Honed travertine and limestones tiles have a beauty and elegance all their own. For homeowners who love the look of natural stone, but want some additional, decorative elements to the design, etched stone tiles may be the answer.
What is an Etched Stone Tile?
Etched stone tiles are honed or polished marble, limestone and travertine tiles that have had their surfaces etched into a pattern by lasers, acid, or by hand carving. The tiles can be left in their natural color, or have the etched portions stained in a contrasting color for a more dramatic effect.
Etched stone tiles can come in multiple sizes and patterns. Border tiles, 2” accent tiles, and tiles up 12” in size are available in an array of stones, finishes and colors. The smaller, accent tiles may be available to stand on their own, in designs like grapes, or Fleur-di-Lis, while many of the 6” and larger tiles, as well as the borders, will lock together to create medallions, or repeating patterns.
Where Can Etched Stone Tiles be Used?
Etched stone tiles can be used anywhere that natural stone is used. This includes flooring, walls, fireplace surrounds and kitchen backsplashes. Lighter colored stones and etched patterns may discolor over time, and may not be suitable for high traffic floors, although darker colors and more durable stones may wear well in floor applications. Look for travertine noce, with black inlays, or botticino marble with pink inlays and avoid crema luna and other light colored stones for high traffic areas
Etched stone tiles should also not be used in showers and wet areas, as the material may stain or discolor over time, particularly where the surface of the material has been removed.
Designing with Etched Stone Tiles
With their delicate beauty, etched stone tiles work well in a number of applications, where a more formal appearance may be desired. Foyers and entryways can have floors laid of interlocking tiles in etched patterns laid over their entirety, or can use a combination of natural stone tiles, and etched stone tiles to create a rug effect. Try using an etched stone border around the edges of the room, with 2” decorative tiles cut into the corners of larger limestone or travertine tiles to create a decorative rug effect.
For a kitchen backsplash, keep the areas of the backsplash along the counters simple with a plain, honed limestone or marble tile in a subway shape, and a thin etched border running through them. Frame the area behind the cooktop with a chairrail molding, and fill the interior in with etched stone tiles, whose pattern coordinates with the border tile.
Fireplace legs, and surrounds can be enhanced by using tiles with interlocking patterns in the exact width of the fireplace legs. For example, 6” wide legs, which are 42” high, and 12” deep across the top would use a single row of 6” interlocking tiles on the legs of the surround, and a double layer of interlocking tiles across the top. A thin border in a coordinating pattern can be laid around the edge of the hearth, just where the hearth meets the rest of the floor, to tie the two areas together. Fill the interior of the hearth in with honed stones of the same color as the etched stones.
Etched stone tiles and borders can be used to bring subtle detail and color to any home design. Use them to dress up and enhance any area, making a unique and interesting effect in any home.
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