Elizabeth Miller, Phoenix Studio Manager
Having been involved in the Phoenix home-building industry for almost two decades, I’ve seen a lot of floor tile trends come and go.
In the late ‘90s, you were on the cutting edge if you chose an 18” square tile instead of a 12”. And if you installed it diagonally, you were really trendy. In 2015, the possibilities are endless with sleek plank tiles in all sorts of varying sizes (8x32, 12x24, 12x48, etc.) and styles leading the way. Colors of floor tiles have evolved from white and cream, to tan, yellow brown, gray and even taupe. (Who would have thought we would encourage our customers to select gray floors!) And textured tiles that mimic fabrics, brushed finishes and wood looks are now the must-haves. With all of these diverse looks, tile flooring has become one of the most versatile and sought after options for a home.
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Tile flooring can be used in a number of ways to create a signature look and express your personality. Just because you are selecting plank tile for a home doesn’t mean you have to go completely modern with the décor. Many of the tile wood looks give you the option of going traditional, rustic or even industrial. They offer the look of real wood without the care, maintenance or cost of owning hardwood floors.
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I have always loved the look of hardwood floors and dreamed of having them in my home one day. But my love for hardwood floors pales in comparison to my love for two rambunctious Labrador Retrievers with endless amounts of energy. They are spoiled rotten, and playtime isn’t reserved for the outdoors, so I had come to the conclusion that I would never have wood floors in my home. That was until about 6 years ago when wood plank tiles started to enter the market. I now have beautiful rustic wood tile throughout my home that most people think is real wood. What could be better than that?!
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So as with everything in life, flooring trends and fads come and go. I’m sure plank tile will one day carry the stigma of being “so early 2000’s”. But for now, I’m embracing it and loving it. 
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