Conjugating Diriger (to Direct) in French

Conjugating Diriger (to Direct) in French In French, the verbâ dirigerâ means to coordinate. Its a straightforward word, however conjugating it to the past, present, or future tense can be somewhat dubious. That is on the grounds that there are a couple of spelling changes that you have to keep an eye out for. Dont stress, however, aâ quick exercise will tell you the best way to deal with this action word. Conjugating the French Verb Diriger Dirigerâ is aâ spelling change verbâ and it follows the example of different action words that end in - ger. This includesâ dã ©rangerâ (to disturb)â andâ bougerâ (to move), among others. The spelling change is subtleâ but significant. As you study the table of conjugations, notice how a couple of structures follow the G with an I as opposed to an E. This is done to guarantee that the G is articulated with a delicate sound in light of the fact that specific vowels regularly transform it to a hard solid. In view of that, just match the subject pronoun with the present, future, or flawed past tense. For example, I direct is je dirige and we will coordinate is nous dirigerons. Subject Present Future Blemished je dirige dirigerai dirigeais tu diriges dirigeras dirigeais il dirige dirigera dirigeait nous dirigeons dirigerons dirigions vous dirigez dirigerez dirigiez ils dirigent dirigeront dirigeaient The Present Participle of Diriger To changeâ dirigerâ to theâ present participle, include - antâ to the action word stem to createâ dirigeant. This is very adaptable as it goes about as an action word, descriptor, ing word, or thing varying. The Passã © Composã © and Past Participle Aâ common approach to communicate the past tense coordinated is with the passã © composã ©. To shape this, include theâ past participleâ dirig㠩â to the subject pronoun and fitting conjugation of theâ auxiliary verbâ avoir. For instance, I coordinated is jai dirigã © and we coordinated is nous avons dirigã ©. Notice howâ aiâ andâ avonsâ are conjugates ofâ avoirâ and the past participle doesn't change. More Simple Diriger Conjugations There may likewise be times when you have to utilize one of the accompanying conjugations. The subjunctive action word mind-set is valuable when there is some level of vulnerability to the action word. Similarly, the contingent is utilized when it could conceivably happen on the grounds that the activity relies upon something. Those are utilized more frequently than the other two structures. Its feasible that you will just experience the passã © basic and defective subjunctive in formal composition. Subject Subjunctive Restrictive Pass Simple Blemished Subjunctive je dirige dirigerais dirigeai dirigeasse tu diriges dirigerais dirigeas dirigeasses il dirige dirigerait dirigea diriget nous dirigions dirigerions dirigemes dirigeassions vous dirigiez dirigeriez dirigetes dirigeassiez ils dirigent dirigeraient dirigrent dirigeassent To expressâ dirigerâ in orders or demands, utilize the basic structure. While doing as such, the subject pronoun isn't required, so you can utilize dirige rather thanâ tu dirige. Basic (tu) dirige (nous) dirigeons (vous) dirigez

Consumer behavious - B2C and B2B Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Shopper behavious - B2C and B2B - Essay Example This paper thusly, will be focussed on the recognizable proof and assessment of the different components of buyer conduct and shopper dynamic procedure dependent on the contrasts between the B2B and the B2C purchasing conduct. Additionally, the paper will likewise target giving not many genuine delineations to exhibit the significant contrasts between the shopper conduct in B2B and B2C markets. The paper will likewise investigate the purchasing procedure in the B2C markets. Contrasts between the Buyer Characteristics of B2B and B2C Customers According to a large portion of the creators, analysts and advertisers, the purchasing conduct of buyers varies endlessly regarding B2B and B2C markets. The distinctions can be recognized on the ground of different highlights identified with the general purchasing conduct of the focused on client gathering. To be exact, the purchasing conduct of B2B and B2C buyers to a great extent varies as far as market structure, purchasing unit, sort of procu rement, nature of the purchasing procedure and correspondence (Dave, 2008). B2B Consumer B2C Consumer Market Structure: The structure of a market alludes to the purchasing limit of the focused on clients. ... incline toward purchasing in units Kind of Purchase: This specific quality of the purchasing conduct of the focused on clients alludes to the explanation of procurement. Business or mechanical buyers buy products or administrations so as to fulfill their business needs as opposed to their own needs For the situation of individual clients the motivation to buy a decent or administration is to fulfill their own needs or family needs (Pearsoned, 2006) Nature of the Buying Process: The purchasing choices of the clients are additionally viewed as various on account of a B2B client and a B2C client. The purchasing procedure is profoundly formalized and in this manner faces significant bother because of flexibly disappointment The purchasing procedure is similarly less formalized and along these lines makes an insignificant measure of burden in the disappointment of the gracefully (Pearsoned, 2006) Communication: Communication is the factor which helps the advertiser to make a drive on the focused on clients. On account of corporate purchasers, the drive of individual selling is more prominent than broad communications correspondence if there should be an occurrence of the B2C clients, the impact of broad communications will in general be substantially more powerful than individual selling (Pearsoned, 2006) Other than these distinctions the purchasing conduct of B2B and B2C client additionally differs from a few different impacts, for example, the full scale and miniaturized scale ecological vacillations. For example, the purchasing conduct of a B2B client in a FMCG organization is profoundly impacted by the vacillations of the company’s monetary security or other financial patterns. Conflictingly, the purchasing conduct of a B2C client doesn't straightforwardly get impacted by the high points and low points of the smaller scale condition (Barschel, 2007). The distinctions in the B2B and the B2C purchaser purchasing conduct can be again recognized in the

Juvenile Justice Various Crime Punishment, Court and Society

Juvenile Justice Question 1 The debate that exists on whether juveniles should be accountable for their crimes or not is subject to analysis and various factors determined. The number of adolescent children getting involved in violent adult crimes is on the increase. It has made the society more concerned about the increasing and rising trend. The majority of the prisons are releasing malicious convicts after a very short time of sentence. These groups of people consist of rapists, murderers, drug dealers and other various types of criminals. There are categories of crimes with regard to specific accusations the minors are charged with that are considered adult in nature (Chesney-Lind Shelden, 2013).

Causes of the War of Jenkins Ear

Yakuza - 1710 Words

Throughout the nineteenth and twentieth century, criminal organizations have begun to develop within various nations throughout the world. Some of these criminal organizations consist of various national and ethnic groups who centralized themselves as a single enterprise and various illegal activity which results in monetary gains, such as drug trafficking, racketeering, human trafficking, setting up illegal gambling establishments, and corrupting the local government with members of their own. For example, the Mexican drug cartels control one of the vast drug routes in Latin America while the Sicilian Mafia have set up a large protection racketing system throughout Italy. The Yakuza have established themselves in Japan and are†¦show more content†¦Members who violate codes and attack innocents such as family members and children are viewed as thugs by high rank members of the Yakuza and are expelled from the organization sometimes (77). A high ranking official from inside t he Yakuza has stated, â€Å" The Yakuza have existed this long because the police have allowed us to exist and we have cooperated with them to some extent. Those days are gone, as we are being replaced internally and externally by thugs and gangs who make no pretense in having codes at all.† (Kaplan 78). Many old generation Yakuza members believe the Yakuza itself has become deluded when various criminals who do not follow these codes of conduct join the organization. The traditional Yakuza members believe it is the reason why the Japanese government went after Yakuza. (79). The Yakuza, unlike most criminal organizations in the world, do not exist in secrecy. The Yakuza have made themselves public and have set many offices throughout Japanese, which are surrounded by barb and armed guards (43). They also have created printed business cards for their organization and published magazines detailing their criminal society. Some of their activities are actually legitimate business operations, such as running construction projects and various public works projects, real estate firms, and finance operations suchShow MoreRelatedMerits of Yakuzas1104 Words   |  5 Pagesï » ¿The yakuza - a family of organized crime that is complicated, hierarchical, underground and extremely influential in both the Private and the Public sphere, is unique to Japan. It is common knowledge that there exists an underworld in every country. The Yakuza, the significant part of Japan’s underworld however carries along unique characteristics, which makes it arguably a crucial part of what makes up the Japanese society. This essay seeks to substantiate the claim that Yakuzas, despite its definitionRead MoreAn Analysis Of Yakuzaian History, Beliefs, And Traditions1384 Words   |  6 Pageswhat today we know as the Yakuza surfaced: the shishi, the tekiya, and lastly the bakuto. It was the shishi that were commonly referred to as the strong arm protectors of the early modern state of Japan. They became increasingly disgruntled with the Tokugawa Shogunate which forced them to wage war against the government they swore to protect. The shishi did not outlast the Meiji Restoration period, but helped to instill loyalty in the later branches of the early Yakuza. The tekiya, who are alsoRead MoreYakuza and the Japanese Society1111 Words   |  5 PagesYakuza and Japanese society Essay building plan Sources: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bOazu1_NAZghttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bwvvjCXFv_Ihttp://www.neatorama.com/2011/03/20/the-yakuza-is-quietly-helping-earthquake-victims-in-japan/http://www.tumblr.com/tagged/ninkyodohttp://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2012/jan/05/japanese-yakuza-gangs-face-crackdown | 1. Introduction Introduction of the main question: What are the possible consequences of the implementation of the law? 2. Pros of havingRead MoreYakuza and the Japanese Society1123 Words   |  5 PagesYakuza and Japanese society Essay building plan Sources: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bOazu1_NAZghttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bwvvjCXFv_Ihttp://www.neatorama.com/2011/03/20/the-yakuza-is-quietly-helping-earthquake-victims-in-japan/http://www.tumblr.com/tagged/ninkyodohttp://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2012/jan/05/japanese-yakuza-gangs-face-crackdown | 1. Introduction Introduction of the main question: What are the possible consequences of the implementation of the law? 2. ProsRead MoreThe Yakuza a Large Crime Organization Essay654 Words   |  3 PagesOne is known for his occupation and what he does and what he withholds from doing. The yakuza is a large crime organization that has thousands of members that span throughout the entire world. They originated in Japan and since then have slowly moved across the globe into many different countries; they even have members in the United States today. *The yakuza is a highly organized crime organization that places great importance in respect and honor and seeks revenge when they do not receive it, theyRead MoreYojimbo1183 Words   |  5 Pagescapitalism. During this time in Japan, the Yakuza clan was a very strong and dangerous group equivalent to the modern day mafia. The Yakuza clans’ ideals are relatable to two themes prominent in Yojimbo: greed and corruption, and rising capitalist influence. Kurosawa satirizes these two characteristics of the Yakuza clan through the use of mise en scene. One way that Kurosawa used the mise en scene to satire the Yakuza clan was through the use of dà ©cor. The Yakuza clan was a group which took pride inRead MoreBecoming A Motorcycle Gang Of Course1299 Words   |  6 PagesBosozoku turned 20, most would likely become a low ranking member of the Yakuza, the organized crime scene of Japan (Tofugu). The Yakuza would often look to the Bosozoku for potential members of the Yakuza syndicates. To show the allegiance to the Yakuza boss, two rituals were required. The first of two dating back to the age of the Samurai, cutting off the tip of one’s left pinky was a sign of allegiance to the way of the Yakuza. This ritual was known as Yubitsume, this was done during the era of theRead MoreEssay about Japanese, Russian, Chinese, and Mexican Organized Crime1042 Words   |  5 Pagessuch as; extortion, white captive trafficking, automobile theft, counterfeiting, hostage taking, prostitution, weapons smuggling, murder, drug trafficking, and fraud. In Japan there is the Yakuza, also known as the Japanese Mafia, which consists of up to 2,500 families. The three largest groups in the Yakuza are the Yamaguchi-gumi, Sumiyaoshi-kai, and Inagawa-kai. These three groups together have around 61,100 members, or seventy-three percent of the gangster population in Japan. These organizationsRead MoreA Report on Japanese Culture Essay1086 Words   |  5 Pagesutensil. Subcultures: A facet that makes up the gem of the Japanese culture is called the Yakuza. The Yakuza are close to the organized criminal-underground of Europe and America called the Mafia. Both groups make their profits by numerous illegal activities. Drug trafficking, Gambling Rings, and extortion are just a few of the illicit affairs that are rules of trade for these groups. The Yakuza are also a part of the Japanese mythology. Within its secretive throng, the members are givenRead MoreThe Triad : Chinese Gangs868 Words   |  4 PagesBritain when the territory was still British owned in the 1970’s (Booth, 2000). In Japan, the yakuza have collaborated with multiple Triad groups to help smuggle immigrants, deal in credit card fraud, and forge passports. Because the Chinese Triads are historically known as very clever and ruthless, Triads operating from China are beginning to occupy and overthrow the yakuza, particularly in Tokyo. The yakuza allow the hostile take-over due to the belief that staying alive is the most important thing

Miss Lonelyhearts Essay Example For Students

Miss Lonelyhearts Essay A lot of these letters are serious issues, which by reading them, affects Miss Lonelinesss and quickly puts him into deep depression. Probable readers of this novel would believe that quitting his job wouldve eased his misery, but why did he decide to continue his job? Was he an take and believed that the people who were sending him mails were his true social affecter? What is the significance of his name? Was he a lonely character? Throughout the entire novel, he goes through many unusual events, events that can be symbolized to him being lonely. As a deader, we only know a little about the background of Miss Lonelinesss, We reckon that Miss Lonelinesss and Betty had some past intimacy. As of my interpretation, Betty is the only person who cares for Miss Lonelinesss in a sense of affection that can be shown from a compassionate person; Betty came to see Miss Lonelinesss the next day and every day thereafter. With her she brought soup and boiled chicken for him to eat (35). He has other affiliations with other woman in the story, but none often are considerably close to the compassionate figure of Betty. Miss Lonelinesss refers to Betty as Betty the Buddha because she is the only character who brings peace and order to Miss Lonelinesss chaotic life. There is something inside of Miss Lonelinesss that we cannot understand as a character. He is a character With very few friends and considerably a person with lack of class. Throughout the story we can see examples Of Miss Lonelinesss as a character Who has a personality that can be seen as abnormal or mentally unbalanced. In Miss Lonelinesss and the Lamb, Miss Lonelinesss has a dream of him and his friends attempting to sacrifice a iamb after a drunken college argument over the existence of God. In Miss Lonelinesss and the Clean Old Man, he and a colleague harass an old man in a public toilet, calling him homosexual and pervert, Eventually makes the old man cry, twisting his arm and hurting the poor man. The chapter Miss Lonelinesss and Shrike recounts his failed attempt to seduce the bosss wife. Miss Lonelinesss in the County details a trip to the countryside to Connecticut with his sometime fiance ©e, Betty, a trip that ends in a sexual encounter, which ends Better virginal status. In my opinion, these events are something that is considered sickening and psychotic. As a grown man, this is something unacceptable. In my opinion, these events have correlations to why his name is Miss Lonelinesss, He acts like an imbecile because he doesnt have devoted friends that he can talk to when he is depressed, or have the proper way of releasing his stress and depression other than getting drunk or hurting people, in both physically (towards the old man) or verbally (towards Betty). The way he handles these situations is very unprofessional. But the most fateful episode occurs when he receives a letter from a woman named Fay Doyle, who is unhappily married to a cripple and Whose letter intimates that she wants more than advice from Miss Lonelinesss. The sexually frustrated Miss Lonelinesss agrees to meet her for sex and, in the process, hears the rest Of her Story. Her husband had been an upstairs neighbor, and when she got pregnant with another man, the cripple neighbor married her and treated the child as his own. Some time later Miss Lonelinesss receives a letter from her husband, Peter Doyle, who complains of his dead. End job as a meter reader and invites Miss Lonelinesss to his apartment at his wifes behest. Miss Lonelinesss arrives at a brutal scene in which the wife humiliates her husband, then sends him out for gin while she tries to seduce Miss Lonelinesss. This attempt shakes Miss Lonelinesss out to his efforts to be Christ-like, and he brutally beats Mrs.. Doyle to fight off her aggressiveness. None of these events wouldve happened if Miss Lonelinesss was more professional. Even though he has a fiance ©e who cares about him a lot, his couldnt control his sexual frustrations, which ended up into this controversy. Is he that lonely that he had to sleep with someone who he barely knew? .u5cd8bb458903229f54bb567534ac76dd , .u5cd8bb458903229f54bb567534ac76dd .postImageUrl , .u5cd8bb458903229f54bb567534ac76dd .centered-text-area { min-height: 80px; position: relative; } .u5cd8bb458903229f54bb567534ac76dd , .u5cd8bb458903229f54bb567534ac76dd:hover , .u5cd8bb458903229f54bb567534ac76dd:visited , .u5cd8bb458903229f54bb567534ac76dd:active { border:0!important; } .u5cd8bb458903229f54bb567534ac76dd .clearfix:after { content: ""; display: table; clear: both; } .u5cd8bb458903229f54bb567534ac76dd { display: block; transition: background-color 250ms; webkit-transition: background-color 250ms; width: 100%; opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #95A5A6; } .u5cd8bb458903229f54bb567534ac76dd:active , .u5cd8bb458903229f54bb567534ac76dd:hover { opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #2C3E50; } .u5cd8bb458903229f54bb567534ac76dd .centered-text-area { width: 100%; position: relative ; } .u5cd8bb458903229f54bb567534ac76dd .ctaText { border-bottom: 0 solid #fff; color: #2980B9; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; margin: 0; padding: 0; text-decoration: underline; } .u5cd8bb458903229f54bb567534ac76dd .postTitle { color: #FFFFFF; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 600; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 100%; } .u5cd8bb458903229f54bb567534ac76dd .ctaButton { background-color: #7F8C8D!important; color: #2980B9; border: none; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: none; font-size: 14px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 26px; moz-border-radius: 3px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; text-shadow: none; width: 80px; min-height: 80px; background: url(https://artscolumbia.org/wp-content/plugins/intelly-related-posts/assets/images/simple-arrow.png)no-repeat; position: absolute; right: 0; top: 0; } .u5cd8bb458903229f54bb567534ac76dd:hover .ctaButton { background-color: #34495E!important; } .u5cd8bb458903229f54bb567534ac76dd .centered-text { display: table; height: 80px; padding-left : 18px; top: 0; } .u5cd8bb458903229f54bb567534ac76dd .u5cd8bb458903229f54bb567534ac76dd-content { display: table-cell; margin: 0; padding: 0; padding-right: 108px; position: relative; vertical-align: middle; width: 100%; } .u5cd8bb458903229f54bb567534ac76dd:after { content: ""; display: block; clear: both; } READ: Rosa Parks EssayWhy not just stay faithful with Betty? Miss Lonelinesss is a character who tends to hide his feelings from the other characters. He doesnt really share is inner feelings and he goes through mental breakdowns after reading these letters from people. He defines himself as lonely, but truly he has what a man needs in his life, a woman to take care of him. Miss Lonelinesss does not let others inside of his true feelings. He cannot accept anyone or trust anyone, so even When Betty acts nice towards him, he gets frustrated and annoyed by her sense of peacefulness and tends to escape from her hospitality. He has Betty by his side, but he considers himself lonely because he is continuously getting annoyed by Shrike and receives letters from people who shares depression and sad stories with him, which drags him down into depression and sickness. In the end, we need to understand the heaviness of Miss Lonelinesss job. Not only does he have to give advice to people, but these people are all so serious in need for help from Miss Lonelinesss. It is no wonder why he takes his job seriously, even though his joss jokes around about his job. But by him not being able to discuss about this job is a serious problem. He is taking all the burden of this task by himself, not being able to discuss freely with other characters in the story, He is a character who needs attention for himself as well. That is why he acts the way he does throughout the short story, To other people, this character of Miss Lonelinesss can be seen as a person who has mental problems; beating up random old man, sleeping with people who he barely knows, and beating them without proper confrontation. (1206 words)

The potential effects of the five different life factors on the development of the individual Essay Example

The potential effects of the five different life factors on the development of the individual Essay In this audio recording I will be explaining the potential effects of the five different life factors on the development of the individual. I will be using the case study of Jonathan to do this. Genetic factors Genetic factors are factors that would be inherited by the child from the mother and father. There are a lot of different illnesses/ diseases that can be inherited from the parents such as; cystic fibrosis, coeliac disease, asthma, brittle bone disease etc. These are passed to the child through their genes. If one of these illnesses is passed on to the child like brittle bone disease then this will affect the child in a negative way because they might not be able to do things properly when they are older, like sports and exercise. It would limit their opportunities and stop them from doing things that they would later want to do. Jonathan was born with a medical condition called Down’s syndrome; this condition will affect all areas of his development. Down’s syndrome is also known as trisomy 21, which is a genetic disorder caused by the presence of an extra copy of chromosome 21 in a babys cells. Around 750 babies are born with the condition each year in the UK www. nhs. uk/conditions/downs syndrome/pages/introduction. aspx. Children with Down’s syndrome will have learning disability and delayed development, but this may be different with other children. Also they will have short arms and legs and low muscle tone, making it hard for them to learn to move. We will write a custom essay sample on The potential effects of the five different life factors on the development of the individual specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now We will write a custom essay sample on The potential effects of the five different life factors on the development of the individual specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer We will write a custom essay sample on The potential effects of the five different life factors on the development of the individual specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer Jonathan’s development in all areas will be delayed and he will find hard to learn certain things such as talking, reading, walking and sitting etc. He will take longer to learn to do these things than an average child. Some children with Down’s syndrome will have few health problems as a result of their condition. Possible health complications of Down’s syndrome might include heart disorders, bowel abnormalities, digestive problems, hearing and vision impairments, increase risk of infections etc. ww. nhs. uk/Conditions/Downs-syndrome/Pages/Complications. aspx Jonathan may have these health problems which he may need to get checked or get treatment for it in hospitals. Biological Factors Biological factors are things that are passed onto an individual through the blood stream or other means such as during pregnancy the mom can pass on substances through the placenta to the child in her womb. An example of this is when women during pregnancy ingest alcohol and crosses the placenta barrier. This can cause developing problems during fatal stages and can stunt fatal growth or weight, create distinctive facial stigmata, damage neurons and brain structures which in later life they will have problems with intellectual development within learning and understanding concepts and cause other physical, mental or behavioural problems later on in the individual life. Jonathan hasn’t got anything passed down to him when he was in her mum’s womb. But Jonathan was born with a medical condition called Down’s syndrome; he has also got heart conditions which he has to take medication often for. Having heart problems will mean he will get tired and become breathless which will mean he won’t be able to do certain activities in school such as football, basketball and running etc. because he would become tired and might start to cough a lot which is not good for his health. Not being able to do certain activities will mean he will feel left out and might feel his different from other children and this might affect his self-esteem and confidence because he might feel that his left out. Although he could do other activities that are not tiring like gymnastics, tennis and cricket etc. hich will make him feel that his part of the group and he won’t feel left out. Jonathan might also have thyroid problems, which is located in the neck and is responsible for controlling your metabolism (the rate at which your body uses up energy). The effects of thyroid that Jonathan could have are lack of energy which means he won’t be able to do certain things, gaining weight, slow physical and mental reactions, difficult breathing and difficult sleeping. http://www. nhs. uk/Conditions/Downs-syndrome/Pages/Complications. spx Environmental factors Environmental factors are things such as housing conditions, neighbourhoods, communities, pollution and access to that can affect an individual’s development. Jonathan has good housing as he lives in a wealthy area with his mum and sister. His father and mother divorced five years ago but his father pays large amount of maintenance for Jonathan’s care and helping the mother to pay for bills etc. so they don’t have to worry about Jonathon being cold or catching any illness because of his condition. It is important that he does have a good housing because it will help to improve his development. Jonathan comes from a wealthy family meaning he will have access to different types of health services and the family will be able to afford to take Jonathan to private doctors meaning he will be looked after properly and the medication he will get will be much better because he won’t be getting cheap medications because the family will be able to pay for expensive medication so just could get better quickly. The family have hired specialist nurses and portage workers to look after Jonathan. â€Å"Portage is a home-visiting educational service for preschool children who have additional support needs and their families. Portage services aim to work with your child’s developmental needs to develop their strengths, fulfil their potential and build their confidence. A portage service worker may assist with play activities, behaviour, communication, relationships and learning in your own home’’. http://www. nhs. uk/CarersDirect/guide/kinds/Pages/portage. aspx Jonathan would benefit from portage worker because they would support his development needs, learning new skills, build their confidence and helping him to fulfil his potential. They would also teach his mother how to support Jonathan’s in learning new skills and helping him to improve on his development. This would support all areas of Jonathan’s development because they would work on helping him to walk, talk and how to interact with other people and he knows how to do these things then they would look at things which he needs more help on and provide him with these skills. Jonathan’s parents might also hire speech therapists to help Jonathan with his speech, language and communication problems so he can communicate better with other people. Jonathan parents won’t have money issues as they earn a large income so they won’t have problems providing Jonathan with quality care. Socio-economic factors Socio-economic factors are social and economic activities that influence an individual’s development in life. These include things such as family and peer groups influences, housing and community influences, education, social class etc. Income and education will impact Jonathan, because Jonathan comes from a rich family he won’t have any problems with money because his father pays high amount of maintenance, this means the parents can afford to pay for private doctors who will monitor his health every time, portage workers who will help him develop new skills and also they may help the parents. Also they can get speech therapist for Jonathan if he needs it; they can also afford to buy special equipment and toys for Jonathan to use for example soft toys that are not dangerous i. e. toys that are broken or sharp. Having specialist equipment would help support Jonathan’s physical development and will protect him from injury. Jonathan’s parents are also able to afford to send Jonathan to a private school. Private schools are better than public schools because they offer better quality teachers and this would affect Jonathan intellectually and socially because private schools offer better qualified teachers and better facilities. Also private school have small class which will mean that the teacher can spend more time with every student, if Jonathan needs help with anything then the teacher will be there to help him. Also private schools are most likely to support children with special educational needs and they are aware of how to support children with different conditions. Going to private school will affect Jonathan positively because he will learn to interact with other children his age, make friends and he will discover what things that make him happy. This will affect his social and emotional development as he’s socialising with other children and his self-confidence and self-esteem will improve. Lifestyle Factors Lifestyle is the chosen way an individual chooses to lead there life which includes – chosen dietary and nutrition intake, amount of physical exercise individual chooses to undertake and substances abuse and how much an individual subjects there body to. Lifestyle factors that may affect Jonathan would include diet, nutrition and social interaction. Jonathan comes from a wealthy family; this means that he will have good diet because his parents will be buying healthy food such as fruits and vegetables which is good for you because it’s full of nutrition. This will affect Jonathan positively as he will be healthy and it will help him avoid further health complications such as high blood pressure etc. There are certain foods which Jonathan should avoid such as fast food, takeaways or microwave food that are not good for you because it can make you fat if its eaten a lot and when older you can get health problems such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol and heart disease and you might get heart attack and stroke . It is important that Jonathan stays away from unhealthy food. Jonathan takes part in activities through school, scouts and a performing arts group for children with special needs. Attending scouts will have a positive effect on Jonathan because he is interacting with other children, making friends and doing different activities such as cooking, sports activities and camping which will build his confidence and self-esteem and it will help him to know what he likes and dislikes. Participating in different activities will also help Jonathan develop intellectually as his learning new skills. This will broaden his knowledge and skills that he has. Attending scouts and performing arts will be a positive influence because he will stay active and he will be healthy, also it will have positive effect on Jonathan’s emotional development because when he participates in scouts, he is able to earn medal or badges and this will make him more confident and it will boost his self-esteem and have a better view upon himself which will make him happy.

IKEA Company Case

IKEA Company Case Background IKEA, a leading Swedish home furnishing retailer, was founded in 1943 by Ingvar Kompred with a vision to service young and price-conscious consumers with a wide range of its knock down furniture sold at competitive prices.Advertising We will write a custom case study sample on IKEA Company Case specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Traditionally, IKEA has been known to maintain low-cost operations by contracting and maintaining dedicated independent furniture supplier networks, developing innovative modular designs whose components could be mass produced, maintaining relatively few sales clerks, using a classic cash-and-carry approach to trim costs at a minimum, selling the same type of furniture all around the world to benefit from the economies of scale, using a flat management strategy to enhance fast decision-making processes, abolishing internal budgets to check on expenditure, and utilising inexpensive advertising strategi es such as word-of-mouth and limited advertising to promote sales revenue. Recently, IKEA has been involved in expanding into international markets to reach out more customers and hence leverage its competitive advantage and profits. For instance, the company succeeded in setting store locations in Switzerland in Germany and even proceeded to become the furniture provider of choice for young and price-conscious customers despite facing supply difficulties as well as cultural and regulatory obstacles in these countries. Although the company faced minimal entry barriers in many European countries due to its European history and origin, it did receive unique challenges when gaining entry into the American market due to a host of problems as discussed below. Statement of Problems IKEA faced a host of entry barriers while attempting to gain access to the American market not only due to a diversified population and great cultural diversity demonstrated by potential customers, but also due to strong local competition and imitations. Indeed, the company had not faced such entry barriers before while attempting to gain access to European markets, hence the need for their further exploration. The underlying problems for IKEA’s entry into the American furniture market include: Creation of stable supply networks – IKEA’s operation costs drastically rose upon entry to the American market because it used to source its products from suppliers in Europe. There were unique logistical problems involved in transporting these products to U.S. markets that guaranteed an attractive consumer base.Advertising Looking for case study on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More IKEA had to move with speed to recruit local suppliers to reduce the dependency of imports and hence cut down on costs. The U.S. suppliers also needed to be trained on more efficient methods to use in the productio n of furniture so that quality was not compromised in attempts to cut down on costs. Product adaptation issues – Upon entry into the American market, IKEA soon realized that some of its products were not reconfigured to the expectations and desires of U.S. customers. For instance, its European-style beds were somewhat narrower and longer than the standard American beds and hence customers could not buy them despite their high quality and low cost as their existing mattresses and beddings could not fit the beds. Again, IKEA’s management was called to attention to solve the adaptation issues with the view to increasing sales purchases and therefore achieve profitability and competitiveness. Unique advertising and promotion challenges – IKEA had traditionally relied on word-of-mouth, limited advertising and the use of catalogues delivered free of charge to customers residing in areas where the furniture retailer had set up business. However, upon gaining entry into the American market, IKEA’s management soon realized that the traditional advertising strategies could not bring positive outcomes in the American market due to a competitive retail market and diversity of the consumers, which made the traditional word-of-mouth advertising less powerful that it had been in ethnically homogenous European countries. Additionally, many American consumers did not identify with the traditional Moose symbol used in other European countries to advertise IKEA products as it was considered strange, provincial and, in some quarters, projecting the wrong image. These unique promotion and advertising challenges necessitated IKEA’s management to go back to the drawing board and devise advertising strategies that could fit well into the American market. Floor layout issue – Traditionally, IKEA utilised a floor layout approach that necessitated consumers to obtain an inventory tag number upon deciding what they wanted to purchase and then pro ceeding to find the kit on the rack in the expansive stores without much assistance from the sales clerks. However, this layout plan proved to be a major problem in the American market owing to customers’ buying behaviour, leading to long queues and declining sales as customers left empty-handed.Advertising We will write a custom case study sample on IKEA Company Case specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Again, this was an issue that IKEA’s management needed to solve to make any headway in the American furniture market. American consumers are averse to long waiting times, hence IKEA’s management was once again tasked with a responsibility of developing and implementing strategies that would reduce the long queues and enhance customer service experience while maintaining operational costs at a minimum. Non-available stock – this problem was related to the difficulties experienced in the supply chain networks as IKEA attempted to import products from European-based suppliers and furniture makers to stock local stores in diverse locations across the United States. To remain competitive, IKEA had to move fast in the recruitment and training of local suppliers to ensure that listed products were available for the customers when needed.

Apologia Marine Essay Example for Free

Apologia Marine Essay 1. Definitions a. Metabolism- The process by whichc a living organism takes energy from its surroundings and uses it to sustain itself, develop and grow. b. Photosynthesis-the process by which an organism uses the energy from the sun to produce its own food c. Autotrophs- organisms that are able to produce their own food d. Heterotrophs- organisms that cannot make their own food and must obtain it from other organisms e. respiration — the process by which food is converted into usable energy for life functions f. homeostasis — the tendency of living organisms to control or regulate changes in their internal environment g. diffusion — the movement of molecules from an area of high concentration to an area of low concentration h. osmosis — the diffusion of water across a selectively permeable membrane i. osmoconformer — and organisms that allows its internal concentration of salts to change in order to match the external concentration of salts in the surrounding water j. Osmo regulator — an organism that regulates its internal concentration of salts k. Poikilotherm- an organism whose body temperature changes with its surrounding environment l. ectotherm — an organism whose body temperature is controlled by its surrounding environment m. homeotherm- an animal that maintains a controlled internal body temperature using its own heating and cooling of mechanisms n. Endotherm- an animal whose internal body temperature is a result of internal sources of heat o. a sexual reproduction — reproduction accomplished by a single organism p. sexual reproduction — reproduction that involves the union of gametes from two organisms: a male and a female q. binomial nomenclature — identifying an organism by a genus and species name 2. carbohydrates, proteins, lipids, and nucleic acids 3. oxygen levels would be lower at night than during the day 4. no, they must feed on extra material made by photos synthesizing plants 5. no, both groups containing organisms like that 6. population 7. water will travel through osmosis to the outside 8. the body fluids would change. There would be more concentration of  dissolved substances in the body 9. no. They could have warm blood if their environment is warm 10. yes 11. no 12. the plant from the cutting 13. the cell with 24 chromosomes 14. the cell with 12 chromosomes 15. yes Apologia Marine. (2016, Mar 10). We have essays on the following topics that may be of interest to you

Marketing in the Information Age for Specialty Record Music Store Research Paper

Marketing in the Information Age for Specialty Record Music Store - Research Paper Example There exists a music store on Queen Street West in Toronto containing theme based CD's, records and DVD's. The collections are based on the cultural interests of the shop owners. The store does not have any online presence. Store enjoys reasonable amount of foot fall. But, due to the unorganized nature of the shop very few people actually buy the collection. As a matter of fact many people fail to locate the desired music collection due to unorganized nature of the shop. Due to the lack of online presence and hence losses customers to larger firms like HMV. The store owner also has 50% ownership of a local bar that specializes in in-house music.Based on the above the background thee study looks to provide a proposed marketing diagnostic plan. The plan includes the used of strategic and marketing concepts like AIDA model and SWOT analysis. The study also focuses on social media and viral marketing conceptsBased on the back ground of the study and the SWOT analysis it can be understood that the shop has entered in to a viscous circle. Customers are visiting the shop; but due to the organized nature of the shop, people are losing interests, People are switching to other firms like HMV through the online medium. Add to that the firm has no online presenceThe first step towards making the digital presence is to have a website. As mentioned earlier having a business without a website is like having a business without face. If the store owner does not have the expertise, then it can be outsourced to any SEO company

Fast Food Franchise Case Study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3500 words

Fast Food Franchise - Case Study Example Fast food is a foodstuff that is readily available and dished up promptly at sites known as fast-food bistros. This is the multi-billion dollar business which inturn keeps on progressing extremely fast around numerous international locations. A fast-food franchise is somewhat different from fast-food points as it is recognized from nominal service and by meals simultaneously which may be presented immediately soon after placing the order. The food items around such dining places is usually prepared in volume upfront plus preserved hot for its reuse. A lot of fast food restaurants are sections of reputable restaurants or franchise's, while standard food products are supplied to every eating venue through main sites. As compared to some other food businesses, the budget fundamentals to set up a fast-food restaurant are comparatively compact in UK, especially at locations consisting of low and medium earning community. Mostly eateries wherever people sit a while and enjoy their lunch or dinner are also measured as fast food (Luffman & Sanderson, 2001).Fast Food Restaurant at Cambridge has proposed to offer the customers with a huge variety in terms of its menu products. Derived from the mentioned food items, the proposal suggests that CFF must offer low-priced combo food to its consumers. The proposed combo meal offers will contribute to increase the traffic to the restaurant. This is really appealing to undertake a sizable diversity of food products to grab an increased niche.

The Value of Life in The Most Dangerous Game Essay -- Most Dangerous G

The Value of Life in The Most Dangerous Game  Ã‚   He is hunched down in the bushes, a .22-caliber pistol in his hand.   His blood-red lips split open in a smile as he watches his prey writhing, blood spouting from the wound, dry green leaves becoming wet crimson.   Then, with a terrible pleasure, he places the gun against the skull of his prey and fires one last round.   The hunter, brimming with sadism, drags his kill behind him, leaving a trail of blood behind on the ground.   Human blood.   This premise of man hunting man is one set up by Richard Connell’s short story The Most Dangerous Game.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   The dominant theme to this story is that all life is to be respected and preserved.   A proof for this is that the protagonist, Rainsford, is at first disrespectful of animals when he hunts.   He is then placed into the animal’s role in a twisted hunt, and—due to the horrors he experiences—becomes more respectful.   More support to back this claim is that General Zaroff, the epitome of disregard for life, is defeated by Rainsford at the end.   However, this is not the most accurate theme of the story, and these examples also support another theme:   animals, and life in general, are not respected and never truly will be, and we should all come to terms with this fact.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Let us primarily take into consideration the aspect that Rainsford at first cares not for animals, but his view is altered by his experiences with Zaroff.   First, we must prove that Rainsford really did not care for animals.   Let us look at the conversation on the boat between Rainsford and Whitney.   Here is a quote:   Ã‚   â€Å"[...] Great sport, hunting.†   Ã‚   â€Å"The best sport in the world,† agreed Rainsford.   Ã‚   â€Å"For the hunter,† amended Whitney.  ... ...en that—and then takes Zaroff’s things, including his style of hunting, it is apparent that Rainsford has become worse, even as bad as General Zaroff.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Conclusively, as the main character of The Most Dangerous Game fails to learn from such a horrible experience the value of life, a society that has not been subjected to such an experience will also not know the value of life.   Our disrespect has gotten even to the point where our children are killing their fellow children.   The value of life in all its forms has not been discovered by all of society, and it never will.   We must learn to cope with that fact, or we will all be, in the words of Sanger Rainsford, huntees of our own nature. Works Cited: Connell, Richard. "The Most Dangerous Game." Structure, Sound and Sense . Eds. Laurence Perrine and Thomas R. Arp. 4th ed. New York: Harcourt, 1983.

Architectural Textbook on How to Draw Perspective and to Tiles

1 BatHroom projects Bathroom-Tile Design By Lynn Hopkins W alk into a tile showroom, and you may be overwhelmed by the sheer number of colors, materials, finishes, and sizes available. The best way to keep your wits about you is to develop a strategy beforehand for the style of bathroom you plan to create. This plan will help to guide tile selection and installation. Before going to the store, think about the character of your new bath. Are you interested in a traditional bathroom with historical references, something with fixtures and finishes that remind you of an earlier time? Or are you dreaming of something more sleek and modern?Regardless of the style of bathroom you choose, designing a tile installation requires forethought. The accompanying drawings illustrate key areas to consider when developing a tile design and show how the traditional or modern character of the room might influence tile selection and layout. As part of the planning process, I recommend making detailed dr awings that show which tiles go where on both the floor and the walls. An accurate, scaled sketch of a section of wall and floor, plus any special corner conditions, makes it much easier to order, lay out, and correctly install the tile.Start by Planning the Walls There are three standard heights to consider when tiling a bathroom wall: wainscot height, shower height, and full-wall height. You may use one, two, or all three of these heights in a single bathroom, depending on the look you are trying to achieve and on your budget. Because tiled walls are more expensive than wallboard, tile often is used only where it is needed most: on the lower portion of the wall that requires water protection. This wainscot is usually between 36 in. and 42 in. tall, enough to provide a backsplash of 4 in. or so above the sink.Tile protects the walls below towel bars from wet towels, and the walls around the toilet from the spray of rambunctious kids. Tiling to wainscot height may be adequate protec tion around tubs without showers as most splashes occur below this line. In a shower area, however, all enclosure walls should be tiled high enough to protect the walls from water spray, at least 72 in. and preferably to the ceiling. 78 Details for a Traditional Bathroom 3-in. by 6-in. brick tiles 1-in. by 6-in. color band Fixtures are centered on tile layout. 1 Shower enclosure is tiled to at least 72 in.At least 4 in. 36 in. to 42 in. Bullnose tiles 2 Border tiles define limits of the room. 6-in. by 6-in. tiles 1. TURNING CORNERS Profiled edge tiles 2. INSIDE CORNERS A bathroom with traditional characteristics has plumbing fixtures that take their styling cues from an earlier era, generally the 1920s or 1930s. The tile should reinforce these historical references. Small wall tiles, such as 3 in. by 6 in. , 4 in. by 4 in. , and even smaller mosaics, were typical in the old days, in part because the adhesive available could not support tiles that were much larger and heavier than 6 in. q. Traditional styles often celebrate the edges where tile meets wall or where wall meets floor with a border or fancy molding profile. Borders run around the perimeter of the floor and/or walls, defining the limits of the room. Bathroom-Tile Design 79 Choose the Right Tile Tiles finished on only the front face are called field tiles. When installed, they are butted next to each other with grout filling the spaces in between. Wherever wall tile stops short of the ceiling, field tiles should not be installed on the top row because the raw, unfinished edge of the tiles will be exposed.For these locations, use tile with at least one finished edge. Typically, the finished edge is a rounded bullnose shape that makes an elegant transition from tile to wall surface. In bathrooms with traditional styling, this transitional edge frequently is celebrated with a decorative border that intro- duces a band of color, a pattern, a texture, or a special profile (see the drawings on p. 79). Bord ers Create a Transition Although a decorative border is a great way to handle the tile-to-wall transition, you’ll need to consider how to handle the border when the tile goes from a lower to a taller height.In a traditionally styled bath, I prefer to turn the edging and keep the border moving up, over, and down again, using mitered corners at each turn. I find that a miter creates a crisp, clean look and allows the flexi- Details for a Modern Bathroom The details in a modern room imply expansiveness and continuity. Tile frequently runs continuously from floor to ceiling or from corner to corner. Borders like those found in a traditional bath are seldom used because they would feel constrictive. Luxurious materials, such as stone, are treated simply so that nothing competes with or detracts from the beauty of the aterial itself. Modern designs often use larger tiles—8 in. by 8 in. , 6 in. by 12 in. , 12 in. by 12 in. , or 16 in. by 16 in. —because they feel more expansive. Visual interest comes from the use of multiple materials, patterns, textures, and plane changes. In this example, the height change at the shower area is emphasized with a bump-out separating the plumbing wall into two different planes. Within the shower, 12-in. by 12-in. stone tiles run floor to ceiling. The side edges of the stone tile are mitered to finish the outside corner. Outside the shower, 6-in. by 12-in. ceramic tiles are used on the walls.The running-bond pattern helps to tie the different materials together. 12-in. by 12-in. stone tiles Running-bond pattern is an easy, inexpensive way to add visual interest. Bump-out, 2 in. minimum 6-in. by 12-in. ceramic tiles 3 3. ChaNGING plaNES Room feels more expansive with large floor tiles. Inside corner marks transition from large shower tiles to smaller wall tiles. Mitered outside corner 80 Bathroom Projects bility to use border designs without a special corner tile (see the inset drawing on p. 79). Other areas that d emand careful planning are corner borders at wall intersections.If your bath has only inside corners, you will need tiles that are finished only on the face and one edge. Outside corners—those that project into the room—require tiles finished on the face, the top, and one side. If you use tile with a profile, you’ll need a special outside-corner tile. Not all tile manufacturers or lines include these special pieces. The baseboard area, at the junction of wall and floor, is another opportunity for a decorative border. If you used a color band at the top of the tiled wall, a second band of color would work well at the bottom. If not, consider a base tile that is taller than the wainscot tiles.You can choose base tiles with a profile that incorporates a radius to meet the floor tiles. cutting the tiles around the perimeter to fit. These guidelines recommend centering the pattern on either a tile or a grout line, depending on which choice results in the largest tile s around the edges of the room. This is a good place to start, but you may want to adjust your design in response to other features in the room. One of the typical ways your eye determines whether a pattern is centered is by comparing the end tiles: If the tiles on each end are equal in size, you assume the pattern is centered.However, if your eye cannot easily compare the end tiles to each other, you’ll look for other cues, such as alignment. Sometimes, especially in large rooms, it is preferable to center tiles along lines of sight or movement. By following this strategy, the tile pattern is centered on the person using the bathroom. Tiles centered on the entry door are centered on the person who walks through that door; wall tiles centered on the sink and on the mirror above are centered on the person looking in that mirror. Tiles centered on the showerhead and control valves also are centered on the person using the shower.If tile has been centered on the key sink and sho wer walls, the layout frequently is mirrored on the opposite wall. Centering tile on the sink and the shower controls may be difficult if the sink and the shower are on the same continuous wall; but this design should be possible if the distance between the centerline of the shower or tub fittings and the sink is a multiple of the tile size. Mark out the tile design before any rough plumbing work is done; then adjust fixture placements as required for the most attractive finished room.Alignment and centering of fixtures, tiles, and sightlines reinforces the organizing principles of the design. People subconsciously find that reinforcement reassuring and, consequently, attractive. Lynn Hopkins (www. lhopkinsarch. com), an architect specializing in residential design, is based in Lexington, Massachusetts. Floor Tiles Take a Cue From the Walls Floor tiles need to be more durable and slipresistant than wall tiles, so be sure to select a type intended for floor installation. The safety a nd durability characteristics of floor tiles may give them a different look than that of wall tiles.To tie the two surfaces together visually, use the same color, texture, pattern, or other design feature from the walls in the flooring. In a traditional bath, for instance, you might use a border of the same color on the walls and the floor. Another strategy is a floor patterned with a mix of small and large tiles, where the color of the small tiles matches that of the wall tile. Smaller tiles result in more grout lines, which give the floor more texture and make it less slippery. The additional grout is more susceptible to dirt and mildew, however. Center Tile Layout on Entries and FixturesMany tile-layout guidelines suggest positioning the layout on the center of the room and Bathroom-Tile Design 81 1 BatHroom projects Details from Great Bathrooms Benches, shelves, and hooks. Don’t overlook the convenience of a small bench where you can sit and shave, shelves that can hold s oap and shampoo, and some open wall space for towel hooks and bars. 82 Tile put to good use. Variations in tile size highlight architectural details, while glassblock tiles let in plenty of light. Bold and beautiful. the play of light and color in this bathroom isn’t an accident. t’s what happens when an architect plans a bathroom remodel with an artist. Details from Great Bathrooms 83 accentuate the positive. Large, rectangular porcelain tiles installed vertically draw attention to the shower’s high ceiling while the mosaic-tile floor provides plenty of traction. liven up a bland room. Blue and white mosaics splash color across the sink wall in this st. paul, minnesota, remodel. Color coordination. staying in the same color family ties together the mosaic pebble floor and the wall of sleek subway tiles. Updating a tradition.Designed to capture the calm richness of traditional japanese architecture but with a modern focus, this bathroom was created with wall and shower tiles by casalgrande padana and custom-cut slate floor tiles. 84 Bathroom Projects Balancing the budget. saving on white ceramic floor and wall tile freed up money for the aquacolored glass mosaic wall tile. let loose. a child’s bathroom is a great place to have fun with tile. this bathroom features a whimsical countertop of brightly colored tile. Use tile to differentiate. on the floor, a switch from 13-in. eramic tile to 2-in. tile (by cerim ceramiche) distinguishes the shower from the dry part of the room. on the walls, a mosaic strip (by ceramica tres estilos) adds zip. Details from Great Bathrooms 85 2 KITChen projeCTs Putting Tile to Work in the Kitchen by Lane Meehan O ur black Lab, Bogey, is a walking mud factory and sheds so much that for tile are granite, marble, and limestone, with granite being the hardest. Stone in its natural state is porous, so wherever it’s used in a kitchen, it must be sealed to resist staining and discoloration.Stone tile has color all the way through, so deep scratches won’t expose a different base color. However, a highly polished surface on a stone tile seems to accentuate even the smallest scratches. Stone can be installed on floors, countertops or backsplashes; however, it does tend to be a high-maintenance product. On the other hand, ceramic tile is made from clay rolled flat and either sun-baked or fired in a kiln. There are hundreds of different clays, each with its own characteristics that can vary the tile’s performance. Color is applied to ceramic tile in the form of baked-on glazes that also seal the tile.In the past, ceramic-tile finishes had problems standing up to heavy use and abuse, but with recent technical advances, ceramic tile now performs better than it used to. With most ceramic tile, the color is he should be bald. When it came time to choose tile for our kitchen floor, we looked for tile that would help disguise evidence of Bogey and our three active boys. We chose a tile that looks like stone but in a color and finish that could hide dirt and dog hair until I had a spare moment to run the vacuum. Our choice was based primarily on ease of maintenance, just one consideration when choosing kitchen tile.As a tile-store owner with a background in design, I field questions all the time about incorporating tile into clients’ kitchens. This chapter addresses the questions I am asked most frequently. What Types of Tile Can I Choose From? The two most basic categories of tile are stone and ceramic. Stone tile is a natural product, mined or quarried directly from the earth. The three most common stones used 86 Tile outlines and defines kitchen spaces. a tile border gives the island in this kitchen, designed by Tim Quigley of Minneapolis, its own separate visual space. The backsplash behind the stove forms a functional accent.Putting Tile to Work in the Kitchen 87 just on the surface, so deep scratches expose the clay below. Porcelain is another m anmade tile product. Porcelain is much denser than ordinary ceramic, making it harder to scratch and break. But as with stone, the shinier the surface of ceramic or porcelain, the more scratches will show. So I try not to use highgloss tiles anywhere in a kitchen except on backsplashes, areas that are less susceptible to scratching. In the past, porcelain has been more expensive than ceramic, but improvements in technology have reduced the price.Beyond the amount of gloss, tile finishes can vary greatly. Tile finishes are graded by their ability to resist wear due to traffic; a light-industrial tile has a higher durability rating than most residential-grade tiles. Industrial-rated tile is a bit more expensive, but the extra cost makes sense if your kitchen resembles a freeway. In addition to a durability rating, the Tile Council of America (see â€Å"Sources† on p. 94) gives tile a coefficient of friction (COF) rating, which indicates how slippery the surface will be underfoo t.But if the tile feels too smooth or too slick to the touch, it will probably be too slippery to use on the floor. How Do Lifestyle and Lighting Affect Choices? The first thing I ask clients about is their family, their lifestyle, and the way their kitchen is going to be used. For example, for a client who has a large family or who does a lot of entertaining, the kitchen is a busy hub with a casual atmosphere. For this kitchen, I might suggest warm-colored tile with perhaps a softer stone look. After the client’s lifestyle, I look at the type of lighting in the kitchen.If it is blessed with a great deal of natural light from windows or skylights, tumbled marble tile or tile with a matte finish will absorb light and create a softer look (see the photo on p. 90). A textured surface on the tile softens the effect even further. On the other hand, tile with a glossy finish reflects light and helps brighten areas of a kitchen that are dimly lighted or that receive little or no nat ural light. Remember that glossy tile used in a kitchen with a lot of light, either natural or artificial, requires more frequent cleaning because fingerprints and water spots tend to show up more.When choosing tile, I also look at the color and finish of the cabinets and countertops. If the counters and cabinets have a matte or satin finish, then I try to keep the same feel in the floors and the backsplash. By the same token, if the kitchen has the Tile Offers Almost Endless Options Multipurpose porcelain Ceramic wall tile with blue crackle glaze Commercial ceramic wall tile Rosso-Verona tumbled marble Handmade glazed wall tile Handmade sanded floor tile Porcelain floor tile Limestone tile Stone look-alike ceramic tile Marble floor or wall tile 88 Kitchen Projects Ceramic Tile: Porcelain vs. Nonporcelain l tiles made of clay and cured by heat are ceramic tiles. However, ceramic tile is best understood by dividing it into two product classifications: porcelain and nonporcelain. Thei r availability and look are roughly the same, but their durability is not. Thanks to a balance in the market, porcelain tiles can now be had at nearly the same price as nonporcelain products. a when the tiles are glazed. Also, when some porcelain tiles are glazed, they are no longer guaranteed to be frostproof. nonporcelain tile is easier to work with Nonporcelain tiles are made primarily of clay mixed with minerals and water.The material is then fired to solidify the tiles into a bisque form. This process creates tile that isn’t as hard as porcelain, so it can be worked more easily with basic snap cutters and nippers instead of a wet saw. In most cases, a sealer and a glaze are applied to the surface of nonporcelain tile to create color and texture before the tile receives a second firing. The glaze applied to nonporcelain tile can make it extremely durable, but never as durable as porcelain. Nonporcelain tile’s main weakness is that it has a water-absorption rate of greater than 0. %. As a result, the tile doesn’t perform nearly as well as unglazed porcelain tile in outdoor freeze/thaw environments. porcelain tile is more durable Porcelain tiles are created by mixing porcelain clay and very finely ground sand, and curing them with high heat and pressure. Porcelain tile is denser and harder than nonporcelain tile and has a lower water-absorption rate of 0. 5% or less. Porcelain’s density makes it highly resistant to physical damage, while its low absorption rate makes the tile frost resistant, allowing it to be used outdoors.Unglazed porcelain tile is sought after for its full-body characteristics, which means its color remains consistent throughout the tile. Surface scratches and damage are less noticeable as a result, a benefit that diminishes The top choice when strength matters most. although nonporcelain tiles can be quite durable, none are as resilient as porcelain. Buy what looks good. even though damage to nonporcelain tile s is more noticeable than with some porcelain tile, they can be purchased in grades that are perfectly suited for high-contact areas like kitchen counters and floors. Putting Tile to Work in the Kitchen 89Tile can act as a dimmer switch. This kitchen gets lots of light from two sides. The natural colors and matte finish of the tumbled-marble countertop and backsplash help soften the light and cut down on glare in a kitchen with a lot of windows. polished, streamlined look of many contemporary kitchens, I suggest a straightforward tile pattern with a glossy finish. Tile color can make a large contribution toward a warm or cool feel in a kitchen. The earthy tones of limestone or tumbled marble are the warmest of the tile colors, while bright whites and blues tend to be quite cool. But even cool colors can be warmed with colored grout.For example, an ivory or off-white grout color can take the cool edge off bright white. The reverse can be true if you’re trying to achieve a form al or industrial feel with gray or blue tile. A steel-gray grout helps create a crisp, cool look. A quick vacuum and an occasional mopping, and you’re off and running. If cooking and entertaining are big parts of your life, then I’d suggest tile that won’t stain if hot grease and oil or an occasional glass of wine is spilled on it. A glazed ceramic tile works best in this situation, but for an Old World look, you can use a real stone, such as limestone.If you select a stone-tile floor, be sure to treat it with a good sealer according to the manufacturer’s directions. We recommend either Miracle Sealants’ Porous Plus or One Master Marble and Stone Care’s Gold Shield (see â€Å"Sources† on p. 94) for sealing stone tile. No matter what tile you choose for your kitchen floor, the grout should also be sealed. To make the grout more impervious to spills and stains, I recommend starting with a latex-modified grout or one that is mixed with a latex additive instead of water. Once the grout has cured properly, a sealer such as Miracle Sealants’ Porous Plus will fight off most food incursions.Another grout option is epoxy, which is stain resistant and does not require sealing. But because epoxy is harder to work with for the installer, we generally use it for smaller Will My Three Boys and the Family Dog Hurt My Tile Floor? A client’s lifestyle has the biggest bearing on the choice of floor tile. If you’d rather spend time with your three growing boys than take care of your kitchen floor, I suggest tile that hides a multitude of sins (and dirt) and always seems to look nice, such as a ceramic-stone look-alike (see the photo on the facing page). 90 Kitchen Projects No time for cleaning?For busy, active families with kids and pets, consider a tile floor with a lot of color variations such as this stone look-alike. It stays better looking longer between cleanings. areas, such as countertops. With some ti le, such as limestone, epoxy grout is not recommended, so be sure to check with manufacturers’ suggestions. some sort of threshold to create a clean transition into the next room. Tile thickness can also affect doors that swing into the kitchen, as well as appliances, such as dishwashers or trash compactors, that have to fit under the countertops in a kitchen. How Does a Tile Floor Relate to Adjacent Rooms?The kitchen-floor tile should help establish a visual flow into the surrounding areas, so I ask clients about the colors and materials on the floors of the rooms that are adjoining the kitchen. For example, if the kitchen floor joins up with a dark wood floor in the dining room, consider using tile with a warm, medium color to cut down on the visual contrast between rooms. If the kitchen floor meets colored carpet in an adjacent room, keep in mind that you’ll probably change the carpet at some point, so choose a neutral tile color that will go with future carpet choi ces. Tile thickness is another consideration.Whether the kitchen floor butts up against other existing tile, hardwood floors, or carpet, the tile installer will need to install Can Tile Make My Tiny Kitchen Look Bigger? Tile layout can have a big impact on a room’s appearance. While a parallel or straight pattern can intensify the narrowness of a kitchen, a diagonal tile pattern makes a room look wider (see the sidebar on p. 93). Tile size can also affect the appearance of the room. The smaller the tile, the busier the grout–joint pattern. The simple grout–joint pattern you get with larger 10-in. to 12-in. tiles can make a small room look larger. Smaller 4-in. to 6-in. iles on a floor can have the opposite effect, creating a mosaic pattern or a cobblestone look. Clipping the corners of square tiles creates hexagons or octagons with small square spaces left between. The small tiles (called Putting Tile to Work in the Kitchen 91 dots) that fill the spaces can intr oduce a dash of color to the floor in a pattern that breaks up the simple straight lines. Irregular tile patterns such as block random (using three sizes of tile) or a pinwheel pattern can help unify a kitchen that has many entrances and exits. These patterns also work well to blend together tile that is highly varied in color.A tile border on the floor can make a kitchen look cozier by bringing the eye in or by creating a frame around the kitchen table or an island (see the photo on p. 87). slab. And with granite tile, it’s easy to add a border to accent or complement the color of the stone. One drawback to stone tile on a countertop is the edges. Although you can round over the edges, granite tile is thinner than a solid slab (3? 8 in. to 1? 2 in. compared with 11? 4 in. , normal thickness for a granite slab), so it’s tougher to get the same full-slab look. Another drawback is not being able to install an undermount sink with granite tile.Although the tight grout joi nts of granite tile create a good, smooth work surface, machine-made ceramic tile with standard grout joints makes a slightly rougher work surface. Handmade tile is usually installed with wider grout joints that are charming, but its inherently bumpy surface can be difficult to work on and can cause wine glasses and bowls to tip over (see the photos at left). The edges of a tile countertop can be addressed in various ways. Continuing the tile over the edge gives the countertop a thick look. Relief tile, such as a rope pattern, can turn countertop edges into a visual focal point.Wooden edges that match or complement cabinets are also popular. As on floors, borders on countertops can add decoration. But if it’s used in too large an area or if a lot of items are stored on the counter, a border can be lost or distracting. Tile can also be combined with other types of surfaces for a dramatic look (see the photo on p. 90). For instance, the savings from tiling most of the counterto p might leave enough money for a solid slab of granite in the sink area for an undermount sink. A stone slab or a wood surface on only the island could make a bold statement while providing a smooth surface for an informal eating area.Is Tile OK for a Kitchen Countertop? Granite-slab countertops have long been popular in high-end kitchens. Tile countertops, both ceramic and stone, have some of the same attributes as slabs, such as durability and heat resistance, but at less than half the cost, depending on the tile you choose. Granite tile can be installed with tight grout joints to give the impression of a solid Handmade tile is pretty but uneven. The irregular surface of handmade ceramic tile is a challenge to work on and can be hazardous to wine glasses.Cutting boards should always be used on tile countertops. 92 Kitchen Projects Tile Patterns at Work he right pattern can make a kitchen look wider. Floor tile installed in a straight pattern makes a narrow room seem narrower (see the left photo below) while tile in a T diagonal pattern softens the tunnel effect of a long, narrow kitchen, making it seem wider (see the right photo below). Can Tile Be Used as a Cutting Board? Although few tile or stone surfaces can stand up to a sharp kitchen knife, most hold up well under other kitchen rigors such as abuse from pots and pans.Limestone scratches easily, but those scratches can be sanded out. Surfaces such as glossy tile or highly polished granite tend to show marks more readily, and their scratches are harder to remove or cover up. Stone or ceramic tile with a matte finish tends to hide scratches and surface abrasions better. Stone tile is also porous, so it has to be sealed properly to resist staining from things such as red wine and grease. And some ceramic tiles, as well as polished stone such as granite or marble, can lose their shine when exposed to some food acids.As in floors, latex-modified grout should be used on tiled countertops along with a good coa t of grout sealer. Again, epoxy grout, which costs a little more and is a little harder to install, will make the grout impenetrable. Should the Backsplash Blend or Make a Splash? A tile backsplash is the spot where you can be really creative with tile in the kitchen (see the photos on p. 94). Because a backsplash functions to protect the wall from splashes and splatters that come from cooking and preparing food, the only prerequisite is that backsplash tile be easy to keep clean.Beyond that, the choices become mainly aesthetic. I always ask clients how much stuff they plan to keep on their countertops. Toasters, microwaves, and canisters tend to block the backsplash, and in that case, the backsplash just provides a backdrop of color and tex- Putting Tile to Work in the Kitchen 93 sources Miracle Sealants Company 800-350-1901 www. miraclesealants. com ture. I usually recommend extending the tile from the countertop all the way to the bottoms of the wall cabinets so that the backspla sh acts as a visual connection between the upper and lower cabinets.Borders usually work best above long stretches of counter that are uninterrupted by windows or appliances. And when installed three-quarters of the way up the backsplash, a border won’t get lost near the countertop or under the wall cabinets. At that height, a border will usually clear the height of the toaster or a bowl of fruit for a continuous line. If the client is thinking of having decorative tiles scattered randomly throughout the backsplash, I suggest taping playing cards to the wall at random to see if the effect works in that particular kitchen.Playing cards can also be used in a line to test the visual power of a border. Isn’t Tile Expensive? Tile varies greatly in price, and budget is a concern for the vast majority of my clients. So here’s my strategy for keeping costs down. First, use reasonably priced machinemade tile for large areas in the kitchen. Then there will be money left f or those handmade borders, small murals, or strategically placed accent tiles that will give your kitchen a rich look without breaking the bank (see the right photo below).Installation prices can vary greatly depending on the type of tile, the layout, and the conditions of the existing floors and walls. A tile installer can explain what your options are and how much each option costs. Even if you opt for a less expensive installation, always seal the tile. Sealing tile is pretty easy, so you can save a little by doing it yourself. Spend some money on a good sealer. Lane Meehan is a tile maker and designer of decorative tiles. She and her husband, Tom, own and manage Cape Cod Tileworks in Harwich, Massachusetts. orous plus One Master Marble and Stone Care 760-406-1097 www. onemastermarble. com Gold shield The Tile Council of America 864-646-8453 www. tileusa. com Tile Art and Accents he backsplash of cows in a pasture (see the left photo below) in this kitchen designed by Randy Fritz of Lakeside, Calif. , combines the art of Roger Dunham of Petaluma, Calif. , with the practicality of T ceramic tile. Random decorative tiles in a backsplash of less expensive, machine-made tile (see the right photo below) give this kitchen a colorful accent. 94 Kitchen Projects Architectural Textbook on How to Draw Perspective and to Tiles 1 BatHroom projects Bathroom-Tile Design By Lynn Hopkins W alk into a tile showroom, and you may be overwhelmed by the sheer number of colors, materials, finishes, and sizes available. The best way to keep your wits about you is to develop a strategy beforehand for the style of bathroom you plan to create. This plan will help to guide tile selection and installation. Before going to the store, think about the character of your new bath. Are you interested in a traditional bathroom with historical references, something with fixtures and finishes that remind you of an earlier time? Or are you dreaming of something more sleek and modern?Regardless of the style of bathroom you choose, designing a tile installation requires forethought. The accompanying drawings illustrate key areas to consider when developing a tile design and show how the traditional or modern character of the room might influence tile selection and layout. As part of the planning process, I recommend making detailed dr awings that show which tiles go where on both the floor and the walls. An accurate, scaled sketch of a section of wall and floor, plus any special corner conditions, makes it much easier to order, lay out, and correctly install the tile.Start by Planning the Walls There are three standard heights to consider when tiling a bathroom wall: wainscot height, shower height, and full-wall height. You may use one, two, or all three of these heights in a single bathroom, depending on the look you are trying to achieve and on your budget. Because tiled walls are more expensive than wallboard, tile often is used only where it is needed most: on the lower portion of the wall that requires water protection. This wainscot is usually between 36 in. and 42 in. tall, enough to provide a backsplash of 4 in. or so above the sink.Tile protects the walls below towel bars from wet towels, and the walls around the toilet from the spray of rambunctious kids. Tiling to wainscot height may be adequate protec tion around tubs without showers as most splashes occur below this line. In a shower area, however, all enclosure walls should be tiled high enough to protect the walls from water spray, at least 72 in. and preferably to the ceiling. 78 Details for a Traditional Bathroom 3-in. by 6-in. brick tiles 1-in. by 6-in. color band Fixtures are centered on tile layout. 1 Shower enclosure is tiled to at least 72 in.At least 4 in. 36 in. to 42 in. Bullnose tiles 2 Border tiles define limits of the room. 6-in. by 6-in. tiles 1. TURNING CORNERS Profiled edge tiles 2. INSIDE CORNERS A bathroom with traditional characteristics has plumbing fixtures that take their styling cues from an earlier era, generally the 1920s or 1930s. The tile should reinforce these historical references. Small wall tiles, such as 3 in. by 6 in. , 4 in. by 4 in. , and even smaller mosaics, were typical in the old days, in part because the adhesive available could not support tiles that were much larger and heavier than 6 in. q. Traditional styles often celebrate the edges where tile meets wall or where wall meets floor with a border or fancy molding profile. Borders run around the perimeter of the floor and/or walls, defining the limits of the room. Bathroom-Tile Design 79 Choose the Right Tile Tiles finished on only the front face are called field tiles. When installed, they are butted next to each other with grout filling the spaces in between. Wherever wall tile stops short of the ceiling, field tiles should not be installed on the top row because the raw, unfinished edge of the tiles will be exposed.For these locations, use tile with at least one finished edge. Typically, the finished edge is a rounded bullnose shape that makes an elegant transition from tile to wall surface. In bathrooms with traditional styling, this transitional edge frequently is celebrated with a decorative border that intro- duces a band of color, a pattern, a texture, or a special profile (see the drawings on p. 79). Bord ers Create a Transition Although a decorative border is a great way to handle the tile-to-wall transition, you’ll need to consider how to handle the border when the tile goes from a lower to a taller height.In a traditionally styled bath, I prefer to turn the edging and keep the border moving up, over, and down again, using mitered corners at each turn. I find that a miter creates a crisp, clean look and allows the flexi- Details for a Modern Bathroom The details in a modern room imply expansiveness and continuity. Tile frequently runs continuously from floor to ceiling or from corner to corner. Borders like those found in a traditional bath are seldom used because they would feel constrictive. Luxurious materials, such as stone, are treated simply so that nothing competes with or detracts from the beauty of the aterial itself. Modern designs often use larger tiles—8 in. by 8 in. , 6 in. by 12 in. , 12 in. by 12 in. , or 16 in. by 16 in. —because they feel more expansive. Visual interest comes from the use of multiple materials, patterns, textures, and plane changes. In this example, the height change at the shower area is emphasized with a bump-out separating the plumbing wall into two different planes. Within the shower, 12-in. by 12-in. stone tiles run floor to ceiling. The side edges of the stone tile are mitered to finish the outside corner. Outside the shower, 6-in. by 12-in. ceramic tiles are used on the walls.The running-bond pattern helps to tie the different materials together. 12-in. by 12-in. stone tiles Running-bond pattern is an easy, inexpensive way to add visual interest. Bump-out, 2 in. minimum 6-in. by 12-in. ceramic tiles 3 3. ChaNGING plaNES Room feels more expansive with large floor tiles. Inside corner marks transition from large shower tiles to smaller wall tiles. Mitered outside corner 80 Bathroom Projects bility to use border designs without a special corner tile (see the inset drawing on p. 79). Other areas that d emand careful planning are corner borders at wall intersections.If your bath has only inside corners, you will need tiles that are finished only on the face and one edge. Outside corners—those that project into the room—require tiles finished on the face, the top, and one side. If you use tile with a profile, you’ll need a special outside-corner tile. Not all tile manufacturers or lines include these special pieces. The baseboard area, at the junction of wall and floor, is another opportunity for a decorative border. If you used a color band at the top of the tiled wall, a second band of color would work well at the bottom. If not, consider a base tile that is taller than the wainscot tiles.You can choose base tiles with a profile that incorporates a radius to meet the floor tiles. cutting the tiles around the perimeter to fit. These guidelines recommend centering the pattern on either a tile or a grout line, depending on which choice results in the largest tile s around the edges of the room. This is a good place to start, but you may want to adjust your design in response to other features in the room. One of the typical ways your eye determines whether a pattern is centered is by comparing the end tiles: If the tiles on each end are equal in size, you assume the pattern is centered.However, if your eye cannot easily compare the end tiles to each other, you’ll look for other cues, such as alignment. Sometimes, especially in large rooms, it is preferable to center tiles along lines of sight or movement. By following this strategy, the tile pattern is centered on the person using the bathroom. Tiles centered on the entry door are centered on the person who walks through that door; wall tiles centered on the sink and on the mirror above are centered on the person looking in that mirror. Tiles centered on the showerhead and control valves also are centered on the person using the shower.If tile has been centered on the key sink and sho wer walls, the layout frequently is mirrored on the opposite wall. Centering tile on the sink and the shower controls may be difficult if the sink and the shower are on the same continuous wall; but this design should be possible if the distance between the centerline of the shower or tub fittings and the sink is a multiple of the tile size. Mark out the tile design before any rough plumbing work is done; then adjust fixture placements as required for the most attractive finished room.Alignment and centering of fixtures, tiles, and sightlines reinforces the organizing principles of the design. People subconsciously find that reinforcement reassuring and, consequently, attractive. Lynn Hopkins (www. lhopkinsarch. com), an architect specializing in residential design, is based in Lexington, Massachusetts. Floor Tiles Take a Cue From the Walls Floor tiles need to be more durable and slipresistant than wall tiles, so be sure to select a type intended for floor installation. The safety a nd durability characteristics of floor tiles may give them a different look than that of wall tiles.To tie the two surfaces together visually, use the same color, texture, pattern, or other design feature from the walls in the flooring. In a traditional bath, for instance, you might use a border of the same color on the walls and the floor. Another strategy is a floor patterned with a mix of small and large tiles, where the color of the small tiles matches that of the wall tile. Smaller tiles result in more grout lines, which give the floor more texture and make it less slippery. The additional grout is more susceptible to dirt and mildew, however. Center Tile Layout on Entries and FixturesMany tile-layout guidelines suggest positioning the layout on the center of the room and Bathroom-Tile Design 81 1 BatHroom projects Details from Great Bathrooms Benches, shelves, and hooks. Don’t overlook the convenience of a small bench where you can sit and shave, shelves that can hold s oap and shampoo, and some open wall space for towel hooks and bars. 82 Tile put to good use. Variations in tile size highlight architectural details, while glassblock tiles let in plenty of light. Bold and beautiful. the play of light and color in this bathroom isn’t an accident. t’s what happens when an architect plans a bathroom remodel with an artist. Details from Great Bathrooms 83 accentuate the positive. Large, rectangular porcelain tiles installed vertically draw attention to the shower’s high ceiling while the mosaic-tile floor provides plenty of traction. liven up a bland room. Blue and white mosaics splash color across the sink wall in this st. paul, minnesota, remodel. Color coordination. staying in the same color family ties together the mosaic pebble floor and the wall of sleek subway tiles. Updating a tradition.Designed to capture the calm richness of traditional japanese architecture but with a modern focus, this bathroom was created with wall and shower tiles by casalgrande padana and custom-cut slate floor tiles. 84 Bathroom Projects Balancing the budget. saving on white ceramic floor and wall tile freed up money for the aquacolored glass mosaic wall tile. let loose. a child’s bathroom is a great place to have fun with tile. this bathroom features a whimsical countertop of brightly colored tile. Use tile to differentiate. on the floor, a switch from 13-in. eramic tile to 2-in. tile (by cerim ceramiche) distinguishes the shower from the dry part of the room. on the walls, a mosaic strip (by ceramica tres estilos) adds zip. Details from Great Bathrooms 85 2 KITChen projeCTs Putting Tile to Work in the Kitchen by Lane Meehan O ur black Lab, Bogey, is a walking mud factory and sheds so much that for tile are granite, marble, and limestone, with granite being the hardest. Stone in its natural state is porous, so wherever it’s used in a kitchen, it must be sealed to resist staining and discoloration.Stone tile has color all the way through, so deep scratches won’t expose a different base color. However, a highly polished surface on a stone tile seems to accentuate even the smallest scratches. Stone can be installed on floors, countertops or backsplashes; however, it does tend to be a high-maintenance product. On the other hand, ceramic tile is made from clay rolled flat and either sun-baked or fired in a kiln. There are hundreds of different clays, each with its own characteristics that can vary the tile’s performance. Color is applied to ceramic tile in the form of baked-on glazes that also seal the tile.In the past, ceramic-tile finishes had problems standing up to heavy use and abuse, but with recent technical advances, ceramic tile now performs better than it used to. With most ceramic tile, the color is he should be bald. When it came time to choose tile for our kitchen floor, we looked for tile that would help disguise evidence of Bogey and our three active boys. We chose a tile that looks like stone but in a color and finish that could hide dirt and dog hair until I had a spare moment to run the vacuum. Our choice was based primarily on ease of maintenance, just one consideration when choosing kitchen tile.As a tile-store owner with a background in design, I field questions all the time about incorporating tile into clients’ kitchens. This chapter addresses the questions I am asked most frequently. What Types of Tile Can I Choose From? The two most basic categories of tile are stone and ceramic. Stone tile is a natural product, mined or quarried directly from the earth. The three most common stones used 86 Tile outlines and defines kitchen spaces. a tile border gives the island in this kitchen, designed by Tim Quigley of Minneapolis, its own separate visual space. The backsplash behind the stove forms a functional accent.Putting Tile to Work in the Kitchen 87 just on the surface, so deep scratches expose the clay below. Porcelain is another m anmade tile product. Porcelain is much denser than ordinary ceramic, making it harder to scratch and break. But as with stone, the shinier the surface of ceramic or porcelain, the more scratches will show. So I try not to use highgloss tiles anywhere in a kitchen except on backsplashes, areas that are less susceptible to scratching. In the past, porcelain has been more expensive than ceramic, but improvements in technology have reduced the price.Beyond the amount of gloss, tile finishes can vary greatly. Tile finishes are graded by their ability to resist wear due to traffic; a light-industrial tile has a higher durability rating than most residential-grade tiles. Industrial-rated tile is a bit more expensive, but the extra cost makes sense if your kitchen resembles a freeway. In addition to a durability rating, the Tile Council of America (see â€Å"Sources† on p. 94) gives tile a coefficient of friction (COF) rating, which indicates how slippery the surface will be underfoo t.But if the tile feels too smooth or too slick to the touch, it will probably be too slippery to use on the floor. How Do Lifestyle and Lighting Affect Choices? The first thing I ask clients about is their family, their lifestyle, and the way their kitchen is going to be used. For example, for a client who has a large family or who does a lot of entertaining, the kitchen is a busy hub with a casual atmosphere. For this kitchen, I might suggest warm-colored tile with perhaps a softer stone look. After the client’s lifestyle, I look at the type of lighting in the kitchen.If it is blessed with a great deal of natural light from windows or skylights, tumbled marble tile or tile with a matte finish will absorb light and create a softer look (see the photo on p. 90). A textured surface on the tile softens the effect even further. On the other hand, tile with a glossy finish reflects light and helps brighten areas of a kitchen that are dimly lighted or that receive little or no nat ural light. Remember that glossy tile used in a kitchen with a lot of light, either natural or artificial, requires more frequent cleaning because fingerprints and water spots tend to show up more.When choosing tile, I also look at the color and finish of the cabinets and countertops. If the counters and cabinets have a matte or satin finish, then I try to keep the same feel in the floors and the backsplash. By the same token, if the kitchen has the Tile Offers Almost Endless Options Multipurpose porcelain Ceramic wall tile with blue crackle glaze Commercial ceramic wall tile Rosso-Verona tumbled marble Handmade glazed wall tile Handmade sanded floor tile Porcelain floor tile Limestone tile Stone look-alike ceramic tile Marble floor or wall tile 88 Kitchen Projects Ceramic Tile: Porcelain vs. Nonporcelain l tiles made of clay and cured by heat are ceramic tiles. However, ceramic tile is best understood by dividing it into two product classifications: porcelain and nonporcelain. Thei r availability and look are roughly the same, but their durability is not. Thanks to a balance in the market, porcelain tiles can now be had at nearly the same price as nonporcelain products. a when the tiles are glazed. Also, when some porcelain tiles are glazed, they are no longer guaranteed to be frostproof. nonporcelain tile is easier to work with Nonporcelain tiles are made primarily of clay mixed with minerals and water.The material is then fired to solidify the tiles into a bisque form. This process creates tile that isn’t as hard as porcelain, so it can be worked more easily with basic snap cutters and nippers instead of a wet saw. In most cases, a sealer and a glaze are applied to the surface of nonporcelain tile to create color and texture before the tile receives a second firing. The glaze applied to nonporcelain tile can make it extremely durable, but never as durable as porcelain. Nonporcelain tile’s main weakness is that it has a water-absorption rate of greater than 0. %. As a result, the tile doesn’t perform nearly as well as unglazed porcelain tile in outdoor freeze/thaw environments. porcelain tile is more durable Porcelain tiles are created by mixing porcelain clay and very finely ground sand, and curing them with high heat and pressure. Porcelain tile is denser and harder than nonporcelain tile and has a lower water-absorption rate of 0. 5% or less. Porcelain’s density makes it highly resistant to physical damage, while its low absorption rate makes the tile frost resistant, allowing it to be used outdoors.Unglazed porcelain tile is sought after for its full-body characteristics, which means its color remains consistent throughout the tile. Surface scratches and damage are less noticeable as a result, a benefit that diminishes The top choice when strength matters most. although nonporcelain tiles can be quite durable, none are as resilient as porcelain. Buy what looks good. even though damage to nonporcelain tile s is more noticeable than with some porcelain tile, they can be purchased in grades that are perfectly suited for high-contact areas like kitchen counters and floors. Putting Tile to Work in the Kitchen 89Tile can act as a dimmer switch. This kitchen gets lots of light from two sides. The natural colors and matte finish of the tumbled-marble countertop and backsplash help soften the light and cut down on glare in a kitchen with a lot of windows. polished, streamlined look of many contemporary kitchens, I suggest a straightforward tile pattern with a glossy finish. Tile color can make a large contribution toward a warm or cool feel in a kitchen. The earthy tones of limestone or tumbled marble are the warmest of the tile colors, while bright whites and blues tend to be quite cool. But even cool colors can be warmed with colored grout.For example, an ivory or off-white grout color can take the cool edge off bright white. The reverse can be true if you’re trying to achieve a form al or industrial feel with gray or blue tile. A steel-gray grout helps create a crisp, cool look. A quick vacuum and an occasional mopping, and you’re off and running. If cooking and entertaining are big parts of your life, then I’d suggest tile that won’t stain if hot grease and oil or an occasional glass of wine is spilled on it. A glazed ceramic tile works best in this situation, but for an Old World look, you can use a real stone, such as limestone.If you select a stone-tile floor, be sure to treat it with a good sealer according to the manufacturer’s directions. We recommend either Miracle Sealants’ Porous Plus or One Master Marble and Stone Care’s Gold Shield (see â€Å"Sources† on p. 94) for sealing stone tile. No matter what tile you choose for your kitchen floor, the grout should also be sealed. To make the grout more impervious to spills and stains, I recommend starting with a latex-modified grout or one that is mixed with a latex additive instead of water. Once the grout has cured properly, a sealer such as Miracle Sealants’ Porous Plus will fight off most food incursions.Another grout option is epoxy, which is stain resistant and does not require sealing. But because epoxy is harder to work with for the installer, we generally use it for smaller Will My Three Boys and the Family Dog Hurt My Tile Floor? A client’s lifestyle has the biggest bearing on the choice of floor tile. If you’d rather spend time with your three growing boys than take care of your kitchen floor, I suggest tile that hides a multitude of sins (and dirt) and always seems to look nice, such as a ceramic-stone look-alike (see the photo on the facing page). 90 Kitchen Projects No time for cleaning?For busy, active families with kids and pets, consider a tile floor with a lot of color variations such as this stone look-alike. It stays better looking longer between cleanings. areas, such as countertops. With some ti le, such as limestone, epoxy grout is not recommended, so be sure to check with manufacturers’ suggestions. some sort of threshold to create a clean transition into the next room. Tile thickness can also affect doors that swing into the kitchen, as well as appliances, such as dishwashers or trash compactors, that have to fit under the countertops in a kitchen. How Does a Tile Floor Relate to Adjacent Rooms?The kitchen-floor tile should help establish a visual flow into the surrounding areas, so I ask clients about the colors and materials on the floors of the rooms that are adjoining the kitchen. For example, if the kitchen floor joins up with a dark wood floor in the dining room, consider using tile with a warm, medium color to cut down on the visual contrast between rooms. If the kitchen floor meets colored carpet in an adjacent room, keep in mind that you’ll probably change the carpet at some point, so choose a neutral tile color that will go with future carpet choi ces. Tile thickness is another consideration.Whether the kitchen floor butts up against other existing tile, hardwood floors, or carpet, the tile installer will need to install Can Tile Make My Tiny Kitchen Look Bigger? Tile layout can have a big impact on a room’s appearance. While a parallel or straight pattern can intensify the narrowness of a kitchen, a diagonal tile pattern makes a room look wider (see the sidebar on p. 93). Tile size can also affect the appearance of the room. The smaller the tile, the busier the grout–joint pattern. The simple grout–joint pattern you get with larger 10-in. to 12-in. tiles can make a small room look larger. Smaller 4-in. to 6-in. iles on a floor can have the opposite effect, creating a mosaic pattern or a cobblestone look. Clipping the corners of square tiles creates hexagons or octagons with small square spaces left between. The small tiles (called Putting Tile to Work in the Kitchen 91 dots) that fill the spaces can intr oduce a dash of color to the floor in a pattern that breaks up the simple straight lines. Irregular tile patterns such as block random (using three sizes of tile) or a pinwheel pattern can help unify a kitchen that has many entrances and exits. These patterns also work well to blend together tile that is highly varied in color.A tile border on the floor can make a kitchen look cozier by bringing the eye in or by creating a frame around the kitchen table or an island (see the photo on p. 87). slab. And with granite tile, it’s easy to add a border to accent or complement the color of the stone. One drawback to stone tile on a countertop is the edges. Although you can round over the edges, granite tile is thinner than a solid slab (3? 8 in. to 1? 2 in. compared with 11? 4 in. , normal thickness for a granite slab), so it’s tougher to get the same full-slab look. Another drawback is not being able to install an undermount sink with granite tile.Although the tight grout joi nts of granite tile create a good, smooth work surface, machine-made ceramic tile with standard grout joints makes a slightly rougher work surface. Handmade tile is usually installed with wider grout joints that are charming, but its inherently bumpy surface can be difficult to work on and can cause wine glasses and bowls to tip over (see the photos at left). The edges of a tile countertop can be addressed in various ways. Continuing the tile over the edge gives the countertop a thick look. Relief tile, such as a rope pattern, can turn countertop edges into a visual focal point.Wooden edges that match or complement cabinets are also popular. As on floors, borders on countertops can add decoration. But if it’s used in too large an area or if a lot of items are stored on the counter, a border can be lost or distracting. Tile can also be combined with other types of surfaces for a dramatic look (see the photo on p. 90). For instance, the savings from tiling most of the counterto p might leave enough money for a solid slab of granite in the sink area for an undermount sink. A stone slab or a wood surface on only the island could make a bold statement while providing a smooth surface for an informal eating area.Is Tile OK for a Kitchen Countertop? Granite-slab countertops have long been popular in high-end kitchens. Tile countertops, both ceramic and stone, have some of the same attributes as slabs, such as durability and heat resistance, but at less than half the cost, depending on the tile you choose. Granite tile can be installed with tight grout joints to give the impression of a solid Handmade tile is pretty but uneven. The irregular surface of handmade ceramic tile is a challenge to work on and can be hazardous to wine glasses.Cutting boards should always be used on tile countertops. 92 Kitchen Projects Tile Patterns at Work he right pattern can make a kitchen look wider. Floor tile installed in a straight pattern makes a narrow room seem narrower (see the left photo below) while tile in a T diagonal pattern softens the tunnel effect of a long, narrow kitchen, making it seem wider (see the right photo below). Can Tile Be Used as a Cutting Board? Although few tile or stone surfaces can stand up to a sharp kitchen knife, most hold up well under other kitchen rigors such as abuse from pots and pans.Limestone scratches easily, but those scratches can be sanded out. Surfaces such as glossy tile or highly polished granite tend to show marks more readily, and their scratches are harder to remove or cover up. Stone or ceramic tile with a matte finish tends to hide scratches and surface abrasions better. Stone tile is also porous, so it has to be sealed properly to resist staining from things such as red wine and grease. And some ceramic tiles, as well as polished stone such as granite or marble, can lose their shine when exposed to some food acids.As in floors, latex-modified grout should be used on tiled countertops along with a good coa t of grout sealer. Again, epoxy grout, which costs a little more and is a little harder to install, will make the grout impenetrable. Should the Backsplash Blend or Make a Splash? A tile backsplash is the spot where you can be really creative with tile in the kitchen (see the photos on p. 94). Because a backsplash functions to protect the wall from splashes and splatters that come from cooking and preparing food, the only prerequisite is that backsplash tile be easy to keep clean.Beyond that, the choices become mainly aesthetic. I always ask clients how much stuff they plan to keep on their countertops. Toasters, microwaves, and canisters tend to block the backsplash, and in that case, the backsplash just provides a backdrop of color and tex- Putting Tile to Work in the Kitchen 93 sources Miracle Sealants Company 800-350-1901 www. miraclesealants. com ture. I usually recommend extending the tile from the countertop all the way to the bottoms of the wall cabinets so that the backspla sh acts as a visual connection between the upper and lower cabinets.Borders usually work best above long stretches of counter that are uninterrupted by windows or appliances. And when installed three-quarters of the way up the backsplash, a border won’t get lost near the countertop or under the wall cabinets. At that height, a border will usually clear the height of the toaster or a bowl of fruit for a continuous line. If the client is thinking of having decorative tiles scattered randomly throughout the backsplash, I suggest taping playing cards to the wall at random to see if the effect works in that particular kitchen.Playing cards can also be used in a line to test the visual power of a border. Isn’t Tile Expensive? Tile varies greatly in price, and budget is a concern for the vast majority of my clients. So here’s my strategy for keeping costs down. First, use reasonably priced machinemade tile for large areas in the kitchen. Then there will be money left f or those handmade borders, small murals, or strategically placed accent tiles that will give your kitchen a rich look without breaking the bank (see the right photo below).Installation prices can vary greatly depending on the type of tile, the layout, and the conditions of the existing floors and walls. A tile installer can explain what your options are and how much each option costs. Even if you opt for a less expensive installation, always seal the tile. Sealing tile is pretty easy, so you can save a little by doing it yourself. Spend some money on a good sealer. Lane Meehan is a tile maker and designer of decorative tiles. She and her husband, Tom, own and manage Cape Cod Tileworks in Harwich, Massachusetts. orous plus One Master Marble and Stone Care 760-406-1097 www. onemastermarble. com Gold shield The Tile Council of America 864-646-8453 www. tileusa. com Tile Art and Accents he backsplash of cows in a pasture (see the left photo below) in this kitchen designed by Randy Fritz of Lakeside, Calif. , combines the art of Roger Dunham of Petaluma, Calif. , with the practicality of T ceramic tile. Random decorative tiles in a backsplash of less expensive, machine-made tile (see the right photo below) give this kitchen a colorful accent. 94 Kitchen Projects