Herringbone – A Timeless Pattern

From ancient Rome to modern homes, herringbone can be seen in fabrics, textiles, flooring and wall tile. A herringbone pattern is an arrangement of rectangles or parallelograms set on an angle; it’s named such because it is reminiscent to the bones of a fish. While this pattern is more commonly used in Craftsmen styles, it can add interest and movement without confusing a space when done with certain design ques. Herringbone can be emphasized by using contrasting tile colors to create different effects.

Below are some samples of our projects with the same color tile.  When you select just one color tile, this pattern can be very subtle when installed, as you can see from one of our bathroom renovations in Holliston, MA. Here the pattern works with the large format tile paired with a more modern stacked wall tile. If you want a bit more pop, contrast the tile with a lighter grout like in the slate tiled foyer.

If you are intrigued by the look but do not want the full pattern, don’t worry herringbone can be a great accent. Here is a simple back-splash inlay above a range in a Wellesley home renovation. The creamy white tile uses the hand-made texture to showcase the pattern change.

If you are not a big fan of herringbone, no worries… there are hundreds of ways to blend color, texture and structure to form the perfect place for you to call home.