Bathroom Remodel Archives - Page 2 of 33

Choosing Floor Tile Size: Advice from a Flooring Contractor

When it comes to remodeling your Orange County home or adding on a new space, selecting the right floor tile size means more than just making a design choice. Consider this decision a strategic one. Ask any experienced flooring contractor, and they will tell you that the tile size you select affects room appearance and even how easy the floor is to maintain.

Use the advice from Inspired Remodels, an Orange County flooring contractor, to help you pick the best size tile for your home. Learn the many ways tile size impacts your flooring project.

Common Floor Tile Sizes

Porcelain and stone tiles come in a wide range of sizes. Here are the most common formats available for Orange County homes:

Small tiles: 2″x2″, 4″x4″, 6″x6″ are great for mosaics, shower floors, or detailed patterns.
Standard tiles: 12″x12″, 12″x24″, 18″x18″ offer versatility that makes them popular for residential floors.
Large-format tiles: 24″x24″, 24″x48″ work well with the open-concept spaces so popular in Southern California and enhance modern designs.
Plank-style tiles: 6″x24″, 8″x48″, 12″x36″ come into play when you opt for wood-look porcelain floors.

Courtesy Novo Drain

Why Tile Size Matters

The tile size impacts everything from the look of the floor to how easy it is to maintain.

Visual Impact on Room Size

Larger tiles make small rooms feel bigger by reducing grout lines. Large format tile like a 24″x24″, 24″ x 48″, or varying sizes of wood-look porcelain tile create a sleek, open feel in a kitchen or living room. Smaller tiles, by contrast, add texture and pattern but can make small areas feel crowded. So, use large tiles in open areas and smaller tiles where detail or traction is needed, like bathroom floors.

Design Goals and Aesthetics

The tile size you pick should complement the aesthetic of the overall design of the space. Whether you aim for a modern, traditional, or eclectic look, make sure the tile and the tile size itself supports your goal.

In general:

Modern spaces thrive on large-format tiles with minimal grout.
Traditional homes may benefit from medium-sized tiles with a warm pattern.
Rustic or eclectic designs often use mixed-size tiles or tiles that create mosaic patterns.

So, don’t ruin your modern design with small, polygon tiles.

Grout and Maintenance

One overlooked advantage of larger floor tiles is less grout to clean. Fewer joints mean fewer places for dirt to settle. Smaller tiles require more grout, and more grout means more maintenance. If easy maintenance is a priority, tile size should be part of the conversation with your flooring contractor. Also, discuss sealing grout or using grout with an integrated sealant to prevent staining and keep grout lines clean.

What Flooring Contractors Recommend

Every space is different, but flooring contractors apply these general guidelines for most Orange County projects:

Bathrooms: Use 12″x24″ tiles to elongate the space or mosaics for traction in wet areas like the shower floor.
Kitchens & hallways: Depending on the size of the space, larger format tiles reduce grout lines and look modern.
Open living areas: 24″x48″ tiles create a seamless, spacious feeling to rooms.

Work with a Flooring Contractor to Get It Right

The right floor tile size balances beauty, function, and cost. Whether you’re going for bold and modern or timeless and classic, tile size plays a central role in the success of your remodeling or renovation project. Work with a trusted flooring contractor and use their expertise to help you make a decision that elevates your space, beautifully and practically.

Travertine is Back for Kitchen and Bathroom Remodeling

By Inspired Remodels / Bathroom Remodel, Kitchen Remodel / Comments Off

Travertine tiles, pavers, and slabs star in modern kitchen and bathroom remodeling projects in Orange County. Why is travertine popular again? That’s an easy question to answer. Travertine’s classic appearance and durability made this stone popular in ancient times, and those characteristics are valued again today.

Natural Materials are a Natural in Kitchen and Bath Designs

In 2025, natural materials and biophilic design dominate kitchen and bathroom remodeling designs. Travertine’s natural properties align perfectly with this design trend.

As a sedimentary limestone, travertine exhibits a unique texture and appearance. Fossils dot certain slabs, tiles, and pavers. Like other stone materials, no two pieces appear exactly the same. Subtle veining gives it a depth of character that’s difficult to replicate.

As designers turn to more natural materials, it is only natural that they turn to travertine. Once sealed, this stone is perfect for use in the bathroom and kitchen. It adds a spa-like vibe to bathrooms and lends tranquility to kitchens.

Earthy Palettes Dominate Kitchen and Bathroom Remodeling

In Orange County, earthy palettes rule the design palette. Pulling in the natural tones of our desert and ocean landscape, these designs lean into earth tones.

This is where travertine shines. With a wide range of earth tones from which to choose, travertine offers tans, pinks, beiges, camel, and yellow tones.

Travertine backsplashes work with wood floors in the kitchen, while in the bathroom it clads walls, tops floors, and creates beautiful showers.

Because of the natural variation in the stone, travertine brings interest to any tile surface.

It also works well with other stones and tiles. This shower niche utilizes several earth tone materials to create a stunning design.

Durable, Versatile, and Affordable

Designers love travertine because they can use it in many ways. Homeowners love travertine because it makes an affordable choice for stone. Travertine generally costs less than marble, even though both stones are similar limestone-based materials. Everyone loves travertine because it stands up to use for many years.

Travertine can be found in wall tiles, floor tiles, countertops, and backsplash and accent tiles. Its ability to stand up to foot traffic makes it ideal for busy kitchen floors.

Since ancient Greece and Rome, people put travertine to use inside and outside. Few materials can boast the same long heritage.

Inspired Kitchen and Bathroom Remodeling in Orange County

For a truly inspired kitchen and bathroom remodeling in Orange County, turn to Inspired Remodels.

From modern to classic designs, Inspired Remodels turns your dreams into reality. Their design/build approach smooths the remodeling process and provides you with a single source of contact at every step. Check out their portfolio of kitchen and bathroom remodeling projects.

Schedule a consultation today.

Real Estate Broker Doubles as Custom Kitchen Remodeler

By Inspired Remodels / Bathroom Remodel, Home Improvement, Kitchen Remodel / Comments Off

You might find a real estate broker in Coto de Caza boasting of a “full-service” office. But, does that Coto de Caza real estate broker double as a custom kitchen remodeler? Do they update bathrooms, create outdoor living spaces, upgrade floors, and improve the home’s usability? The answer is “yes” if your Coto de Caza real estate broker must be Joe Mueller with Inspired Realty. Joe doubles as a custom kitchen remodeler and more as the owner of Inspired Remodels as well.

Full Range of Services Offered

The Inspired Realty team helps you find the Coto de Caza home of your dreams, and the Inspired Remodel team turns any Orange County home into a dream home as well.

Inspired Remodels offers complete design and renovation services. They cover inside and outside updates.

Love the house but not the kitchen? Inspired Realty gets the house, and then Inspired Remodels swings into action as your full-service custom kitchen remodeler. Sit with a designer and create your dream kitchen. Then, watch as skilled craftsmen transform your kitchen into a functional and fabulous place.

One room or whole house remodeling services elevate your Coto de Caza home into the showcase space you’ve always wanted.

Coto de Caza Kitchen Remodeler in Action

This Coto de Caza kitchen gets a complete upgrade. The simplicity of white, black, and grey gets a boost from a little touch of green in a custom kitchen remodel that’s not only stylish today but will still look great in 15 years. Inspired Remodels turned ho-hum into stunning.

What real estate broker in Coto de Caza makes this possible?

Joe Mueller and his teams at Inspired Realty and Inspired Remodels.

The oversized island features space for grilling and dining. Imagine an eat-in kitchen in Coto de Caza! Lighted upper cabinets and contrasting dark lower cabinets bring a unique look to this updated kitchen.

Bathroom Updates, Too!

Love the bedrooms, but turned off by outdated bathrooms? Let the Inspired Realty and Inspired Remodels dynamic duo get you the house you want and bring spa-like serenity to updated bathrooms.

This master retreat remodel offers plenty of space and light to accommodate hectic mornings with grace and style. Dual sinks, well-lighted mirrors, and ample storage for grooming essentials speed the dressing routine.

The beautiful soaking tub and seamless glass shower offer spa vibes.

The other bathroom features warm tones in the shower and neutral cabinets and vanity top. Any family member will find this space to be as functional as it is visually pleasing.

Once again, Joe Mueller is the real estate broker who makes these transformations possible.

Your Real Estate Broker and Custom Kitchen Remodeler

Don’t limit your options for real estate in Orange County. Work with the real estate broker who also has a general contractor license. Inspired Realty and Inspired Remodels work together to create the home you’ll love in Orange County.