Swapping out tile remakes a room

Just the thought of remodeling a room can be overwhelming. Where to begin? What is the cost? What stays and what goes? These are some of the most complicated questions homeowners face when choosing to remodel. The fear is that once the hammer begins to tear away at your comfort zone, there's no turning back.

Tile plays a large part in remodeling when considering a kitchen or bathroom remodel. These two living spaces are the most expensive to remodel. If you're contemplating changing the layout of the space, a plumber, electrician and kitchen/bath designer have to be commissioned, which adds to the cost of the remodel job.

In order to keep remodeling within your budget, consider working with the existing cabinets and countertops if the project allows. Here are a few scenarios where this practice was implemented.

Using existing cabinets: The homeowners of this

The solution: An 18x18-inch ceramic tile, light

Debbe Daley goes over the tile selections at the Nashua Tile Center. (sun/jon hill)

Outdated bathtub solution: In this bathroom, the existing baby blue tub/shower unit was to stay. Again the cabinets were a golden finish and in great shape. The existing countertop was a white Corian. The existing wall tile was 4x4-inch square with blue tiles the same size placed in a design in the center of the wall and topped off with a blue bullnose tile. This design and color were considered to be outdated.

The solution: Working with the cabinets, countertop and tub, a white 12x12 inch tile was chosen with gray veins in a high gloss to mimic the look of marble, with a companion wall tile to complement the floor tile. Tying it all together would be tiny, multicolored subway glass tile in light soft frosted blues, clear glossy glass pieces and iridescent blue tiles. This combination of deco accent tiles was the key piece needed in updating this bathroom and providing a more modern look.

Updated tile tips: Try incorporating accent glass tiles into your tile design. There are so many shapes and sizes, 1-inch mosaic and mini-subway tiles, glossy and frosted. Natural stone combinations of tumbled marble, granite and glass can be used as an accent strip in a shower, on a wall or as a border on a backsplash. The possibilities in tile design are endless.

Debbe Daley is an interior designer with more than 25 years of experience. Follow her blog at blogs.lowellsun.com/daleydecor

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Swapping out tile remakes a room