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In Season 8, Episode 2 of HGTV’s Home Town, Erin Napier designed a modern bathroom with matte black hexagonal tiles running from the shower wall across a shelf and onto the floor. The look paired the dark tile with lighter taupe surfaces and warm gold fixtures; the episode’s client was described in the source report as pleased with the result.
Erin Napier used a matte black hexagon-tile feature in a bathroom designed for a client seeking a modern home in Season 8, Episode 2 of HGTV’s Home Town. The strip continued from the shower’s back wall over a shelf and across the floor, creating the episode’s “waterfall” detail while showing Napier working beyond the vintage-inspired look commonly associated with the series.
The episode, titled “Chasing Waterfalls,” followed Erin and Ben Napier as they designed a home around the client’s request for a modern vibe. During a walkthrough, Erin called the project “a little bit dramatic, a little bit mysterious, a little bit sexy,” adding that it was not a description the show often used for houses. She then identified the bathroom feature as the client’s “waterfall moment.”
The design used a narrow run of matte black hexagonal tiles across the shower’s rear wall, over the built-in shelf and down onto the floor. The report describes the result as striking and masculine without feeling overly severe. It says the client was ultimately thrilled with the design, though it does not provide a direct statement from the client.
To keep the dark tile from dominating the room, Napier paired it with lighter taupe tile and warm gold fixtures. Hunker’s report also points readers to two possible products for a similar look: Floor & Decor’s Opal Black Matte Cement Look Floor and Wall Porcelain Tile, described as suitable for floors and walls, and TileBar’s Level Black 1-inch Hexagon Matte Porcelain Tile, a smaller-format alternative. Those are product suggestions in the report, not products confirmed as used in the episode.
How the Tile Changes the Bathroom
The design matters as an example of a recognizable television designer adjusting a room to meet a client’s stated preference. Rather than repeating a familiar vintage look, Napier made the bathroom’s dark geometric tile the visual focus, then used lighter materials and warm metal finishes to temper it. The contrast offers a practical design lesson: a bold surface can stand out without covering every part of a room.
For homeowners considering a similar feature, the report highlights two choices that affect the result: the surrounding palette and the grout. A charcoal or near-black grout can make the tile joints less prominent, producing a more continuous dark surface. A warm-gray grout keeps the individual hexagons more visible and adds definition. The report presents these as styling options; it does not establish which grout specification was used in the installation.
The tile’s stated suitability for both walls and floors is relevant to the waterfall layout, which links those surfaces. However, product compatibility alone does not settle whether a particular tile is appropriate for a given shower. The report supplies no installation specifications, maintenance details, or project costs, so readers would need to check manufacturer guidance and local requirements before copying the feature.
matte black hexagon tile for bathroom
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A Modern Brief for Home Town
Erin and Ben Napier are known for their work on Home Town and a design style the source report characterizes as warm, welcoming and vintage-inspired. In the episode described, the client asked for a different direction: a home with a contemporary feel. The bathroom is one visible example of how Erin responded to that brief.
The report focuses on the finished design and possible tile substitutes rather than the full renovation. It does not provide the home’s location, the project budget, the installation process, or the exact air date. Its central point is specific: the black tile’s continuous path across the shower wall, ledge and floor gave the bathroom a strong graphic feature, while taupe tile and gold fixtures brought warmth back into the room.
Details the Report Does Not Give
The source material does not state when the episode aired, identify the specific tile brand or grout used in the finished bathroom, or provide measurements, installation costs or maintenance advice. It also does not include a direct quotation from the client; the report says he was thrilled with the result but gives no further account of his reaction.
The two retail products mentioned are suggestions for readers seeking a similar appearance, not confirmed matches for the tile shown on screen. Whether either option suits a particular shower depends on its manufacturer specifications and the project conditions. The report does not address those technical questions or state whether the bathroom has had any performance issues.
Options for Recreating the Look
No further development about the home or episode is given in the source material. Readers interested in the look can compare the suggested tile formats, then decide whether they want the grout to recede into the dark surface or make the hexagonal pattern more visible. Pairing the feature with lighter surrounding tile and warm metal finishes follows the visual balance shown in Napier’s design.
Before buying materials, homeowners should confirm that a chosen product is rated for the intended wet-area application and follow its installation instructions. A qualified tile professional can advise on the shower assembly, waterproofing and local requirements. Those steps are not described in the report, but are necessary considerations for anyone moving from a television design image to a real bathroom project.
Key Questions
What is the tile feature in Erin Napier’s bathroom design?
It is a matte black hexagon-tile strip that runs down the shower’s back wall, across a shelf and onto the floor. The source report refers to it as a waterfall feature.
Which Home Town episode showed the bathroom?
The design appeared in Season 8, Episode 2, titled “Chasing Waterfalls.” The source material does not give the episode’s air date.
How did Napier keep the black tile from overwhelming the room?
She paired the dark feature with lighter taupe tile and warm gold fixtures, according to the report. The lighter surfaces and warmer metal details softened the overall palette.
Which tile products does the report suggest?
The report names Floor & Decor’s Opal Black Matte Cement Look Floor and Wall Porcelain Tile and TileBar’s Level Black 1-inch Hexagon Matte Porcelain Tile as possible alternatives. It does not say either product was used in the episode.
What grout would create a more seamless appearance?
The report says charcoal or near-black grout can make the joints less distinct, while warm-gray grout keeps the hexagon pattern visible. Check the tile maker’s instructions and consult a qualified installer for a specific shower project.
Source: rss
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