- Number of tile stores I have been to: 12
- States I have looked in: 3
- Times I have been surprised at how snooty some tile salespeople are: 8
- Stress level compared to the time I was tied to the roof: high.
- Miles from my house where I found the final contestant: 12
- Why I did not go to the winning store two months ago when Paul suggested it: because it looked crappy.
The crappy little store? Had the tile in stock. And let me take home two boxes of it. Not two tiles, two BOXES.
I would like to edit my previous advice about choosing tile (Tile Saga). And say that the best way to know if a tile works for you, is to cover half your floor.
The photo emphasizes the pattern—it’s not actually that prominent. From afar, it’s brighter and more neutral. Could it be a little larger? Yes. Would I like a little less pattern? Yes. A little more something? Yes. But? I’m done looking. And this weekend we will get a floor.
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After all that… you deserve this beautiful floor. It’s really nice and seeing so many down all at once instead of 1 or 2 tiles is so MUCH BETTER! Lovely.
I know!! I will never again be satisfied with a measly 12×12 sample!
I’m not sure this is the magical, elusive tile I imagined, but I think I will really like it once it’s grouted and everything else is in place…
Hi! I just want to thank you for the tile store info. I ended up going to the magic floors store as well and they gave me a better price. The. tile. is. AWESOME. Glass smooth, not a ripple in sight. Now I have to choose between the museum bianca carrara or the versailles. Again thanks for the tip!
I am SO SO glad you love it! Plus, it totally validates my excellent taste!!
If magic tile lets you return what you don’t use (NJ store will), buy an extra box. We found that one of the tile’s pattern repeated more frequently than the others. Of course, since I am OCD, this probably wouldn’t be remotely noticeable to anyone else, but you seem “particular” like I am… lol.
Glad your search ended well. Such a relief, I KNOW!
Hi — on the web link you provide, do you know, or can you tell from what you paid, is the $25.something price per box or per tile?
HA! I think we paid between $8-$9/ sf.
I can’t figure out what’s included in the price on the website, but it cannot be per-tile. (Or if it is… they are crazy and you can get it far cheaper.)
Wow, Elizabeth…. Went to two tile stores this weekend and my oh my! Are your tiles 18×18 in the Peronda Museum? They look smaller than that in your photo..
Yes… 18” x 18”. Did that look TOO big to you? I know not everyone is searching for an absolutely giant tile, but I was. I would have gone even bigger if possible…
I really like oversized design items as a rule. Plus, I wanted to minimize the grout as much as I could.
Hi Victoria,
Love your tiles and admire that you are prepared to do the scrubbing that comes with them. I have over recent years given in to grout and now choose grout that looks the colour of dirt (I like to call it dark Mocca to pretend I have some higher aesthetic reasoning) – this serves to cover up the fact that I haven’t scrubbed them recently! Now the entire color scheme throughout the house is anchored to ‘dirt’ colored grout. Just lucky that so many beautiful creams and warm greys and shades of mocca and the occasional ‘pop’ of white go so well with dirt!
Ah, well… I do the reasonable thing and insist no one step on the grout… you know, the tiles are plenty big enough that everyone can just RESPECT the grout.
Or, at least I pretend they do… I think it’s possible Paul may not actually be adhering to the rules… I too may go “mocha” next time.