When pondering the design of a room, you are literally standing right on top of one of its very most important elements. The flooring you choose not only determines how the space pleases the eye aesthetically but also dictates how it will feel underfoot. Your selection should reflect your unique lifestyle and should also be suitable for the level and type of activity that goes on in the space.  Historically, natural stone tiles have developed quite the impressive reputation of blending exceptional organic beauty with unsurpassed durability. This ensures that your flooring choice does not have to be an either/or proposition when it comes to form and function.

 

Natural Stone- Flooring History

Carpeting Fades

MSI Goes Green

 

What do you think of when you think of porcelain? Do you picture fine vases, priceless figurines, a claw-foot bathtub or even the gorgeous bone China passed down in your family from generation to generation? It’s very likely. What if we told you that porcelain is more versatile than you can possibly imagine, that it has excellent applications for both indoor and outdoor use? What if we told you the same stuff you take a hot bath in or serve Christmas dinner on has the strength, hardness, resonance and durability to serve equally as well as your outdoor deck – and the versatility to look just like wood?

It’s not unusual to refer to porcelain as “china”, as China is the birthplace of porcelain making. Likewise, it’s not unusual to think of porcelain as a delicate material as it’s widely used to make items we think of as fragile, like decorative items. Nonetheless, the earliest porcelain makers used it in abundance – despite the fact that it required very high temperatures to fire, making it the most-time consuming of materials to make – because they knew it wasn’t a delicate material at all. In fact, they knew porcelain to be the perfect marriage of purpose and design. Their creations would last a lifetime and still look amazing, too.

Durability is the hallmark of porcelain. It’s extremely resistant to water, rust, scratches and stains, with low permeability and elasticity and high resistance to chemicals and extreme heat. Today we see the evolution of porcelain in everything from dental work and terminals for high voltage cables to the lining of outdoor grills and inside subway tunnels.

Porcelain is also amazingly versatile. If it can withstand the rigors of outdoor use, imagine its durability on the floor of a high traffic kitchen. Because it is man-made, it is available in a vast array of styles and colors. In fact, porcelain tiles can actually be manufactured to look just like natural materials, even stone and real wood. The Sequoia Series of porcelain tiles is the perfect example – available in Coal, Moka, Natural or Tobacco, these tiles look just like wood with their rich, variant color and realistic wood grains. But unlike real wood, the Sequoia Series tiles have all the power of porcelain!

Just when you think you’ve considered all the uses for porcelain, let’s revisit that idea of porcelain as an outdoor deck. Consider what porcelain won’t do and what it can do for you:

Porcelain won’t…

·         Fade from the sun.

·         Absorb moisture from precipitation.

·         Blemish from active use of the grill or fire pit.

·         Require re-staining.

Porcelain will…

·         Look like fresh wood for years to come.

·         Turn aside dirt and stains.

·         Clean up easily.

·         Stay cool and work well in a non-temperature controlled environment.

Forget fine vases and family china. Instead, picture kicking back to enjoy a grilled dinner out on your beautiful, “wood” deck – in actuality, the easy-maintenance porcelain deck you created with the wood looks from the Redwood or Sequoia Series of porcelain tiles – overlooking your “stone” patio that’s actually porcelain, too!

Whatever your design aesthetic, porcelain tiles have the style to create almost any look and the function to meet your indoor and outdoor needs. Don’t underestimate the power of porcelain!

Function Meets Design with Stainless Steel Sinks

Can you imagine buying a home with everything in it but the kitchen sink? Of course not! For some rooms, the sink is essential for function; in others, it’s a design upgrade that can increase the visual value of your home. In either case, you can meet your needs with one sink, but there are functional and aesthetic reasons to add multiple stainless steel sinks to your home, indoors and out:

The Kitchen

Function… If you’re the family chef, you’ll fully appreciate a double-sided stainless steel sink - one side for quick thaws and the other for active use; one side for soaking the baby bottles and the other side for rinsing dishes; one side for washing pots and pans too large for the dishwasher and the other for drip drying them; or even a third bowl sink in your center island that’s perfect for the sanitary washing of veggies.

 …Meets Design: Increase the value of your kitchen and impress your guests with a culinary dream kitchen. The sleek design and modern appeal of stainless steel sinks will compliment your custom granite countertops and compliment stainless appliances.

The Laundry Room

Function… When it comes to the laundry room, you can never have too many sinks. While your washtub or basin is full to the brim with active washer overflow, a 50/50 sink or 60/40 sink is a great option for pre-soaking multiple soiled garments and for hand-washing those delicates too sensitive for the gentle cycle. A stainless steel sink will not be affected by chemicals, like chlorine bleach.

 …Meets Design: Extra convenience is perceived as added luxury. While one sink or basin will get the job done in the laundry, the convenience of multiple sinks in this frequently-used room will lend an added sense of luxury to the space. Countertops for folding clothes and a small sink for rinsing delicates give the space an elegant but efficient feel and nicely compliments natural stone or porcelain tile.

The Mini-Bar

Function… A wet bar isn’t complete without a double sink. Serving beverages will require sinks for cleaning shakers, shot glasses and stemware. Just like your full kitchen, you never know when you’ll need a second sink for soaking or drip-drying while you’re actively using the first for dumping out melted ice or rinsing the blender.

 …Meets Design: In the case of a wet bar, without a sink, it’s just a bar. In terms of design, an important aspect is completeness. In the overall scheme, the appearance of having all the connecting elements, including functional and decorative, are necessary to make the space feel balanced. With the addition of a bright, double-sided stainless steel sink, the message is that this bar is open and ready for business!

The Outdoor Kitchen

Function… Outdoor kitchens with built-in grills and stoves will benefit from a sink as much as an indoor kitchen will. Cleaning vegetables for the grill, draining or marinating meats, rinsing barbeque tools, and keeping the cook’s hands clean are all essential functions for the outdoor sink. Multiple sinks give the cook flexibility and space to maneuver with the same ease in the outdoor’s kitchen as they experience indoors.

 …Meets Design: A single sink at the outdoor barbeque will serve the purpose, but may give the impression that the outdoor kitchen is an abbreviated version of the indoor one. With a set of sinks, it gives you, guests and even potential buyers the impression that you have a slick operation going here – you have everything you need to create a fantastic meal. The true definition of function fulfilling design!

With many optional upgrades, sometimes you don’t even realize you could use it until you have it. (And once you have it, you don’t know how you functioned without it!) This is certainly the case when it comes to an extra sink – you won’t realize how much you need your multiple sinks until you have them. Whatever your need, whether it be for purpose or style, don’t forget the value of installing multiple stainless steel sinks in your next upgrade or build!

There is a relatively obscure yet important player that helps to complete the backsplash by giving your project a finished look. Without it there would be bare edges and voids that leave tiles open and vulnerable to chipping and cracking. In short, it is grout that pulls the backsplash tile together - literally.

Types of Grout

Grout comes in three basic formulas, and the choice of which one to use depends on the width of the joints between tiles and also their application. For joints which are 1/8 inch or less, you would typically use unsanded grout (cement and powdered pigments mixed with water). If they are wider than that, it is best to use sanded grout — the same material, but with sand added. The sand helps bulk up the grout and keeps it from shrinking in the joints which compromises the look and strength of your project. Some areas of application, such as a backsplash positioned behind the stove, are more prone to acids, grease and staining. Under these conditions a third type, called epoxy grout, is best to use. It comes in both sanded and unsanded varieties and although it is more expensive than the other two types, it is an excellent choice because it is impervious to most agents that can damage the grout and therefore, compromise the appearance of the backsplash as a whole.

Sealers

Despite their improved performance over the years, all grouts made with cement are porous and subject to staining. Most manufacturers and installers recommend sealing grout after it has cured for a couple of days and is completely dry. There are two varieties of sealers: membrane-forming and penetrating.  Penetrating sealers are usually best to use because they are longer lasting and continue to breathe after soaking in.

Color

The importance of grout color to a backsplash design cannot be overemphasized as it can significantly alter the look the project. There are three approaches when it comes to choosing a grout color for your project:

Contrasting – A very light grout against a dark tile

Harmonizing – The same color of grout and tile (such as green on green)

Neutral  - A shade of gray or white against a light tile

Experts recommend sticking with a more neutral combination to avoid the tedious work of having to re-grout in the event the trends change or you simply change your mind. If your heart is set on a bold or contrasting color combination, it is helpful to make a sample board on a piece of plywood and look at it under different lights and time of day. 

Restoration
 
With years of use, stains can eventually penetrate surfaces. With a good degreasing agent, a stiff brush and some elbow grease, more often than not old grout can be renewed. At times, some spot re-grouting is necessary to replace cracked or crumbled areas. If you don’t want to do this yourself, there are local companies you can employ that specialize in grout restoration who will do it for you.

Through this series you have learned about what it takes to design a stunning backsplash that will serve as a beautiful and highly functional focal point. The only thing left for you to do is to get started.

Download a copy of MSI’s Backsplash design guide today and set your imagination free to create and build something magical.