Tile

Tile is one of the most consequential decisions in a kitchen or bath remodel, and it rewards careful research. The right tile depends on three intersecting questions: where it's installed (floors need a slip rating, showers need water absorption near zero, kitchens need scratch and stain resistance), what aesthetic you want (marble-look porcelain delivers Italian luxury without the etching of real stone; handmade ceramic carries a hand-touched glaze that catches light unevenly; cement encaustic tile gives you 19th-century-style pattern through the depth of the tile), and what your budget supports (designer Italian porcelain runs $8–$20 per square foot installed, while luxury mosaic and natural stone can run $40 and up). The catalogs below let you see each material at room scale, compare formats and finishes, and request samples directly from the manufacturer.

Major Tile Materials

Porcelain is the dominant modern tile material — fired at over 2,200°F into a dense, low-absorption body that handles floors, showers, outdoor pavers, kitchens, and full wet-room installations without sealing. Italian porcelain (Atlas Concorde, Marazzi, Iris Ceramica) leads the category in visual fidelity and large-format slabs. Ceramic is a softer, glazed product more typical for walls and backsplashes — designer brands like Walker Zanger and Fireclay Tile produce handmade ceramic with the depth and character mass-market porcelain can't replicate. Cement (encaustic) tile like Granada Tile carries pigment through the body of the tile rather than just on the surface, which is why traditional patterned floors from the 1800s still look beautiful today. Mosaic from houses like Sicis and New Ravenna is a luxury category — small tesserae hand-assembled into art panels, ideal for backsplashes, pool surrounds, and accent walls.

Choosing for the Room

Kitchen floors and backsplashes lean toward porcelain or designer ceramic for durability and easy cleaning. Bathroom floors need slip-rated tile (DCOF ≥ 0.42), and showers benefit from large-format porcelain slabs that minimize grout lines. Outdoor patios and pool decks call for 20mm porcelain pavers engineered for freeze-thaw cycling. Fireplace surrounds and feature walls have more aesthetic latitude — this is where mosaic, encaustic pattern, and luxury handmade ceramic can carry the whole design.

Free Tile Catalogs by Mail

Most of the catalogs below are mailed free to homeowners and designers — typically arriving within 7–14 days. They are the most efficient way to see large-format tile and pattern at scale before requesting physical samples or visiting a showroom.