You can afford....Custom Tile

Did she say custom tile?

Yup. Yes, that's exactly what I said. Custom tile.

Image Source: ModWalls.com

The people at ModWalls have taken all the pain out of searching for the perfect mosaic blend for your project.

Their Brio blend mosaics are made from 3/4" square glass and are available in every color of the rainbow and more. Now, you can create a custom blend of these tiles to fit your style. Heck, you can match just about anything (even your birdie). 

The process is very simple. You use the ModWalls "blender" to select the colors you wish to use from the 75+ shades and styles available. You will be able to see what your blend will look like as you go. You even have control over the percentages. Say you just want a hint a papaya...change it's quantity to 10% and voila! A hint of papaya!

The blender even lets you see what your mosaic will look like with different shades of grout. 

Once you're finished, you can submit the order or order a sample of your custom blend. I'd highly recommend getting a sample first. Colors on monitors are very unreliable. Your papaya might not be the color you thought it was!

Image Source: ModWalls.com

 

So what does it cost?

There's not a set cost of the blends. Custom orders require at least 20 sq. ft. The price of your blend is dependent on how many different colors you used and how much you change the percentages. Even splits are less expensive than say a 10%-40%-50% blend. I ran a few ideas through the 'blender' and even with 7 colors, the price never reached $20/sq. ft. 

You also get discounts as you purchase higher quantities.

How it's made

Each and every custom Brio blend is locally made by hand by Hope Service (a non-profit organization that employs developmentally disabled adults to do all kinds of work). The more than 30 clients from Hope Services create each sheet of your blend with heart. You aren't just getting some tile, you get a work of art. Learn more about Hope Services here.

If that sounds like a lot of work...

Don't worry. They've got your back. 

ModWalls have lots of pre-blended mosaics ready for purchase.

Sources:

Learn more about the process of creating a custom Brio blend at http://www.modwalls.com/howtocreateyourmodwallscustomglasstileblend.aspx

Start creating your own ModWalls custom blend at http://www.modwalls.com/CustomTileBlends.aspx

Learn about Hope Services at http://www.hopeservices.org/

Buying Guide...Change Your Flooring

In case you're like me and you'd rather just skip the DIY and buy the darn thing, here are some tiles that can be substituted for yesterday's "change your flooring" post. Buyer beware, though. This will cost you more than pennies.

The Options:

Image from CoolTiles.com 

Source: CoolTiles.Com

Illusion Glass Tile, Nickels Mosiac in Antique Copper

$35/sq. ft.

Buy it here

Image from GlassTileStore.com

Source: GlassTileStore.com

Metal Stainless Steel Penny Rounds in Copper

$17/sq. ft.

Buy it here

Image from GlassTileStore.com

Source: GlassTileStore.com

Metal Stainless Steel Penny Rounds in Silver

$17/sq. ft.

Buy it here

 If you remember...

At the end of yesterday's post I listed a few other DIY flooring ideas. One of them was recycled wine corks. Well, if you loved that idea...you're in luck. You can buy those, too.

 Image from ModWalls.com

And can I just say that I love ModWalls? They have the coolest tiles around for prices that can compete with your big box home improvement stores. (Yes, I'm look at you Lowe's and Home Depot).

These beauties are the CorkDotz Mosaic Penny Rounds and cost $16.95/sq. ft. Buy them here

Obviously if you opt to buy these instead of DIYing with you own corks your floor won't be covered in memories of bottles shared. But, if you aren't sentimenal, I say, "Go for it!"

Sources:

Antique Copper Nickel Rounds from CoolTiles.com. Get more info and pictures at http://www.cooltiles.com/ubc525005.html

Copper Stainless Steel Penny Rounds from GlassTileStore.com. Get more info and pictures at http://www.glasstilestore.com/shop-by-colors-now/copper/metal-copper-stainless-steel-3-5-penny-round-tiles.html

Silver Stainless Steel Penny Rounds from GlassTileStore.com. Get more info and pictures at http://www.glasstilestore.com/collection/metal-tiles/metal-silver-stainless-steel-3-5-penny-round-tiles.html

Cork Penny Rounds from ModWalls.com. Get more info and pictures at http://www.modwalls.com/corkdotzpre-sealedcorkmosaictile.aspx

Weekend Project...Change your flooring

Image Source: Apartment Therapy, "Penny Tile at the Standard Hotel"

"Change" your flooring! 

Get it?  Lame, I know. 

This idea has been floating around Pinterest boards lately, but it's not a new concept. It's been around for a while, but that doesn't make it any less cool. This project is definitely for a very dedicated home owner on a budget (or not) and one with a LOT of time on their hands. This will probably take more than a weekend and your hands will have that dirty money smell for days. But, look at the results! Totally worth it.

How To

If you've ever tiled before, this will be a breeze. If not, no worries. It won't be that hard. You don't even have to rent a tile cutter for this one. There's two basic ways to approach this project.

1) Lay each and every penny directly on the floor

2) Save your back and adhere them to 12 x 12 mesh sheets before installing.

Either way, apply the pennies to the floor with an epoxy-based clear adhesive or thin-set concrete (depending on which instructions you read). Make sure you've removed all baseboards and trim before you do this. If you really wanted to, you could install this over existing tile or flooring, but I wouldn't suggest it if it can be avoided. Allow it to dry completely and then grout the entire floor. The excess will wipe off easily. 

Choosing a darker color won't show as much dirt over time.

Image Source: Apartment Therapy, "Penny Tile at the Standard Hotel"

Be sure to seal the pennies with a hefty epoxy sealer. If you like the variation of color, leave them as you found them. For a cohesive bright copper finish, polish your pennies with copper cleaner first. It will be too late after you apply the sealer. 

For something a little different...

Use a different coin. I know, that's more expensive. But I love the way nickels look for a more modern space. The pennies are great in a cozy room, but these nickels look so sleek in this bathroom!

Image Source: Apartment Therapy: "Nickel Tile Floor! A DIY Bathroom Renovation"

Just as a point of reference, you can purchase metal or ceramic mosaic tiles to get this same look. The style is called "penny rounds", appropriately. They were popular in pastel colors in the retro era. It will cost you more, obviously, but it will save you a headache if you like the general look but aren't a big DIYer..

Read On

Here are a few great sources to read up on how to do this and get some more inspiration:

Apartment Therapy: "Penny Tile Floor at the Standard Hotel" 

Apartment Therapy: "Nickel Tile Floor! A DIY Bathroom Renovation"

reno210: "A penny saved...is a tile floor"

EHow: "How to Tile a Floor with Pennies"

Other things that would make a beautiful DIY floor:

Recycled corks, sliced into rounds

Scrabble tiles

Sea glass

Crushed glass or shells set into concrete

Sliced sections of old tree trunks

Eye Candy: French Bathroom

It's Friday. Sit back, prop your feet up, have a glass of wine and enjoy some eye candy.

These images are from a collection on House Beautiful.

See the whole slideshow here.

How sweet are the his and hers vanities with tile mats? So chic.

 

Ohh...to enjoy a nice soak in that tub! If you want to splurge (and boy do I mean splurge, we're talking $12,000 to $16,000 here) on it, it's available at your local Waterworks showroom.

Here's the kicker: this is a guest bathroom. Oh, to see the master!

This week wasn't scheduled to be dedicated to French inspiration. But, what can I say? Sometimes I get wrapped up in pretty things.

Au Revoir  for the weekend! 

Source: 

Slideshow and images: "A Grand, Parisian Hotel-Inspired Guest Bathroom" by Julie Lewis on House Beautiful.com. See the rest here: http://www.housebeautiful.com/decorating/house-pictures/french-bathroom-style-0311?click=img_sr#slide-1