Art in the purest
In today’s time, especially in western culture, we tend to take one of the most basic and yet artistic elements of home design for granted. A lot has changed over the years in how a home or residence is built. The methods, the materials, the strength, the aesthetic and so much more has varied in the ways construction is done. With that said, there is one thing that has been a pretty consistent element among generations and even across the globe. That is the use of tile. While it might not be the same tile the Egyptians used in 10,000 BC or the beautifully precise pieces made by the Italians for centuries, it remains a constant in the test of time.
At the King House, September has been the month for tile. It’s been installed in the bathrooms, laundry room, and soon will be a focal point in the kitchen. I think sometimes when it comes to picking tile people get scared of it and worry they might choose the wrong thing. Yes tile is not something you would replace on a whim (good heavens that would be an ordeal) but it’s something you can take some liberty with. In the words of Marie Kondo ask yourself, “Does it spark joy?” I mean, you are going to see the stuff EVERY day so you may as well love it.
The photo above was taken in the little seaside town called Fiumicino near Rome Italy. We spent a couple days here and I fell in love with the communal courtyard area. When I see this photo, the tiles remind me of an amazing vacation and the rich colors ignite a sense of adventure and romance. THIS is what you want in your home! So far the tiles we’ve chosen do not have a lot of color variation per se BUT we’ve included large tile, hexagon, slate, stone texture, classic subway, and Italian finish. Each piece telling a slightly different story but working with it’s counter part to create wholeness in the space. We’ve gone ahead and posted some of these choices on our Instagram page. When we get to the redesign of the pool area you will most likely see some colors similar to the photo above…That will be a much later post though. We’ve got to get the inside ready!
The next time you are faced with the decision of which tile to chose I hope you allow yourself to be inspired by the ancient generations before you. Become the artist because YOU are the designer in that moment after all. Take a second, see what feeling it stirs up, and if it’s something joyful well…I think you’ve found your tile. Or perhaps, it’s found you.