THE SUBWAY TAKES ME HOME

The thing I hate about trends is that I generally don’t notice them until they are on the way out.  (I’m just hip like that.)  I would like to think I am cutting edge, but deep down I know this not to be true.  To make me feel better, let’s call me classic.

Recently I read that subway tile was a trend.  I disagree.  I think it’s timeless.  I’ve used subway tile in several projects over the last few years, & it appeals to me because of it’s freshness & simplicity.

Subway tile was named because it was actually used in subways originally, valued for the ease of cleaning.  It is still linked to period design, but in recent years has branched out to fit in nearly any style of home design.

Cottage Living, which sadly ceased publication with the last issue, recently featured a kitchen remodel that I love.  The subway tile is the perfect backdrop for the shelf, and the contrasting color of the countertop.  It adds detail without drawing your eye.

I’ve been following The Pioneer Woman’s redo of the Lodge on their ranch (www.thepioneerwoman.com), & recently she posted this photo of a kitchen she saw in a magazine that gave her inspiration.  And truly, it’s dreamy.  I want to move in, as is.  The layering of creamy colors is so warm, offset by splashes of black.  Here, the choice of cream in the subway tile keeps the room simple, & adds to the overall feel without being distracting in detail.

This kitchen from the movie Something’s Gotta Give with Diane Keeton & Jack Nicholson is my dream.  In fact, I’m crazy about the entire house.  I saw the movie repeatedly so I could absorb every detail, then bought it when it came out on DVD.

The tile perfectly complements the glass cabinet fronts, and the finish is such a nice contrast to the honed granite countertops.

The set designer for Something’s Gotta Give is James Radin, personal interior designer for the director of the movie.  He was also the set designer for her movie The Holiday, with Cameron Diaz & Kate Winslet.  That movie features 2 homes that couldn’t be more different, yet each one is just wonderful in detail & design.  Joni Webb does a great job of describing all 3 homes in detail on her blog

But I digress.

This is another James Radin kitchen, in the style of the SGG house. It’s very clean & very white, with the nice contrast again of a splash of black for color.  The symmetry of the subway with the paned glass cabinets is very soothing.

And just because I love the crispness of white, I had to include this picture from a home for sale in Illinois.  But I also like this kitchen from recent Traditional Home, in which the homeowner talked about how much he dislikes all white kitchens.  He did a nice job on his anti-white kitchen – the texture of the tile adds interest.

White Kitchen


Anti-White Kitchen

Of course, subway tile is now found in a myriad of colors, sizes, & materials.  It is still a popular choice for bathrooms often more for ease of cleaning than design.

I ran the subway tile vertically in this bathroom for a client’s Spanish style home at Possum Kingdom lake, west of Fort Worth.  To fit the feel, I liked the look of subway tile but it worked better with the trim in a vertical application.  And in keeping with the Mediterrean affect and some of the one of a kind furnishings, I used dark grout.

So the use of subway tile can be simple, a little over the top, or anywhere in between. It’s the chameleon of tiles, & like the best of us, a classic as well.

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