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

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However, there is so much more to choose from when you are Resisting the Ordinary.  Consider this beautiful handmade vessel sink, there was only one of these made, so you might want this handcrafted piece to be the focal point of your bathroom.  Or, Kohler offers colors like Cashmere, Mexican Sand and Black,  just to name a few.  American Standard also offers Linen and Bone.  Choosing a color will bring attention to that item and the items surrounding it.  So before you settle on white or biscuit consider stepping outside your comfort zone and choosing a color that makes you smile.

If you choose a copper tub like the one pictured here, you can pair it with a copper sink and neutral commode.  Or add a stoneware sink that has an organic feel.  The combinations are endless with a beautiful tub like this.

And, believe it or not we can order commodes in patterns.   Beautiful patterns!  They can be hand painted to coordinate with your design plan.  Hand painted commodes almost always come with a coordinating sink creating a beautiful and unique addition to your bathroom.  Imagine your friends response if they walked in to your powder room and saw this fantastic commode!

Commodes are also available with custom features. They can have a heated seat, automatic close feature and can be lit in various colors!

All this being said, before you choose one of these extraordinary pieces, be sure you work through all the other choices in the room.  Your home should be a reflection of yourself, not your neighbor, so have fun choosing and Resist the Ordinary!

Jennifer – #tileanddesignaddict  #TheDesignTeamatTileSensations  #Resist the Ordinary

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The contractor, should you choose to use one, should be the anchor of the project.  The contractor should schedule your subs, make sure codes are followed and, in general, make sure your project turns out just the way you imagined it or better.  Remember your contractor is the one who is responsible to keep your job progressing, to start and finish on time, and to try to help you stay in budget.

Before you choose a contractor it is imperative that you decide what results you want.  

Make lists, clip pictures, work with a designer, find a way to communicate exactly what you want so there are no misunderstandings.  You may spend a little money on a designer at this stage, but it will save you headache and money later, I promise. Remember that most of the dream rooms you have seen on HGTV, Houzz and/or Pinterest were designed by an Interior Designer and they may include custom pieces made just for that homeowner.

Getting started:   

• Get 2 – 3 bids.
• Give prospective contractors all the information you have gathered on your project before he/she works up a budget for you.  A contractor cannot provide you a champagne remodel on a beer budget, so please don’t ask them to.  Some will give you pie in the sky budgets, but it is your job to make sure the budget allowances are realistic.  If it sounds too good to be true, it likely is.  Be upfront with what you want.  You may have to spend a little more than originally planned or hold off on your project until you have saved enough to cover the expenses, but that is better than starting a project and being hit with unexpected expenses midstream.
• Double check the bids – One way to double check a bid is to compare allowances given with real world expenses.  Take the window allowance to the window store and ask, What can I get for this allowance? Take the countertop or cabinet budget amount to your local cabinet shop and ask what can be done for the budget allowed.   Once you have double checked 3 – 4 budget numbers you will know whether the budget provided by your contractor is realistic.  Note: Make an appointment to review bids with local shops and be willing to pay for their time. If lite information is what you need, consider emailing the information to the selected shop so they can work on your questions at their convenience.  
• Remember you can shop for your finishes anywhere you want. You do not have to stick to the list of suppliers your builder gives you.  Good design should not be limited to a few specific shops.  Pick the lighting store with a selection that makes you smile. Work with a cabinet maker that understands how you cook and of course use the best tile resource in town.  I could write pages on why to shop at Tile Sensations vs the big box stores, but that discussion on quality and service is best kept for another day.

If you don’t have time for all this, get a designer involved. A designer can do this legwork for you and I promise all this planning will help your project run smoother.

Now that you have bids from a few contractors and you’ve checked up on the allowances suggested, how do you choose one?

• Do you like him/her? This is someone you will spend a lot of time with, so let’s hope you like them. Listen to your gut.  
• Get references you can check. Find out if you can visit the previous jobsite. If so ask lots of questions about the project.  Go prepared with a list of questions so you don’t forget to ask something you really wanted to know.
• Are the budgets in your bid realistic?  If not, toss out the bid, it will only end in frustration.  If you really liked the person ask them how they managed to be so far below the other bids?
• When can the project start and what would the projected finish date be?
• Have they ever worked on a project similar to yours?   ***IMPORTANT***  Be sure the contractor you have selected is up to the task. If you choose a spec home builder for a custom project you may end up regretting that choice.  Their expertise may not be enough for your project, you may not want to be their guinea pig.  On the other hand, if they are upfront about being on a learning curve, it might turn out well.  Oh the stories we could tell . . .

Lastly know how to not be bullied by a contractor:  Yes, contractors often bully their clients. Remember, the contractor is trying to stay on schedule and sometimes they will push you for decisions just to stay on schedule; but you have the final say, no matter how hard you are being pushed.  You determine where your money is best spent.  Don’t always fall for the “we always do it this way” statement.  Changes in products and technology may make the “way we always do it” the wrong way.

• Have most of your decisions made upfront.
• Get a timeline for choices from your contractor. Knowing when your decisions need to be completed will help the entire project stay on schedule.  There is nothing worse than a call from your contractor asking for your lighting choices and you haven’t given it a moment of thought.
• Hire a designer. A designer can be the middleman on a project. A designer can communicate with the contractors in “contractor speak” and find out what is really motivating their schedule.
• Watch out for mistakes the contractor wants you to absorb. If he ordered the wrong baseboard, for example, and asks you to compromise and take it, find out what discount you will receive if you do compromise. If it isn’t enough, insist on the original choice.

All that being said a good contractor is priceless. He/she will watch your wallet, try to keep you on schedule and bring in trustworthy subs.  So take your time when picking one and if you would like a little help with the process, just call. 

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.

In November 1996, I embarked upon a journey I would never have imagined.  As a former banker, office manager, airline employee and waitress, owning and running a small business was not in my plan. But here I am in 2017, just that, the owner of Tile Sensations in Knoxville, Tn.  2016 was a milestone for me, it marked 20 years working and serving the Knoxville area and beyond.  Cliché, this may sound, but in some ways it seems a blink of an eye, in another view, a lifetime of lessons.                    FYI – In addition to Knoxville we have clients in Florida, Maine, North Carolina, South Carolina, New York, New Jersey, Missouri and California. We would love to add a few more states to our list in 2017!

Over the last 20 years, I have been challenged with finding the right path for not only my family, but for Tile Sensations as well.  While Tile Sensations is not the biggest tile store in town we offer the most complete tile selection, in all price categories from spec to boutique, and it is a place I am proud to call my own. We serve clients from all walks of life and thoroughly enjoy our interactions with each of them. My staff and I face the small business challenges of each new day as a team using the Kaizen Theory* as our guide.  My goal is to provide learning and service opportunities as a regular course of business.  At all times the question of what is good for the staff is as important as what is good for business, so yes we will be closed on holidays including Good Friday, we allow our staff a week off between Christmas and New Years to recharge and of course we are closed most UT Home Football game days. We will always be closed Sundays regardless of what our competition is doing.

We as a team provide the best and most heartfelt customer service we can.  Eat, Sleep, Design describes   the showroom team, we lean upon one another to create unique and appropriate design for each of our clients, always keeping the budget in mind.  Eat, Sleep, Track describes our office team. Where is that tile order? Is it the right color lot? They need it WHEN? We do everything in our power to meet a client’s time schedule too.  Sometimes it simply isn’t possible, but rest assured we have done everything in our power to meet those needs and we will keep you updated with any changes that affect your order.

 We offer Made in the USA as often as possible, we love the selection of handcrafted tiles we offer.  If you can imagine it, we will find a tile artist to make it!
Handcrafted One-of-a-Kind Art Tile Pieces and Sinks is one of our specialties.  We also offer a huge selection of Natural Stone and Porcelain Tiles for every tile need and style and our degreed designers love to help choose combinations that will make you smile for years to come.  Don’t want help with your selections? That’s ok too, come in a browse and let us know if you have questions, we understand the creative process is different for each person so we can stay out of your way if you prefer.  Are you one of those people that cannot imagine a room unless you see it?  We offer 3D Modeling and Rendering services to help you with your final decision.

Simply put, we strive to provide service second to none, just let us know how we can help and we will do our best.

Tile Sensations is also a place of service.

•  We wholeheartedly support the mission of the Haiti Outreach Program and will continue to support their good works. Visit www.haitioutreachprogram.com for more information.
• We support the design community by offering a drop off location for samples no longer needed. Fabric, granite, cabinet, books and samples of all kinds are recycled in our student library.  These samples provide inspiration and are given to students free of charge for their design projects.
• We recycle everything we possibly can. We offer excess packing materials to Etsy and EBay sellers at no charge, we recycle pallet wood into wall coverings and all excess cardboard and paper is recycled locally.
• Recently Tile Sensations has become a spot for local artists and artisans to sell their wares. Beginning in December 2016 we offered a Pop-Up Holiday Shop, emptying our store of tile and replacing it with some of the finest local jewelry, soaps, vintage items and art for our clients and friends to shop. We plan to offer this no charge event to local small businesses several times a year.

Over the next months and years I plan to share my favorite stories and insights into the world of tile and small business through this blog. If there is a topic you would like covered just send me an email Jennifer@tilesensations.net and I will see what I can do.  2017 will also be bringing other changes to Tile Sensations which we will announce as we unveil these exciting new changes!

May your 2017 be joyful, prosperous and fulfilling; May your good spirits influence those around you; May you find yourself in a position to share your blessings and may you act when opportunities are offered to you.

Jennifer – Tile and Design Addict

*Kaizen Theory – Ever Changing, Ever Improving

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