Deco Dots Accent Tiles - More versatile than you think...

What are Deco Dot Sets?

The Deco Dot sets are sold as sixteen 1x1's (mesh mounted).

Can I order individual dots separately?

Yes! Deco Dots are available as individual Accent Tiles
in any size, on any stone.

Available as:

2" x  2"

3" x  3"

4" x  4"

6" x  6"

8" x  8"

Need a different size? Just ask.

Can I order a whole set that uses only one
of the designs?

Yes! Perhaps you only like the blue swirly one.
You can order just that one as a set of 16.

Each Deco Dot design now has its own number
for easy ordering.

Click on the link below to view the sheet:

http://www.stoneimpressions.com/blog/Deco_Dots_sheet_with_numbers.pdf

How to Grout StoneImpressions Tiles

This question comes up so frequently, it is worth repeating this blog entry from October 2009.

One of the questions that we get asked most often is "How do I grout my StoneImpressions decorative tile mural or pattern?"

The short answer is this:

"Grouting is a matter of personal preference.  You should always talk to your installer to discuss how your tiles will be grouted.  And make sure your installer reads our Installation Instructions before starting your job."

And now you are thinking, "Okay, thanks for nothing. That answer doesn't help me at all!"  The long answer is what you need - so sit back, grab a drink and get ready to read for a while.  It isn't really so complicated but there are certain things you should know about the different options for grouting and how each will affect the look of your StoneImpressions decorative tile.

Grouting - Ceramic vs. Natural Stone

In general, grouting is usually done by smearing grout all over the tiles to get it in every joint and space between the tiles.  When you grout ceramic tile, the only place the grout can go is in the spaces between the tiles.  The ceramic tiles themselves have a smooth surface and do not have holes in the tile where the grout will fill in.

It is a different story for our natural stone tiles.  Depending on which type of stone you choose, these tiles can have naturally occurring holes, cracks and crevices.  When you smear the grout all over these tiles, it will not only fill in all the joints and spaces between the tiles, but every hole, crack, and crevice too.  With that in mind, let's talk about some options for how to grout our decorative tiles.

Option #1 - Smear Method
Spread grout over the entire image just like you do for any other tile.

This will fill the natural holes in the stone and can cause the image to become randomly spotted with grout.  This is not necessarily a bad thing.  There are two points to keep in mind for this option:

1. What kind of stone are you using?  

Our Light Travertine has a lot of natural holes and pits in it.  It has a more rustic and aged look to it.  Grouting the Light Travertine using the Smear Method will result in many spots of grout.  But if you like the more rustic look, this might not be a problem for you.  On the other hand, our Tumbled Botticino and Tumbled Durango tiles do not have many natural holes or pits.  They do have some pitting, but not much compared to the Light Travertine.  When you grout the Botticino by spreading the grout all over, there may be some spotting, but usually not very much.  You can see the different stone types that we offer on our Materials page.

2. What kind of design is on your StoneImpressions tile?

If the design that you have chosen has a lot of dark colors, the light colored grout in the holes and pits will be very apparent.  If your design is a lighter color, the grout in the holes will not be as obvious.

This is a mural with dark colors on Light Travertine.  Notice the many holes and pits.  If you smear grout all over this mural, you will see grout spots in the dark areas - especially on the wine bottles and the grapes.

This mural is also on Light Travertine, but the colors are much lighter.  The grout will again fill all of the natural holes and pits, but the spotting will not appear as prominently.

This mural has dark ink, but it is printed on the smoother Tumbled Durango stone.  When you spread grout all over this mural, it might fill in some smaller holes, but not many. 

The same is true with our accents and listellos.  The listello shown below is on Light Travertine and has many holes and pits.  But the ink is a very light color, so grout filling in the hole might no be a problem for you.

Option #2: Grout Bag Method
Use a grout bag to fill only the grid lines of the mural.

A grout bag is just like a pastry bag that is used to decorate cakes.  You fill it with grout and then squeeze the grout through a tip which allows you to put the grout only where you need it.  

You use the grout bag to grout only the joints and spaces between the tiles.  That way you avoid getting grout filling in every hole and crevice in the natural tile.  This can be more time consuming than the Smear Method.  If your installer uses the grout bag for a single mural, then it is probably no big deal.   If you expect your installer to use a grout bag on twenty or fifty square feet of tile - you should also expect to pay them for the extra time it will take.

This method gives you the best of both worlds.  You get the sealing and protection that the grout provides, and you avoid spots of grout showing up throughout the design and detracting from the overall look.  In many cases, this would be the ideal way to grout your decorative natural stone tile.

More information about how to use a grout bag.



Option #3: No grout at all.

You can place the tiles right up next to each other and skip the grout.  This is the best way to keep the design of a mural intact - it displays the image without spaces in between that can interrupt the design or pattern.  This option will result in some gaps between the tiles depending on what type of stone you are using.  Stone with very tumbled edges will leave gaps where the four corners of the tile meet.  Like this:

The gaps are not gigantic, but they are there.  Click on the picture above to see a close up view.

If you are using stone with a straighter edge, like our Micro-bevel Durango, you will not have many gaps. See picture below:

Leaving the gaps and spaces without grout could create difficulty in the future, because dirt, dust and moisture can accumulate in those holes.  This is one of the main reasons that people use grout in the first place.  It seals the spaces in between the tiles to prevent any accumulation of dirt and moisture which can eventually damage the wall behind the tile.  You should consider where the tile is located to decide whether you want to use this method.  If you are installing in a room in your house where you don't expect much moisture, this method might work for you.  You could also try using the grout bag to apply grout only to the bigger gaps between the corners of the tumbled tiles.  That will give you some protection.

If you are thinking about the no grout method you should definitely talk to your installer first.  There are many things to consider and a knowledgeable tile installer will know what questions to ask to determine the best course of action for you.

Grouting wrap-up

We hope this information will help you in deciding how to grout your StoneImpressions tile.  And perhaps you can understand why there is not just one simple answer to fit everyone.  Your taste, your stone choice, your installation location and your mural or pattern design will all be factors to consider when determining how to grout.

Let us know in the comments below if you have any grouting tips for us or additional questions that you'd like us to answer.

Layout does matter

With some tile designs, how you lay them out during installation really does make a difference.  Some examples:

 A single tile of our Minore Charcoal Green design.  These tiles are usually laid out in multiples of fours to make up a pattern.  But how you arrange those four tiles can give you different looks.

This layout focuses on the circular pattern that you see in the Minore design.

By laying the tiles in a slightly different order, you emphasize the interlocking 

geometric pattern in the Minore design.

A single tile of the Linda Vista Pattern shown in 12x12 limestone.

You wouldn't think there are options with this swirly, floral pattern.  But there is more than one 

way to lay this out.  The drawing above shows it with all of the tiles facing in the same direction.

In this layout, every other tile has been turned 90 degrees so that the circular flow 

of the design is slightly changed.  It is a very subtle difference.

Here is a simple example of how layout can change the look.  This is the 

Marseille Pattern tiles as they are typically laid out.

By turning the tiles on the diagonal, you see a different pattern emerge.

The most important tip about laying out pattern tiles is to decide on how you want them arranged, BEFORE your tile installer gets started.  Lay them out together on the floor or on a table to take a look at how the pattern comes together.  And make sure your installer knows which way you want them to go.

FAQ - Can I get samples of StoneImpressions tiles?

So you have been browsing our website, checking out our tile collections and so far you like what you see.  But you are a little unsure if you want to trust the website pictures. 

What if is like that time you tried online dating?  And the photos in the profile of MrSoRight84 looked like this:

But when he showed up at your door, it was more like this: 

We don't blame you for being a little wary of website photos. 

If you find a tile design that you like and you would like to see more, the first step is to locate one of the authorized dealers near you.  Go to the Showrooms page of our website and choose your state to get started.  

All of the stores listed on our website will have StoneImpressions tile displays in their showrooms.  These displays show a variety of styles and designs, with a selection of different sizes and all of our available stone types.  It is possible that the tile you want is shown in one of the display boards at the store near you.  So go on in and take a look and you could be pleasantly surprised.

Since our entire collection is quite extensive, you might not see the tile you are looking for in the store display.  The good news is that sample tiles are inexpensive and easy to order from your local StoneImpressions dealer. You can choose any of our designs, any tile size and any stone type and we make your sample just the way you want it.  We produce samples tiles right away and in most cases, you can have your sample piece in your hands in about a week.  Your local dealer can let you know how much it all costs.

Is it worth it?  It definitely is.  All of our sample tiles are the full-sized, real and true StoneImpressions tile and are made exactly the same way our regular tiles are made.  You are not getting a tiny swatch or measly chip that shows you a minuscule quarter inch of color and nothing more.  You get the full size tile with all of the color and the complete design. 

Take it home with you and hold it up next to your cabinets or compare it to your countertop.  Contemplate its colors in the morning light and see how it looks in the evening shadows.  Take it for long walks on the beach, make dinner for it, or share a nice bottle of wine by the roaring fire - whatever you have to do to make the decision that this tile is The One.

No matter where you are installing the tiles, it is an investment that you will be enjoying  for years to come.  Get yourself a sample before making the decision and maybe...

<-------------- you'll end up with this,

and not this.  --------------------------->

Stone Tile Basics - Part 3 - Embracing Imperfection

In two of our previous posts (here and here), we talked about sizing and measuring for tile and also went over some of the basic terms used to describe natural stone tile.  In this one, we want to help you understand and appreciate the natural irregularities and imperfections that are found in natural stone products.

Allobates granti

Ranitomeya benedicta

Ranitomeya summersi

These amazing creatures are a few of the amphibian species recently identified in the Amazon according to the World Wildlife Fund.  They are perfect examples of the gorgeous imperfections found in nature.  Their stripes are not symmetric; their spots are not perfectly round or equally spaced; and the guy in the top picture could certainly use some snazzier pants to go with that top.  But there is undeniable beauty in in each one.

Natural stone is a product of nature.  It will often have variations in color, texture, edges, corners, pits, striations and veining.  There can be differences from one tile to another, even if you are buying the same type of stone from the very same batch.  In the natural world, perfection is an illusion.  The irregularities and variations found in a stone tile can be a big part of what makes it so beautiful.  

Know Thyself

When thinking about natural stone, a good maxim to follow is "Know Thyself."  If you have OCD tendencies and you know that seeing darker and lighter tiles sitting right there next to each other on the wall will start you twitching and foaming at the mouth; or the sight of the rounded edges on the tumbled tiles not lining up perfectly freaks you out, you might want to walk (or RUN!) out of the natural stone tile section and head over to the ceramic tile where things are a little more orderly.  Just take a deep breath and let the calming force of the white ceramic tile wash over you.  Look at all those straight lines and perfectly square corners.  Ahhhh....that's better.

Photo of  Subway Tile from Arizona Tile

Nothing to Fear

Please don't misunderstand.  The paragraph above is not meant to scare you away from natural stone tiles.  Those of us who prefer a little order and symmetry in our lives can still enjoy the beauty in natural stone tile because there is, of course, variation in the variation.  Certain types of natural stone do have a very uniform and consistent appearance, while others can have a great deal of variation in the coloring and natural veining running throughout the stone.  And there is an endless range of options in between those two extremes.  Some examples below:

Example of a limestone tile

This stone has a very consistent color and almost no movement or texture differences.  One tile looks just about the same as all the other tiles.  It is indeed, a natural stone tile.  This limestone can come with straight, non-tumbled edges, so it can practically mimic the look of ceramic tile.

~ ~ ~

The following stone pictures are from a great stone supplier,  World Wide Stone Corporation.

Durango Ancient Veracruz from World Wide Stone

This stone type has some movement, but it is very consistent in color and "visual texture" from one piece to another.  There are lighter and darker areas on all pieces, but the variations are spread throughout, in way that gives a relatively uniform appearance.

~ ~ ~

Durango Ancient Sol from World Wide Stone

This stone could also be described as having a lot of movement, however, the variations are mostly in texture.  The color only varies because it has both dark and light shades.  But the overall color itself is consistent throughout.  It does have natural striations that vary from tile to tile.  That middle tile in the bottom row seems to be almost all one color.  The tile in the top left corner has numerous stripes of color.

~ ~ ~

Durango Ancient Dorado from World Wide Stone

You would say that this stone has a lot of movement.  It has a great deal variation in both colors and textures.  Its color is predominantly a warm gold, but you also see places of dark brown, orange, lighter grays and even some spots of black.   The texture varies greatly between tiles.  The tiles in the bottom row do not have many striations or color differences.  But the tiles in the top left corner have a great deal of variations and color difference.

~ ~ ~

Durango Red Onyx from World Wide Stone

This stone type is clearly the wild child of the bunch.  It is bursting with movement, visual texture and color differences.  You definitely could use this tile to add an LSD-inspired splash to an otherwise staid room decor.

~ ~ ~

These are only a few examples of the different natural stone tiles you can find, but it gives you a little taste of the variety available.  A good tip is to look at more than one piece of stone tile from the same batch when you are trying to determine which stone type that you like.  Four to six tiles of the same stone will give you a good idea of how much variation you might find in that particular type of stone.  But don't get carried away with this.  If you find yourself asking the tile person to bring out the crate of stone so you can pick through it, piece by piece; or if you want them to promise you that all of the tile that you receive in your order will look exactly like your four sample pieces....time to slowly back away from the boxes of natural stone and shuffle on over the oasis that is the ceramic tile aisle.

Balance is the key

Like most things in life, it really comes down to balance.  You might want to choose a "calmer" or more consistent stone type if the rest of the materials that you are using in your room already have a great deal of visual texture.  Or go a little wild with your stone to spice things up in a room that is awash in mild, non-threatening neutrals. 

So go out there and embrace the wonderful imperfections and variety found in natural stone.  With all of the choices available, you are bound to find stone that has the character and beauty you are looking for, with a level of variation that you feel comfortable with. Another natural beauty, Marilyn Monroe, had the right idea when she said:

 
"Imperfection is beauty, madness is genius, and it is better
to be absolutely ridiculous than absolutely boring."

Click below for other posts in this series:

Stone Tile Basics Part 1 - Sizes and measuring

Stone Tile Basics Part 2 - Learn the lingo

Stone Tile Basics Part 3 - Embracing Imperfection- YOU ARE HERE

Stone Tile Basics Part 4 - It's all about us, baby! - COMING SOON

Natural Stone Tile Basics - Part 2 - Learn the Lingo

In an earlier post, we went over some basics about stone sizes and how to calculate square footage. In this one, we are going to talk about some of the characteristics of natural stone tile.  There is a seemingly endless variety of stone types out there and we couldn't possibly cover it all.  So we are going to focus on the stone types we use and know well.  The best way to approach this is to give you a little tutorial on the terms that you might hear when shopping for stone.

Terms that describe the edges of the stone:

Straight Cut Edge

All stone tiles start out as a gigantic blocks of stone that have been mined from a quarry.  Those huge slabs have to be cut down into individual tiles.  The process of cutting the tiles leaves relatively straight edges on all sides.  We say "relatively straight" because stone is a natural product and you have to accept some departures from perfection.  More about that later.

Micro-bevel Edge

To get this kind of edge, the Straight Cut tiles are run through one more process to give the top edge of the tile a teeny-tiny little angle.   This is definitely a case where a picture is worth a thousand words.

The Micro-bevel edge gives the tile a very clean, contemporary look.

Tumbled Edges

To get the Tumbled effect, tiles with a straight edge are put into a tumbling machine.  Think of it as a big shaker filled with gravel or ceramic pieces.  The tumbler either vibrates or rotates and after a certain amount of time (and a number of broken tiles) the edges of the tiles are rounded out.

Tumbled edges are a very common way to finish natural stone tiles.  Rounded, imperfect edges are a great complement to the other natural characteristics of stone.

Chiseled Edge

We don't use stone with this type of edge, so we'll have to borrow from a great resource: The Build Direct Learning Center.  Specifically, their Travertine Tile Glossary defines a chiseled edge as: "The process by which a stone is given an aged appearance by mechanically chipping the edge of the tile."  We couldn't have said it better ourselves.  And here is a picture that they provide:

Stone tile with a chiseled edge.

Terms that describe the surface of the stone:

Honed Tile

Honing is a process of sanding or abrading the flat surface of the stone to smooth it.  Honed tiles have a matte finish.  They are smooth, but they are not highly polished or shiny.

Polished Tile

Polished stone is also sanded or abraded but it is done using smaller and smaller grit sanders until the surface of the tile is very smooth and shiny.

Filled Tile

Filling is a process to literally "fill in" all of the natural holes, pits and cracks in the natural stone tiles, which results in a smoother surface.  The fill is usually a similar color to the rest of the stone, so it blends in and adds to the natural texture of the tiles. 

Fill is not the same as grout.  Stone tile will be filled at the factory.  Grout is used only during installation of tile. Grout has a sandy texture. Fill is typically a polymer or synthetic material which is a smoother substance and is very hard once it dries. 

Example of travertine tile honed and filled.  Click on the picture for a larger view and you'll see the arrows pointing out the little spots of fill.  Some of the brighter, white spots are not fill.  They are  naturally occurring calcification running through the stone.

Unfilled Tile

At the risk of stating the obvious, unfilled tile does NOT have any holes, pits or cracks filled in.  It's the raw, wild, unpretentious stone - as if you just chopped a chunk off the quarry walls yourself.  Unfilled tile looks the most rustic and antique.

Examples of unfilled stone tiles

Brushed Tile

We also don't usually work with Brushed tiles so back to the experts at Build Direct Learning Center's Travertine Tile Glossary:

Brushed Finish = A finishing technique that requires the stone be brushed by a coarse wire brush. This replicates the appearance of natural wear over time.

Terms that describe the color of the stone:

Oy vey.  Too many to list.  Fortunately, the names used to describe colors of stone are not as extensive as those used for paint colors (Fuzzy Slippers, anyone?).  But what you need to know is that what one store calls Ivory, another might call Beige or Cream or Crema or Light or Classic.  The words used to describe the colors of different natural stone tiles are not universal.  You will find some consistency in the naming and often hear similar terms used.  But you really should go into the store to look at actual samples in order to see what colors you like.

And if you are going to shop around, write down the names of the tiles that you like along with the name of the store where you found them. You might fall in love with the Chocolate Tumbled Classico Antiqued tiles at Shop A.  But if you walk into Shop B and ask for Chocolate Tumbled Classico Antiqued tiles, you could be met with blank stares.  (Or if they are smart, Store B will whip out their Rustic Ancient Noce Classic tiles and tell you why Rustic Ancient Noce Classic tiles are so much better than Chocolate Tumbled Classico Antiqued tiles.)

Putting it all together:

The terms that we've just listed all describe different characteristics of natural stone tiles.  So you'll see individual types of stone described using many of these words strung together.  For example:

Honed and Filled - it is very common to see these two put together.  They both describe the surface of the tile - the holes have been filled in and then the surface was polished to a matte finish.

Tumbled and Unfilled - this is also one you'll see often.  The edges are tumbled and the surface is unfilled, showing the natural holes and crevices of the tile.

How about a little quiz?

Tell us if the tile descriptions below are correct or incorrect.  In other words, does it actually make sense when you put those particular terms together?  Remember that one piece of tile wold have to have all of those characteristics to be correct.  And don't forget- this will go on your permanent record.

A. Honed + Filled + Micro-bevel = Correct or Incorrect

B. Tumbled + Unfilled + Straight Cut = Correct or Incorrect

C. Unfilled + Brushed + Chiseled = Correct or Incorrect

D. Brushed + Polished + Tumbled = Correct or Incorrect

NO PEEKING!!!!!!

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V

A. Honed + Filled + Micro-bevel = Correct!

B. Tumbled + Unfilled + Straight Cut = Incorrect!

Tumbled and Straight Cut both describe the edges.

You can't have edges that are both tumbled and straight cut.

C. Unfilled + Brushed + Chiseled = Correct!

D. Brushed + Polished + Tumbled = Incorrect!

But this one was a little tricky.  Brushed and Polished both describe the surface finish of the tile.  Technically, you could polish the tile to make it shiny and then rub it with a wire brush to rough it up again.   But that would just be silly.  No point in polishing something that you plan to scratch up again.

SCORING YOUR QUIZ

If you answered all 4 questions correctly - You are a Stone Master.  You would dominate in the building materials version of Trivial Pursuit.  You are more than ready to go shopping for stone tile.  In fact, you could probably sell natural stone tile!

If you answered 2-3 questions correctly -  You are a Stone Knight.  The force is strong in you but there are still a few things yet to learn.  You can enter the tile stores with confidence, but keep your mind open for more learning opportunities.

If you answered 1 question correctly - You are a Stone Novice.  You've got the enthusiasm, kid, but you need to hit the books a little harder.  Start hanging around tiles stores and slab yards, and if they don't call the cops on you for loitering, you might pick up a little knowledge.

If you got 0 answers right - You are Stone Vessel.  A blank slate upon which much can be written.  Your journey towards mastery will involve asking questions.  Many questions.  Find a helpful tile salesperson and let them impart their wisdom.  Taking notes is encouraged.

Wrapping it up:

We hope that you found this tutorial to be helpful.  Keep in mind that this is not an exhaustive list of all of the terms that are used when talking about natural stone.  Just some of the basics that relate to the stone tiles that we personally work with most often.  It's a big world of stone out there.  There is always more to learn.  Please let us know if you have any questions in the comments below.  In the next post we'll talk about learning to love the variations in natural stone tile.  Stay tuned!

Click below for other posts in this series:

Stone Tile Basics Part 1 - Sizes and measuring
Stone Tile Basics Part 2 - Learn the lingo - YOU ARE HERE
Stone Tile Basics Part 3 - Embracing Imperfection - coming soon
Stone Tile Basics Part 4 - It's all about us, baby! - coming soon

Stone Basics - Part 1

We work with stone all the time, so we have learned a number of things about natural stone.  However, because it is something we do every day, we sometimes take for granted the knowledge we have acquired. A person who is just starting to build or renovate room, might not be as familiar with the lingo as we are.  What is tumbled? What does filled mean?  How do I know how much I need to order?    We thought we would throw some basics at you.  We will spread it out into a number of different posts to break it into manageable chunks.

Calculating Square Feet

When you are calculating the area that you need to cover with tile, whether it is the floor or the walls, you generally use the unit of measurement called square feet.  Use a tape measure to measure the length and width of your floor or wall in inches. Then use the following formula to calculate square footage:

Length in inches x Width in inches / 144 = Square Feet

For example if your room measures 132 inches long and 96 inches wide: 
132 x 96 = 12,672 

12,672 / 144 = 88 square feet.

If you have a space that is not a square, like the backsplash of a kitchen wall, just try to break it into square or rectangular sections.  Measure each section individually and then add them all together to come up with the total square feet.

For example in the picture above:

1. Measure the length and width of Area 1
36" x 18" = 648" / 144 = 4.5 square feet.

2. Measure the length and width of Area 2
48" x 36" = 1728" / 144 = 12 square feet.

3. Measure the length and width of Area 3
36" x 18" = 648" / 144 = 4.5 square feet.

4. Add them together and get 4.5 + 12 + 4.5 = 21 square feet.

It is not a bad idea to do a quick measurement of your space when you begin to shop for tile.  Even if your measurement is not exact, when you walk into a store with a ballpark estimate, it gives you a better idea of what kind of budget you should be working with.  Tile going for $5 per square foot will set you back $105 (using the 21 square foot backsplash shown above.)  If you are looking at tile that costs $50 per square foot, you'll be paying $1,050.  Knowing how much you will need to buy will save you time by narrowing down your choices right away.

How many tiles in a square foot?

The answer to this depends on what size tile you are using.  Here is a quick chart:

Tile size in inches	Number of tiles in 1 square foot
2x2	36
3x3	16
4x4	9
6x6	4
8x8	2.25
12x12	1
18x18	0.45

To all of those visual learners out there, here is what 1 square foot of tile looks like in both 6x6 and 4x4 sizes.

Stay tuned for the next exciting installment, where we'll talk about the characteristics of the different types of natural stone that we carry and give you the scoop about terms like honed, tumbled and filled. 

When size does matter

Our designers love a challenge.  Send us your odd-shaped rooms, crazy backsplash measurements or impossible looking spaces and we'll help you figure out a tile layout that will work.  You might be surprised by all of the tricks and workarounds we can come up with to modify our designs

Here is an example.  A client really loved the Marseille Red pattern.

It is shown in our catalog with the middle pattern on eight 6x6 tiles and border listellos as 3x6 tiles with 3x3 corners.   As you might already know, we can print any of our designs in any size that you want.  You can also choose any of our stone types (or send us yours.)  

This person had a particularly small space to work with - 34 inches across and 10 inches high.  Here is what we came up with:

In this modified version, the middle pattern is a single row of five 6x6 tiles.  Border listellos are 2x6 with 2x2 corner pieces.  (You can click on any of these pictures to get a better view.)

At first glance, it might be easy to miss all of the detail changes that had to be done to the design in order to fit that space.  For instance, the middle pattern is usually made up of four tiles, but in this case we had to shrink the whole pattern down to fit on a single 6x6 tile.

It normally takes two listellos in the border pattern to make up the design.  The little flower thingy is in the middle.  

But in this case there was an uneven number of listellos needed.  For the 34 inch width,  we had to use five 2x6 tiles across.  (Five 2x6's give you 30 inches and then add 2 inches on each side for the corner pieces to come up with the total of 34 inches.)

How did we solve this issue?  We created a new listello that has the flower in the center of the 2x6 tile that lines up with the regular 2x6 tiles so that the pattern continues to flow.

This allowed us to use five 2x6 listellos to border along the top and bottom, like this:

Et voila!  The same Marseille Red pattern, still balanced and flowing evenly, in a much smaller space.

We have to give credit to the designer who worked this out.  Drew is the Pattern King.  We can always rely on him to solve problems like this.  He is somehow able to see the flow of the patterns and the connections in all the chaos.  He has the attention to detail that is necessary to make sure the lines line up and and swirls keep swirling.  But he also has a good sense of design and knows when something has crossed over into "Boy, that looks stupid" territory.  

So don't be afraid to give us a call if you need help with some odd space.  There is a chance that we have already made some modifications for another client that will work for you too.  Or we can continue to throw challenges to Drew to see what he can come up with.  

Now that we've bragged about him, we are hoping it doesn't go to his head.  So send us your most difficult layout issues and let's see if we can stump him!