Porcelain and ceramic are popular tile materials in today’s backsplash and flooring options. For many homeowners, the question of which to choose remains: Is porcelain tile or ceramic tile better?
IRG carries a range of mosaic, subway, field and large format tile from various local vendors. No matter which material you prefer – porcelain or ceramic – we have options for you to view in our showrooms. To help you make the right choice for the right application, we’ve put together these guidelines:
Your Location is going to get a lot of use!
High foot traffic areas like living rooms, kitchens and hallways beg for porcelain flooring. As porcelain is a type of ceramic that has been processed at higher temperatures, it is denser than ceramic tile and offers better resistance to scuffs and scratches. Households with children and pets will especially appreciate the durability of porcelain tile floors.
Your Room has a lot of moisture
Bathrooms also love porcelain because they absorb much less moisture. Because porcelain is already dense, it won’t wick up wetness. In fact, it’s nearly waterproof so it’s a top choice for flooring, mud, and laundry rooms.
This doesn’t necessarily mean that ceramic is a bad choice for bathrooms; ceramic tiles have still been used for decades in showers. These days, it’s an even more popular choice for kitchen backsplash and around sinks.
You Want to add a handmade touch
The art of handmade ceramic tile has made a loving return to kitchen and bathroom design. If you cherish the idea of sustainable design and product crafted by individuals, then handmade ceramic tile is for you!
Mediterranean and Spanish inspired interiors crave traditional artisan-made tile. But companies, like Fireclay Tile, are redefining the handmade clay tile industry with bold, contemporary colors and patterns that designers love using in modern interiors.
You Want to DIY
A lower price point and softer structure make ceramic tiles a great DIY material. Ceramic is easier to cut, install and adhere to a floor or backsplash. Be sure to choose ceramic if you’ll need to make lots of cuts or install around fixtures yourself.
We’re Talking about a Patio
When it comes to patio flooring, nature isn’t tidy…or kind. If your patio area is exposed to extreme cold or freezing, ceramic is risky because it may absorb moisture, expand, and crack. As previously mentioned, porcelain tile is denser and more durable; thus, it can better withstand the outdoor elements.
Porcelain pavers are becoming increasingly popular for patio and outdoor usage. These pavers typically come in natural slate- or limestone-like colors with 2cm (3/4″) thickness, making them a budget-friendly and lower maintenance alternative to natural stone tile.
Ready to Select?
Contact us and head over to an IRG showroom to view your tile options in-person! Our knowledgeable staff is here to guide you on your project decisions, providing samples and answering your questions along the way.
We carry tile vendors with a variety of porcelain and ceramic tile options. Check out their websites below to see the full selection of tile we can order for your project:
Picture deep Brazilian blue waves and the mystery that comes with them. That’s the feeling of staring into the depths of IRG’s Azul Bahia Granite.
Some believe this stunning stone is the most exotic of any granites because of its uniquely vibrant blue coloration. Also known as Blue Bahia, this strikingly beautiful and exclusive material is quarried in the northeastern state of Bahia and transported from Brazil to bring magnificence to you and your space!
A Brilliant Color. A Brilliant Choice.
Granite is one of the most durable surfaces you can find for kitchen countertops and baths. But don’t stop there: this granite is especially good for interior and exterior wall and floor applications, fountains and pools – even stairs and mosaics. With Azul Bahia you can transform even the most mundane areas into spectacular showstoppers.
Consider a waterfall island in your kitchen. Surround yourself in its wave-like depths and frame an oversized tub. Place book-matched slabs in a study. Azul Bahia’s uses are as limitless as its design. What’s consistent is its powerful presence.
“Sea” What We Mean
Nothing takes the places of seeing and touching the surface of Azul Bahia in-person. Browse IRG’s Azul Bahia slabs online, then contact us to visit our showrooms and see this designer (and homeowner) favorite in-person!
For centuries, the cool, calming qualities of marble have added serenity to indoor and outdoor spaces around the globe. Consider the ancient Greeks and Romans who used marbles extensively for buildings, baths, and outdoor theaters. From prehistoric figurines to the Parthenon and beyond, marble has been used time and again in Greek art and architecture to honor the gods, celebrate beauty and impress the public. Now you can bring this peaceful surface material to your own personal wellness space – to create an inspired, serene setting in harmony with the best usage for you to put your mind and body at rest.
Dove White Marble
Zagross White Marble
Drink in the Serenity
Light marble promotes calmness and serenity. Often the wavelike pattern offers a tranquil soothing feel to in personal bath areas, spas, and hair & beauty areas. While more bold stone patterns can add drama and movement to oversized bathrooms, outdoor shower and bathing areas and rooms used for more intense activity.
Breccia Capraia Marble
Panda White Marble
Marble as Muse
Inspire creativity by using marble on a statement wall, as the background material in your in-home office “Zoom Room” or as a surround in a work nook.
Calacatta Viola Marble
Come See the Marble of the Moment
Trends come and go but the marble of today will be the marble of tomorrow. Because marble fits with literally any design décor: traditional to contemporary, modern to minimalist. For example, the look of subtle white Calacatta Oro Marble will last a lifetime. IRG’s Calacatta Viola Marble lends itself to a bold maximalist statement. Simply put: Marble just never goes out of style.
Calacatta Oro Marble
Calacatta Viola Marble
Let IRG help you translate your personal desires into the space of your dreams. Express yourself and your goals through your choice of marble. Walk thorough the collection of unique natural marble slabs that only IRG has…thousands…in-stock today.
Located in the Poet’s Corner neighborhood of Pleasant Hill, California this rustic-yet-organic-look home exemplifies combining elegance with utility by using contrasting countertop and backsplash materials.
In the kitchen, for example, luxurious Calacatta White Marble countertops are combined with non-porous Noir Soapstone on the workhorse island. Designed by Tiana Graff of Reliez Valley Builders, this project is a study in the unexpected.
Build/Construction by Reliez Valley Builders, Design by Tiana Graff, and Fabrication by GM Marble.
Step inside to see an unexpected combination of surface materials…
White marble & soapstone meld into a sensuous kitchen
Traditionally desirable Calacatta Marble adds resale value and luxury to any home. But the addition of a Soapstone island brings the look to a more comfortable and accepting design, turning the kitchen into a casual feeling gathering place that truly makes this room the heart of the home. Soapstone countertops can effortlessly handle cooking preparations, forgiving acids like vinegar, lemon, and the cook’s glass of red wine!
elevated design. increased functionality.
Mixing materials offers high contrast and visual interest while still staying true to the rustic cabin-esque style of the home. Tiana Graff used dark cabinets above and below white marble countertops and then contrasted that look with an island of dark soapstone capping light oak cabinetry. It’s that mix n’ match symmetry that adds contrast yet compliments the overall look & feel of the home.
ceramic tile and soapstone: the durable duo
Tiana Graff boldly used ceramic tile and soapstone along with light wood cabinetry, showcasing how these two materials can beautifully connect to create a contrasted but unified design.
Light and dark colors are continued throughout the home, including in the bathrooms and laundry room, to create a cohesive look while staying true to the home’s elevated rustic style.
How to Make Mixing Materials Work for You
Think of it as creating your own Mood Board: You can forget traditional decorating rules – artisans and professional decorators are!
Using multiple surfaces can work well. Use contrasting colors and complimenting ones, too. Consider utilizing backsplash tiles to tie together two different surfaces, rough and smooth. Juxtapose dark and light, shiny and dull, and more…into a pleasingly cohesive final design.
Don’t limit yourself. But do keep functionality in mind: combine porous surfaces with functional options for practicality as well as to add richness and depth.
Using today’s modern inkjet technology, IRG’s new porcelain Panda White tiles are an amazingly realistic and unique choice for walls, floors and even fireplaces.
These porcelain tiles come in several convenient sizes (12×24, 24×24, 24×48) and are rectified, meaning they have been precisely cut around the edges in order to install with minimal grout lines — for an almost-seamlessly clean look. And this tile’s durability and ability to withstand foot traffic also makes it suitable for residential, medium commercial, and light institutional applications.
Panda White Comes in Marble Slabs, Too!
IRG’s Panda White marble slabs allow you to make a powerful statement in a variety of ways. Its unique play of light adds a distinct dimension to kitchen counters, bathrooms, flooring, and walls. And the contrast is even more striking and dramatic when book-matched and placed upright.
Add Panda White’s Brazilian Sister Stone: Zoriya Dolomite.
Since the beginning of the Portuguese colonies, Brazil has been recognized for producing some of the world’s most strikingly rare and high-quality stones. With its own unique beauty, IRG’s new Zoriya Dolomite is perfect for a chic, modern and sophisticated look in home design. This natural stone offers the aesthetic appeal of marble with greater durability and is quickly gaining popularity because of its one-of-a-kind slabs and many advantages for installation.
Finish with IRG’s Mosaics.
Mosaics are an ancient art form that enhance interiors and add a sprinkle of luxury as a finishing touch. These tiles can have a huge impact on a room’s overall look & feel, adding character, texture, color, movement and pattern.
To apply the art of mosaics throughout your interiors, follow these tips from the design pros:
While mosaic tile can be used in a larger format, they work especially well on an element you want to showcase, such as a fireplace surround or a backsplash.
A bar backsplash is a great place to have fun with mosaic tile. It is a space where unique patterns can create a customized look.
Mosaic tile can also add interest in a more utilitarian setting like a mudroom.
Oversized tile is having a moment right now because or its obvious clean look.
Play with grout choice. Different colors can either contrast or blend with the mosaic itself and grout is now available with shimmer and sparkle for a bit of extra glamour.
Take a Trip with Tile: Moroccan Chic or Zen Getaway
Mosaic tiles can find a home in just about any space: the walls of bathrooms, kitchens, powder rooms and mudrooms, low traffic areas or libraries, ceilings and poolscapes…just let the tile take you away.
Put It All Together And You’ve Got a Look Perfect for Today’s In-Home Gyms!
All white has had its day. Now the classic – and classy – look of black & white is making its way into all areas of design and the home.
What could spark your enthusiasm for workouts more than a snappy black and white look?! Today’s revival for in-home gym and play areas calls for exciting, minimum care and sanitary selections.
Lucky for you IRG has everything you need to create the workout center of your dreams – in-stock – and ready for you to make this important room the new center of your healthy home lifestyle.
No one has a better selection of unique and beautiful natural quartzite than IRG. From our Brazilian Blues to rare crystal-quartzites like White Diamond to beautiful black Belvedere, each is a masterpiece in its own. Don’t limit yourself to what ‘s in vogue today or what might be suggested; pick something that you absolutely love!
Striking & Spectacular.
Belvedere Quartzite‘s unfurling of gold and white waves is unusual and abundantly rich in color for maximum visual interest. This dramatic stone choice works in virtually any setting: classic or avant-garde. It can be used on walls, floors, powder rooms or in magnificent kitchens.
In this spectacular setting, IRG ‘s Belvedere Quartzite is complemented by brass hardware that mirrors the same tones as parts of the stone’s veining. Designed and displayed at Precision Cabinetry & Design of Sacramento, it feels formal and sophisticated, yet full of fascinating details – a perfect example of maximalism.
Combine Formal with Functional.
Rich veining in Belvedere Quartzite combines perfectly with pale gray cabinetry, the bold brass hardware and faucet, a stainless-steel warming drawer, and interesting art and decorator pieces. Brass and black are a newsworthy combination for a look that adds a more formal feel yet retains a sleek design that this quartzite deserves as accompaniment. Belvedere quartzite allows you to combine the charm of blended materials from nature with its millennial soul.
Dare to Dream.
Think outside of the box! Dare to be bold. Belvedere Quartzite can add the perfect amount of drama to make a lasting impression in your design project. The material is striking in nature while handsomely balanced by a bold black background.
Yes, do your research and ask questions: find out which surfaces will suit your tastes, budgets, and the project needs. But now more than ever, your home is your sanctuary, making it an oasis. With the help of stone experts at IRG, you can begin to create your private oasis, too.
The IRG Blog is your resource for stone product information, ideas and inspiration. Use our informational articles, project features, and product spotlights to help create your vision, then come into one of our showrooms to bring your ideas to life!
