Over the years I have felt the biggest contribution that Designers perform is introducing new products to their clients. Products that the clients would be unaware of otherwise. It's also been my view that many designers like to impose THEIR taste on clients as they seemingly feel they 'know' better than their clients what is currently in vogue.

Recently I have become impressed by a Designer who LISTENS to her clients. Aside from her knowledge of materials, especially floor coverings, Margaret Ohannesian impressed me by saying how she puts her clients' desires and interests first and then tries to convey those desires into an attractive environment. It always seemed to me that if a person is spending money on their home to enrich their own enjoyment in it, it should be decorated with that purpose primarily. If it's for sale ability there ought to be a compromise at best.

I felt I owed her a plug by passing on her number: 480-948-5940.

Typically I have advised customers to choose a color some one or two shades off the color of the tile chosen. What you want to do is showcase the TILE not the grout. By choosing a grout similar to the tile, the observer is now drawn to viewing the tile rather than the lines!

Unfortunately tile grout darkens with time, even though it can be cleaned as already discussed. I therefore have urged customers to consider a medium tone grout if practical so that darkening will still look attractive in time. Dark grouts will also become darker!

And perhaps, not too amazingly, often 5 or 6 colors may be equally appropriate for most tiles. It shouldn't be a big decision to choose an appropriate color grout. One of a few will likely look fine and subtly change with time anyhow.

When cracks in a floor seem to run in a continuous line through a few joining tiles, it is likely because the concrete slab beneath it is cracking. There is no sure fire way to prevent this but the best is slipping a membrane between the slab and the tiles. When I see sheet vinyl already down I have opted to leave it for that reason. There are adhesives that bond to vinyl and the vinyl over a crack will absorb most movement of a slab.

More importantly, it is in the best interest of the owner to have and keep SPARE tile when a job is done! And I typically advise to replace the tiles in question just before selling the house unless you have plenty of spares, as it can occur again. It is the earth moving! At least to the new owner the floor will be in acceptable condition.

There will be more written about this later.

I have often been asked to make the grout joint as small as possible. Usually by people who imagine that a smaller grout joint will demand less cleaning because there is less to get dirty.

My answer is always the same: It will depend on how well gauged the tile is. Too often tiles are not the SAME SIZE! They may appear to be the same but often vary in size and sometimes even in shape. Tiles sometimes have a long and short size.

I have seen tiles sometimes vary in size as much as 3/8 of an inch! And typically porcelain tiles vary the most. If the variance is excessive, it denies the ability of the joint being too small. As it will finally cause the joint somewhere to be butt joint or too large a joint in order to keep the tiles aligned when there is varience.

I often tell my customers that in ceramic tile, inexpensive doesn't have to mean CHEAP! Many times the cost of tile can be inexpensive because of a number of reasons: Warehouses are trying to move it; a product is purchased in such a fantastic quantity as to produce a much lower cost for the supplier; the country where it is made can produce it cheaper; a color or style may not be popular overall but just right for YOU; a product is being discontinued; or just that the mark-up is significant enough to be able to sell it at a significant discount and still do okay. Especially if it causes the consumer to view other products.

The point is that factors that are important about buying tiles ought to be the color, size, finish, edging, shape and PRICE! Don't let an inexpensive price discourage you - unless the product is SECONDS. (Which typically are their rejects.) As long as it is first grade tile, the inexpensive tile ought to last just as long as the expensive tile.

For some reason, many salespeople suggest that installing tile on a diagonal makes a room look bigger. I disagree. It certainly makes it look BUSY. Sometimes very distractingly so!

My take is that tile should be functionally attractive. I believe the diagonal installation can even be disturbing, but the floor covering ought not draw the attention of the total room or area.

As for the illusion of increased size, I have come to think it is the long straight lines - the railroad track effect - that makes an area appear larger. The diagonal eliminates that option. And one can come to that judgement - or not - by viewing from a corner when there is tile already laid.

Now this is MY opinion again. I have time and again told MY customers that I question the real benefit of applying sealer to ceramic tile grout. No doubt there is some benefit, but it is similar to applying clear nail polish to nails. How much it protects it is questionable. And I have always wondered, too, how often it has to be REDONE!

Usually I have seen customers who have always apologized for their sealer. "Must have put it on wrong", or "put it on too late, I guess"... whatever. The only time I have used it in my home (applied by a professional) it happens to be the dirtiest and/or darkest my grout has ever looked! I was/am very disappointed by the result.

This is different than applying it as a decorative finish to porous products like saltillo, or slate, or travertine inside a home. But I am left with wondering the real benefit of applying any to grout where the product is "tile".