I am super excited at the new mosaic flooring I discovered at Daltile this weekend while poking around their website. These can be found in their Keystones collection.
These three new choices now to go to #1 among all possible flooring choices for 50s and 60s homes. Guys, the American Olean Chloe is nice, but not nearly as correct for the postwar period. (It’s a holdover from the 30s and early 40s.) Drats, 5 years too late for my 3 bathrooms. Oh well.
FYI, the very first design shown — “Random” — is by far my favorite. I cannot tell from the online material whether different variations of white are possible. I know we tend to think that all the whites must match – but I don’t think it’s a must, particularly when it comes to the floor.
Ring the bell, put out a press release, this is BIG wonderful news for the retro renovation community.
COMMENTS WILL RE-OPEN on MONDAY, DECEMBER 2. For the first time in, like, 13 years, I am taking a real vacation from the blog, to spend un-distracted time with family. As part of this, Commenting on the blog is paused. Meanwhile, please enjoy reading all the many stories in our archives -- and come back Monday, Dec. 2 when I will launch our annual giveaway of a vintage ornament wreath made by Georgia Peachez -- and when comments will reopen so you can enter to win! HAVE A HAPPY THANKSGIVING, EVERYONE!
WrenchingTiara says
I am redoing the floor of my bathroom in an Eichler home, built in 1960 in San Fernando Valley. The shower was retiled 15 years ago in a mostly white marble-look tile. Would the Daltile choices shown (Block Random Almond or Squre Random Biscuit) be best for me, or could I use a mosaic with some color in it, like “Beach” blend in Daltile Keystones collection? [link broken]
pam kueber says
Hi WrenchingTiara, I think that as long as at least one color in the mosaic floor picks up on one color in the shower, that would work beautifully. Have you also seen the Nemo Appiana mosaics? All the flooring resources are on the Fast & Easy Bathroom page – repeated also on the Fast & Easy Flooring Page. Take a look, I think there may be few others to take a look at.
WrenchingTiara says
I went to the Dal-Tile showroom with a printout of the Keystones Block Random Almond and Square Random Biscuit (shown above), thinking this would be a snap. The saleswoman was very demeaning, saying these were for industrial/commercial applications only, like “public toilets.” She told me I should get octagon and dot, and when I mentioned that I had read those were correct for homes built earlier than mine (ca. 1960), she became incensed and asked “Where are you getting this information?” I of course caved and let her send me samples of white octagon and gray dot, which I have to admit look very snazzy in my bathroom. My contractor also felt negative about the small mosaic patterns because of all the grout–maybe more work to install, but also hard to keep clean. Just thought I’d share that feedback, which I was not expecting.
pam kueber says
Woah, WrenchingTiara,
Here are photos of Nancy’s bathroom, which used the Daltile Keystone mosaic, I don’t think she thinks it looks like a “public toilet”! https://retrorenovation.com/2008/11/10/nancy-completes-her-yellow-50s-bathroom/
Personally, I would not likely do business with sales staff who do not want to show me what I want to see.
Finally – if you search octagon on the site I am pretty sure there are a fair number of pics of those floors, too. The bottom line on all of this: Survey your choices…then choose what floats your boat.
Kersten says
Pam!
I’ve been pouring over the bathroom section of your site for months. And, one night, I couldn’t take it anymore, and put my bathroom vanity/sink, and two wall cabinets on craigslist. They were grossly WRONG for our 1957 ranch, and had to GO. Well, they sold much faster than we anticipated, and for about 6 week now, we’ve been without a sink and trying to decide what to do in the bathroom. Although the floor is in great shape, it is ugly (terracotta type 4″ tiles put in in the 90’s). So, we’re going to try doing this in “stages” so we don’t spend a ton of cash at once. SO- we decided to start with the floor. I really want the Block Random from Daltile, but it is crazy expensive for our budget (would be over $1,000 for our small 54 sq/ft bathroom)! So, we are thinking about sheets of artic white keystone, and pop some out here and there and add a little pink carnation speckle and waterfall randomly. Sadly, they won’t sell any of these fun colors in single sheets. I am totally stumped and tired of brushing my teeth in the kitchen sink. Can you please provide a little direction?
pam kueber says
Kersten — Go straight to the Re-Store — see what the retro decorating gods have for you there. 54 s.f.? You might hit the jackpot! Where do you live (more or less)? Maybe some readers in your area have recommendations on places to find great salvage tile.
Donna Daniel says
Definitely the Daltile keystones were used in my 1953 ranch kitchen. But I had to get under three layers of yucky kitchen carpet to find them. And the cleaning was a bear. The tack strip from the carpet ruined the edge pieces so I am in the middle of trying to find the gray speckle keystones for repairs.
Lissie says
This thread is a little old – but the square random pattern is what I would like to use for our 1958 bathroom redo. I couldn’t find it on the Daltile sight – does anyone know where to see it online? Thanks!
pam kueber says
I’m not sure they sell it any more. See our story abou the Daltile Mosaic creator – use the search box…
Jeane says
Too busy ! What happened to normal balanced 4×4″ and 6×6″ white tiles ?
pam kueber says
Disagree. Random block mosaic tile floors = super common in midcentury homes. More common, I’d guess, than 4x4s. And 6×6’s — those came much later.