Yesterday was the Tileist’s birthday. To celebrate my advanced age, my better half whisked me off to Allen & Delancey on the Lower East Side for dinner. Although I’d read numerous reviews of the joint’s ironic-speakeasy decor, none had mentioned the fantabulous tiled loo! The walls were lined with greenish-blue ceramic subway tiles with a stunning, gloopy glaze that must have been hand applied. Possibly the tiles were antique? But the best part was the floor: black penny rounds set in matching black grout. So simple, so chic–so superpractical for a high-traffic bathroom. Normally I dig pennies set into a contrasting grout that shows off their graphic, circular forms. But this room made me reconsider the advantages of tone-on-tone. A web search for “black penny tile” turned up these from Penny Tile (of course!) in Wisconsin, who makes them in oodles of colors–and noncolors, too.
how sweet is the better half to take you to A&D!! WISH you had taken some photos of the tiles in the loo.. gloppy glaze is a fascinating description.. need to see!
promise to get back in there for another meal soon and sneak my camera in with me!!
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