How to Create a Contemporary Urban Look with Porcelain and Ceramic Tile

Porcelain and ceramic tile are incredibly versatile. Take the Home of Distinction located at 4005 Bayshore Boulevard in Tampa, Florida. The builder, Modern Tampa Bay Homes, specifically selected tile to create a contemporary urban look.

Tile Outlets of America participated in this project with six different porcelain and ceramic tile styles which absolutely capture the specific contemporary urban look that Modern Tampa Bay Homes had in mind when we first met to discuss tile for this Home of Distinction.

Background on Modern Tampa Bay Homes & the Home of Distinction

Modern Tampa Bay Homes builds modern homes for people with sophisticated, highly selective tastes. They create exterior designs that stand out, yet still fit in, creating a constant visual interaction between any structure and its environment.

This particular house epitomizes that focus with its strong modern feel which brings the outdoors in with it interesting inside spaces and features. It's a 5000 square feet modern contemporary home with 4 bedrooms, a guest house and outdoor pool features.

Within, you'll find spacious entertainment areas including a large TV viewing space and game room along with a 1,000 square foot, third floor deck overlooking the cityscape and Tampa Bay.

The home has state-of-the-art LED lighting and solar energy for an innovative and energy efficient home. The narrow lot inspired a unique solution outdoors with turf grass to replace a hard driveway and maximize space for play and recreation atypical of confined urban spaces.

>> See 2016 Home of Distinction by Modern Tampa Bay Homes Showcases 6 Versatile Tile Styles.

Six Contemporary Urban Looking Porcelain and Ceramic Tile Styles

The six tiles chosen for the Home of Distinction have a strong contemporary vibe. That said, they can also work in a more traditional setting.

Three of the styles are special-order through Tile Outlets of America. More specifically,

• Titan Cemento 24x48 porcelain tile
• Frenchwood Elm 8x48 wood look plank porcelain tile
• Astorga Blanco 12x36 ceramic wall tile

These products are available in-stock at all three Tile Outlets stores:

• Marmo Borghini Luster Deco 10x26 ceramic tile
• Eneas Blanco 12x24 ceramic wall tile
• Bizote White 8x20 ceramic wall tile

Let's explore each of these products and how they were used in this Home of Distinction by Modern Tampa Bay Homes.

Titan Cemento 24x48

Titan Cemento is a large 24x48 format porcelain cement looking tile installed on the entire Main Floor of the home.

The Titan series is a cool cement look that is uniform throughout. The large format adds a sense of zen tranquility to the space as you can see in these two images of the ground level.

Titan Cemento 24x48 porcelain tile on the ground floor of the Home of Distinction

Closeup of Titan Cemento large format porcelain tile

Marmo Borghini Luster Deco 10x26

The Marmo Borghini Luster Deco 10x26 ceramic wall tile has the look of Carrara marble with a shimmer of luster in the pieces to give it a shine.

It can be used as an accent piece with field tile or for the entire wall. The Home of Distinction used this wall tile in the downstairs Guest Bathroom and the effect is fantastic!

Note in the photos how each of the showers features a linear drain.

Marmo Borghini Luster Deco 10x26 ceramic wall tile

What I like about this closeup photo of the shower is how the Marmo Borghini Luster Deco has been used in the kick-plate border at the base of the shower.

Closeup of the Marmo Borghini Luster Deco 10x26 ceramic wall tile at the base of the shower. Notice the Titan Cemento floor tile.

Did you notice how the floor tile is carried into the shower? Since this shower is on the main level, the floor tile is the Titan Cemento. In the upstairs bathroom, you'll see the Frenchwook Elm on the floors.

Frenchwood Elm 8x48 Porcelain Floor Tile

The Frenchwood Elm 8x48 wood look plank porcelain tile is a pressed plank in a nice cool grey tone with wood graining to look like real wood. The Frenchwood wood plank tiles are installed on the Second Floor of the home.

Frenchwood Elm 8x48 wood look plank porcelain tile

Eneas Blanco 12x24

The Eneas Blanco 12x24 is a white ceramic wall tile with a raised wavy design that is ideal as an accent wall in combination with a coordinating solid white tile or for the entire bathroom. Since it is rectified, it can be installed with clean minimal grout lines.

This wall tile was used in the upstairs Guest Bathroom of the Home of Distinction.

In the image below, notice the linear drain and how the floor tile is carried into the shower, making a particularly interesting visual and textural contrast with the white wavy wall tile.

Eneas Blanco 12x24 ceramic wall tile

Astorga Blanco 12x36 Ceramic Wall Tile

The Astorga Blanco 12x36 may be my favorite wall tile ever!

These white shiny wall tiles have a raised glaze of silver splashed on the tile to create a graphic design. The silver adds shine and shimmer against the white background in the Master Bathroom.

Notice how the entire wall has been transformed into a feature wall with this shimmery wall tile.

The Astorga Blanco 12x36 Ceramic Wall Tile Creates a Strong Feature Wall

Here is a closeup of the Astorga Blanco 12x36 Ceramic Wall Tile.

Closeup of the Astorga Blanco 12x36 Ceramic Wall Tile

And here is the effect in contrast to the sleek, simple, contemporary lines of the free-standing tub.

The Astorga Blanco 12x36 Ceramic Wall Tile contrasts with the clean simple free-standing tub lines.

Bizote White 8x20 Ceramic Wall Tile

The Bizote White 8x20 is a beveled 8x20 white wall tile. The beveled edge adds richness to the look and design.

This tile was used in the Guest Living Bathroom over the garage.

Interestingly, the wood plank floor tile has not been carried into the shower floor tile selection. Which look do you prefer?

Bizote White 8x20 Ceramic Wall Tile

Here are some additional photos of the Home of Distinction that I think you will enjoy.

Thoughts About the Versatility of Porcelain and Ceramic Tile

What's your reaction to this Home of Distinction and the tiles used?

Do you like the large tile formats?

What about the textures and the patterns?

As I mention above, these six tile styles are so versatile that they can easily be used in a modern urban setting such as the Home of Distinction as well as in a more traditional setting. In addition to these six porcelain and ceramic tiles, you'll find similarly inspired sizes and looks, available in-stock at Tile Outlets of America or through special order.

Here's a short one minute video interview with me about the tile choices for the Home of Distinction. It will also give you a taste for what to expect when you visit Tile Outlets.

We look forward to seeing you soon!

Kate