what's new in the Glass tile is showing up everywhere, as an accent or an entire shower stall. It appears on floors and walls, as decorative bands in wainscoting, and mixed with cut stone for a very naturalistic look. Hand painted decorative tile has become very popular, giving baths an "arts & crafts" look. Once a staple of flooring, natural slate has become a much more versatile stone thanks to a variety of colors and textures that have been made available in recent years from sources in India and China. These days, in fact, you’ll find natural slate around a fireplace and even on bathroom walls, in such colors as copper, green, gold and red, as well as traditional hues, complete with chair rails and Ogee moldings. (A very flat, smooth slate from Brazil, on the other hand, produces a minimalistic look in muted grays and black, if that’s your style.) "Tumbled" slate – smaller, distressed pieces for a more rustic look – and Quartzite, which contains flecks of mica that create an interesting sheen are meeting the demand for natural, earth tones and broader color options. |
