Shelter for the Storms

Amy and Josh Storm didn’t set out to build their dream home. Amy, principal designer at Illinois-based interior design firm Amy Storm & Company, and Josh, the firm’s creative director, originally intended to try their hand at a spec house. “Somewhere along the way, it evolved to become our own,” says Josh. Located in Glen Ellyn, a small town half an hour west of Chicago, the 5-bedroom, 4.5-bath home was built in just under a year. (“A good designer makes quick decisions,” jokes Amy.) A guiding principle: “I wanted it to feel like a true expression of my inner design DNA, so it’s very influenced by traveling the world mixed with my passion for design and well executed and consistent details,” says Amy. The Storms used natural materials and warm colors throughout—including Ann Sacks tile in the family room, the scullery, three of the bathrooms, and elsewhere. We asked Amy to walk us through her tile selections and the inspiration behind them.

Scullery

This small space is one of Amy’s favorites. “How many times have I sat in a small European café with tile all over the walls and ceiling and thought, ‘Why don’t I do this more?’ I love the texture and the longevity of it,” she says. She chose the Context Stacked Mosaic in White Gloss because “it feels a lot like subway tile, but a little elevated. The truth is, it will never go out of style—just like Italy.”

Fireplace

Like the rest of the family room, the fireplace started off light and bright. “I wanted layers of white, off-white, and soft white all around, a little California coastal influence to help create a sophisticatedly simply and cozy space,” says Amy. “But as we progressed in the design, I felt it would be a miss not to do something a little more striking around the fireplace.”

While the Bar-On Studio tile was always in the cards, Amy made the decision to switch the color to black, then take the tile from floor to ceiling. “It’s so lovely,” she says. “The pitted texture and variety of color in each tile gives it so much depth. I find people touching it to figure out what it is made of, and that makes me giddy.”

Mudroom

Just because a space is utilitarian doesn’t mean it can’t have personality. “It’s a room we look at and use every day, so it should feel some love,” says Amy, who became smitten with the Mod Moda by Martyn Lawrence Bullard Abernathy Mosaic and thought the mudroom was the perfect place for the bold tile. “Most people come to our mudroom door rather than our front door, so I love that it’s the first thing they see, a prequel to what is to come in the following spaces,” she says. “We even heated the floors so we would never have to cover the tile with a rug.”

Primary Suite Bathroom

When Amy found the Liaison mosaic by Kelly Wearstler that’s on the bathroom floor, shower wall, and ceiling, she knew the color and pattern would make a statement. To simplify the space and make it feel more luxurious, “the Alo mini mosaic was a great fit,” says Amy. “Installed with a matching grout, it feels more like texture than pattern. When you walk into the space, your eye doesn’t really notice the difference between materials from the mosaic to the wood-stained panels and cabinets. It’s gentle and mighty at the same time.”

Bathroom No. 1

“The ‘kid’ using this bathroom is in college, so it was time for a more mature space,” says Amy. Their daughter’s love for plants and all things nature inspired the Idris by Ait Manos Field Tile in Forest Green for the shower walls and vanity wall, which Amy paired with walnut cabinets and the Verde Tia Crown Mosaic on the floor.

Bathroom No. 2

“This is another ‘kids’ bathroom, but she is also in college, so it feels a little more mature as well. We traveled so many places with our kids when they were younger, and she was very influenced by colors she found in Europe. The Lisboa Grid Mosaic in Black on the floor reminded us of the streets in Italy, and the Context 4-by-4 Field Tiles in Spa and Matte White on the shower walls reminded her of a stay in France,” says Amy.

Laundry Room

An Amy Storm & Company office favorite, the Selvaggio mosaic in Bianco Nero was a no-brainer for the floor. The only question? What color grout to use. “We opted for black to really make the pattern pop,” says Amy. The Idris by Ait Manos Field Tile in White Carrare backsplash adds texture and brightness without stealing the show from the floor, while the black veneer wall covering highlights the black in the floor tile. “All that black and white had me feeling like it needed some warmth, so we chose a slightly mauve paint color for the cabinets that really added a beautiful backdrop to the tile.”

Basement Bathroom

The Calacatta Viola 12-by-24 Field Tile lends the basement bathroom a bold yet luxurious vibe. “I’ve had a couple of people ask if they could stay over just so they can use this bathroom!” says Amy.

Bar

Amy wanted the bar in the basement to serve as a backdrop to the seating area. “It has a window that peeks into the workout room and lets in light, storage for all the boozy things, a sink, filtered water, drawers for dishes and storage, and a dramatic countertop with bold colors,” says Amy. But the icing on the cake is the bronze Savoy Field Tile on the wall. “It’s so textural, it reflects light, and it creates a striking pattern,” she says.