ideal for kitchens, wet rooms, and any other rooms in your home. Perhaps where they shine the most is in your bathroom shower. Ceramic comes in a wide variety of colors, shapes, and sizes, giving you endless options when it comes to design and style.

Tiles for Shower Floors

The tiles on the floor of the shower need to meet a few requirements: They need to be water-resistant, slip-resistant, and sized just right for the space of the shower. They also need to be able to stand up to the humidity and moisture in the shower. While stone and porcelain tiles are typical in many homes, ceramic is becoming more popular for homeowners.

Tile Shape

One of the most common choices for shower floors and walls are mosaic tiles. Not only is mosaic aesthetically pleasing to the eye, these smaller tiles can easily fit into the shape and slope of the shower floor. Mosaic tiles also have more grout lines than larger tiles, which helps to add texture and a slip-resistant surface.

When looking for mosaic ceramic tiles you’ll find a variety of choices for design. Hexagons, square patterns, and arabesques all add a unique style to the shower that can complement or contrast with the rest of your bathroom.

Ceramic Tile Color and Pattern

With so many colors and patterns available, it can be easy to go overboard on design. Build a color palette based on the vanity colors and cabinetry in the bathroom. One of the options for design is to match your ceramic shower tiles to the rest of the room to create a unified and flowing look. Another option is to go for a bold look and make a statement with contrasting hues that add a pop of color. And don’t forget grout color. You can build even more color by using colored grout between the tiles.

Types of Ceramic Tile

Ceramic tiles and Porcelaine tiles can be either unglazed or glazed. Unglazed tiles are manufactured by using different types of clays that are ground and combined together into a fine powder. This powder is then blended with water and formed into tiles. Glazed tiles go through one further step in the manufacturing process. The surface of the tile is coated with a glaze that gives it a glossy look.

Finalizing the Look

Once you’ve come up with the perfect color scheme and design for your shower tiling it’s time to add the final touches with a shower faucet, handles, and a shower head that makes a statement of their own. Shower heads come in a wide variety of sizes and shapes, including square and circular. Or consider an overhead rain shower head that can give you a waterfall experience when showering. Coating on shower fixtures varies as well and includes stainless steel, polished chrome, brushed nickel, or the new trend of oil-rubbed bronze.

Let the professionals help you when it comes to choosing and installing ceramic tiles in your shower. Contact Ceramique au Sommet for their expert advice and answers to all your questions.

5 Tiling Trends To Transform Your Home

There’s always something new and trending in tile, whether it’s ceramic or porcelain you prefer. Design styles have become bolder and more creative than ever before, with a wide range of patterns and tile sizes to choose from.

Ceramic and porcelain tiles can add a new look to your home, elevating a space simply by adding a few unique designs. From contemporary to minimalist and even vintage, tiles can be used on bathroom walls, as a backsplash in the kitchen, and on hallway floors.

Looking for something new and exciting this year for your home renovations? Here are the top 5 trends that can transform your home.

1. Geometric Shapes

It’s not just the uniqueness of color and pattern that’s trending, geometric shapes are extremely popular right now. At the top of the list are honeycomb or hexagon tiles. This pattern is perfect to use on a big scale in larger rooms, such as the kitchen, making the tile flow from one wall to the next. Honeycomb tiles also work well in smaller bathrooms, giving the illusion of more space. When choosing the colors for geometric tiling, bold contrasting colors and complimenting soft hues are in.

2. Contemporary Design

White never goes out of style and many homeowners are leaving blues and greens behind and opting for relaxing neutrals. A contemporary look is easily achieved with cream, gray, and white tiles, adding brightness to a room. Put these neutral tones in the bathroom to create a peaceful and calm atmosphere. Whites also look great in the kitchen, contrasting with darker colored cabinets and flooring.

3. Subway Tiles

Known as subway tiles, these long rectangular tiles are a hit with interior designers. The classic subway tile is 3 x 6-inches, but don’t stop there. Longer and narrower or thicker subway tiles can give a room a sleek and metropolitan look. Tiles 8 x 20-inches work well in a large kitchen – add grout in a contrasting color and you can create a one of a kind design. For the layout, vertical tiling is just as popular as horizontal subway tiles.

4. Soft Neutrals

If you’re looking for a neutral tone but want a bit more color than whites and creams, think about soft neutrals. Pastel tones are making their way into both ceramic and porcelain tile design. Lavender, lilac, mint, and soft rose can give either a sophisticated or a vintage feeling to any room.

5. Black and White

It’s always fun to play with black and white tile. After disappearing from the design scene for a few years, this monochrome color scheme has made a comeback. Combining black and white adds a modern look to kitchens and bathroom. Don’t just stick to basic black – deep gray and white together are just as effective. Add bathroom finishes in brass or gold for even more elegance.

Wondering what latest trend you can apply to your next home project? Talk to the experts at Ceramique au Sommet for their advice and find out what’s new.