Subway tiles have always been one of my favourite hard finishes. They originated in 1904 when the New York subways were in need of a durable, stain resistant and good-looking material. It’s fair to say the subway tile has earned icon status.
Such a beautiful wall in an otherwise dingy New York subway station!
Classic and timeless, the faithful white subway tile is my kitchen splashback of choice. Before we built our home I started Pinning images of kitchens I loved where subway tiles are featured.
Gast Architects
via Home Beautiful
Not always in white, subway tiles can be a colourful feature.
Or by using a darker grout, the versatile subway tile takes on an industrial vibe.
So when it came to choosing tiling for our new home, it was no surprise that subways featured heavily. They provided the perfect look for my Hamptons style home and were an inexpensive option, allowing me to spend more on feature tiling such as on the floor.
In the kitchen I chose a bevelled edge subway as the splash back.
Which is continued in the Butler’s Pantry.
And I used a cute mini version of these in the laundry.
In the girls’ bathroom I did a half wall of them around the perimeter and then a full wall in the shower recess.
In my ensuite I tiled 3/4 of the way up.
All my subway tiles were sourced from Perini Tiles.
What do you think? Are subway tiles here to stay?