Top 5 Timeless Tiles and How Designers Use Them

If you’re choosing tile for a new build or remodel, it’s easy to get distracted by trends - but I find most of my clients prefer a timeless look, especially when designing a forever home. 

On a recent visit to Surface & Stone Tile Co. in Columbia Falls, I worked with the showroom to find five of my all-time top timeless tiles - and I’m going to share some of the best ways to use them in your home. 

Whether you’re building a Montana custom home, remodeling a primary bath, or updating a kitchen backsplash, these five tiles are styles that will age gracefully year after year.

1. Honed Marble

Few materials feel as timeless as honed marble. Unlike polished marble, which can give off an overly glam 80’s vibe, honed marble has a soft matte finish that offers a more relaxed sophistication.

One of the most enduring patterns for flooring tile is the classic checkerboard pattern. I like to use honed marble for checkerboard floors - rather than porcelain - as it has that natural stone patina that is difficult to replicate. Checkerboard is a great option in areas that aren’t too large, like entryways, mudrooms, bathrooms, and laundry rooms, since the pattern feels transitional without being too ornate or overwhelming.

A solid choice for honed marble is Castelli Marble Nero St. Gabriel and Glacier White marble installed in a large-scale checkerboard pattern. The subtle veining adds movement and depth while still reading as neutral.

If you like the bold choice of a checkerboard floor, I’d suggest pairing it with warm white walls, unlacquered brass plumbing fixtures, and natural oak cabinetry to balance the coolness of the stone. The undertones of the marble should be picked up in other colors and materials, to provide some consistency throughout the space.

2. Neutral Zellige

Zellige has become one of the most requested tile styles in recent years, but its roots are centuries old. Handmade in Morocco, zellige tile is known for its variation in color, texture, and reflective surface. There are many porcelain lookalikes, but true zellige is an imperfect clay tile that is noticeably thicker.

While bold zellige colors have had their moment, I’m finding that homeowners are increasingly gravitating toward softer neutral tones like ivory, warm white, mushroom, taupe, and pale sand. These quieter colors allow the texture of the tile itself to become the focal point.

One of my favorites is a 4x4 handmade ivory zellige with subtle tonal variation and lightly irregular edges, like the Tiles of Ezra Dust. It’s especially impactful on a kitchen backsplash, and can be installed stacked for a traditional look, or offset for a more modern look that still feels organic and handcrafted.

Neutral zellige can work in homes of many different architectural styles, from mountain modern to rustic timber framed homes. The key is to combine it with natural materials like wood and stone for that organic feel. Zellige tile reflects light beautifully throughout the day, adding softness and warmth to spaces that might otherwise feel flat.

Because handmade tile varies significantly between manufacturers and even different batches from the same manufacturer, seeing it in person matters.

3. Textured Limestone

Textured limestone has become one of the defining materials in luxury residential design. It brings warmth, softness, and an organic quality that works particularly well in homes designed to feel connected to the landscape.

Unlike smoother stone finishes, textured limestone introduces subtle movement through brushing, tumbling, or chiseling techniques that highlight the natural character of the material. Rather than color, texture is the star of the design.

One of my favorites is Savana Velluto by Petra Antiqua, a warm creamy limestone with a chiseled and matte finish in larger format pieces. The different finishes give plenty of options to switch between textures without breaking up the material too much.

Limestone works well as a design feature in an area like a fireplace or entryway. I’ll often use the chiseled texture on a vertical surface, combined with matte texture for floor tile. In Montana homes, textured limestone works especially well because it complements natural surroundings without feeling overly rustic. 

One of the keys to using limestone successfully is restraint. You should allow the texture and natural variation of the stone to become the visual feature, rather than competing with busy patterns or highly contrasting finishes.

4. Classic Pattern Mosaics

Pattern mosaics have remained relevant for decades because they strike the perfect balance between detail and simplicity. Penny rounds, basketweave mosaics and hexagons continue to appear in beautifully designed homes because they add texture and scale without overwhelming a space.

Basketweave mosaics in marble can be one of the most timeless bathroom floor selections. A white marble basketweave with small black stone accents instantly gives a bath a classic, tailored feel.

Penny round mosaics have also seen a resurgence, particularly in softer natural tones. Good locations to use these are mudrooms, powder baths, and shower floors where the small scale introduces texture and slip resistance. Since there’s a lot of grout with mosaic tiles, always ask your installer to use epoxy grout for easier maintenance.

One of my favorite mosaics is the New Ravenna Esmeralda Studio Line - Calacatta Monet. It’s such a classic style that looks great on shower floors, paired with large-format wall tile for contrast. This layered approach keeps bathrooms feeling interesting while still maintaining a calm, cohesive palette.

5. Large Format Porcelain

Large format porcelain has become a staple in contemporary residential design because it combines durability with a clean, understated aesthetic. Not every project has the budget for natural stone tile everywhere, and some homeowners prefer the maintenance-free ease of porcelain.

Nowadays, there are many porcelain tiles that convincingly mimic natural stones like slate, marble and limestone. Large 24x48 format tiles are a solid favorite, whether they’re stone lookalikes or dupes for more modern finishes such as concrete or steel.

I like to use large format porcelain as flooring in high-traffic areas, or in wet areas to minimize grout lines. Whether it’s a shower or a full wet room, the large format tile helps the space feel open and calm without as many busy grout lines.

In recent years, large-format slab porcelain has become readily available in a multitude of colors and finishes. While these are more expensive products and trickier to install, the seamless material is a great way to get the look of stone without the maintenance. There are many uses for porcelain slabs, from shower walls to powder backsplashes to countertops. It’s also great for exterior use.

At Surface & Stone Tile Co., I found the Kronos Ceramiche Nativia Collection. This tile would make a stunning backsplash in a mountain home’s powder room. The Vena Lapillo colorway is reminiscent of a dark travertine and comes in sizes up to 4 feet by 9 feet.

Experiencing Timeless Tile in Real Life

Timeless tile isn’t about playing it safe - it’s about selecting materials with lasting character, texture, and flexibility. Honed marble, zellige, limestone, mosaics, and large-format porcelain continue to appear in beautifully designed homes because they create spaces that feel luxurious without being too trendy.

For homeowners building or renovating in Northwest Montana, curated showrooms like Surface & Stone Tile Co. are a great resource to explore tile selections. In an age where we’re endlessly scrolling, sometimes nothing compares to seeing and feeling materials in real life.

Follow along on the Daunt Designs blog as we highlight more local gems around the Flathead Valley.  And if you’re looking for professional interior design help for your build or remodel, contact Daunt Designs.

*Note that images were created with AI, to show tiles in place.