BEFORE THE ARCHITECT – HOME DESIGNING BACKGROUND – UNIQUE HOME DESIGN ARTICLES
INTERIOR HOME DESIGN - WALL TILING
By Before The Architect  Copyright 2009 Before The Architect
 

Before The Architect was managing production of 1 original and 6 copies of a large, complex plan set - prepared to be let for bids from general contractors and a couple specialty subcontractors.  We offered to run the whole thing through our trusted more-or-less local reprographer, QRS in Atlanta, and our client agreed.  We began prepping at 6AM that morning, emailed all the files, and all sorts of problems started up - the receiver didn't know to look for our email address quite right, some files couldn't be opened, some remailed files couldn't be opened, during a personal visit to the production site the AG observed that plotting controls were not set to recognize our various lineweights and linetypes which took some time to iron out, etc.  Several emails.  Several phone conversations.  QRS's man-genius Jaime Watkins could not get Humpty back together again without hellacious time spent.  After 12 hours, the AG called it all off, and the next day took our work to another reprographer, this one in Gainesville -  Gainesville White Print.  In and out in a couple of hours, no problem.  We'd traveled well over a hundred miles, booked 16.5 hours, and got the job done.  We billed 4.5 hours and ate the rest.  Bless you, AG.  Once again, we are grateful for your exceptional diligence. . . .Your efforts are positively 'above and beyond the call of duty'. . . .  Again, we are most grateful for your many acts of professional diligence and charity on our behalf.  Our business life experience requires balancing 2 opposing forces, as identified in this note and testimonial: 1. you cannot make a living at 4.5 hours billed in 16.5 worked, so pick your subcontractors carefully and know when to run away; 2. you cannot responsibly stay in business  if you don't do what's right even when it doesn't pay to take another step.

.  .  .  .  .  .  .

INTRODUCTION

Most folks paint walls. 

A few panel walls – partly, as in wainscot; fully, as in judge’s paneling. 

Almost no one tiles walls, except in baths. 

Almost no one. 

WALL TILING CHOICES

There are choices in wall tiling beyond standard, single-color tiles of simple to complex pattern: ceramic wall tile, porcelain tile, marble tile, glass wall tile, stone wall tile, mosaic, metal wall tile, stainless steel tile, etc. 
 

Whole mural tile pictures and wall tile designs come pieced in wall tile, making for extraordinary wall mounts, whether framed or not.  AG and The Missus got two beauties some years back in Williamsburg, VA,  – one, a seascape; one, a still life; each about 2 linear feet x 3 linear feet; each went over a fireplace.
 

Wing it with bits of tile as in a mosaic or in whole tiles.  Create.
 

WALL TILING EXAMPLE - Decorative ceramic wall tiles
 

See how this kitchen lights up with floral relief of decorative ceramic wall tiles originally designed as trivets of two sizes wrapped in white, plain tile with deep green borders.  I found the trivets on the Outer Banks of North Carolina.  I took off the cork backing to the trivets, and put them up as-is, surrounded by tiles from Home Depot, both the green and the white.  These trivets are larger than most wall tiles, and can save time and money by not having to use several more small decorative tiles to accomplish the task.
 

 

· · · · · · ·

[ Home ] [ Up ] [ Design Mistakes ] [ Coffered Ceiling ] [ Floor Tile ] [ Wall Tile ] [ Fancy Trim ] [ Monochrome ] [ Tapestry ]