This Image: Create a seamless look with shimmering VBS Tiles, POA, by Granite Transformations (01223 843333, www.granitetransformations.co.uk/cambridge)
Where once design schemes for bathrooms were focused largely on wall decor, the latest ideas to emerge are making the most of what goes on underfoot. Statement flooring can add pops of colour where you don’t expect it and give a visual style statement. Elaborate floor tiling works well in small rooms with an otherwise minimalist look.
Lee Thornley, founder of Bert & May (020 3744 0776, www.bertandmay.com), experts in reclaimed and handmade tiles, agrees with this: “Tiles are a fantastic way to add colour and pattern into a space, particularly on the floor, which often gets overlooked. There are so many different options, from muted and rustic reclaimed terracotta to hand-poured encaustic tiles in gorgeous colours. Tiles such as these work excellently with underfloor heating, and can be sealed for easy maintenance and a polished finish.”
Many bathrooms lack a clear wall on which to create a statement feature, so the floor is the next obvious area to create a focal point. In smaller bathrooms, a floor with impact adds an elegant touch without being overwhelming.
Cambridge-based Granite Transformations (01223 843333, www.granitetransformations.co.uk/cambridge) is a one-stop shop for sourcing a range of inspiring materials – such as shimmering glass mosaics, granite, quartz or recycled glass floor tiles. Meanwhile, at Tile Mountain (01782 223822, www.tilemountain.co.uk) stand-out options include the stunning Delft Blue Skyros, a Spanish porcelain tile that is designed to replicate a vintage or encaustic pattern, and the Doblo Grey Cube Mosaic, a deco mosaic cut from polished porcelain tiles to create a visual stepped cube effect – a pattern that has been used for centuries on tiled floors.
“In smaller bathrooms, a floor with impact adds an elegant touch”
Renowned for its exclusive range of tiles, Fired Earth’s Cambridge-based store (01223 300941, www.firedearth.com) can help create a new vision for your room.
This Image: Relax in a contemporary organic bathroom with these Native Porcelain Tiles, £65.84 per m2, from St Ives Tile and Stone (01480 467800, www.stivestileandstone.co.uk)
The brand’s senior tiles category manager Caroline Gow gives her expertise:
“There’s endless potential to be creative when it comes to bathroom flooring. Since the key pieces in a bathroom tend to be white, a beautiful floor is the perfect way to introduce colour and pattern into the scheme. Fired Earth’s new Neisha Crosland collections are really versatile and are equally at home in contemporary and more traditional bathrooms. They’re also very much in keeping with the continuing trend for geometric pattern. Choose from pretty porcelain designs – a low-maintenance yet stylish choice for busy family bathrooms – timeless encaustic tiles in sophisticated pastel shades, and stunning, hand‑decorated metallic motifs.”
“As a general rule, big is beautiful when it comes to tiling bathrooms”
She continues: “White marble mosaics will introduce a decorative touch and a welcome sense of texture. They’ll also feel lovely underfoot – something which is even more important in the bathroom than elsewhere in the home – particularly if you opt for underfloor heating. Fired Earth’s new North Haven Penny Mosaics are flecked with mint and verdigris, giving them a really fresh look that’s ideal for bathrooms.”
Over at The Stone & Ceramic Warehouse (020 8993 5545, www.sacw.co.uk), a subtle approach is key to achieving a stylish finish.
Director Stuart Wisbey gives his take on the subject: “Lighter coloured tiles can make a small bathroom look bigger, as they reflect the light more than darker colours, giving an airy and spacious feel. A top tip is to use the same wall tiles as the floor tiles, as this will enhance the feeling of space by creating a continuous look. As a general rule, big is beautiful when it comes to tiling bathrooms. Large-format tiles have fewer grout lines, which in turn means less grout to clean and keep fresh, while creating a stylish seamless surface. Porcelain tile options have broadened greatly due to technological advances, and anti-slip finishes can now be applied to porcelain, making them ideal for bathrooms and wet rooms.”
This Image: Guns N Roses Porcelain Tiles, £139.20 per m2, have a subtle textured finish, available from the Stone & Ceramic Warehouse (020 8993 5545, www.sacw.co.uk)
