Hello again!
I hope you have all been glued to your little iPhones and Blackberries waiting for this very exciting installment of the River City Tile Company blog, where we will talk about MIRROR TILE!
Here it goes… there has been a growing trend, as I mentioned in the last post, that involves the use of shiny metallics and glamorous reflective surfaces with exposed brick, rough faced stone, and other natural materials to create a look I have coined a term for:
Future-rustic
(get it!?)
One of the key elements that have contributed to the rise of this aesthetic is the growing availability of a number of options when it comes to mirror tile.
If you have been living under a rock and think “Huh? Mirror tile?” let me give you a quick crash course on what’s been going on lately (and ps. you should try getting out more).
This porcelain tile from Ann Sacks is aptly named “Mirror” and while it bears a striking resemblance to its name-sake this look is actually achieved by grinding platinum into the surface of the porcelain and then finishing it to a mirror shine. This process results in the depth and beauty of an antiqued mirror without the susceptibility to breakage
Hello G-L-A-M!
Here is Ann Sack’s “Mirror” tile again, this time on a fireplace install that screams “You can’t help but love something so fabulous!”
Another winner from Ann Sacks is their brand new Pyrite collection which makes use of the natural mineral (also known as fools gold) to create “a distinctive combination of refined and raw” Thank-you Ann Sacks!
Here is Versailles glass tile (yes, once again from Ann Sacks, apparently there is someone out there who loves mirror tile more than I do!). This addition brings a classic french beauty to the ranks of mirror-eqsue tile.
For a more masculine take on the Versailles line, Ann Sack’s “Visage” hits the nail on the head. The antique look is achieved by silvering the tiles so each piece bears a unique finish.
and there’s more…this time from Artistic Tile. Their new Charleston collection features a glass tile antiqued using the classic slivering process and available in either flat (shown here) or beveled brick (shown below)
Artistic Tile’s Charleston Mirror tile in beveled brick
As you can see the options for mirror tile are pretty extensive and the growing popularity of antique finishings really lend themselves to pairing well in more classic and traditional style homes for that futuristic look we all know and love. While you may be tempted to save some cash and just buy straight-up mirror to stick on your wall or fireplace, be cautioned: it has the potential to crack and break (and also look extremely tacky)
As a last word on mirror tile – the owner of River City Tile, Aaron Brown, would like to note that it is ill-advised to use mirror tile (no matter how antiqued and beautiful) on a floor
…unless you really do want to be that creep with the reflective floor that peeks up lady’s dresses (trust us, you don’t)
Until next time,
River City Tile Company 
Great article Ms. Haynes