This kitchen floor in a Menlo Park condo was a straightforward job. We laid one-by-two-foot tiles in a running-bond (subway) pattern, running along the long axis of the kitchen. The backer was already installed when we arrived, so we went straight to layout and setting.
The tile is in a “Delorean Gray,” a color that’s becoming increasingly popular: a cool, modern gray that works with both white and wood cabinetry.
Running the long side of the tile along the length of the room draws the eye down the kitchen and makes a narrow condo kitchen feel longer and more open. Before setting, the layout is planned so the cuts at both ends and along the cabinets come out balanced, rather than leaving a thin sliver against one wall. With tiles this long, the stagger matters too. Large tiles often have a slight bow from manufacturing, so the offset between rows has to keep high and low points from lining up and creating uneven edges.
The tile was set in polymer-modified thinset in a color close to the grout, so any mortar that shows in a joint disappears. Each tile back was cleaned before setting, and each tile was checked against its neighbors as the floor went down to keep the edges flush and the joints straight. On a large-format floor, flatness is everything: any lippage shows up as a visible edge, and you can feel it underfoot.
One honest note. The client chose a gloss finish. A gloss tile brings its own chic to a kitchen: it reflects light, looks clean, and makes the room feel brighter. But we don’t recommend sheer or glossy tile underfoot in any area that gets wet, kitchens and baths included. A little water from the sink or dishwasher can make a gloss floor very slippery. A matte or textured finish is the safer choice.
Like most of our clients, this one chose their own tile, and after hearing our input, preferred the gloss. That’s their call to make. We give our honest opinion, and sometimes we just do as we’re told. Either way, it gets installed right.
We’re happy with how it came out.
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