When we remodeled one of our bathrooms we decided to keep it in the style of the house… wainscotting, hex tiles on the floor, pedestal sink. A more modern interpretation, certainly, but not something that would look wildly out of place in a house over a century old.

One of the things that I excitedly purchase was a porcelain and chrome toothbrush holder. I remember one of them in my grandmother’s house and I loved how the toothbrushes hung there. A chrome rimmed glass sitting in the center. So I bought one for our bathroom.

It was only after it came, and it was installed, that I realized not one of our toothbrushes fit in the holes. I thought it was annoying, a fluke in the design of the holder I purchased, and really didn’t give it much more thought. The holder is in my children’s bathroom, not mine.

Then I read this article in the NY Times that talks about this exact annoying problem. Turns out I am not alone.

As problems go, bulked-up toothbrushes — the kind that make obsolete the old-fashioned built-in ceramic cup and toothbrush holders that persist in many homes and apartments like relics of a less sophisticated (but, one can’t help feel, more grounded) age — don’t rank high on the list of human scourges. But they probably have more direct impact on the quality of many people’s daily lives: one more petty annoyance to make them feel powerless, pawns in some hidden corporate marketing strategy.

Until I purchased the toothbrush holder, I never realized that all of our toothbrushes came in different shapes and sizes. The tooth brush holder that hangs on the bathroom wall is about as useful as the slot in the back of the medicine cabinet for the disposable razor blades.

Some manufacturers are coming on board and making holders that are fit a variety of sized handles. This one by Umbra is one of my favorite finds. It reminds me of indoor/outdoor carpeting gone wild. I mean that in a good way.

At $9.50 at Shop Fosters it is also very affordable. Now to free up valuable counter real estate to find it a home.

Is subway tile a trend that is on the way out?

When you are doing a remodel, whether a kitchen or a bathroom, you are spending a quite a bit of money. You want to make sure that after a few years the choices that you make are not the equivalent of avocado green appliances.

I have been trying to walk the line between choosing things that I love without choosing things that will quickly be dated. But it is difficult at times. A lot of the things that I really like are popular right now, but so it the historic type of house that I live in popular. Pedestal sinks, hexagonal floor tiles, subway tile walls, claw foot tubs… I have all of these things. But the tubs are original to the house. And I am certain that before a previous owner thought it was a great idea to put in a dark faux wood vanity with pink sink and matching pink toilet, that there would have been a pedestal or wall hung sink.

Our third floor bathroom is original and has an adorable wall hung sink, wainscotting on the walls, and a clawfoot tub.

But back to chosing the tile. Will subway tile look dated in a few years. I honestly don’t think that it will in older homes. Maybe in new construction, but even then I think that done well it will be a classic look which is timeless.

A more modern application of the subway tile is to install it with all the grout lines. Running bond pattern, meaning the grout lines are staggered, is a classic look. And I love Cardiff also makes a subway tile that is smaller in size, 2″ x 4″ instead of the 3″ x 6″ that is standard, and comes mounted on a 12″ x 12″ mesh sheet.

Subway tiles are not just available in white either. While I prefer the more subdued colors, subway tile can be purchased in virtually every color under the sun.

I absolutely love this tile collection. The bold patterns. The subtle colors. The Spanish influence.

These tiles would look equally at home in a modern loft or an eclectic log cabin. I think that is one of the hallmarks of good design, the ability to stand on its own no matter what the surroundings. Elements Ceramic tile collection would make a stunning focal point in any home or decor application.

I could picture this one as my kitchen backsplash. Though I am not sure how much cooking I would get done since I would just have to stare at it lovingly all day long. Matching solid field tiles are also available, so if a wall of pattern is too much, use the decorative ones sparingly.

These unique tile are all hand painted by tile artists and are the newest line of decorative tiles from the Elements Collection. The collection can be purchased only through the AnchorBayTile online tile showroom.

Use them on stair risers, fireplace surrounds, outdoor barbeques, kitchen backsplashes and bath surrounds.

Popular counter top material are being used in new and exciting ways. Corian and Quartz have long been favorites of homeowners and designers for kitchen countertops due to the durability and endless color range. But recently designers have been looking at these surfaces in a whole new way.

According to Remodeling Magazine:

Departing from their usual horizontal kitchen and bath applications, solid-surfacing materials are creeping up adjacent walls to serve as backsplashes, shower walls, fireplace surrounds, and more.

These materials are infinitely flexible. Corian can be thermo-formed into custom shapes, bent around difficult angles, and can be requested in special sizes and thicknesses that make it weigh less than traditional countertop surfaces while still maintaining its durability.

Cambria, a Quartz product, comes in thicknesses down to 1cm, meaning it can be used for things like outlet covers. And it is the only quartz product to be manufactured solely in the United States. Cambria is also a certifiedGreen product. The company is committed to environmental responsibility in its product manufacturing and business practices.

If you are thinking of a remodel in the kitchen, bathroom, pool side, or a wet bar, or even perhaps a new fireplace surround, you might one to consider Corian or Quartz for your project. The applications to which it can be applied are endless, and the flexibility means your project can stand out as unique. Who doesn’t want to inject some personality into their home in this era of mass produced houses?

Animal Prints are still hot this season and don’t show signs of fading in popularity any time soon.

Zebra, giraffe, leopard patterns – this tile series by Steuler Fliesen has the wilderness look. The decorative 30 x 50 cm tiles have full-surface animal coat patterns of high graphic quality.

The tile is from Steuler Fliesen and the line is called Wild Thing Daktari Tile.

The judicious use of animal prints can really spice up your decor. While some people might opt to go small with a zebra print throw pillow, or a cheetah patterned ottoman, the bold among us might want to tile a wall.

I can picture using this line of tile in a guest powder room, where you would want to make a bold statement. Or as an accent tile combined with a neutral field tile.

There is an animal print for everyone whether they are daring enough to cover their walls, floors, and furniture with a mixture of animal prints…

…or more are reserved and understated. In which case, these coasters might be just the ticket.

Black and white together are a classic combination.

Sophisticated.

Timeless.

Delicious. Oh wait, we weren’t talking about food.

When it comes to design, the same words apply.

There is a “rule” in interior design that says every room should have something black. It acts as a foil around which all the other colors dance.

Black and white used together are classic design elements. They can be used in both modern and vintage applications. Serving as a clean palette, They highlight whatever you want to put the focus on in your room. When paired with another color it will make that color pop. Look at the photo example above, the lines of the elegnat brown couch are obvious in a way that they would not be if the room was filled with distracting colors.

I especially love black and white paired with a bright color like apple green.

When we were remodeling our children’s bathrooms we decided to go with a vintage look that would be appropriate for a house this age The clawfoot tubs have a black painted exterior and the floor is white hexagonal tiles with black accents. This allowed the walls to be a blank canvas. Each of the bathrooms has a completely different feel based solely on the wall color.

Anchor bay Tile has a new line of black and white glass tile for sale. The Urban Living Collection of Glass Tile come dot-mounted on either 12 x 18 inch or 13 x 13 inch sheets. Use it in a kitchen backsplash, a bathroom, a shower, or even in exterior applications. The possibilities are endless.

Dream Light Rain Canopy by Jaclo Industries is just another design in the modern trend of the bathroom as a sanctuary. Gone are the days when the entire family shared a single bathroom in the hall. Bathrooms are no longer viewed as simply utilitarian.

Sophisticated homeowners are turning their master bathrooms into spa-like places where they can retreat from the outside world.

Employing the alternative medicine idea of chromotherapy, the design uses color and light. According the chromotherapy, color can be used to bring health and balance (physical, emotional, spiritual, or mental) into a person’s life. The Dream Light uses an innovative rain canopy shower head in rectangular, cube and round shapes and features a thin stainless steel sheet complete with LED lights, which illuminate the falling water.

I have never been a spa bath type of person, even though the idea of soaking in a hot tub sounds divine, I never have the time or inclination in the evening. So to me, the Dream Light Shower seems like the perfect relaxing compromise.