apartment therapy changing the world, one room at a time

I saw something similar on Debbie Travis Make-over (HGTV) last year. It looks very exotic, but I wonder how you would feel about it after a year or two?

My, that's elegant in an earthy way!

Am I imagining it, or is there no grout between the pebbles? I'm wondering what happens as moisture builds up, with all those little nooks between the pebbles (and the larger nooks behind the faucets in the one photo).

This is used a lot where I live (a local company imports the stone). It looks wonderful when done by a careful tiler -- which is key for this pebble tile. It has so much grout that the grout becomes as important as the stones. Has to be flawlessly done.

I haven't seen any cracked grout or other failure with this (I believe that an acrylic compound is used in the grout, but I'm not sure). You have to seal any grout -- wide or thin -- regularly anyway.

I wouldn't do a large swath of this in a home that has a lot of movement (an older building or one built on clay soil, for instance) just because cracks would be so unsightly, and not that easy to fix. I've seen it used for small accents, or for just the floor of a small shower, to great effect. It feels great on your feet, so I'd keep in on the floor myself. (Looks wonderful with sea-blue glass tiles!)

Costco has them or something similiar (Solistone) for around $100/box of 12x12 tiles. And a picture showing how much grout goes into it on a shower floor like Pat is talking about.

regards,
trillium

sorry, but I think this would be a real nightmare to deal with. like wende, the very first thing I thought of was all that trapped water (when using this on the shower floor). and another thing--what about all the hair that would get caught in those nooks & crannies? ugh. but it was a nice idea, I suppose.

Another option for a similar look without the worry, Imagine Tile (which I'd sent in to Maxwell and didn't get posted):
Here's Mountain Stream:
http://tinyurl.com/hfwqo
River Rocks:
http://tinyurl.com/l3ejp

I love this Mixed Stones bathroom:
http://tinyurl.com/gcder

The pebbles are actually gaged so once they are grouted there are very few high or low spots for water or debris to get trapped in. We have actually just installed a wall of the polished black pebble tile in our new boutique in Lafayette, CA. It looks really great with the Ipe wood shower pan we also installed. The feeling is very much like showering in the great outdoors.

I am also working on a new blog about all of the products we come across as we source new products. Take a look and let me know your thoughts. www.sbkinc.com/weblog

Cheers,
Nuno

Those people in Indonesia who sort the pebbles: How much are they being paid? This looks to me like another trendy idea that is costing poverty jobs in foreign countries.

i have to agree with sooj -- the hair thing is a real problem with these tiles if you have them on the floor. i stayed in a hotel in mexico that had the shower/bath area completely covered (wall/floor) with the "pebbles" and although i thought it looked very cool, didn't find it to be that great from a functional standpoint. but then again, i didn't like the way they felt under my feet either (my husband, however, did).

There are mountains of those rocks at American Soil in Berkeley. It may be that these rocks are so common in certain areas that the sort is not a painstaking as it might seem.

Michael, I was just in Lafayette, CA last month, visiting my brother and his family, who live in Lafayette -- lovely hamlet; I usually get out once a year and will drop by to see your shop next time!

I have this stuff in my bathroom. The walls and floor are 12" by 12" grey slate and we've had a 16" high band of tan pebble tile installed about halfway up the wall. It acts as the backsplash behind the sink, through which our wall mount sink faucets come out and in the bath/shower area it creates a niche for toiletries. We love it. It took ages for the tiler to install but it looks great. There is grout between the pebbles and it's personal preference as to how much variation in tile to grout depth you want. We've had it sealed with a natural look penetrating sealer and so far, 7 or so months on, it looks great.

good call on the hairs, sooj.

Everything we use comes from a foreign country, in one way or another.....if you care so much about the plight of the Indonesian pebble sorters.....I suggest you write a check to a charity. Cool bathroom idea - I think its just what we've been looking for, "trendy" or not.

just ordered a sample sheet of the black standing pebble tile. Am planning on using it on the side of a tub (that is waterproofed with a paint-on sealer). i just checked the spec sheet on the annsacks website and it says that you don't have to grout it?? And, i thought that is what i read on the website that i purchased the sample from...

That is correct, no grout is needed to install the standing pebble tile. Once you press the standing pebble section onto the thinset, the thinset will fill itself into the ridges on the back and in between the stones.

Do apply the sealer though before the first use, as it will help bring out the lustre/color in the pebbles.

go to website zationstone.com to see some pics of the stacked standing installed. it looks awesome.

Check out www.eastcoastgranite.com. countertops made easy to install.

Industries like stone and furniture give work to people in Indonesia that would otherwise have no other job. It is always very funny but sad to hear a person from America comment on the job opportunities for the people of third world countries. These people take pride in the work they do and the working conditions are not exploitative. All products start out as a trend and then, if they are appealing and useful, they become a part of the industry. And with the large number of uses for these stones, they will be around for a long time. I have personally used them in my front entryway and for the walls and floors of one of my showers. Beautiful and easy to clean. My many years of importing furniture has given me a clearer vision of globilization. I suggest that you visit countries and factories before you start judging them.

I am in the process of putting this in my shower at the current time .I am not using the pre laid out tiles .I am using the individual pebbles ,gluing them in the shower surround with liquid nails.Then will grout not sure about the shower pan though it has just a little give,I saw on hgtv where they just poured the pebbles in a shower and left them loose .I am considering either this or a teak wood shower mat for the flooring .What do you all think?

I have just had black stone pebble tile installed in my basement bathroom (65 sq ft); the pebble is laid like a tile, with extra grout at the seams, so it looks like it's on a grid, which gets skewed at the door. The grout is uneven in colour and level (more than 1/2" over 1 ft area). The owner of the floor company is defending the installation. Is there a recommended installation method or a description from a manufacturer that I could refer to for my defense? The floor looks a sham and is very painful to walk on and the only solution I can think of would be to rip it up and start all over again.. Also I have an electric heater (coils with clips) under the tile, installed by the same inexperienced hand. The owner of the floor company said that if they rip the floor up and discover that the concrete floor is not perfectly level they will charge me for the total re-install. Any information on the correct method of installation would be a life saver for me.

Rob,

I'm sorry to hear of your problems. It's supposed to look seamless, not like square tiles. Although grouting may not be essential to keep the tiles in place, it certainly looks a whole lot better. Yes, the prelaid thinset will squish into the holes between the pebbles but that just looks bad, like piped frosting. I'm sorry I can't be of more help.

would you be able to give me some sites or information on obtaining ideas for my bathroom using these tiles--

pretty pebble tiles

It's beautiful, but how easy would it be to clean?

Take a look at Natural Stone Outlet (I bought some backsplash tile there) - the prices are $6-$8 per linear foot and the shipping is free.

http://www.naturalstoneoutlet.com/standingpebbles.html

Also, the John Bridge tile forums were a huge help to me when I installed my own tile:

http://www.johnbridge.com

I'd search the forums - the pros who post there have stories about installing just about every kind of tile and stone, and are eager to help.

I love natural stone but it is a bad idea for a shower. It would be a nightmare to clean soap scum and hard water off of. Super high maintainence. Uhgggg :(

January. Just how much do you think that a hypothetical Indonesian stone sorter would earn if he/she wasn't sorting stones? I think you really need to study up on the relationship between poverty and jobs.

I don't see why this would be bad for a shower at all - all the sites I've seen say you seal it so it wouldn't be any worse than regular tile.

I can't wait to have this in my shower some day. So luxurious!

Hot or not?

not.

In 10 years this will look dated
in 30 it will be retro/funky.

What goes around - comes around...

I got this same type of tile from natural pebble tile .com for about $8 delivered! They were also really helpfull when I had installation questions.

I have also ordered a similar product from StrataStones pebble tile.

I love them both...the shower in your picture looks great!