porcelain white hexagon tile for vintage restoration and renovation

Hexagon tile

White hexagon tile was an extremely common feature of bathrooms in the craftsman era. As a carryover of the Victorian lust for sanitary surfaces after the revelations of the germ theory of disease, hexagon tile a surface that leant itself to vigorous scrubbing and sanitation. It was quite a visual contrast with the natural woodwork and organic themes found in the rest of the home. For a good example of this startling contrast in action take a tour of the Gamble house in Pasadena.

white hexagon tile

Not all tile schemes for vintage craftsman bathrooms were white hexagon tile. Often black or dark gray tiles were inserted in a floret pattern. Square tiles were sometimes used and colored tiles could often be seen usually around the perimeter of the room.

Porcelain hex tile for historic look

Porcelain was the material of choice during the craftsman period when installing white hexagon tile. In these modern times it is an easy matter to find glazed tiles, but they often lack the vintage look. Furthermore, glazes have a tendency to chip off over time, something that is unlikely to happen with solid porcelain, which is simply the best choice for durability as well as historicity and is often used in commercial applications such as restaurants where insulation from damage is a must.

Patching existing tile

We have found that often people are trying to patch existing tile floors after adding or subtracting plumbing fixtures in the bathroom. In that situation it is important to realize that there are many differences in hex tile other than just the width. There is also thickness to consider, so hopefully it is possible to get an accurate idea of the existing thickness. Even more importantly, there are many different shades of white. The best idea is to get a sample so you can accurately compare the color tone and make sure it is going to blend reasonably well