Tile & Granite Designs

Placement

• Where tiles are placed is one of the most important design factors when working with either tile or granite. Will they be placed only on countertops? Only on the floor? If the tile is going up the walls, then it can usually be installed with little trouble, but granite baseboards will need extra support. The combination of countertop and floor or counter and wall designs will affect the overall appearance of the room. Many backsplashes, or the walls that are built up against the countertops, are also made of the countertop material and are an integral part of the counter design scheme. Granite backsplashes will need extra support, and all backsplashes include borderlines that can be either simple or artistic.
  
  

Pattern

• Pattern is an important consideration for tile projects. Checkered tile projects or multicolored designs are both popular, and allow homeowners to combine multiple shades that fit into their overall design scheme. Sometimes different sizes of tiles are also used to accent differences and create brick-like patterns, such as herringbone, basket weave or running bond. With same-color tiles, murals can be painted on the walls, or objects formed with different colors of tile.
  
  

Edges

• Edges are a very important consideration when installing granite surfaces, especially countertops. The simplest kind of edges are rounded, either in quarter round or bullnose shapes, but ogee styles or even the inset versions in which the granite steps down to the edges can be used. The choices with tile are typically more simple, since tile can be cut to fit around corners more easily.
  
  

Color

• Color is important even when tile patterns consist of only one color. Ceramic tile can be glazed with nearly any color possible, while granite as a natural stone has a more limited number of possible colors, including reds, blacks, browns and whites. Granite especially has many different color options: since the stone usually has several different shades and includes flecks of darker color, shades can vary greatly. Light-colored granite can give a room a very different look than dark, and the inner patterns of the granite can also make a difference.
  
  

Finishes

• For granite, there are usually two different finish options available. The first is a glossy finish that causes the granite to shine, creating a reflective surface that also protects the granite from damage. The second option is a more subdued matte finish that gives the granite a more natural, low-sheen surface. Tiles tend to be glazed with a shiny finish that also protects them, but depending on the tile, this sheen may or may not be noticeable.