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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Choosing Mexican ceramic sinks and matching tile

Do you hate your bathroom?  Maybe it still has a goose poop green sink from the 70’s or maybe one of those bubblegum pink things from the 80’s, imagine remodeling your bathroom instead with an affordable awesome Mexican ceramic sink.  I am constantly amazed at the variety of designs available.  I used to think they were all traditional Talavera designs, but I was SO wrong.  There is really something for every taste from Country decor to Arts and Craft to modern. Check out all these fantastic new Mexican-style sink designs at MexicanTileDesigns.com, including some amazing art sinks created by the famous Mexican ceramic artist Gorky Gonzales.  I said to Andy, the go-to guy at MTD, that I wish he could offer free shipping on all these, so more people could get them. And what do you know, he agreed and now all sinks are SHIPPED FREE within the continental U.S.  How great is that?

Ceramic Vessel art sink by Gorky Gonzales

Limon green tile by Gorky Gonzales

Here are just a few of the totally different styles of sinks I found:

      

 You can find matching or complementary tile to go with any sink both in solid color and decorative designs.  Here are a couple of ideas of how other people matched sinks and tiles when remodeling their bathrooms:

         

I love this one because of the traditional Mexican pattern and because the colors go really well with my cobalt blue towels.

Traditional Seville pattern Mexican Ceramic sink

Seville decorative Mexican tile

You will really want to look at the entire selection Mexican Tiles because there truly is a sink for every taste.  Don’t forget the FREE SHIPPING on sinks!

Talk to Andy or Jenny at Mexican Tile Designs at 1-866-320-1628 or email them at info@mexicantiledesigns.com.  They are really nice about helping with design ideas and planning.

Fantastic NEW Art Tiles from Ken Edwards!

Mexican Tile Designs is very proud to now carry an exclusive line of collectable art tiles, knobs and murals from the famous studio of Mexican ceramicist, Ken Edwards. These tile and murals will be in both his Traditional line and his new Collection line of extremely intricate designs featuring hummingbirds, fish and other animals.

Ken Edwards was one of the pioneers of high-fire techniques for making stoneware in Mexico in the 1950s and 1960s. His stoneware dishes in beautiful bird motifs in both lines are instantly recognizable and renowned the world over.

Mexican Tile Designs is also able to source Ken Edwards stoneware dishes in both lines upon request (call to order).  Look at the website to see the full collection–but check back often because we are adding more soon!  We believe that these amazing pieces of art will add an unmistakable flair and quality to kitchen counters, backsplashes, bathrooms, tub surrounds, outdoor kitchens—or any decorating project  indoors or out!

Always feel free to call us for more information or design ideas! 1-866-320-1628

Remodel your Shower with Mexican Tile!

There’s something about showering in a bright, beautiful shower that makes you want to sing and starts your day off right!  Hand-painted Mexican ceramic tiles from Mexican Tile Designs can help you affordably create a totally unique and gorgeous space that defines your bathroom.

Here are a couple of examples from the simple to the wild!

As you can see, you are only limited by your own imagination.  But if that does limit you, we at Mexican Tile Designs are happy to help you with a Mexican tile shower design!  Just give us a call toll free at 1.866.320.1628.

One way to begin is to choose your solid color Especial Mexican tile for the background.  Although, if you find a decorative Especial Mexican ceramic tile or Especial ceramic border tile you love, you can easily find a solid color or colors to match it.

At Mexican Tile Designs, all three of our hand-crafted, hand-painted ceramic Spanish tile lines are suitable for showers: Traditional rustic Mexican tile, Especial premium ceramic tile, and Prima raised-relief Malibu-style tile.

Take a look at our website and peruse all three hand-crafted tile lines, our huge selection of Mexican-style ceramic sinks, and our Mexican tile murals to get your own design ideas for creating a new, beautiful bathroom!

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 beginning with a Mexican sink.

On the last blog, we talked about how to remodel your bathroom choosing the Mexican Tile first, and then finding a sink to match.  This time, we reverse that process, using the sink as the centerpiece and the defining element for the whole room.

Mexican Tile Designs offers over 95 unique hand-painted Mexican style ceramic sink designs, in both solid colors, and simple to complex Mexican Talavera designs.

For example, let’s say you’re going for a traditional Mexican folk-art look.  You might start with a bird motif Mexican ceramic sink like this:

This sink is a fun place to start because it offers several colors and themes you can use to coordinate with tile. For example you might want to go REALLY bold with a solid red Mexican Prima Tile or yellow Especial Mexican tile countertop:

Or a very traditional cobalt blue Tradiitonal rustic Mexican tile or turquoise blue Especial Mexican tile.

Or a more subdued antique creamy white…or a pure white in any of the lines:

Next you can add a complimentary backsplash or border using decorative Especial Mexican tile, either a close match or something different but with a compatible look or color:

Or you could use a solid color strip backsplash in either 4″ x 4″ or a 2″x 4″ size.  Most of our decorative and solid color Mexican tiles come in all sizes.

Or mix it up!

This is just ONE sink, and ONE person’s ideas.

The possibilities are truly almost infinite.

Think up your own unique design and create a bathroom like no other!

Let your imagination run wild!

But, if you feel overwhelmed or have questions, we are always here to help!

Call us toll free at:  1.866.320.1628

www.mexicantiledesigns.com

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.

How to Choose Tile: It all Starts with the Sink!

With all the beautiful Talavera tile and sinks to choose from, we understand that decision-making can be both fun and challenging. Choosing the perfect hand-painted pattern is like curating your own miniature museum.  We had so much fun choosing Mexican Talavera sinks and tiles for our new home, but even for us it sometimes seemed intimidating!  Mexican Tile Designs has over 94 different gorgeous sinks to choose from (and over 700 tile patterns!).

How to choose? 

Since the sink is really the centerpiece of the project, we chose to focus on that decision first. We found that the decisions we made on the sink, drove all other decisions about color and pattern of tile for the vanity and the rest of the room.  The first decision was solid color or pattern. We personally can’t resist patterned sinks so we started there and then chose tile accordingly.  Another deciding factor was what shape and size of sink would be best for each room: big, little, round, oval, rectangular, above counter (vessel) or nestled into the tile vanity.  This MTD graphic showing shape, size and profile was really helpful:

Once you choose the sink, then color and pattern choices of tile become much easier.  Everyone who visits our home always loves our sinks!  We hope you have as much fun choosing your beautiful sinks as we did!

Master Bath Vanity in Our Home