Tile By Design in Oklahoma City: Custom Tile Installation and Design Services

Tile By Design is a tile installation and design studio serving Oklahoma City homeowners and contractors with custom layout planning, material selection, and installation for kitchens, bathrooms, and full home renovations. The business operates as a specialist contractor rather than a showroom, meaning clients work directly with installers who also handle design consultation on-site.

What Tile By Design Actually Does

The company focuses on tile selection and professional installation rather than material retail. Work includes subway tile backsplashes, large-format bathroom walls, shower pan installation with waterproofing, and full kitchen and bathroom tile projects. They also handle decorative tile work such as mosaic borders, niche installations, and mixed-material applications (tile with stone or wood trim). The business takes on both straightforward projects and complex layouts that require custom cutting or pattern work.

Services and Pricing

Tile By Design charges for design consultation and installation separately. An initial in-home consultation typically costs $100 to $150, credited toward the project if the client moves forward. Installation pricing is quoted per square foot and varies by job complexity. Standard applications like subway tile or basic large-format tile run $8 to $12 per square foot for labor, while specialty work such as intricate mosaics, curved cuts, or waterproofing systems ranges from $14 to $20 per square foot. Clients source materials independently or ask the team for supplier recommendations; material costs are not part of the installation estimate. A typical 50-square-foot bathroom backsplash project costs $400 to $600 in labor alone.

Projects requiring waterproofing, slope calculations for drainage, or floor-heating system integration cost more due to the added prep work and inspection steps. The company does not sell tile directly, which means clients can shop for price and style before scheduling installation.

How Tile By Design Compares to Other Oklahoma City Options

Oklahoma City has both tile retailers with in-house installation teams and independent contractors. Floor & Decor (with a location near Quail Springs) offers retail tile selection and installation referrals but marks up material costs as part of the business model, making the total project more expensive for clients who want to control material spending. Mid-size contractors like TileWorks OKC handle similar installations but typically charge flat project fees rather than per-square-foot rates, which can obscure the actual hourly labor value.

Tile By Design's model suits homeowners who have already found materials they like or who want to negotiate directly with the installer without retail markup. It works less well for clients who want to see large sample displays in one visit or who prefer one estimate covering both materials and labor. Contractors managing new construction projects often choose Tile By Design because the per-square-foot pricing scales predictably across larger installations.

Who This Service Suits and Who It Does Not

Tile By Design is the right fit for kitchen and bathroom renovations where a homeowner has strong material preferences or has already sourced tile from online or specialty suppliers. It also suits contractors and designers who want a reliable installation partner for complex or high-end projects. The business works well for projects emphasizing custom layout and finish detail over quick turnaround.

The service is less suited to clients who want to shop, select, and install tile in a single transaction or who are uncomfortable coordinating material purchases separately. It does not work for very small touch-up jobs (such as replacing a single cracked tile) or for budget-conscious projects where material and labor need to be bundled into one fixed price.

What the First Visit Involves

A homeowner calls or emails photos and project dimensions. Tile By Design schedules a site visit, during which the installer reviews the space, discusses layout options, assesses wall condition and prep work needed, and asks about finish preferences (grout color, sealant type, edge trim). The consultation fee of $100 to $150 is discussed upfront. The installer provides a written per-square-foot estimate and a timeline. Clients then obtain materials and confirm the installation date. A typical kitchen backsplash project moves from initial consultation to installation within two to three weeks.

Hours, Parking, and Logistics

Tile By Design operates Monday through Friday, 7 a.m. to 4 p.m., with occasional Saturday appointments for residential projects. Consultations are conducted on-site at the client's home or construction site; there is no showroom. Most projects in Oklahoma City are serviced within a 10-mile radius of central OKC. Travel fees may apply for jobs outside this area. Parking is not a factor since work occurs at client properties.

Tile By Design handles permits related to tile installation only; clients or general contractors remain responsible for broader building permits. Installation typically takes one to three days depending on area and complexity. The company provides cleanup at the end of each workday.

Tile By Design earns its place in the Oklahoma City flooring market for homeowners and professionals who value expert installation paired with freedom to choose materials, avoiding the retail markup and limited selection that come with tied retail-installation packages.