First impressions matter in a community clubhouse — it's the space that sells the whole property to prospective residents. For this project on Old Chapel Hill Road in Chapel Hill, the goal was a refreshment and gathering area that feels designed, not builder-standard. The tile does the heavy lifting.
Commercial spaces come with their own demands — durability, tight schedules, and finishes that hold up to daily foot traffic. Here's how it came together.
The design
A full-height teal square-tile feature wall anchors the wet bar, its glossy, hand-glazed variation catching the light and giving the room depth and warmth. Underfoot, a bold black-and-white patterned floor brings graphic energy and personality — the kind of statement that makes a leasing office memorable. Tying it together is a marble-look waterfall island with a carved reclaimed-wood base, paired with matching counters along the wet bar run.
Built for a commercial space
A clubhouse sees constant traffic, so every surface had to be as durable as it is good-looking. The details that make it work:
- Teal feature wall — glossy hand-glazed square tile, laid tight and level across a full-height run
- Patterned floor tile — a high-traffic porcelain floor with a bold graphic pattern, prepped and set to take daily wear
- Marble waterfall island — a clean mitered waterfall edge over a carved reclaimed-wood base for a true focal point
- Matching wet-bar counters — continuous marble-look surfaces around the sink and cabinetry run
- Clean transitions — crisp lines where the patterned tile meets wood flooring and cabinetry
