Design Dispatch: Subway Tile Isn't Dead. It Just Needs A Fresh Perspective

I have noticed some clients growing tired of subway tile. For the record, I am not.

Subway tile remains one of the most timeless materials available because it is simple, versatile, and adaptable enough to work in nearly every style of home. Traditional. Modern. Farmhouse. Spanish. It can do all of them.

The problem isn't the tile.

The problem is that for years it's been installed the same way: white, glossy, offset pattern, light gray grout. After seeing anything enough times, fatigue sets in.

(A bit like my recent comments about Taj Mahal quartzite on Instagram. Just so you know, I still use it. I'm just tired of it being the automatic answer.)

Like many materials, subway tile suffers more from overexposure than bad design.

What keeps it relevant is its simplicity. A straightforward material can take on an entirely different character depending on scale, finish, grout selection, and installation pattern.

Here are three approaches I continue to use:

1. Vertical or Horizontal Stack:

A simple change in orientation creates a cleaner, more contemporary look. Vertical installations draw the eye upward and can make ceilings feel taller, Horizontal gives the illusion that the space is wider.

2. Herringbone:

Herringbone remains one of my favorite installation patterns because it adds movement without trying too hard.

We recently used smaller-scale subway tiles in a herringbone pattern for an upstairs shower pan remodel. The tile featured subtle gradations in color, which added depth and visual interest while still feeling quiet.

The pattern works especially well when the surrounding finishes are understated. Not every surface in a room needs to be the star of the show.

3. Basketweave:

2 are paired vertically, 2 horizontally, creating an almost textile-like feel. Same tile. Completely different personality.

Matte vs. Glossy:

Another shift that's happened over the last several years is the move toward matte finishes.

For good reason.

Matte tile tends to feel softer and more relaxed. Glossy tile reflects light, adds energy, and can help brighten a space.

Same tile; left, Matte; right, Glossy

Neither is inherently better.

The question isn't which finish is trending. The question is always what serves the room best.

In the Mix: Window Treatments are Sometimes The Most Neglected Element in a Room

This week, I spent a couple of days in Anaheim completing training and learning more about the products, systems, and options available.

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Window treatments have always been a bit of a love-hate relationship for me.

Not because they aren't important. Quite the opposite.

They require consideration of privacy, light control, solar protection, insulation, exposure, motorization, mounting heights, stack widths, and fabric performance before aesthetics even enter the conversation.

Don't get me wrong. I love a great statement drape when the room calls for it, especially in a dining room. But when I'm evaluating windows, my hierarchy is pretty simple:

First, does the window already have beautiful trim?

Second, does it actually require privacy or light control?

And finally, would the window benefit from additional treatment at all?

Not every window needs to be dressed up.

For years, I relied on a handful of window treatment specialists. But after a few less-than-ideal experiences and more commonly, finding myself dependent on someone else's schedule for ordering and installation, I decided to take a closer look at a product line I've been recommending for years.

The more I learned, the more it made sense to begin offering these solutions directly to clients when the need arises.

Not because every window needs a treatment.

In fact, I'm generally in favor of keeping windows clean and minimal when they already have beautiful trim around them. Don't mess with a good thing when you don't have to.

A beautifully proportioned window with quality trim and a great view may not need anything at all.

But when there is a need for privacy, light control, UV protection, insulation, or automation, I want to solve that problem in a way that maintains, or even enhances, the beauty of the window.

When clients come to me frustrated with their existing window coverings, I rarely find that the product itself is the problem.

More often, it's one of these:

• Hanging drapery too low above the window.

• Panels that are too narrow, leaving the window feeling skimpy and underdressed.

• Selecting materials without considering sun exposure.

• Using blackout shades as the default solution. Contrary to popular belief, not every room needs to feel like a Las Vegas hotel room at noon. Many people also forget how concentrated that beam of light becomes when it escapes around the sides.

• Failing to plan for motorization during construction when wiring can easily be incorporated.

One project that illustrates this perfectly is a Tahoe remodel we completed several years ago.

The home features six floor-to-ceiling windows spanning the rear of the house, all receiving a healthy dose of afternoon sun.

Preserving the view was a priority. So was controlling heat gain and UV exposure.

At first glance, you don't even notice the window treatments.

That was intentional.

We installed solar shades sized to span two windows at a time, aligning them with the existing wood mullions. When raised, they virtually disappear.

When the afternoon sun becomes intense, the homeowners can lower just three shades and dramatically reduce heat and glare without sacrificing the view.

To me, that's a successful solution.

The best window treatments are often the ones you barely notice.

When done well, they solve a problem without competing with the architecture.

Off the Clock: A Walk Through Old Orange

This week, while I was in Anaheim for window treatment training, I carved out some time to wander through one of the area's historic neighborhoods.

My first stop was in the city of Orange: the Ainsworth House, which I would categorize as a Victorianized Craftsman, built in 1910.

The current owner purchased the property in 1998 and has spent nearly three decades carefully restoring it. Today it serves as office space, but he was kind enough to let me peek around inside.

Of course, for me, it's the details.

Original woodwork. Built-ins. Hardware. Trim profiles. The kind of craftsmanship that reminds me why preserving these historic homes matters.

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Designers are constantly exposed to what's new. New products. New trends. New technology.

But some of the best lessons can be found in homes that have already stood the test of time.

After leaving the Ainsworth House, I spent a few hours walking the surrounding neighborhood.

One thing became clear very quickly: Orange's early builders had a deep appreciation for Craftsman architecture. Street after street featured generous front porches, tapered columns, substantial trim work, and details that created character long before anyone added furniture.

Victorians were a close second, followed by a handful of flat-roofed mid-century homes that felt like they had been transported straight from Palm Springs.

It's exercises like this that keep me energized about what I do and the people I do it for.

Sometimes it's easy to get caught up in schedules, selections, budgets, and checking boxes. A walk through a neighborhood like this is the best reminder that we're not just completing projects. We're shaping the places where people will live their lives, make memories, raise families, and tell stories.

And if we're fortunate, the work we do today will still be standing—and still be appreciated by the people who inhabit it—long after we're gone.

Sometimes the best way to move forward is to spend a little time looking back.

Until next time,

🤍

Lisa

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