You gotta pay the costs to be the boss. You want something and can afford it. #quitbitching.

Plain white subway is .34 at a box store. Perhaps that would suit your cheap gene better?

You will not find "bright and fun" color in most mass produced lines; tile companies produce products in "safe" colors that will sell to the majority. The same holds true for size and trim options. Hand made tile vendors have made an investment in their products and are able to offer all the choices in color, size and trim; there is a cost for this. Both Daltile and American Olean produce bright colors in their wall lines, but they look nothing like handmade.

The only thing that looks hand made IS hand made $$$$$$.

Here is a blue tile

Not sure if this floats your boat

It also comes in blue

Red maybe?

They all seem to have texture though

One without texture

This one is more reflective, guess the colors morph

@ Jan Moyer... "get what you love" regardless of price attitude is why most Americans are in debt. It's the attitude that made most Americans not be able to get their hands on $400 for an emergency. Only a spoiled child "gets what they love"

How did I become able to "well afford it"? By not wasting my money needlessly on things like $28/square foot tile. By sourcing more frugally.

BTW I didn't ask for advice on whether or not my frugality is justified. I asked if anybody had better sourcing than the exorbitantly priced stuff out there. Yes, there are machine made tile that look very handmade (just like the picture I posted), and as I said, it just has to come close.

If nobody has a source then I'm off to China or Mexico to start my own tile factory.

BTW they make handmade tiles in Mexico, Greece, and China, and they're cheap as can be. They just haven't figured out that they need to make subway field tile in bright colors yet. Betcha they will, and it will be on the shelves of Home Depot in no time.

I agree. Pros or design snobs are mean (and rude) as most people have been regarding my post. They have the attitude that "Just pay it, that's what it costs!" Again, it's that attitude that got most Americans in debt up to their eyeballs with no retirement in sight. Nobody should EVER pay $28/ square foot for tile.

I'm new to Houzz forums, but it appears that this is just a place for "Pro's" to trash on people who want more creative and reasonable options? This is like the epitome of a bad forum. If anybody has anything constructive to say instead of hash tagging me to "quit bitching" it would be appreciated.

What about these...$9.98 The Tile Shop

It's hard to square these two comments:

I just want the special look of hand glazed tile without paying sky high prices.

I feel that at the end of the day it is just ceramic tile, after all...

If it's special, then it's worth paying for, at a cost that represents the rarity and production costs. If it doesn't matter that much, then pick from the options that are available at a price you think is reasonable. That dichotomy isn't that hard.

What you want is a third option, where what is unusual and in low demand should be available widely and at a low price, and/or you want to complain about the realities of designer pricing. That's what's eliciting the rude response, just like the reaction received here. Lots of people can't afford the options they love, and people are happy to help when they can; you can afford those options but want to blame the world anyway. Can't expect equal charity.

Yikes, Just wanted to say sorry for some of these comments, holy cow! I wish I had some suggestions for you but am not familiar enough with tile. I am sure I would be in the same boat as you if I were looking for tile --design eye who can't justify astronomical prices for something. It's been my experience, while shopping, that if you keep digging you will find something great and at a digestible price.

Good luck!

Thanks Glo. It seems as if design overrules frugality at any cost on Houzz forums?

Then again, I've never paid a designer (too expensive), and some of my designs have been studied and copied by designers.

If it's special it is worth paying for, just not at ANY price and not "no matter what". Who throws all reason and logic out the window simply because they like something? Well, probably most of America, but then again they're strapped with mortgages and don't actually own their homes. The bank owns them.

I'd feel like anything over $10 bucks a square foot is too much to pay for ceramic tile.

It's the same thing as buying a $1100 Louis Vuitton purse. There are those who actually make the argument for a handbag of that price being better "quality". When in reality you could buy 50 of them at Target and at the end of the day both are still made from vinyl!

Actually, I should just shut up. Everybody don't listen to me!! Please keep putting $30/square foot tile your houses!! Please by all means put $50/foot tile in there!!! I'll be the one buying up your houses during the next market crash just like I did in 2012!!! And I will enjoy having your tile!!! LOL. Get some more mortgages to buy that tile. C'mon! If it's special, it's obviously worth it, right?

Have you looked online at Tilebar? I found some really pretty subway tiles for my backsplash that were interesting enough to not look "cookie cutter" and I didn't have to break the bank. I admit that I did luck out and catch a sale, paid about $7 sq ft.

Wow. Rough crowd. I love this website, but this is one of my pet peeves - being way too critical when someone posts a question of advice.

I would like to think that people post questions here to get advice, not be ridiculed. Sometimes people post questions of advice that may irk others. But, if it bothers you that much, move on. Do you expect people to say "oh thanks!" after what you write?I think you can figure out a better way to phrase things so they don't come out so harsh. And at the same time, when we get rude comments, we need to refrain from stooping to their level to get back at them.

My only advice for Sam K is to pick what you like. I fell in love with a waterjet cut backsplash that is outrageously expensive. In fact, I loved it so much that I broke the rule (so I've been told it's a rule) that says pick out your countertop and then your backsplash. My husband about choked on the cost and suggested we just get a square portion over the cooktop. Nope, I wanted it as my entire backsplash. Kitchen is complete and I LOVE it. It is a show stopper. I would not have been happy if I settled on a different backsplash or even just did a small portion.

So if you can afford it, then do it. You won't regret it. BTW, I like nidnay's picture of tiles.

Cheers.

Not rough.Honest, perhaps. Sorry, but the posted dilemma is more insulting than any commentary to follow, especially to all the artisans and their trades of EVERY type. You want it or you don't. But don't expect Home Depot pricing ........and don't insult the quality and special product or the folks who create it, by deeming it not worth it, when you state in SAME post that you can't find a cheapo mimic that looks like it... Nobody ever told Picasso his price was "outta sight" : ) and if you think it is? Get a thirty dollar repro poster. Who's the real snob here? The answer is the one who demeans the product and the creator simultaneously. How 'bout you MAKE them yourself? And see how long that may take, and how well they turn out?

There are plenty of nice looking tiles for $10 a square foot. They just will not be handmade. You would need to change your want criteria.

TANSTAAFL. $30 a foot is very far from a “high priced tile.” LOL! $300 a square actual gold leaf tile? Now that is expensive.

And do not forget the extra uptick in labor associated with setting something that isn’t square and that will have wonky, wider, grout lines. It’s a lot harder to make handmade tile look good, and not just sloppy.

So reset your criteria. Or reset your price limit. You have a null set. No intersecting in the Venn.

"And do not forget the extra uptick in labor associated with setting something that isn’t square and that will have wonky, wider, grout lines. It’s a lot harder to make handmade tile look good, and not just sloppy."

Good advice. Be sure your tile installer is experienced enough to install handmade tile with the inherent inconsistencies. A good tiler with experience will be extra $.

Someone never ever noticed that the most boring mosaic two inch porcelain for a shower floor is in the twenty plus !! dollar range per square foot? A machine made digital basic on some mesh? Gimme a break. : )

Here's a tile company based in Silver City, NM Syzygy Tile

I understand the OP's frugality prevents him from paying the price tag for the product he would really like to have even though the bank account is healthy enough to pay the tab. I also like Fireclay Tile and Motawi Tile and am unwilling to pay the price tag to get them at this time, regardless of my financial stability. So, my backsplash is currently painted drywall and will remain in that state until I manage to reconcile my desire for beautiful tile with my desire to maintain my bank account balance.

What I won't do is expect any sympathy from the rest of the world. Those products are beautiful because they are handmade by skilled craftsmen who must charge a certain price to be able to maintain their variety of offerings at their desired quality. The idea that the same quality of product would be available at a vast discount to those who want to be cheap is not sensible. It's like asking a car salesman to sell a new Lexus for $20K because you can buy a tin econobox with 4 wheels for that price.

I have seen the tiles posted by Nidnay and they have enough color variation to pass for an interesting install but the colors are muted, not bright. If the color and size had suited my space, I would have used the blue ones. Another choice might be Catania Azul, also at the Tile Shop, which is 6 x 12 and a brighter blue.

So, you don't think Americans should be paid for their time to make hand made tiles, even though you can afford it. Nice. Do people feel that way about paying your salary? If so, what do you tell them?

The price of everything, the value of nothing.

May God bless the USA ; replete with a democratic array of consumer goods unlike any other on the planet. Whether this is good or bad is debatable; no country on earth puts more junk into landfills, I am certain. But.

A "tin econobox" is a highly prized purchase when it's the only transportation you can afford or even desire, and may often be driven to astounding mileage, given its price tag. A Jaguar, or a Porsche, are more than "cars", those are automobiles. A 1.99 bath towel is not the same as one ten times that price, but it surely beats a paper towel . Somewhere between joy and whatever one can afford is a market and pricing for virtually everyone, and every single thing.

I remember to this very day when in 1982 I marched into Saks Fifth Ave and bought a then much coveted Louis Vuitton "Speedy" satchel. Recently having earned a bonus, it was my reward to me - a dip in a bonus well beyond the 300.00 dollar price tag of that satchel, that arguably, should have been banked in total. But my joy far, far outlasted the money spent! I dumped the contents of my bag on the handbag counter, neatly filled the new satchel and fairly danced out of Saks and past St Patricks Cathedral. I carried that bag daily for years and years- a mark of the quality of the "vinyl" and the incredible craftsmanship in the leather handles ; those only getting better with age. The perfect match of letters at the seams, immaculately welted and sewn! The "real deal" thrill was incomparable. Some things you buy........are for just that very personal thrill. Go right ahead and kill your own affordable joy, just spare the rest of us your judgement......and spare the products creators as well.

Looks like Luxury Goods trolling is popular on Houzz? Lol. I did not come here for a lesson on conspicuous consumption. I just wanted to find some tile!

Fireclay is made in California, which is a very expensive place to live, work,and produce items (California also pronounced Cant-afford-ya). I don't think I need to be paying extra for my tile... it feels like I am subsidizing people living and working in a trendy and expensive place like San Francisco.

now we're just in trolling territory. I never did think you wanted actual advice.

I can get hand made tile with a crackle finish and vibrant colors under $20 sf, my price to the customer. No I will not share my information with you due to your attitude above.

And.... nobody cares about your trolling!

Cinar--- I would not pay $20 a square foot. So don't act like you're dangling some juicy carrot. It's still highway robbery. $10 bucks a foot is the most anybody should pay for tile.

If there is anybody who isn't a Californian, or a design snob out or some stuck up person with a "PRO" tag on their name who wants to share I welcome your opinion as the OP. If there are any normal people out there, would love to hear your opinion. Enough of these stuck up PRO people who can only dish it out but can't handle other people's opinions.

The thing that cracks me up is that the Arts & Crafts movement was supposed to be a back to nature, everyday common man movement. Batcheldor tile fireplaces used to grace common working class homes. Now only the super wealthy millionaire Californian types can afford to put Motawi or Fireclay in their homes. It's sad really.

Ok...so....how does one turn off notifications for individual discussions?