Bathroom Tile Decorating

Ceramic and natural stone tile surfaces add both functionality and beauty and can be used effectively both inside and outside a home. Whether you're looking for something as simple as tile for a kitchen floor, bathroom shower stall, or a patio, tile options range from basic choices to fully customized and handmade decorative pieces that are works of art in and of themselves. At first glance setting tile may seem like a big job, and some installations are, but success with most tile jobs is a matter of common sense, getting good advice, practicing techniques unfamiliar, and following the instructions. Guiding you through the tiling process from design to execution is what Tiling 1-2-3 is all about. On the following pages you'll find more than 80 step-by-step installation, repair, and maintenance projects for your home. Each project has been reviewed by the experts at The Home Depot (R) to ensure that it's accurate and easy to follow so you can get the job done right the first time. You'll also find plenty of tiling tips and good advice that will save you time and money, and make every job easier Of course, some tiling jobs are best left to professionals, and it's important to understand that you should not attempt projects beyond your level of skill and experience until you're ready. There's a great deal of personal satisfaction to be had in using tile for the surfaces in your home. You'll add beauty and value, and every time you sit on your patio or work at your kitchen counter you'll know you've done something that the whole family can enjoy.

Wherever you live, chances are there are a few things about your home you'd like to change. As best-selling author and television host Debbie Travis points out in her introduction, "Decorating is an ongoing process. Each time you change your address, or even if you stay in the same place, the process of adapting your home to suit your changing moods and needs is constant, because, in truth, no room is perfect." But often we look around at a new home with large expanses of white walls, or someone else's color scheme, or an apartment that hasn't been painted in years, and we simply don't know where to start. In Debbie Travis' Decorating Solutions, Travis has gathered together her best ideas for solving the most common decorating dilemmas plaguing homeowners and renters alike. The book begins with a valuable outline of the proper steps for preparing a variety of surfaces and gives a complete rundown on paints, glazes, plaster, sealants, and materials, including helpful descriptions of different tools and basic instructions on stenciling, block painting, and plastering. Next, because working with color can be intimidating at first, a section on color will help you choose the right one for your needs. Then, taking the commonsense approach of accentuating the positive and camouflaging the negative, Travis offers imaginative solutions to problems ranging from cracked walls to damaged floors, from outdated kitchen cabinetry to dreary bathroom tiles. Included are ideas and complete step-by-step instructions for more than 65 different paint, plaster, and paper finishes for transforming walls, floors, ceilings, doors, fireplaces, bathrooms, kitchens, hallways, and staircases, all without thefuss of major renovation. Lavishly illustrated with more than 400 full-color photographs and packed with practical information, Debbie Travis' Decorating Solutions is an inspiration for anyone who wants to bring out the best in a home.