“There is no peace more delightful than one’s own fireplace.”– Marcus Tullius Cicero

“We no longer build fireplaces for physical warmth, we build them for the warmth of the soul; we build them to dream by, to hope by, to home by.” – Edna Ferber

“I said to myself that I shall try to make my life like an open fireplace, so that people may be warmed and cheered by it and so go out themselves to warm and  cheer.” – George Matthew Adams

Delightful.  Warmth of the Soul.  Cheer.

These are perfect words to describe fireplaces.  So if the fireplace evokes such positivity, why not create a fireplace in your home that is equal to these words??  We love it when clients step outside the box, #resisttheordinary and select tile that really fits their homes personality.

Set an appointment soon to choose tile perfect for your fireplace. Be sure to bring plenty of pictures, not just of the fireplace, but of the entire room it is in. Take closeups of the rug, the drapes, art, anything that will help us help you choose just the perfect tile!

Call soon for your appointment!  865.329.3290

Jennifer

#tileanddesignaddict  #TheDesignTeamatTileSensations  #ResisttheOrdinary  

The post Fireplaces – Yes it has been over a year since I posted last! appeared first on Tile Sensations.

In Interior Design, compromise is part of our every day decisions.  Our client might compromise with his or her spouse to come to an agreement on the tile selected or the paint color.  A contractor might compromise with a subcontractor because they find something unexpected after demolition.  Or. . .  a designer might compromise with their client to stay in the desired budget.  I assure you there are compromises on every job-site from here to California.

I challenge you to find the compromise in each of the following pictures.  I am pretty sure you won’t find them, because well thought out compromises won’t make your project less appealing in the end.  In most cases you will forget you made them.

Jennifer – #tileanddesignaddict  #TheDesignTeamatTileSensations  #ResisttheOrdinary  #notjusttile

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Wallpaper can:

• create a huge impact in the smallest of spaces.
• enhance the architectural features of your space.
• add a pop of color, in a subtle way, when used in the back of a bookshelf.
• show off your personality. Sophisticated, Playful, Subtle, you choose the paper that reflects you.
• change the mood in a room. Use a cheery wallpaper in a dark space to brighten the feel of the room.
• cover flaws in your walls that paint cannot hide.
• protect your walls from marks and damage. If you have little ones, look for scrub-able papers.

Would you like to learn more?  Join us for a Quick One Hour Question and Answer Session.

Ask the Expert: Robert Galko Wallpaper Hanging

• Saturday, October 10th at 10am
• Tile Sensations 3413 Sutherland Avenue, Knoxville 37919
• Presented by The Design Team at Tile Sensations
• Enter to win a $100 Wallpaper Gift Certificate, must be present to win

Please let us know you are coming: Click Here     Questions?? Just ask!

Jennifer – #tileanddesignaddict  #TheDesignTeamatTileSensations  #ResisttheOrdinary  #notjusttile

The post Why Wallpaper? Find out and Win! appeared first on Tile Sensations.

The Inaugural Alzheimer’s Tennessee Designer Home and Garden Tour is in full swing daily, except Mondays, through October 14th.  The home, originally a Southern Living Style home built in 2003, has been transformed, inside and out, into a Highlands Style home.  The homeowners, Scott and Hope Davis, moved out of their home in March and won’t move back in until late October!  There is so much to see on their 14+ acre property, the main home, the guest suite above the garage, the redesigned pool and more.  Make your outing complete with a sandwich from Ham ‘n Goodies in the Party Barn and pick up a few Christmas presents in the on-site gift shop while you are there.

The Design Team at Tile Sensations is a proud participant in this designer home, along with 13 other top designers in Knoxville.  We were awarded 3 rooms to transform, so when looking for our spaces just think Organic, Pink, Animals and Bugs.  We commissioned a pair of beautiful wood art pieces for the hall, had custom window treatments made and carefully selected each item for our rooms.  All in all we had fun designing these spaces!  Sourcing from local, family owned businesses like ours was a top priority for us, so we reached out to Mango’s Decor & Co., West End Antiques and Bill Cox Furniture for the main pieces in the rooms.  Next we contacted local artists and vintage shops for accessories.  

 Nationally recognized companies, Corbett Lighting and Thibaut provided support as well.  Once they heard that the funds raised would benefit Alzheimer’s Tennessee they generously donated products for permanent installation in the Davis’ home.  Our rooms would not have been complete without their help, we greatly appreciate them.

We hope you enjoy the entire home tour, but especially, we would love your feedback on the rooms we designed.  Remember, 100% of the tour price and a portion of the proceeds from each item purchased, from inside the home or gift shop, will benefit the good work that Alzheimer’s Tennessee does in our community.

Happy Touring!

Jennifer

#tileanddesignaddict  #TheDesignTeamatTileSensations  #ResisttheOrdinary #NotJustTile

The post Alzheimer’s Tennessee Designer Home and Garden Tour – 2018 appeared first on Tile Sensations.

We stayed busy working on bathrooms, kitchens and fireplaces.  Wet bars, laundry rooms and dog showers.  We worked on residential and commercial projects.  If you drove past our showroom on Sutherland Avenue after hours, you likely saw the lights on and our team working late into the night.  We worked and we worked, loving every moment of it!

Additions to Tile Sensations in 2017 include wallpaper and late, til 7pm, Thursday hours.  Wallpaper is back, as you probably already know, so we have added wallpaper lines not available in big box stores or online.  Resist the Ordinary!

In January 2017, The Design Team at Tile Sensations, began taking on Interior Design projects.  What fun this has been!  We have worked on homes in Farragut, Bearden, Fountain City, Old North Knoxville and Downtown, as well as, businesses needing freshen ups!  We spent much of 2017 on relationships with trusted installers, plumbers, electricians, cabinet companies and more, making Tile Sensations your one stop shop.

Kitchen 919

The Design Team at Tile Sensations closed out 2017 working on the interiors for Kitchen 919 in the Orangery Village on Homberg.  Kitchen 919 is a must try.  Both for the fantastic local, seasonal food and for the ambiance.  The service is fantastic and the food delicious.  I personally recommend the Porcini Dusted Filet Mignon and the Misoyaki Glazed Butterfish, if you prefer the recommendation of Brooks Clark and Cityview Magazine just click here.  After you visit, let us know what you think of the interior selections, be sure to note the lighting in the main dining room and the photo wall and ceiling in the bar.  It was all fun to pick!

We are available to work with our clients from conception to completion of the project, Tile Projects, of course, and now Interior Design Projects too.  Or we can just come up with a design concept and let the homeowner takes the reins from there. You choose. We are here and ready to help.

2018! Bring it on we are ready!

Jennifer – #tileanddesignaddict #TheDesignTeamatTileSensations #Resist the Ordinary

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Life has definitely been happening around here.  For one thing, I got married and took some time off! You likely know weddings take a lot of time to plan and a lot of time to recover, so I needed that time off.  Whew!  We both still feel a bit tired.

But now I am ready to get back into the swing of things, both at home blending our “stuff” and at work designing spaces.

Thinking about our wedding and all the details that go into planning a wedding reminds me of the details you need to think about when tiling or working on any home project.  It’s all in the details.  We had so many details to remember for our wedding, from pew markers to boutonnieres to our vegan guests meal selection.  In a remodeling project you need to remember transitions, lighting, finishes and more.  Not to forget a contractor choice and a budget.  Plan, Plan, Plan and do not forget the details is true for either planning a wedding or a space.

While my hubby and I were vacationing we stopped at the beautiful Historic St Johns Catholic Church in Utica, New York.  One of the first things I noticed at the church, after I recovered from the awesome beauty of it all , was the attention to detail.  This historic Church was built in the late 1800’s and they did not miss a beat.  If you are ever in Utica we highly recommend a stop at this beautiful church.  Here are a few of the fantastic details you would not want to miss.

We took so many photos of the details it was hard to choose which to post…. so here a a few more.  Showing tile of course.  Note the borders, note the details in the floor that was installed one little piece at a time, note the solid marble moldings.  The designers of this magnificent space did not miss a beat.

Every detail is carefully placed to impact your experience here.  Unfortunately in design today, corners are often cut or a step is skipped because it might take a little longer to install or we might have to wait for the right piece to be made.  To avoid cutting corners I suggest you plan out your project.  Review the steps, the budget, the desired results before anyone begins to work in your space.  I admire our clients who plan ahead and have all the pieces and parts they can possibly get their hands on, ready and waiting for the contractor before the project begins.  It is an awful feeling when your contractor asks you for a decision you have not even thought about.   It is in these rush decisions that we end up compromising for less than the best outcome.

In my dream remodeling world I hope for you that your project is carefully planned, that the details are carefully selected and that your dream project becomes a reality. If we can help you with that, just let us know.

Jennifer – #tileanddesignaddict

The post Life Happens. . . appeared first on Tile Sensations.

We are free to worship as we please.  Free to be who we are.  Free to strive to be our best.  Free to choose our own path.  Free to speak up when we disagree.  We are Blessed to live in the United States.  Despite our growing pains we are a great nation with a proud history.

Our blessings have been and continue to be protected by our military, the Army, Navy, Air Force and Marines.   These men and women are our neighbors, our families, our friends.  We are grateful for their service and their sacrifices.

“No one has greater love than this,^j to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.” – John 15:13

On this Memorial Day I ask you to stop for at least a few moments and say a prayer for our service men and women.  A prayer of thanks for their willingess to protect our freedoms.  A prayer for all those who gave their lives to protect us.  A prayer for their families and friends who miss them and whose lives have ever been changed because of their willingness to serve.  A prayer of thankfulness and remembrance.

Tile Sensations will be closed Saturday, May 26th thru Monday, May 29th to observe Memorial Day.  We know we could be open, offer a sale and capitilize on the hype.  However we choose, out of respect, to honor the men and women who have fallen.  Some things are more important than selling tile.

Jennifer – #tileanddesignaddict

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Years ago when, a design degree was unheard of, design information and pictures were not so easily found and many people relied on their own instincts to create their space.  If they didn’t have confidence in their own choices they would involve family members or friends to help choose just the right sofa or dining set.  In the world of tile there weren’t many readily available options to choose from.

In the US you may remember the era of the Pink or Blue bathroom tile.  Just about everyone during that time frame picked one of these colors because it was the hip thing to do.  Here and there you might find a yellow or green bathroom, but the pink and blue were predominant.  Tile was definitely the product of choice for ease of care and the clean look it provided both in the kitchen and bathroom.  The choices were limited, so many people had duplicate bathrooms, often neatly coordinated with the sink, tub and commode in the same color as the tile.   If I run across one of these bathrooms today, they make me smile.  The bold colors, usually paired with a fantastic wallpaper was, in its day, true style.

Today our choices in design are practically unlimited.  With top notch designers leading the way we can create a space with any feel we want.
Do you love the look of homes in Bali ? You can have that!  Or do you like a Hacienda style??  You can have that too! Or any style for that matter.  Your influence might be Asian or Adirondack or. . . ?

There is no reason to not design your home in a style that you enjoy.  In fact, if you want different styles throughout your home, we will just call you Eclectic.

Rather than Pink or Blue 4″ x 4″ tile, today’s common tile of choice is the 3″ x 6″ Subway tile.  Subway tile sales in the US have skyrocketed in the last few years.  There will likely be a time, years from now, when many bathrooms and backsplashes tiled with subway tile are pinpointed to the 2010’s.  The subway tile, which is not square, is a nice choice for many homes.  But with all the fantastic options available is subway tile right for your home? A better question might be, is it right for your personality?

Before jumping on the subway tile bandwagon ask yourself a few questions.  Is it my favorite color?  Will I smile every time I walk in the room?  Will I be glad I chose it?  Does it reflect my personality?  Will it be money well spent? If the answers are yes, go for it.  If the answer is no or maybe, DON’T SETTLE!  It is time to explore the options.  There are so many to choose from! Stop by or call Tile Sensations soon for ideas.  Our staff, who are not square, would LOVE to help you on your way to a space that is truly yours.

It is time to step out of the box. . .  Don’t be square.

Jennifer – Tile and Design Addict

The post We’re not square… appeared first on Tile Sensations.

I now confess I am a #DesignAddict too. When a client walks into the Tile Sensations showroom with a design dilemma my heart starts to beat a little faster. I immediately begin to wonder, will this client want help with their dilemma? or have they already picked a design choice after hours and hours of time spent on Pinterest….   With fingers crossed I ask a few questions and hope that they are open to design ideas, whether they have seen them before or not.  One of my favorite design inspirations is a simple tile cubbie for toilet tissue. These clients did not like changing the toilet paper roll……

Design dilemmas don’t have to be about function, though function is a crucial part of design. The dilemma may simply be that the 2 people using the room like different color schemes or design styles. What to do when he wants rustic and she wants classic?  We can help with that.  Sometimes its an easy compromise, sometimes it takes a little longer to work through the design process. Rest assured, given creative time we will come up with a plan that works in your space.

A few things to remember when you are looking for help with design.

• For the best design service, make an appointment. Appointments are not required, but if you want a design professional to give you their best work, make an appointment.
• Share pictures of your space, preferably before your appointment. Also send pictures of the adjoining spaces, the more information we have about your design style and home, the easier it is to create a design just for you.
• If you have spent hours online, share your Pinterest Board with your designer before your appointment
• Bring pieces of permanent items in the room to your appointment.  Choices you have already made such as your granite sample, cabinet color, etc. Measurements of the space help too, but are not necessary in the 1st stages of design.  At the risk of sounding snarky “I have darkish wood cabinets” is not enough information. It is really hard to work on a project without the necessary information.
• If you cannot bring these things to an appointment, consider an in home consultation. While you will pay for the design consultation, you likely will save time and money in the long run.

What project has been haunting you? Why not gather all your goodies and make an appointment. Tile design, as always, is included in the price of your tile at Tile Sensations. If you need 3D images or renderings, we can do that too, there will be an upfront cost for these services, but we can credit all or most of these charges to your tile order.  I say most because if we design the same space 2 or three times, we may need to charge for a 3d model or 2.  If you need help with your other choices, we would love to help.  Our design services include selecting, fixtures, cabinets, wall coverings (we have a great selection) and more.

If you haven’t visited recently, stop in and say hi. We can’t wait to help with your project.

Jennifer – Tile and Design Addict.

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