What looks like years in the past (as a result of it was), Max and I set out to decide on tile for the 4 1/2 bogs and the kitchen at my brother’s River Home new construct from Ann Sacks. Tile is arms down my favourite design factor to pick – and but it’s doubtless probably the most everlasting of all of them (so passions and emotions could be excessive). You may re-stain wooden flooring, repaint rooms and cabinetry, change out taps and lighting, however tile and counter tops? You NEVER need to change out your tile.. if doable. So getting it proper the primary time is essential and but enjoying it too secure could be simply as harmful. Fortunately, all of us know that we love neutrals blended with blues and greens, quiet textures that catch the sunshine, in a combo of latest + traditioal in an off-the-cuff, cozy method. Now that it’s actually coming collectively, the choices we made 2 years in the past are wanting fairly unbelievable in each almost-finished rest room.

Why Ann Sacks?

I pitched this dwelling to Ann Sacks as a result of, properly, I like their product and all the time have – they’ve an enormous number of colours, shapes, and kinds, many made proper right here in Portland. I didn’t need this home to be too much like our farmhouse or mountain home, so highlighting totally different firms with totally different strengths felt good and proper. It’s simply extremely top quality and particular tile, with a billion choices.

We took an inspiration journey to the showroom, performed for hours, after which introduced every part again to the home to really get a way of it within the area. Max and I didn’t all the time agree (additionally, shock to me, seems I’ve far more of an ego than beforehand predicted LOL) however our shared hope is that now we have a extra fascinating customized dwelling due to it. Compromises had been made, our kinds had been stretched and we selected some issues that I frankly would by no means have with out him (in a superb and barely nervewracking method:)).

Whereas Ann Sacks has every part, we knew that Ken/Katie didn’t need something too fashionable or too ornamental. They (like me) play it secure with exhausting finishes after which need to go all out in accessorizing. This would possibly bore a few of you, however that’s nice – massive colourful developments are enjoyable to see/watch on the web, however much less enjoyable to modify out in 10 years. So we relied on the colours that all of us love (blue, inexperienced, white, grey, black) and created combos that might look good for many years.

Did We At all times Agree On Our Favorites??

HAHAHA…. NO. Typically I want I had been a bit extra binary – like “this tile good, this tile dangerous”. If I had been choices could be a lot simpler. I feel/know this drove Max nuts. However when every part is sweet in its personal method and Ken/Katie had been actually drawn to one thing, I can see utilizing it someplace. Whereas Max is extra agency on what he likes. Clear, concise, and never going to alter his thoughts. I discovered it so enlightening and interesting, saying “HUH. fascinating,” on a regular basis. Not in a judgemental method, however extra envious, wishing I had actually agency opinions that might assist pace up the method. I questioned, is that this doubtlessly a lady factor? Desirous to be tremendous accepting of each concept/factor? Am I too open to different’s concepts and too simply influenced? Pay attention, I’m additionally V opinionated, FYI, and sometimes I can instantly select the one “sure” within the room. However when there may be a lot goodness, I discover making agency choices tougher. I do know what I like, however possibly the difficulty is that I like the great of every part…

One other “life factor” that grew to become actually solidified throughout this course of is how as inside designers we clearly have our “go-to’s,” our “strikes” the issues that we, individually, KNOW will look good as a result of we’ve used a model of them earlier than. As an illustration, I have a tendency in the direction of extra easy, handmade linear tiles (rectangular formed) and Max gravitates in the direction of these plus squares, bigger hexes, and mosaic tiles. It’s a reminder that there are not any actual guidelines and that each inventive has a lifetime of experiences that inform all choices. So it stretched us and was a superb train in trusting the method, this time not essentially simply my very own, and as we will see them end up I’m LOVING them a lot.

Every rest room tells its personal story, whereas the through-line is a comfy, clear, modern customized dwelling with some very candy/conventional components floating by way of it (penny tile!). The mixture of tiles and finishes goes to make this home higher. My hope is that by working collectively we might: A. Not design the identical home because the mountain home, B. Not design a typical “EHD home,” and C. Create a extra textured, nuanced piece of artwork (on this case, my brother’s dwelling). Max’s work is all the time so good and fascinating, so I actually tried to not shove my design method onto him for this undertaking and see the place it went, even when we didn’t all the time agree and each made compromises. Our back-and-forth was fairly entertaining although.

Certainly one of our hands-down favourite tiles is the one I’m holding above, a ribbed excessive gloss brick-shaped tile that’s so beautiful in individual now that it’s put in. In actual fact, I’d say that my favourite tiles on this home are easy in coloration and form, however tremendous textural which performs with the sunshine so properly.

One other factor that we love a lot about Ann Sacks is how strong and heavy their tile is. There’s a actual heft to it which you’d assume you wouldn’t discover as a result of it’s utilized to partitions and flooring, however like flooring or some other materials – I swear you’ll be able to actually really feel the distinction. As a reminder, Max did my good friend’s home on the Oregon coast with 100% Ann Sacks tile and it’s fairly probably certainly one of my favourite homes ever, with the prettiest rest room EVER:

It’s simply beautiful and the standard of the tile and the element work Max did made such an unbelievable distinction. Each time I get to remain on this home I marvel at this rest room. He introduced expertise to the desk that I didn’t have and so lots of the areas extremely benefitted due to him (I can’t wait to point out you the straightforward however beautiful eating room hearth tile execution).

We made a number of journeys to Ann Sacks – First, two years in the past, after which not too long ago we went again to take all these pictures with Kaitlin, recreating the method as a result of we didn’t shoot it professionally the primary time. I drug alongside my brother who’s displaying off a brand new fashion vibe that I’m digging right here.

The “selecting tile” course of is such an necessary and enjoyable one. There may be limitless inspiration and methods to configure, and so many individuals have opinions on “proper and flawed”. In case you are hoping for some assist, don’t fear I’ve obtained you with this home.

A Sneak Peek Into The Tile We Selected

This isn’t going to be a kind of homes that mixes 4 tiles in a room, with borders and tons of coloration – that’s simply not this home. We performed it traditional and exquisite and selected every tile particular to the design plan of every room. I’m VERY VERY excited to point out all of them to you quickly. An enormous due to Ann Sacks for being usually fantastic at making tile. xx

*Photographs by Kaitlin Inexperienced