Artful Tile and Mosaic Trends Give Your Home Interior a Spectacular Upgrade

Courtesy Kathleen Fuhriman, Photo: Ori Media

A new home build, or a renovation, can see great impact from a selection of fresh tile looks for the kitchen, bath, and flooring. A mosaic accent wall, or a stone slab floor can create a completely new aesthetic in home décor that is as individual as the owner.

We spoke with Kathleen Fuhriman, co-owner of European Marble & Granite in Park City and Salt Lake City, Utah, to gather current trends and tips when considering tile, mosaic, and stone slab for an urban residence or a mountain retreat.

Co-owner of European Marble & Granite, Kathleen Fuhriman. Courtesy Kathleen Fuhriman, Photo: Ori Media

What’s Trending Currently?

Courtesy Kathleen Fuhriman, Photo: Ori Media

Natural stone in large format is very popular for floors right now. Limestone is a great choice offering natural color variation in each tile, and unique tumbled edges. Terrazzo tile for floors is also a popular choice and brass, steel or nickel liners installed before the floor is poured provides gorgeous contrast, interest, and warmth.

For accent walls and shower floors, we are seeing intricate mosaic tile work. With limitless possibilities, and materials such as marble, glass, and porcelain that can be combined, designs ranging from simple to exotic are possible. On shower floors, mosaic has an advantage as it is easier to create a slope to the drain. Subway tile is still a staple, but there are more choices than ever featuring different tile sizes, hand hewn tiles, and interesting glazes and finishes that give a kitchen or bath an utterly bespoke look.

What is One of Your Favorite Looks?

Courtesy Kathleen Fuhriman, Photo: Ori Media

I love Zellige tile. Handmade in Morocco, the natural glazes allow the slightly unique quality of each tile to reflect light beautifully. I also love natural stone tile. Its organic surface features and availability in large format sizes is both timeless and classic. Natural stone will complement a traditional or more modern interior design equally well.

What Colors and Sizes are Most Popular?

Courtesy Kathleen Fuhriman, Photo: Ori Media

We are seeing a color trend toward warm tones rather than cooler hues. Tile colors have warm undertones and are accented with gold or copper.  Urban residences tend to be more compact and streamlined, so the use of smaller tile sizes makes sense in the city. Mountain homes are often larger, so large format tile works well in these spaces without becoming overwhelming.

How do I Choose?

Courtesy Kathleen Fuhriman, Photo: Ori Media

Take some time to make an appointment at a reputable tile showroom and speak with an expert. Experience working with different tile formats will be extremely beneficial in helping you select what works best for your individual project. You can also get both a visual and tactile experience that can’t be duplicated by buying online.