This contemporary and harmonious home is located in Encinitas CA. This house incorporates the best of contemporary design to create a informal, casual, comfortable and welcoming space. It’s the perfect place for relaxing and enjoying life. The house is designed in modern style and is both a quaint coastal property and a chic contemporary dwelling. I had the opportunity to work with the owner of this beautiful property one on one, together we meticulously hand selected every single surface in the home, from the porcelain used on the floors and walls, glass mosaic backsplahes, Compac Quartz Countertops, stainless steel & glass mosiacs, and the various light fixtures. We wanted to create a simple, streamline design in every space. The interior design is white and clean with subtle blue hues, which is pleasing to the eyes. There is a lot of natural light inside that in combination with a selective amount of furniture makes rooms very airy. We used modern materials, furniture and personal art to make this home a real urban oasis. I have to say it is great working with clients like these, who know exactly what they want but give you creative freedom as a designer. With a contemporary atmosphere that is refined yet down to earth, this property is one of the best projects I have been involved in. The result? A beautiful, modern, calm, contemporary space that is truly breathtaking! Enjoy!
Posts Tagged ‘Subway Tile’
Malkus Residence, Encinitas CA
Tuesday, October 25th, 2011Small Bathroom Design Ideas
Thursday, May 26th, 2011Just because a bathroom lacks square footage doesn’t mean it can’t be both functional and beautiful. There are many ways to maximize space in a small bathroom and make it unique. If you have a small bathroom in your house, you should focus on the design ideas that will create the illusion of more space. Maximize your bathroom with these tips and ideas for small bathroom spaces.
Glass Enclosures
Glass shower enclosures give the illusion of space in a small bathroom by allowing you to see from one end of the room to the other.
Floating Storage
A floating vanity takes up less space without compromising style. Wicker canisters and concealed cabinet doors keep things organized and clutter-free in this elegant master bath.
Lengthen The Countertop
Get creative when square footage allows for only a single, small vanity. We recommend extending the countertop material over the toilet to create a shelf. It may only be a place for a box of tissues or container of cotton balls or another decorative item, but it creates the illusion of more surface area.
Reflective Quality
Adding a large mirror is a simple solution, but it truly makes such an enormous difference. The goal is to increase the amount of natural light that bounces around the room. By adding one large mirror you create the illusion of a longer wall.
Lighten Up The Paint
A lighter and brighter color will always make your small bathroom appear much bigger than if you painted the room using a darker and more intensive color. The color that you choose will most likely convey whether someone sees the bathroom as being large or small.
4 Spring Color Schemes For Your Kitchen by Ana Morales
Wednesday, May 19th, 2010Spring is the perfect time to give your kitchen a fresh look. From serene classic shades to vivid contemporary hues, I have selected 4 color schemes you’ll want to try this season.
Classic Meets Chic
Black and white will always remain a favorite pairing. They are both sophisticated and dramatic and they compliment any decor. In this kitchen the black and white glass mosaic backsplash highlights the dark wood cabinetry with sleek stainless-steel appliances and a crisp white quartz countertop. Giving this kitchen a very classic meets chic look.
Warm Comfort
In this installation we have chosen a black polished pebble as the backsplash, which brings a natural element into the design. The black pebble backsplash ideally compliments the neutral black / tan granite countertop and the warm wood cabinetry. The result is a warm and inviting, yet still contemporary space.
Bright and Clean
Bright hues are an ideal way to add life to a neutral kitchen. In this installation we have selected a light blue subway tile as the backsplash to contrast the crisp white cabinetry and complement the gray quartz countertop. The result is a very bright and fresh space.
Energizing Appeal
Jewel tones, like the ones in this backsplash, really pop when paired with dark cabinetry. By combining dark wood and white cabinetry with a neutral beige quartz contertop, the backsplash colors are further enhanced. The result is a very fun and contemporary space.
“Restaurant quality kitchen, without breaking the bank!” by Ana Morales
Monday, May 3rd, 2010If you want a restaurant-quality kitchen without breaking the bank, here are a few designer tips. Professional-grade appliances, a low-maintenance floor and back splash make creating your dream kitchen a cinch. A big factor in your design are the materials you use, tile is an easy way to make any space unique. I have attached a few images of a color palette that I feel is perfect for achieving this look. The palette is refined, contemporary and clean. This palette is a combination of glass, stainless steel and porcelain. Combining these different textures will help you create an amazing installation. The crisp white glass in combination with the cool stainless steel and patterned porcelain really help set a hip restaurant vibe in your kitchen. I love the idea of the subtle checkered pattern on the porcelain for the kitchen floor. The pattern is a great way of combining the different gray and white tones you will be using in the other materials, it adds visual interest without being overwhelming. The glass & stainless tiles are a perfect choice for your back splash area, get creative with the combination of these materials. I have attached a few images of a kitchen project that served as the inspiration for this color palette. I love what was done with the stainless steel tile above the stove area. So go ahead, get creative and give your kitchen new life!
Looking for a twist on Subway Tile?
Thursday, April 22nd, 2010Try installing it vertically. Seen here with the Blanco 3×6 glass tile.
Another vertical option. Stainless Steel 1×2.
Cutting the 3×6 Subway Tiles
Wednesday, March 24th, 2010If you are looking for a great kitchen design idea or bathroom idea, Subway Glass Tiles are a great choice. They are a classic shape but the look is updated with a glass finish keeping your home interior current without over doing it. Below is an example of Ocean Grey 3×6 being used for a kitchen tile backsplash.
One of the great things about the 3×6 subway glass tiles is that they are 8mm thick which adds a lot of depth to the glass and in turn your glass tile installation. However the thickness of the subway glass tiles can be tricky when it comes to cutting them. We get calls from time to time about either the glass or the polyurethane back chipping when the subway tile is being cut to fit odd spaces. But there are some really easy steps to take to ensure you get a clean easy cut for your wall tile installation.
To start you will need a wet saw with a diamond blade. Make sure to use a brand new blade for the best results. On the cutting board lay the subway tile face down with the white polyurethane backing face up. Cut half way through the depth of the tile and then flip the subway tile over (glass side face up) and finish cutting all the way through.
Following these tips will minimize the amount of chipping on both the glass and the backing. While not all chipping is preventable when cutting any glass tile this really helps!
For more detailed information on installation visit our installation guide on The Glass Mosaic Outlet.
About Glass Tiles.com also has a great picture essay on the process.
Amazing Kitchen Transformation!
Wednesday, March 10th, 2010While browsing on Garden Web’s website I came across a conversation about finding the whitest glass tiles possible. And it happened that they were talking about The Glass Mosaic Outlet’s Blanco 3×6 Subway tile! Further down were these amazing pictures of Dwight’s kitchen backsplash installation where the Blanco 3×6 subway tile had been used.
All images can be clicked for larger versions.
I was so impressed with the look of the kitchen design that I had to contact Dwight about the photos. He was just as excited and sent me a bunch of his before and after images. My favorite part is seeing the before pictures. Here is what their kitchen design looked like before the transformation.
Keeping with the subway tile shape they combined the Blanco 3×6 with the Stainless Steel 1×2 tiles to create the final striking kitchen design.
Both the Subway tiles and the Stainless Steel tiles have recycled content, in fact the Stainless Steel is 100% recycled tile. So if you are looking for green materials they are a great choice.
*We actually had a manufacturing mistake with the Stainless Steel 1×2 and ended up with Stainless 1×2 but in a vertical pattern rather than staggered. We are having a blow out sale on these if you would like to replicate this look at a discounted price. Just give us a call 1.888.848.4537I am not sure what they used on the floors for this installation but we have a similar porcelain floor tile that would look just as great. Ferroker Alumino is a 17×26 porcelain tile that has been used in countless installations both commercial and residential.
While Alumino is the most popular of the colors there are also 3 other colors in the collection which you can see here Porcelain Tiles.
Thank you Dwight for sharing your pictures with us!
This is what Dwight had to say about his Design For Less Experience “…we are very happy with the quality of the tiles, as well as the pricing we received from The Glass Mosaic Outlet. We have had several guests comment on our backsplash and I have even loaned out a couple of our extra pieces for our friends to look at in their own house. Too bad you don’t have a referral program; I might be able to quit my day job (JK).”
We are working on a referral program because we know you guys are out there spreading the word about Design For Less and we really appreciate it! For now just remember that any tile installation pictures we receive from you automatically gets you a 5% discount on your next order. You can email them here info@design-4-less.com.
You can see many more inspirational kitchen designs on our Gallery page.





































