Hex Appeal

By OHJ Staff

A little white lie may be a sin, but a little white tile is a joy--especially if it's a 1 hexagon. The ceramic tiles were ubiquitous in bathrooms from 1900 through the 1940s. If you have a house from that period, you might find some under the pink linoleum that's under the orange shag carpet. And it's likely to look pretty good. Because original hextiles were made with uniform color all the way through, they don't show chips and wear like coated tiles do. If you're not so lucky but want the retro look, we found two bonafide suppliers among more than a dozen who claim to carry them (and both suppliers are part of the same company). American Olean offers sheets of hextiles in patterns of white, black, and/or gray. For samples or a catalog, call (215) 822-7300. Daltile has them in 14 colors besides white. Call for a catalog at (800) 933-TILE. You can visit either at www.daltile.com. 

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