The first people to use porcelain in their architecture were the early Egyptians. The living quarters of wealthy families, as well as the tombs to be honored, were adorned with porcelain tiles. By the 13 th century, European cathedrals began to install handcrafted, porcelain tiles on their floors. The Industrial Revolution contributed to the success

Metal tiles can add a versatile and textural design element to your bathroom or kitchen wall or floor. This is a good choice if you feel like your home has too much wood. Metal tiles appeal to our visual senses and can be as finessed or funky as your design tastes allow. Larger metal tiles

Mosaics have been traced all the way back to the fourth millennium B.C. in Mesopotamia. Objects were decorated semi-precious stones, mother-of-pearl and shells. The Romans would raise the level of refinement in mosaics in the second century B.C. Christians art also helped the world learn more about mosaics as the technique was often used in

Glass tiles were used in the 15th century to create many mosaics in churches and cathedrals. Some of the first tiles created were colored, with red and gold being the two most popular hues. The Victorian period saw glass tiles rise in popularity, and glass mosaic tiles have remained popular for their vibrant luminescence, especially

An Egyptian Pharaoh’s chief architect is credited with the invention of stone architecture around 2630 B.C. Natural stone flooring tiles once only graced the homes of the elite and privileged in castles and pyramids. Improved technologies have made the process of creating natural stone flooring more affordable, though the effect is as lustrous and opulent

Ceramic tiling is a method of beautifying a home that dates back to antiquity. Ancient Egyptians were using ceramics in interior design almost 4,000 years ago-indeed, the word ceramic is from the Greek word keramos, which means pottery. Around the 11th century, the art of ceramic tiling spread into Europe from the Middle East, appearing