Pitch the floor.
Design a special area to bathe your pooch by placing an expanse of floor tile on a pitch so that the water flows easily into a drain—just like a shower. Porcelain tile is a good option. It’s maintenance-free and makes cleaning up pesky pet hair a snap!

Fido-friendly theme.
A vanity in your pet room is a great place to store toys, leashes and treats. Its backsplash should be stylish too. Play up a pet theme by incorporating decorative border tiles. Mirror the look on the floor to keep it consistent.

Size matters.
A variety of sizes creates interest on the floor. Pairing 3-inch by 6-inch tile with 6-inch by 6-inch and 3-inch by 3-inch tiles provides depth and drama. Go on a diagonal for dimension. And if you’re working with stone, opt for the textured side of the tile for visual interest.

Counter offer.
Durability is key when selecting countertops. CaesarStone is a stainresistant material with the look and feel of limestone but without the daunting cost. Concrete is another fitting choice. A natural material that’s kind to the environment, it exhibits subtle variations in color and texture. Because each slab is handcast, no two are identical.

Accessories count.
From sinks to faucets, be sure to keep your pet in mind when selecting the room’s accessories. Special touches, like paw-print hardware and fabric, complete the look.

The post Pamper Your Pet appeared first on Anna Marie Fanelli.

Give it time.
Turnaround is affected by many factors: the size of the project, the intricateness of any hand painting, the amount of time it takes to finalize plans and the artist’s workload. Once the design is approved, production generally lasts six to eight weeks, depending on the complexity of the project.

Expect some fees up front.
It’s common to charge for the design plans. And you’ll be billed for a glaze sample for any custom color requests. If you’re working with a mosaic medallion or border, expect to pay a template charge. Samples are always an additional fee.

Work with a reputable tile studio.
While many “artists” are willing to do custom projects, a studio that has established a good business relationship with an artisan will be able to provide you with references and examples of past work.

Express Yourself .
Meet with the tile designer to brainstorm ideas and discuss your hopes and goals for your home. A trained professional will be able to translate your vision into tile and give you a briefing on what is possible with today’s techniques.

Approve The Final Design .
When your one-of-a-kind piece is complete, it’s yours to keep—in other words, no returns. To ensure you get what you want, it’s essential to sign off on the final design.

The post Made To Order appeared first on Anna Marie Fanelli.

Go natural.
Draw inspiration from the natural color palette of the vineyard with patterned slate or distressed stones. If budget or maintenance is an issue, distressed patterned porcelain achieves a similar look.

Layer.
Like a fine wine infused with complex flavors, layers of texture add dimension. Consider incorporating elements like decorative hand-painted borders or decos. For a distinctive look with a nod to wine making, consider cork tiles.

Add detail.
Mosaic medallions with leaves or grapevine patterns are the perfect accent for a welcoming wine cellar. For a focal point underfoot, opt for a stone-etched insert.

Deck the walls.
As an extension of your entertaining space, create an authentic backdrop in which to taste wine with stone cladding reminiscent of a vintner’s vault.

The post Vintner’s Vision appeared first on Anna Marie Fanelli.

Invest in the kitchen and master bath.
These two rooms have the most potential to seal the deal when it comes time to sell. Buyers will be wooed by granite countertops, but you might also try eco-friendly CaesarStone or go high-end with honed stone and Calcutta gold marble for the floor, backsplash or shower.

Be wary of expensive layouts.
Intricate borders and tile patterns may be visually appealing but can pack a punch budgetwise with expensive labor charges. If you’re flipping a home for profit, stick to simple but stylish layouts.

Keep it neutral.
Bold may be beautiful, but individual tastes can vary widely. Play it safe with shades of white or beige for field tiles. To spice it up, add colorful details and accessories.

Know your segment of the market.
Don’t indulge in the highest-price products if you plan on selling a midrange home—most likely you won’t be able to get a favorable return on your investment.

The post Ripe For Resale appeared first on Anna Marie Fanelli.

Coordinate colors
For a customized look, match flooring to the hue of your car. Try RaceDeck, a modular tile system, available in an array of patterns and colors, which can be selfinstalled. No surface prep is required; just snap tiles in place over any existing solid-surface floor. Resistant to oil, antifreeze and most household chemicals, it can be hosed off for easy maintenance.

Embellish a workshop with masculine countertops
Try CaesarStone, a solid-surface product composed of crushed quartz, for a luxurious look. Designed to hold up in even the messiest high-traffic counter areas, the Reflection Series lends a manly feel to workshops with a rich color palette of ruby red, pacific blue and ebony.

Consider medallions and mosaics
Personalize your garage by installing a stone waterjet medallion of your favorite car logo on the floor or wall. Or pay homage to your Ferrari with a glass mosaic in its image.

Add punch with porcelain
Maintenance-free, costeffective and eco-friendly to boot, porcelain tile works in a wide range of designs. Create an old-world aesthetic or a sleek modern space depending on the tile you select. Porcelain is also naturally slipresistant, making it ideal for preventing accidents in the garage.

Don’t forget the walls
Although most people focus on the functionality of the floor, if you wash your car in the garage, you’ll want to keep the walls dry. Halfwall tiling will protect them. For pizzazz, top off the design with glass or stone decorative trim.

The post Pit-Stop Posh appeared first on Anna Marie Fanelli.

Build in texture
Try putting a basketweave pattern on the walls to create texture and excitement. The weave keeps the eye moving throughout the room.

Try translucency
Glass tiles in muted shades are soothing and create the illusion of a larger room. Go for a flowing water effect, like the ocean as it gets deeper, with colors that gradually fade into one another.

Be consistent
Don’t shy away from patterns, but keep colors light and similar to create more visual space. Think about height, angles and repetition, and be sure the tile helps the eye scan the entire room..

Make it even more memorable
Unusual decorative tiles such as leaves or flowers, perhaps positioned in an innovative way, will have guests remembering the cool details, not the small size of the room.

The post Small Space, Big Impact appeared first on Anna Marie Fanelli.

Add texture
Custom dragon skin tiles in rich amber draw the eye to the fireplace with texture and color. Another technique for creating depth is to select tiles that combine both matte and polished textures on the same piece for a striking contrast.

Put paisleys on display
Just as they do in the fashion world, paisleys create an intricate pattern play. Paisley tiles create a warming sensation in a room just as a finely woven pashmina shawl warms a chilly shoulder.

Let crackle dazzle
To achieve the look of antiquity, try crackle glazed tiles. Perfect for a shabby chic design scheme, crackle glazed tiles add a relaxed elegance to the fireplace and harken back to the days when fire was a home’s only source of heat.

Built-in firewood storage
For a rustic cabin feel—even in a stately family room—a long, built-in storage area for firewood alongside the hearth embellishes the space with architectural detail. Slate tiles with subdued hues are a natural to complement neatly stacked logs.

The post Create A Fireplace That Delights appeared first on Anna Marie Fanelli.

Design with decos
Simple like a button on a tufted pillow or intricate like fine millwork, decorative tiles, or decos as they’re affectionately known, offer a high bang-forbuck ratio. Though each handpainted fleur-de-lis or pewter rooster can be pricey, you don’t need many to make an impact.

Divide and conquer
A large wall of tile in a bathroom or kitchen can be cozied up by using liners to define smaller areas within the room. “Picture frames” of tile created with liners are a great way to break up a space while adding movement, texture and visual interest.

Mix materials
Take a cue from the feng shui masters, and blend elements of stone, metal, glass or color to keep the spirit in balance. Varying materials helps to accent and accessorize, breathing life into the design.

Splurge on medallions
On the floor of the foyer or applied to a backsplash, ornate medallions help define a home’s architectural features. For example, a circle medallion that mirrors a circular room is a striking way to layer details and establish a theme.

The post Accent On Style appeared first on Anna Marie Fanelli.