kitchen tile Archives - Inspired Remodels

White and white oak kitchen cabinetry with pendant lighting and light wood-tone porcelain floors

Orange County Kitchen Remodeler Loves Arizona Tile

By Inspired Remodels / Home Improvement, Kitchen Remodel / No Comments

Inspired Remodels, the inspired Orange County kitchen remodeler, loves the looks and quality you get when you install products by Arizona Tile. As a premier kitchen remodeler, Inspired Remodels works with only the best. And Arizona Tile represents the finest in tile and slab distribution in the Western United States. Take a look at some of the fabulous results.

Making a Design Splash with Backsplashes

A backsplash plays a vital role in the kitchen by protecting walls from moisture, grease, and food splatter. It simplifies cleaning and prevents damage to the areas behind the stove and sink. Beyond functionality, the backsplash serves as a major design element. Designers use it to introduce color, texture, or pattern to tie together the cabinets, countertops, and flooring. Whether you choose bold geometric tile, a soft coastal hue, or a natural stone slab, the backsplash anchors the overall style and adds visual interest. The backsplash holds the power to elevate an entire space.

This backsplash uses Arizona Tile to bring together the cool tones of the counters and stainless steel appliances with the warm tone of the paint and the richness of the wood cabinets.

In this kitchen, the backsplash pulls together the grey countertop by the sink work area with the beautiful countertop on the island. These days, designers freely mix and match countertop materials. It’s up to the backsplash to pull the two materials together. In this case, Arizona Tile hits it out of the park with style.

Count on Arizona Tile for Countertops

Tile may be their name, but the Arizona Tile product line includes a wide variety of slab products for countertops. This includes:

Granite
Quartz
Quartzite
Marble aggregate
Dolomite
Porcelain
Limestone
Basalt
Travertine

No matter how you cook or your design preferences, there’s a countertop or two for you.

Arizona Tile countertops contribute to an understated, elegant aesthetic in this kitchen. White coordinates with cabinetry beautifully, while the subtle grey veining accents the stainless steel appliances.

These grey quartz countertops in this Newport Coast kitchen contribute to the clean, modern vibe that starts with the high gloss cabinets and continues with sleek appliances and high gloss flooring. Even with heavy use, quartz maintains its sleek appearance.

Inspired Kitchen Remodeler

Orange County turns to Inspired Remodels for beautiful and functional kitchen remodels, bath remodels, updated fireplaces, exteriors, and whole house renovation.

As a premier kitchen remodeler, Inspired Remodels only maintains relationships with trusted vendors that meet exacting requirements. When you work with Inspired Remodels, you know from the design to the labor and materials, everything will meet and exceed your expectations.

Choosing Floor Tile Size: Advice from a Flooring Contractor

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

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.

kitchen remodeling after photo stainless sttel stove and hood with gre, black & white backsplash

Kitchen Remodeling Fall Inspiration

By Inspired Remodels / Kitchen Remodel / Comments Off

Fall in Orange County means football on TV, fewer tourists at the beach, and a drive to the mountains for leaf peeping. The change in season provides the perfect backdrop to refresh the home before the holidays. So, here’s a little inspiration for kitchen remodeling this fall.

Make a Splash with a Backsplash

A kitchen backsplash possesses the remarkable ability to transform the entire room and breathe new life into its design. This often-overlooked feature is not merely a protective barrier against splashes and stains but also a canvas for creativity and style. See how these backsplashes work magic in kitchen remodeling projects.

How unusual is this tile? The current green and white palette goes great, but honestly, this tile will match any color the homeowner ever uses. Talk about tile with staying power!

Another kitchen, another green and white combination. But, a completely different look thanks to the marvelous backsplash.

For something completely different, go for traditional subway tile but lay it in a herringbone pattern. All the beauty of a chevron with none of the extra labor costs for cutting the tile at an angle.

Update Kitchen Hardware

New cabinet hardware breathes new life into a kitchen, instantly transforming its overall look and feel. These small but impactful elements play a pivotal role in the kitchen’s aesthetic, functionality, and style.

Cabinet hardware serves as a visual focal point in the kitchen. It’s like jewelry that enhances an outfit. Selecting hardware that complements your kitchen’s design theme creates a cohesive and harmonious space. Change the choice of hardware and change the tone for the entire room.

The same style cabinets just look different when you use brushed nickel versus gold hardware.

Decorative Lighting

New decorative lighting in a kitchen remodeling makes a room more functional and visually appealing. Swap out decorative lighting for a fresh and rejuvenated look.

First and foremost, lighting fixtures can serve as the focal point of your kitchen’s design. Whether it’s a stunning alternative to traditional pendant lights above the kitchen island, a row of elegant sconces along the walls, or a unique chandelier, the choice of decorative lighting can set the tone and style for the entire space. Lighting becomes a statement piece, elevating the room’s overall aesthetics.

Fall In Love with Kitchen Remodeling

This Fall, fall in love with the kitchen remodeling experts at Inspired Remodels. Get ideas for kitchens, baths, entryways, bedrooms, or any room in the house!