4 Simple Tips for Using Mexican Tile in New Construction or Remodeling Projects

Are you building a new home or remodeling an existing home? NOW is the time to start thinking about tile! You don’t want to compromise on your dream design because a harried contractor is running out of time!

Mexican Tile Designs has an enormous inventory of solid and decorative tile, trim tile, murals and sinks in stock, but if you are planning to use tile throughout your home perhaps including: a kitchen counter and backsplash, bathroom counters, backsplashes and tub/shower surrounds, stair risers, wainscoting, window trim, door trim or other decorative features; it is best to start planning well in advance.

Here are 4 simple tips:

1.   Not all tiles are created equal:

Mexican tile is hand made in small batches. Often times when we order tile throughout the year, there are slight variations in the color and finish. This can become a challenge when tiling a large area. There could be small variations in the tile if they do not come in the same batch shipment. Our advice is to order all of your tile for large areas at one time. This ensures consistency with the tiles.

2.     It is best to let your design “sink in”:

We’re not talking about the tile around your beautiful Mexican sink…we’re talking about the design. Give yourself plenty of time to do all the design planning necessary to fully realize your vision. Then once you come up with your design, you should take a little time to think about how it will look and feel. Environmental conditions like sunshine and seasons can change the appearance and mood of your design. Get advice from your contractor and the experts at Mexican Tile Designs. Our design staff has helped 100’s of homeowners, restaurants, five star hotels and even celebrities with their tiling projects.

3.   Delays cost money:

One of the biggest challenges contractors face is timing a project. Delays in materials can throw a wrench in the process and cost significant amounts of money and delays in your schedule. Make sure to order your tile well in advance of the date it is needed on-site. Work with your contractor to make sure the materials arrive when they need them. Better that your tile is at our warehouse ready to ship than waiting for our Mexico suppliers to make it.

4.   Order a few extra tile:

It is industry practice is to order 5-10% more tile than actual dimensions may require in order to accommodate cutting and any incidental breakage. This is especially true of Traditional red clay Talavera tile. When using ceramic tile, 2-5% extra is usually sufficient. It’s also a good ide to put a few tiles of each color and design safely aside in a cupboard or closet on the rare chance one later breaks. It may be hard to replicate that tile years or decades later!

Best of all, we offer significant discounts for multi-room or whole house projects! Call for details.

 Benefits of Planning Your Tile Installation 

*Ensure that the tile you want is available when you need it

*Save money on quantity discounts: additional discounts for whole house/multi-room orders!

*Save money with direct & pallet shipping

*Free expert design advice from our world-class experts in tile

Are you ready to begin? Call us today to start planning the home of your dreams! Phone toll free : 866-320-1628, email: info@mexicantiledesigns.com

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Mexican Tile = Global Tile

When you think “Mexican Tile”– it’s time to think globally!  Over the last one hundred years Mexican tile has grown beyond the early Aztec, Mayan and Majolican designs of the late 1800s and early 1900s to incorporate truly global designs.

Mexican Tile Designs now carries tiles with Tuscany, Arts and Crafts, Southwest, Art Deco, Modern, Celtic, Moorish and African influenced designs.  Look at these examples:

        

Mission                           Celtic                              Southwest

        

Spanish                         Moroccan                      Moorish

          

Modern                            Italian                          French

Arts & Crafts

Ancient designs have been interpreted with modern and even oriental flair as evidenced by the work of renowned Ceramic artists Ken Edwards and Gorky Gonzales.

             

Gorky Gonzalez                         Ken Edwards

We have a decorative tile in just the right color and design for your project.

In contrast to the monochromatic , bland look popular in the last few years as evidenced by fads of travertine and granite, these global tiles will bring color, creativity and vibrancy into your home.

Please give us a call for complimentary design help! 866-320-1628 or email: info@mexicandesigns.com and let us help you make your dream come true.

How to use trim tile to finish a Mexican tile kitchen or bathroom countertop

There is nothing quite so striking as a Mexican tile countertop, whether in your kitchen, bathroom or outdoor bar. The possibilities are endless: you can use only solid color Mexican tiles such as a deep cobalt blue, sprinkle in Decorative Mexican tiles, add a row of Border Mexican tile, or even incorporate a Tile Mural.

Many people know the color and design they want on their kitchen or bathroom countertop, but don’t know how to trim the edges to give a beautiful finished look.

I’ll explain several options here:

1.  Trim it with cut tile:   this is the least expensive option, but requires an experienced tile setter and may not result in the finished look you are hoping for. In this option, such as in the bathroom countertop pictured above, cobalt blue tile is cut into a 1”x 4” strips to finish the top of the backsplash. In this example, 2” x4” Quarter Round Trim Tile is used to finish the front top edge of the countertop. A 2” x 4” Flor de Liz Decorative Border Tile is then applied to the vertical edge.

2.  Trim it with Surface Bullnose Trim Tile or Bullnose Return Trim Tile:  Surface bullnose is a Mexican Trim tile that has one edge that slightly curved in order to flow over the edge of the countertop, or to create a finished edge flush to a painted wall. Bullnose Return Trim tile is very similar but with a more pronounced curve on the leading finished edge.  Both most commonly come in 2” x 4” or 4” x 4” sizes. In the Mexican bathroom countertop pictured here, the edge of the  countertop is finished with cobalt blue surface bullnose.  A piece of Double Bullnose Trim tile (a finished edge on two adjacent sides) finishes the corner of the countertop.  Below, along the vertical edge, a row of 2″x4″ cobalt blue tile is used.

                             

3.  Trim it with Rail Angle Trim Tile:  Rail Angle is a Mexican trim tile designed to fit over a 90 degree edge. It has a sculpted profile that provides an elegant, rounded edge to your countertop and is my personal favorite. It generally comes in 2”x 4” and 2” x 6” sizes. In this example this lovely Mexican tile countertop is trimmed with Rail Angle that matches the Terra Cotta field tile.  The corner is finished with a Rail Cap Outside Corner trim tile.

4.  Trim it with V-Cap Edge Trim Tile:  V-Cap is a type of Mexican trim tile with a straight 90-degree shape with no rounded edge. It also works great for edging countertops and provides a clean, simple line. Check out this example of a beautiful Mexican Tile Countertop and see if you can see the difference between V-Cap and Rail Angle for your Mexican Tile Countertop.

No matter how you trim your Mexican Tile countertop, it will be sure to bring beauty into your home, not to mention plenty of compliments!  And remember that there is nothing like a hand-painted Mexican Sink to add pizzaz to your bathroom!

Mexican Tile Designs provides FREE design help to insure that your tile project turns out exactly how you dreamed it would be!  Just give us a call at 1-866-320-1628 or email us at info@mexicantiledesigns.com

Day of the Dead Mexican Tiles available now!

Mexican Tile Designs has a full collection of authentic Mexican Day of the Dead tiles!

These tiles are raised-relief, colorful designs on a black background and include skeletons playing baseball, skeletons playing basketball, skeletons playing cards, skeletons drinking beer, skeletons dancing, mountaineer skeletons, a doctor skeleton, a skeleton bride and groom, and many more including several decorated skull tiles!

Please check out our Day of the Dead tile page !  We are actively growing our collection !

Please call us at 1-866-320-1628 or email us at info@mexicantiledesigns.com and let us know if you are looking for a specific design!

Here is our Catrina Day of the Dead tile murals:

Gorky Gonzales Collectible Art Tiles

Mexican Tile Designs is extremely proud to carry an exclusive line of collectible Mexican art tile from the studio of renowned ceramicist, Gorky Gonzales Mexican Ceramic Art tiles.

These beautiful art tiles come in borders, solids and traditional Mexican designs of horses, Mexican cowboys, women, Day of the Dead, and other motifs.

Here is just a sampling!

Gorky Gonzales is a master ceramicist who won the National Award of Sciences and Arts in Mexico and has been featured in prestigious galleries around the world. Gorky has dedicated his life to the rescue and preservation of the traditional Majolica pottery technique and designs, which dates back to the 17th century.

Gorky studied ceramics in Mexico and then received a scholarship to study in Japan under the tutelage of Tsuji Seimei and Kei Finiwara, both considered Japanese National living treasures. You can see the Japanese influence in his work.

He returned to the central Highlands of Mexico where he, his wife Toshiko and son Gorky Jr. along with a group of skilled craftsman, devote themselves to creating some of the most beautiful and distinctive pottery and ceramics in the world.

Gorky Jr. has followed in his father’s footsteps– continuing and expanding this exquisite line of collectable ceramics and has honored Mexican Tile Designs with an exclusive collection of Gorky art tile, murals and sinks that will add an incredible and totally unique look to any decorating project.

Find our growing selection of Gorky tiles at www.mexicantiledesigns.com today!

NEW raised-relief Malibu-style tile!

Mexican Tile Designs has doubled our Prima tile line of hand-painted, raised relief decorative tiles! 

Each tile in our Prima line of premium Santa Barbara style tile is painstakingly painted by hand over stenciled lines that separate the different colors and prevent them from running during the firing process.  The technique was developed to give this vibrant tile the look of an elegant mosaic. 

The Prima tile line is also sometimes referred to as Malibu tile or Santa Barbara tile because the technique was rediscovered in this county in California.  Some people also refer to it as Moorish tile.  It is especially popular in ocean front properties, outdoor kitchens, Arts and Craft bungalows, and mountain homes.  The color schemes for this tile cover the range from earth tones to brilliant colors. Our Prima decorative tile line combines the use of both matt and gloss glazes that together with the raised relief aspect create a captivating visual and tactile experience.  Mexican Tile Designs carries over 7 unique Mission and Arts and Craft style tiles alone in this line of incredible raised relief tile.

To make these beautiful tiles even more perfect, they are extremely durable, having been fired at very high temperatures.  Prima hand-painted, raised relief Mexican tile can enhance any indoor or outdoor project, including in the kitchen, bathroom, water features, pools, outdoor kitchens and patios.

Check out our entire Prima line of premium Mexican Tile!

Mexican Tile Designs is happy to fill any order, no matter how small!  So order samples today of this exquisite, sensual tile line and experience their quality and beauty first-hand!

Winner of Mexican Talavera Giveaway Sink from Mexican Tile Designs

Happy New Year from Mexican Tile Designs!

Alice from Green Valley, Arizona is the HAPPY WINNER of a free Mexican Talavera sink for connecting with Mexican Tile Designs on Facebook!  Alice wrote us that she loves the hand-painted sink that she chose, sink pattern #10328.  (link: http://store.mexicantiledesigns.com/index.php?product=10328&c=10)

Thanks to everyone who entered for the tremendous response!  It’s wonderful to see how many people love Mexican Tile Designs and our unique sinks!  Please check out our Facebook page if you haven’t already:  http://www.facebook.com/MexicanTileDesigns

Our next Facebook giveaway will be for a gorgeous 24” x 16 hand-painted Mexican mural (link: http://store.mexicantiledesigns.com/index.php?c=9) so watch for the notice!

If you’d like to receive our quarterly email newsletter with special promotions and sales, please go to www.mexicantiledesigns.com and sign up at the bottom of the home page.

How to Remodel your Bathroom using Mexican Tile and Sinks

Do you have an old worn-out bathroom with a stained fake marble countertop and an “avocado green” sink left over from the 70s? Well, you’re not alone and don’t despair!
It’s easy to completely remodel that ugly bathroom without changing any walls using gorgeous Mexican tile and sinks.

Mexican Talavera tile can brighten any room, but especially bathrooms, with a stunning Talavera design Mexican sink as the centerpiece. Mexican Tile Designs carries over 3,000 different beautiful hand-painted tile designs and over 80 Mexican sink designs. There is the perfect design for everyone whether you like a floral country look:

Or maybe a bold Mexican motif:

Or a completely unique look all your own!

Here is one method you might use to choose your own unique and striking look.

1. First choose the background or uniting color.  This may be the solid color Mexican Especial tile that you use for the countertop or for Especial Mexican trim tile, but it will be the color that ties the whole design together.   Do you like a deep cobalt blue, a washed sea green, maybe a more subdued Blanco Mexicano antique white, or a joyful yellow as in this example?

2.  Next choose a beautiful Mexican ceramic sink that carries that color.  The vast variety of Mexican and Talavera Tile and sinks allows you to completely customize according to your tastes and interests.  Do you love birds, or flowers, or fish?  There is something for everyone!  For example with a bright yellow tile, you might choose a sink like this that has yellow in it:

3.  Now choose a coordinating trim tile to use in the backsplash or maybe around the edge of the counter.  Perhaps a Mexican sink with a fish motif , inspires you to experiment with a wave trim or more fish or simply a coordinating trim.  Let your creativity loose!

Here are a few completed projects to spur your imagination:

So get rid of that ugly bathroom and create your very own masterpiece!

For a limited time, Mexican Tile Designs is offering FREE design services to help you bring your ideas to reality!  Call toll free at 1-866-320-1628 and ask for Andy.

The next blog will reverse this process, and help you start by choosing a sink and then finding complementary tile to match.

Ideas for Using Mexican Tile in your Kitchen or Bath Countertop

This gallery contains 21 photos.

One of the most common questions people ask us at Mexican Tile Designs is for ideas on using decorative tile in their kitchen, bath or laundry room decorating project.  It IS daunting sometimes.  When I’m standing in our tile warehouse … Continue reading →

Using Earth Tone Mexican Tiles in Kitchen and Bath Design

Perhaps you are someone who just isn’t crazy about a whole lot of bright color in your kitchen or bath, or maybe you’re trying to match an existing earth tone color.  I have several friends who are constantly looking for new ways to decorate around these colors. Well, don’t despair!  Mexican Tile Designs has (maybe surprisingly!)  lots of subdued earth toned tiles and sinks to choose from.

Each of our three lines: Traditional, Especial, and Prima, all some solids and patterns in warm browns and yellows.

Like our Prima line of raised relief tile , it has several tiles that would go beautifully with tan, off-white or pale yellow walls:

   

Mision                   San Miguel             Otono

 Or mix them with our lovely terra cotta or matte solid color tiles:

Café Matte            Terra Cotta

Our Especial line of premium Mexican tile has other slightly different shades:

Esmalta Compuesto    Café Claro

Amazing MTD graphic guru, Jen, played around with these and came up with a cool idea for combining them all!  I like designs like this  used as a mural in a shower or above a countertop.

These are just a few samples of earthtones from our Traditional rustic Talavera tile line:

Caramelo                Vino                           Aztreado Terra Cotta

Bouquet Natural  Lagartia Terra Cotta   Anito con Marco

Rosa del Desierto    Seville  Lagartia Terra Cotta/Azul

Again, Jen came up with this combination design!

Check out other solid color tiles in many shades of white, off white, yellow and green for each line.  I’m always amazed at all the different shades of white!

You can find hand painted brilliant and durable Mexican ceramic sinks that  go well with any colors.  Here’s just a sampling:

Truly, the only limit is your own imagination and creativity!  

Watch this blog for more design ideas and always feel free to contact us at Mexican Tile Designs.  We are happy to help!

You can also sign up for our FREE e-NEWSLETTER at the bottom of our home page, for more ideas, tips, new products, and special offers.