http://www.AsktheDecorator.com host Meghan Carter visits Walker Zanger in West Hollywood, California to discover the basics about how to use ceramic tile in your home. From the newest ceramic tile styles to the different types of ceramic tiles, you'll know what you need to start decorating with ceramic tile.

Video Transcription

Meghan: Out with the old and in with the new. We knew it all the time but what happens when the old is still highly attractive? I do not get emails about ceramic tiles everyday but when I do I am pretty happy because now that stone, and metal and especially glass tile have become so popular. It is easy to think that ceramic tile is outdated, but let me tell you, if you think ceramic tile is outdated you are going to be so shocked by what we see inside. You would think that a ceramic tile store in West Hollywood would not get much action. After all, how can tile compare to celebrity hot spots? But just one look inside Walker Zanger and you know exactly why people come here. The tile is drop dead gorgeous. Maybe even red carpet work. Come here, we got here a little earlier and I want you to see something. Now this is what most people think ceramic tile looks like. You know the clean and boring stuff because that is what we see in most people’s homes but check this out. Look at all of the different options, I mean, is not this one so pretty? Wow! You could spend hours and hours just trying to figure out which one you want to use in your home. But most of us do not have hours to dedicate to our tile selection which is why I was waiting to meet Tristan McManaman being the marketing director for Walker Zanger has turned Tristan to a tile connoisseur, quick to state his opinion, tells you which tiles are hot and of course, explain in great detail the essence of ceramic tile. Tristan: A ceramic tile is made of best and it is fired and best is the type of clay and there got to be lots of different types of clay. There is some whiteness and redness. It just depends on the region it comes from and it is fired at a certain temperature and that is ceramic tile. It is only interesting if you know why is that different than something else? It is different than let us say a porcelain tile, for example. That is a different type of clay that is fired at a much higher temperature and the difference really to the consumer when you look at it is that ceramic tiles tend to be like more artisan made, more irregular, less perfect, more beautiful versus porcelain tiles tend to be much more streamlined. They are much more perfect. Meghan: Because porcelain tiles are fired at a higher temperature is more durable than ceramic tile but most tend to like ceramic tile more and I know it seems ironic. Typically, the more perfect something is the more beautiful we find it but now the tile having flaws and inconsistency is what makes ceramic tiles so beautiful. Tristan: You see that they are like middle imperfections around the edges and the glazes does not cool exactly and that is exactly what attracts people to ceramic tile, handy ceramic tile with it. It is not all perfect. It does not look shiny because it is not. It is handy. Meghan: And most ceramic tiles in perfection are what give it its undeniable term. We also make it a pain to install. Tristan: Ceramic tiles hand frost into molds and then it is fired and it typically warps a little bit when it is fired. That warpage can be as much as 8% per piece which means nothing and when you accept when you are trying to put tile on the wall together and one piece exactly is like this and then it goes like that and then the next it makes a big difference. Meghan: But having installed ceramic tile myself, I assure you, the initial panic of one tile sticking out too far completely fades away once all the tiles are in place because there are slight imperfections are what give the walls ceramic tile its stunning appearance which can be on any shape, size, or style you want. Tristan: There is unlimitless really design applications from the ceramic tile. They come in so many different colors and glazes, and shapes, and sizes, and decorative elements and repeating patterns and things. I think that really the design has been endless. It can be very modern and it can be very old. It can be anywhere in between, it can be rustic. Meghan: When faced with so many traces, it is best to start with the basic which is why