June 21, 2023

There’s no denying that subway tile (also called “Metro” tile) is a classic. As one might guess, the distinctive shiny white ceramic tiles were originally designed to be installed in subways. In 1904, designers Christopher Grant La Farge  and George C. Heins created the 3″ x 6″ rectangular wall tiles for the very first station of New York’s brand-new subway.

While today, we don’t tend to think of subways as a paragon of cleanliness, for turn-of-the-century New Yorkers for whom this underground transportation was an entirely new concept, the shiny white tiles read as clean and bright. The tiles also reflected light, brightening the subterranean stations. The Victorians were somewhat obsessed with cleanliness (as soap became manufactured on a massive scale after the industrial revolution) and found these tiles did not stain and were easy to clean. In very short order, subway tiles made their way into bathrooms, kitchens, butcher shops — any place people wanted to be especially clean  — all over the country, where they have remained a staple of interior design for decades.

With over 100 years of popularity, it’s pretty safe to say that subway tiles are timeless. Subway tile is a rare combination of both classic and trendy. Classics really don’t ever really go out of style. This means the iconic white 3 x 6 tiles are still relevant in many applications today, both residential and commercial. But as with many classics, it’s subway tile’s design evolution that’s kept the iconic tile so on-trend in recent years. Tile designers continue to put new twists on the “expected,” allowing subway tile to endure and remain at the forefront of tile design. The latest on-trend colors, unique finishes, unconventional installation patterns, new sizes, contrasting grout colors, and dimensional designs are some of the modern iterations that keep this classic so current.

Crossville Studios offers a range of subway tile collections, ffrom iconic and classic to innovative, artsy, and unique. Here’s a look at some of them.

Sketches

Sketches brings texture to subway style in the form of horizontal lines and dots, allowing designers to create unique installations through the mixture of texture and color.




 

Subway Lab

Our Subway Lab lineup offers a plethora of Metro inspired looks, all unique, modern iterations, but with the character and timeless soul of the classic subway.

Subway Lab New Bevel

 

Subway Lab Peak

Subway Lab Arch

 

Subway Lab Dome

 

Subway Lab Liso

 

Subway Lab Canale

Herringbone

Our Herringbone subway tile combines two classics in one to make one modern statement!

Down to Earth

Down to Earth’s glazed brick tile is rich in character and texture, easily adapting to industrial chic, modern farmhouse, or somewhere in between.

 

Flow

Inspired by the movement of water, our Flow wall tile collection transforms any room with its fresh color palette and unique texture in a long lean  3 x 12 format. Install horizontally of vertically stacked (grid), offset (staggered brick) or herringbone.

Gradient

As the name implies, our Gradient wall tile collections offer beautifully nuanced gradient color in soothing matte and glossy hues as as well as decors with nine different randomly mixed patterns.

Allure

Alternate glossy and matte with our Allure subway tile in a slender 3 x 12 format in neutral hues.


Looking for the perfect subway tile to complement your distinct style? Look no further because Crossville Studios is here to help you select the right subway style for you unique project. The Crossville Studios tile pros at our 27 dedicated locations are ready to assist you in exploring the latest tile trends and help you specify your tile projects with confidence. Connect with us today!