For a Chicago kitchen tile installation, our client opted for our Normandy tile design in a custom color combination. Tile photo, Granada Tile.

For a remodel in Anchorage Alaska, the architects chose our Sofia tile design for the luandry room floor. Tile photo courtesy Red House Workshop.

For a tile backsplash, the designers at Mandil chose our Fez tile design. It holds its own amidst the color and pattern the team from Mandil is known for. Tile photo, Mandil Inc.

Another view of a terrific kitchen tile backsplash by Mandil Inc. shows the interplay of Fez with the rest of the colors and materials in the kitchen and surrounding spaces. Tile photo courtesy Mandil Inc.

Black-and-white Fez wall tiles set a playful tone for the bar area at Corazón, a new Mexican restaurant in Portland, Oregon. Tile photo, Dina Avila (www.dinaavila.com).

Even canine companions love Granada Tile. At the Dog Ranch Bed & Biscuit, Fariba Kashef, of Archarium, used Castelo for the company's office floor tiles.

Tile photo, Granada Tile

To see more about the Dog Ranch and our cement tile there, be sure to read about it at www.granadatile.com/blog/2012/07/03/breaking-news-the-dog-ranch-bed-biscuit/

The ranch theme is carried into the kitchen, with colorful kitchen tiles from Granada Tile topping rustic wood cabinets. Kashef incorporated our tile designs Toulon and Tulips Border and Corner into the tile installation.

www.granadatile.com/blog/2012/07/03/breaking-news-the-dog-ranch-bed-biscuit/

Tile photo, Granada Tile

Kashef carried the same palette into the bathroom, choosing red, blue, yellow and white hues for the bathroom tiles.

To read more abou the project, visit our blog: www.granadatile.com/blog/2012/07/03/breaking-news-the-dog-ranch-bed-biscuit/

Tile photo, Granada Tile.

Designers Dabney Frake and Ann Manubay transformed the kitchen of what they lovingly call "world's ugliest condo," adding a marble countertops and a tile backsplash in our Normandy tile design.

Read more about the tile installation on our blog: www.granadatile.com/blog/2012/07/20/breaking-news-normandy-makes-the-scene-in-a-condo-remodel/

Image, Dabney Frake for Apartment Therapy.

Granada Tile produced the tiles for the remodel of an outdoor patio at an historic, Spanish-style, California Mission Revival mansion designed by architect Carl Lindbom in San Clemente, California.

Image, Granada Tile.

Granada Tile produced the tiles for the remodel of an outdoor patio at an historic, Spanish-style, California Mission Revival mansion designed by architect Carl Lindbom in San Clemente, California.

Image, Granada Tile.

One of the finest places to eye historic cement tile happens to be right in the heart of California at Spanish Colonial Revival estate Casa Romantica in San Clemente. Originally built in 1927 by Ole Hanson, the city’s founder, as his family home, the spectacular bluff-top building is now a cultural center offering educational

programs.

Designed by architect Carl Lindbom (who designed Nixon’s former mansion nearby), the oceanfront property is outfitted with a superb collection of cement tiles throughout. In both square and hexagonal shapes, the designs feature a rainbow of shades from deep maroons to sky blues to earthy oranges to grassy greens. With simplified florals, elaborate botanicals, and bursting suns, the patterns take inspiration from nature, as well as geometry, with interlocking lines, repeated stripes, and more. A great source of inspiration, the assortment of tiles you’ll find at Casa Romantica are a reminder that there’s no limit to what colors, shapes, and patterns you can mix. Moreover, you may find that the most intriguing are those with an element of surprise. And as time tells, you’ll see that these beautiful cement tiles only get better with age.

The border and corner shapes in this historic cement tile arcade were definitely borrowed from Morocco. The other fireworks field tile, though, is surprisingly contemporary for a floor installed in the late 1920s.

This historic cement tile pattern looks like wheels of flowers. It is one of a dozen such ornate field tiles decorating the arcades at Casa Romantica.

This is a most unusual cement tile design, part floral and part electric (see the jaggedy red line that races around the floral elements?). The cement tile border tile provides some calm and stability with what appears to be a chess motif.

Ever seen a field of daisies made of cement tile before? I hadn't before I came to Casa Romantica. This cement tile daisy field just makes you want to smile and skip around. Check out the next two detail shots of this same corridor.

This historic cement tile medallion deserves a photo all to itself since it is so full of intricate details. The other fascinating part to it is to figure out just how many metal design molds they used to make the medallion. (I'm not telling; I don't want to take away the fun.)

This straightforward, charming daisy pattern looks out from its hexagonal cement tile. The historic border and corner is also clean and bold, though entirely geometric, not floral.

It seems that every door from the Casa Romantica leads out onto a splendidly tiled arcade. This particular example of historic cement tile features a star and cross pattern. For a better look at the field and border tiles, check out the next photo.

This playful field cement tile design has a star and cross motif that emphasizes the stars and decorates them with all kinds of colorful doodads. The border cement tile is completely different in style, but unified in color. Perhaps the border is a discreet nod to the great trumpeters or sax players of the 1920s and 30s.

Well, when you've got to leave Casa Romantica - with a sigh - at least you get to exit on this splendid green, yellow and chocolate floral cement tile. The grape leaf border tile is lovely as well in its simplicity.

This outdoor-indoor room is defined by its two main elements: a large chimney (and wood pile) and a glorious floral carpet of historic cement tile. Sweet dreams!