Product Spotlight: ARTO Brick Line

When it comes to custom designing the hard surfaces throughout your home, we take “custom” very seriously.

And our ARTO Brick Line is the definition of custom!

Today, we’re highlighting these handmade tiles that are made in Los Angeles from locally sourced materials and sold around the world. 

What Are ARTO Bricks? 

ARTO is well known for making rustic and elegantly handmade ceramic and concrete tiles. These products are made to order and come in a wide range of styles to fit any interior or exterior design style. We know that these tiles will add the perfect touch of rustic elegance to any design.

ARTO pieces are incredibly durable and a breeze to clean; these pieces can also be used both indoors and outdoors. ARTO offers a wide versatility of textures that can be used to create completely unique patterns to fit your design taste. 

What Options are Available in ARTO Bricks?

ARTO offers smooth, limestone, travertine, and luna finishes for your unique tiles.

Since each piece is handmade, no two tiles look alike! These variations allow you to incorporate different colors, shapes, sizes, patterns, and finishes into your home’s hard surfaces.

Tile collection includes - Artillo, cement tile, studio field, Italian porcelain, Monrovia, Oleson, super Artillo, roman tile, roman pavers, California pavers, and more! 

These tiles also provide a variety of edges including pillowed, irregular, and crisp. These one-of-a-kind concrete tiles make for the perfect interior design statements throughout your home’s hard surfaces.

Where Can You Get ARTO Bricks? 

At The Tile & Stone Gallery, we’re here to assist builders, designers, and homeowners select hard surfaces to meet every aesthetic and budget, providing both functionality and beauty. 

ARTO has been providing products to satisfy any interior design taste since 1966! Stop by our showroom in De Pere today to see our ARTO products in person. Our carefully curated space is ready to inspire you with a treasure trove of colors, patterns, and finishes. Stop by at your convenience!


The Ultimate in Versa(tile)ity… Subway Tile!

When it comes to picking tile for your home, you can never go wrong with a classic. Subway tile is an incredibly versatile tile that can be used throughout your home to achieve a timeless design, no matter your interior design taste!

With the help of different grout colors, laying patterns, grout joints, colors, and finishes, there is sure to be a subway tile design that will best suit your unique design personality. 

In today’s blog, we’re breaking down five subway tile variation examples that showcase the diverse design possibilities of this tile option. Let’s dive in!

Vertical: This vertically laid tile with light grout and dark tile brings contrast to the room, creating a modern feel. Vertical tile makes an eye-catching statement while giving the illusions of taller walls and higher ceilings. Pictured here as a backsplash, the usage of the vertical tiles makes the counter space feel taller and more spacious. 

Dark Grout: The usage of dark grout with a lighter tile will add contrast and interest to any room. When picking your tile color and finish, don’t forget to consider the color of the grout. The color of the grout can really make a tile design pop! This example of a classic running bond tile design is finished with dark grout for a pop of neutral contrast.

Horizontal Herringbone: If you consider yourself a sucker for classics, this is the style for you! This style can be found in traditionally styled rooms but works just as well in modern and contemporary designs. This design is perfect for accent walls and tiled floors to add texture, dimension, and personality.

45-Degree Herringbone: This design consists of tiles set at 45-degree angles with offset joints while hitting the centers of adjoining tiles. The 45-degree herringbone style creates a classic look with a unique twist! This design style draws the eyes up, down, and around the perimeter of the room. Since this design keeps the eyes moving, it’s perfect to use throughout smaller spaces to make rooms feel bigger.

Diagonal Stack: This design is best utilized in smaller rooms to make them appear larger while adding interest to the space. Diagonally stacked tiles can be perfect for bolder spaces to create a statement design.

These tile design examples are just scratching the surface of the tile opportunities for your unique home! 

At The Tile Stone & Gallery, we specialize in a variety of hard surfaces that you’ll need throughout your home during your next build or remodel. We have tiles for every budget and design vision you can imagine. We also have a team of professionals that have been carefully hand-selected to provide installation services, no matter what tile design fits your style.

Swing by our De Pere showroom, today!


Your Checklist for Remodeling Your Bathroom

 

A bathroom remodel is the most popular of all home improvements - which means it’s the perfect investment for your home! While a new bathroom build or an original bathroom remodel can feel a bit overwhelming to homeowners, we’re here to break down the checklist you’ll need to renovate your bathroom like a true pro. The key to a successful bathroom remodel is finding the balance between when to DIY, and when to bring in a professional. 

Our team of professionals at The Tile & Stone Gallery have gathered our bathroom remodel must-haves, so let’s get to work! 

  • Plumbing and electric - It’s critical for your bathroom’s plumbing and electrical components to be properly and safely installed, so unless you’re trained in these areas, hire a local plumber or electrician for the best results. 
  • Flooring - Whether you’re looking for hardwood, stone, tile, luxury vinyl, or porcelain slabs, our team can help you choose the perfect flooring for your bathroom. 
  • Windows - Natural light will elevate any space in a home, especially bathrooms! Consider letting in as much natural light as possible. 
    • Plumbing fixtures - With the help of a plumber, you can install plumbing fixtures that will elevate your design. 
  • Vanity - While you can pick your vanity out on your own or with the help of an interior designer, it’s best to hire a professional for delivery and proper installation. 
  • Counters - We’re here to expertly execute the installation of countertops and other bathroom hard surfaces that will stand up to moisture and heavy everyday use.
  • Tile - Tile is incredibly versatile and fits any design, space, and budget. Select from ceramic, handmade glass, decorative metal, or mosaic tile to elevate your space. 
  • Hardware - The hardware for your cabinets, hooks, toilet paper holder, towel racks and more are all fun design pieces you can pick and install on your own, or with the help and eye from a professional interior designer. 
  • Paint - Paint color is an opportunity to let your unique design style shine. Whether your vision is bold and bright, or neutral and relaxing - a fresh coat of paint is a project that a DIYer of any experience can tackle! 
  • Showers - We specialize in creating unique showers to complement any bathroom design. Surface options include ceramic tiles and natural stone. We can even design seamless, invisible drainage. Turn your bathroom into a spa-like oasis! 
  • Light fixtures - Light fixtures are perfect for complementing your design with your own personal style. We can help advise this through Salt Box Lighting!

While the bathroom is a small space compared to other rooms in a home, it has the potential to elevate your daily living for years to come! A bathroom build or remodel is done step by step and one task at a time, often these tasks are best done with the help of a professional. 

At The Tile & Stone Gallery, our team is here to ensure you that no detail is left up to chance. Give us a call or swing by our De Pere showroom today and let’s begin to tackle your bathroom checklist, together!


Timeless Tile vs. Trendy Tile: Which is Better?

When building and renovating homes, there comes a time when every builder or homeowner needs to make tile decisions. Tile offers both style and function in endless varieties… which can make your decision difficult!

One question we often get is “what’s trendy and what’s timeless?” when it comes to tile styles. And it’s a great question! After working with tile for over 25 years, our team has seen timeless tile styles that never go out of style and trendy tile styles that may come and go. Let’s break down these different tile styles and discover which is a perfect fit for your home!

Timeless Tile Style

Timeless tiles withstand the test of time, making them the perfect tile style selection for home resales and economic value. 

Some tile styles that never go out of style include light subway tile, black slate tile, calcutta marble, and white hexagon tile. These tile options can also be easier on the wallet because the timeless style will never need to be replaced in order to keep up with trends. 

Keep in mind that if you are planning to sell your home someday, timeless tile makes the resale of a home easier as the tile style is widely admired by homeowners of all interior design tastes. 

If a home resale is in your future or you're looking for a more budget-friendly tile style, timeless tile is the perfect selection for your home!

Trendy Tile Style

Tile is an element that allows personal taste to be introduced to a home, so this is where trendy tile styles come into play! 

There are a wide variety of trendy tile styles, including bright, patterned, and bold accent tiles. While trendy tile is fun and playful, it risks becoming dated. If you are ready to experiment with trendy tile designs, accent tile can be a budget-friendly option to incorporate interesting tile without committing to a complete hard surface overhaul. If you love a fresh tile trend, keep in mind that you may need to keep room in your budget to replace the tile if the style one day no longer fits your taste. 

While trendy tile always risks becoming dated, accent tile is a certain way to bring playful elements into your home that add character and unique touch! 

The Tile & Stone Gallery team is happy to provide our professional input when it comes time to pick your tile. Our De Pere showroom is filled with a treasure trove of tile options that our experienced team is ready to walk you through during a one-on-one consultation to help you find the perfect fit for your new build or renovation. Stop by, today!


What You Really Need to Know About Cleaning Your Floors

At Tile & Stone Gallery, we care about your surfaces for the long run. It doesn’t end when you complete your purchase and we finish your installation! We want to make sure your new surfaces are cared for, the right way, for the long haul. Since floors tend to take the brunt of the wear and tear, let’s talk about how to properly clean your floors. 

Choosing Cleaning Products to Clean Your Floors

Walk down the cleaning supply aisle at Target, Menards, or Wal-Mart and you’ll see a dizzying array of options. From all-purpose cleaners to pricey options that claim to specialize in certain surfaces, how do you know which is the best? HINT: If it says “natural” - that doesn’t necessarily mean it’s good for your surface!

Our best advice is to skip the cleaning supply aisle and head online. Our number one resource for surface cleaners is 1877 Floor Guy

Over on that website, you’ll see cleaning products laid out by flooring type and flooring manufacturer. There’s also a helpful blog and video library to help you choose the product (and method) that will keep your floor looking its very best. 

The Right Frequency to Clean Your Floors

Our recommended frequency for floor cleaning depends on two factors - surface type and traffic. 

Most floors can be swept weekly and deep cleaned with a mop or specialty cleaner every month or so. You may want to increase the cleaning frequency for your kitchen floors, due to traffic and food bacteria, and cut back on lesser used areas of your home, such as closets. 

Head back over to 1877 Floor Guy for cleaning frequency recommendations for specific flooring types! 

If you’re still not confident in your cleaning regimen for your floors, we’d be happy to provide our professional opinion. Simply swing by the showroom or give us a call. We want your floors to last so you can enjoy your beautiful surfaces for years to come.