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Beautiful Glass Tile Inspiration

by | Mar 3, 2010 | Kitchens

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Beautiful Glass Tile InspirationWritten by: Tim Layton (aka Remodeling Guy)

Tim’s love of creativity and design mix with a perspective built on a career as a remodeling contractor.He can also can be found at his blog, RemodelingGuy.net


Beautiful Glass Tile Inspiration

housebeautiful.com

Vibrant colors, limitless shapes, and a silky smooth surface are some of the reasons glass tile is one of my favorite materials. Using glass tiles, ordinary backs plashes, wall and floor surfaces become real works of art.

Nothing can duplicate the depth of brilliant color glass tile affords. The reason for this is that the color is on the back-side of the glass and you look at it through the glass. This dimension, combined with the apparently flawless surface invariably causes the same reaction in guests: they reach out and touch it.

You know you’ve done something right when people want to touch your kitchen.

One Color Or Mosaic

You tell me… do you like one color or mosaic better? Here is a very similar kitchen done with smaller tiles in more than one color:

Beautiful Glass Tile Inspiration

sunset.com

I love both kitchens, but I’m partial to the all-one-color school of glass tile design.

Unless, of-course, the design on the wall is just pure out-and-out sculpture, like this picture from a post I did last year:

Beautiful Glass Tile Inspiration

That’s just truly amazing to me! I’d forgotten about this picture and seeing it makes me want to run out and buy the materials to do exactly this. I love it!

Not As Expensive As You Think

While designer glass tile can still cost a bundle, a strong search effort will almost always yield great results. In other words, if you look hard enough, you can find what you want for a very affordable price. Sometimes not a penny more than ceramic or porcelain!

So, what do you think?
Small tiles or large? Solid color or mosaic? Or do you say skip the glass and go with stone!

(as always, if you have a question, technical or otherwise, let me know in the comments and I’ll answer it there)

29 Comments

  1. hip chick

    Wow this is so cool. It looks like the beach and I love it.
    .-= hip chick´s last blog ..in like a lion =-.

    Reply
  2. Heather

    I prefer the solid glass. But that effect beside the sink is amazing.

    Reply
  3. Franki Parde

    Love the small glass tile. The first time I remember seeing this was when Candice Olsen designed rooms using this in kitchens, especially around a fireplace, etc. The imagination is limitless.

    Reply
  4. Kristen

    I don’t think I can decide which I like best. I did stare for a while when I saw the solid wall, but the mosaic is so interesting. I suppose it would depend entirely on the space I want to tile.
    .-= Kristen @ Beautifully Imperfect´s last blog ..Receiving This Day =-.

    Reply
  5. Laryssa

    I really like the solid glass the best. The other is pretty but looks too much like a pool…great in the summer, but might look weird at Christmas. ;-)
    .-= Laryssa @ Heaven In The Home´s last blog ..Blissful Memories =-.

    Reply
  6. shelly

    I’m the odd one out I guess ;) I LOVE the all of the different bright blues of the mosaic in the white kitchen! So happy looking! I wonder if I can talk my husband into doing that in our bathroom?!?

    Reply
  7. Screaming Meme

    I love the tile inspiration….:) It is so refreshing!

    Reply
  8. Irene

    What’s funny is Home Depot currently has some really inexpensive ($5 per square foot) promotional mosaic tile for sale. I bought 10 sheets that we will be able to use as an accent for our backsplash in our kitchen.

    We haven’t closed on our house yet, but I figured we will never find such cute time so cheap anytime soon, so why not buy it now. I think the right mosaic tile can be beautiful.
    .-= Irene´s last blog ..New England Style =-.

    Reply
  9. Sarah

    I really love the glass and prefer larger tiles. For some reason the smaller tiles seem too cluttered and chaotic and remind me of a bathroom. Definitely don’t hate them or anything, but they wouldn’t be my choice. I love stone, too, though, but I love more color in my life. I’m so glad I don’t have a kitchen to redo because it would be so hard to choose!
    .-= Sarah @ Dream In Domestic´s last blog ..Brand New Target Shoes at Goodwill Prices =-.

    Reply
  10. Mary Joy

    I have to say that I just love the glass tile! It is so fresh! Especially in the blues! I just can’t decide which I like better…I think it would have to depend on the room because I love all three of those rooms. Thanks for reminding us to open our minds to all of the creative possibilities out there. Love, Love, Love it!!! :)
    .-= Mary Joy @ Life Interrupted´s last blog ..Someone once told me its easier to raise boys than it is to raise girls… =-.

    Reply
  11. Melissa McClain

    I LOVE the kitchen from sunset.com. WOW! The colors are gorgeous. Turquoise is my favorite color and this just makes me swoon!! I have minimized my internet window and pulled it up several times today just to get some visual energy. This is my new dream kitchen. Thank you for posting such an inspiring image.

    Reply
  12. Gina

    I do love the glass tiles-but I think I’d go with one color for fear of getting tired of all the colors. I like to throw color around where it’s easy to change up because I simply can’t always stick with just one color (too many good ones to choose from!) I think that while I like the look of stone, it’s just not me. The color in the second photo is beautiful though!
    .-= Gina´s last blog ..Love =-.

    Reply
  13. Debbie

    These are ALL amazing! I am partial to the first one, though. Just looks a bit ‘cleaner’ to me. I would certainly be happy in ANY of these kitchens. They are beautiful. Thanks for sharing!

    Reply
  14. Vee

    It’s ease of cleaning is what would most appeal to me. Solid definitely looks preferable to my eye and in small doses where it’d be needed most…not everywhere under the cabinetry.
    .-= Vee´s last blog ..Matching My Marches =-.

    Reply
  15. The Virginia House

    Love the second picture! It made me think of the ocean and warm summer days. I love it when a picture makes you feel something. Beautiful!

    Reply
    • Remodeling Guy

      I’m with you on pictures that inspire feelings… good feelings at least!

      Reply
  16. Jean

    I prefer the clean lines of one color and bigger tiles myself. Nice pictures though.
    .-= Jean´s last blog ..We learn from Each Other =-.

    Reply
  17. Lorrie

    I love the look of glass tiles – small or large. Sarah Richardson, a Canadian designer, uses them in spectacular ways in her houses. Since we’re moving and going to be redecorating, I’m thinking/hoping that a glass tile backsplash will be in my kitchen’s future.
    .-= Lorrie´s last blog ..A Hint of Green =-.

    Reply
  18. virginia

    you can stick with solid color and still have an interesting pattern by using different sizes of the same color tile. one word of caution tho: make sure the installer (or you do-it-yourselfers) uses a cutting tool appropriate for the glass rather tile. i’m not sure exactly what that is. but my installer had a learning process — the first cuts disturbed the applied color on the back of the glass at the edge of the cut, creating a streaky white effect. if anyone knows the secret here of creating a clean cut without marring the color, i’d love to be reminded.

    Reply
  19. Christina

    Love this. It’s very inspirational!
    I would love to put some glass tiles in my kitchen. It’s just convincing the husband:)
    .-= Christina´s last blog ..Busy Girl =-.

    Reply
  20. Joyce

    Oh I love it all and it would be hard to just pick one tile. I could be very happy living with those colors!
    joyce

    Reply
  21. ClassiclyAmber

    Yes, I love the LOOK of the first kitchen – but the color more in the second one. Glass tile is so beautiful. If we ever get to finish our 4th bathroom, I would definitely love to use glass tile in there. Yum!
    .-= ClassiclyAmber´s last blog ..There ARE Still Nice People in the World! =-.

    Reply
  22. Mary Joy

    I do have one question…I really love the glass tile. Is this something that can only be used on walls or can it be used on floors as well? Just curious… Thanks for your input on this! I just can’t get over how beautiful it is!!!
    .-= Mary Joy @ Life Interrupted´s last blog ..Welcome Home Wednesdays~ St. Patrick’s Day Door Decor =-.

    Reply
    • Remodeling Guy

      Hi Mary Joy! That’s a good question. The short answer is that I wouldn’t recommend glass tile on a floor. The long answer happens to be the subject of a post I did last week at Remodeling Guy… here is the link to that I Love Glass Tile – Can I Use It On A Floor? Hope that helps you decide! – Tim

      Reply
  23. kathysue

    Melissa, I love glass tiles in fact I have used them in my bathroom and a small but effective way so it kept the cost down. I have it posted on my blog here:http://goodlifeofdesign.blogspot.com/2010/01/dont-throw-in-towel.html
    I love the way it reminds me of the ocean and it is very soothing. I vote for glass tile whenever it is appropriate to use. I think you can get a lot of look for little monies. Kathysue
    .-= kathysue´s last blog ..Enter My Brain If You Dare!!! =-.

    Reply

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