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The Ridiculously Difficult Tile Job

Tags

antique arts arts and crafts bathroom black crafts did it myself era fashioned hexagonal mission old pattern style tile under $500 white

Project Details

Created by LRockTheMixMasta

You know how old apartment buildings have that neato, tiny hexagonal tile in the bathrooms? It seems to always be white with some black accent tiles in a reasonably intricate motif. I fantasized that due to the abundance of such bathrooms, the fact that they were constructed in an era of less technology and the fact that they were prevalent in modest apartments that such tiles must be easy(ish) to locate and install. In the words of Charlie Murphy, "WRONG". 

I had to drag my otherwise occupied contractor out to the professional tile store to help me find the tiles and they only come in sheets of all white or all black. One place said they would build a pattern for me but since the number of right angles in my 91 year old house equals none i decided to forego the custom order and rig this thing myself. 

The first order of business was building the pattern I wanted into the 12"x12" mesh squares. I popped out the whites ones I didn't want and glued in the black ones individually and then laid those squares in the Thinset. Many areas required fill ins tile by tile but i was already committed so on I went. It turned out pretty well considering I have never laid a tile floor before. It's hard to say whether or not my artistic aspirations or my desire to save a buck was the dominant factor in pursuing this project, but I think I have satisfied the desire to ever do something like this again. However, the result was well worth it and i recommend everyone try it at least once...if you have lots of time and patience.

 

Comments

  • Chris Cardy on Thu, 23 Aug 2007 @ 1:01 am

    it looks nice Lucia. how long did it take you to lay the tile once you had it in the arrangement you watned?

      

  • 1927 Bungalow on Wed, 29 Aug 2007 @ 6:06 am
    What a beautiful bathroom!  Did you make the pattern up yourself or did you follow a book pattern?  Looks awesome with the red clawfoot!
  • LRockTheMixMasta on Thu, 06 Sep 2007 @ 3:51 am

    Hi 1927,

     

    Thanks, I made up the pattern with Charlie based on the look of old bathrooms we saw and I think (subliminally) on the stained glass window that was there when we bought the house. I didn't realize the diamond connection in both until i was finished.  

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