Need ideas for missing tile!

13 years ago

Hello all! I have a small dilemma and need some opinions. As you can see in the photo I need to fill in the missing tile. I thought a box was left behind but it turned out that only one tile was on top of a stack of white ones in the box. Jees!!!
Anyway, the large space is for the fridge and the gap up front it about 7 inches. I've been looking but can't find the exact tile so I need some ideas. The appliances are stainless steel.

Featured Answer

PRO

Monique Jacqueline Design, LLC

13 years ago

Hi!

The first thing that I would do, is take the piece that you do have to several different local tile showrooms to see if anyone with tile experience is familiar with this product. How old is this product? I saw that some asked if you have flipped the product over to see if their is a manufacturer stamp on the back side. Is this natural, porcelain, or ceramic?
Next, if the product can not be relocated, I suggest doing what Lori suggested - doing a tile border. I would pick a darker color from your granite to accent with. You could do a dark chocolate perimeter around your room. You could also pull the range and dishwasher and do under those appliances as well.
I also have one more thought. When the tile was pulled up, did it come up in whole pieces? Did you get a couple of in whole pieces but didn't save them, thinking you had a box as replacement? IF they came up in fairly good condition, you could pull the ones up under the dishwasher or the refrigerator, use those to fill in your 7" order and the first few inches next to that and continue back to the wall with another product in each of these locations. Does this make sense? 1/2 the depth from the backwall towards the front would never be visible except when having an appliance repaired upon it being pulled from the wall.
I hope this has helped a bit. These are really our only options next to re-tiling the entire space.
Any further questions, please do not hesitate to ask. Also, keep in mind that your grout will not be an exact match at first. So, you will have that element playing into the patching as well. If you had a border detail, you will have a contrasting grout color added as well, so you won't have a "trying to match" visible line either. The border detail might be your best bet all around, but a bit more labor intense than you had planned for.
Cheers!
m.

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Comments (10)

User
13 years ago
Is there anything printed on the back of the loose tile? Is it just this small area that;s missing tile? I think just get the best match possible and put it down, it's not going to be THAT obvious...
di4designs
13 years ago
Oh that is not good. I would not have to find the exact tile or take it out
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greenthumb2
13 years ago
last modified: 13 years ago
Send this to three tile contractors of houzz, and I am certain they can tell you what it is...
Lori
13 years ago
make a border all the way around the room with a different light colored tile, cut small squares of the tile that has to be pulled up (to make the border all the way around) as an inset, and that will pull the two tile colors together.
sylvestercat
13 years ago
I am with Lori make a statement with what you have..... maybe take some additional tile out, and make a pattern so it looks planned and put in a totally different tile. . . Maybe a shiney, slippery tile that will clean easier under and around those cabinets. . . .
sum12b
Original Author
13 years ago
last modified: 13 years ago
Thanks for the replies everyone! I am really leaning toward the border idea.
To answer a few questions NO the tiles don't come up well at all. They are really down good unfortunately and fortunately :). The other box I have with the same tiles but a different color says "Castelvetro Ceramiche...Made in Italy" and they are glazed ceramic. I've looked this up and found some on a site that are close but don't match exactly.
So like I said I'm going to go with the border idea as of now. I'm just trying to decide if it should be a totally different surface finish like Sylvestercat suggested or a glazed finish like the existing tile.
PRO
Stanton Designs-online design services
13 years ago
If you can't come across any more tiles...you could find a mosaic that works with the current floor and do a boarder.
lefty47
13 years ago
last modified: 13 years ago
HI -- Don't even try to match the tile - it will never match because of the color lots and then it will always look patched. Just find a tile that complaments and do a border , then it will look like it was planned that way.Perhaps something like a brownish black slate and you could also add a small pencil tile as an accent between the two as a feature.
PRO
Monique Jacqueline Design, LLC
13 years ago
Hello!
I think that a mosaic would be fun and add the feeling as it was meant to be. If you did not use a mosaic you would most definitely want to stagger your grout lines. Do not have them line up to each other.
Cheers!
m.