The Home Decorator's Tile Bible: A Complete Guide to Using and Choosing Tiles [Spiral-bound]

Morwenna Brett (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: February 14, 2008

A comprehensive handbook for maximizing the decorative and practical power of tiles.

Endlessly versatile and available in a huge range of materials and finishes, tiles are an increasingly popular choice for home decorators. This handy book is a comprehensive guide to the types of tiles that are available, from ceramic and glass to terracotta, slate, marble and metal.

In The Home Decorator's Tile Bible, Morwenna Brett includes the history of tiles, explains how they are manufactured, and discusses associated products such as adhesives and grouts.

The main section of the book is the tile directory, which includes over 800 beautifully photographed tile samples representing a vast range of colors, patterns, textures, finishes, shapes, sizes and applications. Readers can turn to the color scheme that interests them and then view a selection of tiles in a wide range of materials. Each tile is described according to:

• Type
• Cost
• Application (indoor, outdoor, wall, floor, bathroom, kitchen, patio, fireplace, swimming pool)
• Slip and scratch resistance.

Also included is a detailed color wheel and additional information on trims and accessories, making this a definitive guide for homeowners and professionals. The lie-flat concealed wirobinding makes it easy to use whether on the job, at the design table, browsing in a store or home center, or just relaxing in an easy chair.

(20080928)

Editorial Reviews

Review

London-based interior designer Morwena Brett offers five tips for determining which tiles are suitable for your intended use. (CTW Features Ottawa Sun 2008)

The book offers step-by-step instructions explaining how to achieve your desired results. (Martha Phifer Times Union (Albany NY) 20080520)

Brett encourages readers to create design focal points with tile. "Once you start looking," she says, "the choice is dazzling." (Elena Jefferson blogs.denverpost.com 20080831)

Fear not -- [Brett] has some tips for incorporating succesful tile design in a log home. (Donna Peak Log Home Design 20080515)

Tiles and layout options to suit every taste.... the variety of tile materials available today is astonishing. (Peter Wilson, Canwest News Wire The Daily News, Kamloops; Times-Colonist; Vancouve 20080628)

Comprehensive and delightful, [the book] will convince readers and designers alike to reconsider tiles' practical and decorative purposes. (Grand Magazine (Kitchener ON) 20080428)

[The book's] real strength is... hundreds of color photographs showing the variety of tile group color with examples of use. (Library Journal 20090722)

From floors, walls and ceilings to your front walkway, there are tiles and layout options to suit every taste. (Peter Wilson, Canwest The Calgary Herald 20081031)

Brett covers everything from terra cotta and porcelain to metallics and glass to marble and leather. (Cecily Ross The Globe and Mail 20081024)

Solid advice. (Baltimore Sun )

With more than 800 photos detailing the versatility of tiles...the book offers step-by-step instructions. (Richmond Times-Dispatch )

With more than 800 photos detailing the versatility of tiles...the book offers step-by-step instructions explaining how to achieve the desired results. (Martha Phifer Chicago Tribune )

About the Author

Morwenna Brett ran an interior design firm in London, which led to a career in writing and broadcasting. She has also worked for product manufacturers and as a consultant on style and color trends.

(20080710)

Product Details

• Spiral-bound: 256 pages
• Publisher: Firefly Books (February 14, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1554073642
• ISBN-13: 978-1554073641
• Product Dimensions: 8.2 x 6.5 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,135,109 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Tile Photos Galore!, February 16, 2010

By 

Sonya "readaholic" (Dallas, TX) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Home Decorator's Tile Bible: A Complete Guide to Using and Choosing Tiles (Spiral-bound)

This is wire bound medium sized (6½ " x 8") book that contains lots of photos of tile. The book is broken into chapters that include info about designing with and living with tiles. The predominant chapters are Types of Tiles (ceramic, metallics, stone, mosaics, leather, everything); Tiles by color (reds, blacks, metallics, etc.); and Techniques for tile installation (adhesives, grout, tools, wall and floor). There are tips on designing and choosing patterns for your tile layout. Several pages have side bar tips, some are common sense, i.e. keep in scale, others are more specific, i.e. a complex tile pattern needs to be surrounded by simple furnishings. It talks about subfloors, whether they can take the weight, changing floor levels, even a little about under floor heating. The chapter on tile installation techniques are brief, but give a synopsis of what is involved.

Where this book excels is the layout and color photographs of not only the tiles, but photographs of floors and walls covered with tile. The Tile Bible includes over 800 photos of tile, many of which I have never previously seen. Most of the book is the Tile by Color section, each tile photo has a caption with a brief description and a W or F after the caption to indicate if best suited for wall or floor.

Overall, a good resource for tile options, pros and cons of various tile choices and fantastic photographs.

5.0 out of 5 stars Best book ever, August 28, 2011

By 

DS - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: The Home Decorator's Tile Bible: A Complete Guide to Using and Choosing Tiles (Spiral-bound)

The book is wonderful if you're remodeling now or in the near future. It's full of ideas with very up-to-date product recommendations.

0 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars The Home Decorator's Tile Bible: A Complete Gudie to Using and Choosing Tiles, March 2, 2009

By 

Jennifer E. Newman (North Carolina, USA) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: The Home Decorator's Tile Bible: A Complete Guide to Using and Choosing Tiles (Spiral-bound)

The colors and contracts, and the example of tiles is excellent. The commentary on each color is short, but to the point; if it were too long I don't think anyone would take the time to read it. The photos of the tiles are beautiful, and the decorative examples will get your creativity juices flowing. [[ASIN:B001TLEZOG The Home Decorator's Tile Bible: A Complete Guide to Using and Choosing Tiles [HOME DECORATORS TILE BIBLE]