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Pro Spotlight: Use Your Home’s Style to Choose Tile
A Minneapolis tile expert shows how to take cues from your home’s history
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Who: Josh Blanc of Clay Squared to Infinity
Where: Minneapolis
In his own words: “I tell people to look around the house at light fixtures, moldings and other features. There are many cues in a house that give you ideas that are consistent and make tiles look original to the house.”
Choosing tile can be overwhelming. Many homeowners default to white subway tile, and owners of historic homes may have limited choices at big-box stores. Josh Blanc, owner of Clay Squared to Infinity in Minneapolis, offers handmade reproductions of tile ideally suited for Victorian, Craftsman and midcentury modern homes. Blanc relishes helping clients select the right tile. “Authenticity is important to people, and we can help them achieve that,” he says.
Where: Minneapolis
In his own words: “I tell people to look around the house at light fixtures, moldings and other features. There are many cues in a house that give you ideas that are consistent and make tiles look original to the house.”
Choosing tile can be overwhelming. Many homeowners default to white subway tile, and owners of historic homes may have limited choices at big-box stores. Josh Blanc, owner of Clay Squared to Infinity in Minneapolis, offers handmade reproductions of tile ideally suited for Victorian, Craftsman and midcentury modern homes. Blanc relishes helping clients select the right tile. “Authenticity is important to people, and we can help them achieve that,” he says.
Artisan beginnings. When he was in fifth grade, Blanc wanted to be a glassblower; in ninth grade, his pottery prowess made him stand out. He accompanied his mother, a stained glass artist, at art festivals while living in Vermont. After attending Columbus College of Art & Design in Ohio, Blanc ran a tile company in Minneapolis. In 1995 he was tasked with retiling the ceiling of a tunnel at the Minnesota State Capitol on a tight schedule, and that set him on course for starting his handmade tile business the following year.
Problem solving. Blanc says he learns more about what clay and glazes can do with every project. He loves working with clients in his showroom, where they “can touch things and get ideas, and I can see what they’re drawn to,” he says. Blanc guides clients to tiles appropriate for their homes. “I give people suggestions on scale and give them license to experiment,” he says. “I help them figure it out. This is something the homeowner is going to live in, and I want them to be engaged in the process.”
Want to learn how to choose the right tile for your home? See Blanc’s tips below.
Want to learn how to choose the right tile for your home? See Blanc’s tips below.
1. Get Inspiration From Original Tile
If your home has vintage tile, use that as inspiration when picking out new tile, Blanc says. Modern manufactured tile doesn’t always have the detail that historic tile had, he says. In the Minneapolis kitchen seen here, the homeowners had Art Deco tile and trim in a bathroom that they loved, so Blanc guided them to similar green shades and accent trim for the kitchen.
See more of this project
If your home has vintage tile, use that as inspiration when picking out new tile, Blanc says. Modern manufactured tile doesn’t always have the detail that historic tile had, he says. In the Minneapolis kitchen seen here, the homeowners had Art Deco tile and trim in a bathroom that they loved, so Blanc guided them to similar green shades and accent trim for the kitchen.
See more of this project
2. Create a Custom Pattern
Blanc recommends taking advantage of an unused or odd-size space to create a focal point with authenticity using handmade tile. In this St. Paul bungalow, for example, the homeowners had redone the kitchen with quarter-sawn oak and stained glass windows. Installing the decorative tile behind the stove added character. “It feels like it’s always been there,” Blanc says.
See more of this project
Blanc recommends taking advantage of an unused or odd-size space to create a focal point with authenticity using handmade tile. In this St. Paul bungalow, for example, the homeowners had redone the kitchen with quarter-sawn oak and stained glass windows. Installing the decorative tile behind the stove added character. “It feels like it’s always been there,” Blanc says.
See more of this project
3. Reference Historic Features
Use your home’s original features, such as vintage glass or woodwork, as a reference when choosing new tile. For instance, the owners of a St. Paul Craftsman loved the stained glass window near their fireplace, and it inspired the prairie “flowers” in this tile restoration that became the room’s focal point. Blanc’s tile transformed a stark white brick fireplace into an Arts and Crafts standout. “Pattern is a big part of tile,” he says. “People are sometimes afraid to use it and need to see it done somewhere else in the house.”
See more of this project
More: For more information on Josh Blanc and examples of his work, visit Clay Squared to Infinity’s Houzz profile.
This story was written by the Houzz Sponsored Content team.
Use your home’s original features, such as vintage glass or woodwork, as a reference when choosing new tile. For instance, the owners of a St. Paul Craftsman loved the stained glass window near their fireplace, and it inspired the prairie “flowers” in this tile restoration that became the room’s focal point. Blanc’s tile transformed a stark white brick fireplace into an Arts and Crafts standout. “Pattern is a big part of tile,” he says. “People are sometimes afraid to use it and need to see it done somewhere else in the house.”
See more of this project
More: For more information on Josh Blanc and examples of his work, visit Clay Squared to Infinity’s Houzz profile.
This story was written by the Houzz Sponsored Content team.
We are a handmade tile showroom/studio located in the Northeast Minneapolis Arts District. We make both original... Read More
Review by Enid Boeding:
Clay Squared was amazing to work with! We wanted to redo the old, stained, crumbling brick fireplace face in out 1908 home. The mantle was in good condition but we wanted to use tile in in a period-a...More