Diverse Tiles in a Toronto Residence: Examining the Kitchen Island and Space Division Units
Transforming a Toronto Home with 2025 Tile Trends
A two-level detached house in Toronto's Forest Hill Village has undergone a remarkable transformation, thanks to the design expertise of Lisa Lev and Katelyn Rempel. Once a builder-grade property with white walls and surfaces, the home now showcases the latest trends in interior design, reflecting the 2025 movement towards bold colors, large-format tiles, natural textures, and biophilic themes.
The kitchen, once all-white, is now a highlight of the house. The kitchen island features curved detailing and Taj Mahal quartzite surfaces, while the backsplash boasts a three-dimensional design. The designers have used an 'accent tile' as the field tile in a random application for the fireplace surround, adding a touch of uniqueness to the space.
The current tile trends are evident throughout the home. Bold, vibrant colors such as blues, robust reds, smoky mauves, and greens are used, often combined with elegant neutrals to create personalized, colorful effects like color-blocking or contrasting two tones. Large-format tiles create seamless visual expanses, reducing grout lines and enhancing a clean, modern look.
Natural textures and patterns mimicking wood, stone, and botanicals are incorporated, bringing a sense of the outdoors inside. Tiles with tactile surfaces and artisanal finishes such as zellige — handmade, glazed tiles with rich variation — are used for a grounded, crafted appearance. The color tones lean towards warmer hues, including sandy hues, golden veins, and water-inspired blues and greens, which evoke relaxing natural environments, especially in bathrooms and living areas.
Mixed textures and finishes within one tile collection are also considered, such as pairing matte flooring with glossy wall tiles, to create depth and sensorial appeal. These design choices aim to create holistic, warm, and inviting interior environments, emphasizing both style and connection to nature.
The bathrooms and kitchens prominently feature these elements, employing large, richly colored tiles with naturalistic textures to reflect the Forest Hill Village's upscale, contemporary character. The ensuite, for instance, shifts to warm, cocooning terracottas, paired with wood, rattan, and natural brown stone. The snug features a shelved media wall, while the sunny yellow rug in the same room makes it more uplifting.
The designers have also incorporated unique design elements, such as a sliding door clad in wallpaper that conceals the TV and acts as an artful focal point. The primary bedroom features a low-profile Togo sofa in a matching shade to the custom upholstered headboard. The wall behind the bed is covered in grass cloth framed in oak.
A focal point fireplace was created in what was once a stark white playroom. The adjoining snug and the main floor were designed to be multifunctional spaces that balanced everyday living with a desire to entertain. If artisan ceramics aren't in the budget, an alternative option is suggested. The project's inspiration was drawn from ceramic vessels by local artist Michelle Organ.
In the hallway, a 'breeze-block' style room divider is used, ensuring continuity of materiality throughout the home. The ensemble bathroom features a 'breeze-block' style room divider made of Celosia by Mutina. This transformation is a testament to the designers' ability to create rooms that reflect the clients' personality while staying true to the latest trends in interior design.
- The living room, once stark and plain, now features a warmer palette, evoking a sense of natural environment by incorporating biophilic themes and textures.
- The designers have chosen furniture that complements the bold colors and large-format tiles, ensuring a cohesive blend of lifestyle and interior design.
- A touch of unique art adorns the walls, reflecting the 2025 trend of integrating art into interior design, creating a harmonious balance between various room elements.
- The kitchen and bathrooms, in line with the 2025 trends, feature tiles with natural textures and patterns, such as botanicals, that mimic wood and stone, bringing a touch of the outdoors inside.
- The home-and-garden trend is evident in the use of tactile surfaces and artisanal finishes, like zellige, which lend a handcrafted, grounded appearance to the space.
- In the overall design, the designers have incorporated mixed textures and finishes within one tile collection, such as matte flooring with glossy wall tiles, to create an inviting and sensorial appeal throughout their innovative interior-design transformation.
