Thursday, April 09, 2009

Old Tile, New Style

Ahhh, Thrifty Thursdays. A fun little time to hunt around the house, the garage, someone elses house and garage or even a thrift store or two to dig up some cool finds.

Leigh over at Tales from Bloggeritaville started this fun carnival and I have truly enjoyed the great finds that others have featured. So be sure and check the other participants as well.

My Thrifty Thursday is not in my home. It's in a house that my husband and I toured on one of our many open house weekends. I am featuring this because it's a really thrifty idea, instead of redoing an entire bathroom full of tile.

The reason I know that the tile is original is because it's in a million older homes, there were a few cracks in the shower tiles and because I saw the tell-tale signs of the pencil marks on the tiles (for the tile saw.)

As you can see, when you walk into this bathroom it's stunning. The cabinets are new, the bathtub is new and the inset tiles are new, but the white tiles are original. The tiles in the shower were also original, except there was an inset in the shower floor. (The shower was off to the left side of the photo)

The "rug" was cut into the original tile floor. I am not quite sure if the tile that surrounds the rug area is new tile or if it was recycled from the one removed from the floor or from under the original cabinet. Usually the old tile is very difficult to salvage. In my previous home we needed to salvage a few squares and it was tough to get them without a chip or a crack. The color of the tiles though are identical, so I'm leaning towards recycle.

In the Springfield house flip that still hasn't sold (insert sarcastic smile) I saved the tile that surrounded the shower. To make it fresh, I just had the grout redone. It was a few hour project and made those tiles and the entire shower area just sparkle. This is what I believe was done in this bathroom. The floor was totally grouted a new fresh color and it makes the whole room look brand new.

I hope you liked my submission to Thrifty Thursday and I hope at some point you might be able to make a thrifty, yet stylish decorating decision when you update your space.

Kristin

9 comments:

Lazy Mom Leslie said...

That's such a good idea! I had that white tile in my kids bathrooms but I ended up replacing it all. I just couldn't stand all that grout! I might have done it differently had I seen this. Thanks for sharing!

"J" said...

That is a GREAT idea with a old/new look!!!!

Well, I'm back - I think after this week - my life/our life will get back to what we call "normal"!!!! The wedding is in the past.......now the wedding reception "party" is in the past as well!!!! All of Mr. "S" family is on the road back to Ohio today - they've been with us since last Friday!!!!

I've missed you sooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo very much!!!!!!!

Oh and guess what - the internet is up and working at the house!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

=)

I know - it's about time!!!! lol

Leigh of Tales from Bloggeritaville said...

Kristin,

Are you kidding! Is that the room with that blue tub? Wow! YOU are one amazing flipper! That looks phenom! I love the tiles! Absoltuley beautiful!
Thanks K, as always, for playing along! You so great!
Hugs!

Kristin - The Goat said...

This is not a house that I own or flipped. It's just a house I walked through and snapped a million pictures. I wish I was able to flip another house, but I still have one on the market so the funds are tied up right now - but thanks for thinking I did this :)

Anonymous said...

great idea...ann

Laura said...

What a cool idea to do with the tile! Thanks for sharing.

Ruth Ann said...

Thanks for sharing! That is sooo beautiful! I would love that in my bathroom! I like that even better than tiling the entire floor!

j said...

Yes I DID like your Thrifty Thursday post. The old tile has character. I like that bathroom!

I hope that you and yours have a wonderful Easter.

Kristin said...

That is a great idea! It really makes a gorgeous statement.