BUNNINGS August 2019

38
Update it
A neutral colour scheme
doesn’t date and allows
elegant tapware to
take centrestage
For a streamlined look,
run the same tiles over
the floor and walls
mirror and fixtures,” says Tricia Mancini.
“White neutral tiles are bright, crisp and
cheery, while warmer-toned neutrals
create a cosy, cocooning feel.”
What’s trending
There’s a smorgasbord of on-trend options
that offer enduring style. One of the
most coveted looks is earthy materials,
colours and finishes – think raw concrete,
large-format marble-look and timber-look
tiles. The beauty of these stone- and
wood-look tiles is they combine the
organic appeal of natural materials with
the robust characteristics of ceramic tiles,
meaning they’re low maintenance and
ideal for wet areas. Matt and lappato
(semi-polished) finishes are also popular,
as they offer a softer, sophisticated look
and are less likely to show water marks
or smudges than gloss tiles.
Subways remain a perennial favourite.
White is the classic, but as with other parts
of the home, colour is creeping in here too;
from brights to pastels, coloured subway
tiles offer an appealing alternative to white,
with blues and greens currently popular
for those seeking a dash of colour.
Visual trickery
With a wealth of colours, sizes and patterns
available, tiles are a fantastically functional
tool for solving any quirks or shortfalls in
a bathroom’s size or configuration.
Enhance space Tiling from floor to ceiling
creates a luxe look and helps enhance
the sense of space. Go for large-format
tiles with a rectified edge, which minimises
grout lines and lends a seamless
appearance to a room. Another tip is to
install tiles on a 45-degree diagonal, as this
will make the tiles and room appear larger.
Add character To give a vast bathroom
warmth and personality, Nicole Budge,
national account manager of Johnson
Tiles, suggests using patterned tiles or
mosaics such as penny rounds to create
a feature wall behind the bath or vanity.
“Pairing colour with natural materials
can also create a more intimate feel,”
she says. “A combination of blues with
crisp white and a wood-look tile laid
in a herringbone pattern offers a
contemporary and stylish look.”
Boost light Pale colours and glossy
finishes have great reflective qualities.
There’s a reason why the classic
gloss-white subway tiles are so popular;
they can work wonders to counteract a
dark and dreary bathroom. “Using gloss
tiles to reflect light and the use of mirrors
to create the illusion of a larger space
should always be considered for any
bathroom renovation,” says Nicole.
Vertical vs horizontal If you’ve got
a long, narrow bathroom or a compact,
square space, play with tile direction to
visually alter the dimensions. Rectangular
tiles laid across the floor will create the
illusion of width, while if laid vertically on
the walls will make the ceiling look higher.
Pull focus “The visual ‘busy-ness’ of
a patterned tile draws attention, so use
it to your advantage,” says Tricia. “If you
have an element like a low bulkhead or
a toilet in your direct line of sight, create an
alternate focal point with an eye-catching
floor-to-ceiling patterned wall.”
3D effects For a bold three-dimensional
look, try using contrasting grout that’s
significantly lighter or darker than the tile.
This is particularly effective as a device
to highlight an unusual tile shape, such
as fish scales or hexagons, or pattern, like
herringbone or diamond configurations.
Coloured grouts on feature walls also
add an unexpected point of difference. ◆
Style at a glance
• Hamptons Try subways in
brick (stretcher bond) or basketweave
patterns; also hexagonal
tiles, and grey and white marble.
• Organic Tiles with non-uniform
edging or a textured surface; tiles
that mimic stone or timber.
• Contemporary Larger format
tiles; raw concrete-look tiles;
geometric mosaics as a feature.
• Minimalist Neutral, mutedtoned
large-format tiles.
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