Family Projects
21st April 2017
Working with tiles, we of course get asked for inspiration from our family members. In the last few months three members of my family have carried out projects in their own homes so I thought I would share the results.
My sister and brother-in-law moved into their house almost two years ago and whilst the bathroom had recently been renovated by the previous owner, the floor tiles were already popping up due to substantial movement in the floor. Sub floor preparation is key and not doing it correctly can prove a costly mistake. They also wanted to put their own stamp on it so my brother-in-law, a plumber by trade, ripped out the existing suite and tiles and they planned a whole new layout to accommodate a walk in shower enclosure and separate bath rather than the existing shower over the bath.
Inspired by a recent photo shoot which showed our Nordic Oak Wood Effect Porcelain used in a shower enclosure:
And seeing the Aged Oak Wood Effect Porcelain in my own bathroom:
They selected the Reclaimed Oak Wood Effect Porcelain for a slightly more dramatic and contemporary look and are delighted with the results. With the rest of the bathroom being completely white and finished with simple white metro tiles they also daringly went for a black grout. My sister was initially a little worried when the grout was first applied, but once the tiling was complete she was completely convinced they had made the right decision and it gave them a modern and practical look.
The huge walk in shower is my favourite part and the tiler did a great job of staggering the planks on both the walls and floor. I also like the decision to continue the planks up the side of the bath rather than a white bath panel.
The next project was my Aunty, she lives in a modern three storey house and despite only living there about five years she must already be on round three of decorating! She loves visiting showrooms for inspiration and is a regular here at Cotes Mill planning her next project or picking up a little gem found in the deVOL showrooms. Rob Booton, our recommended tiler has done a few projects for her including the bathroom and kitchen but this time round was her hallway, she wanted something light and airy which would add a slightly more traditional look to her hall, so settled on the Country Mix Tumbled Travertine in the 610×406 size. It’s quite a small space but choosing to lay the tiles in the same direction and side by side rather than offset makes it inviting and unfussy. The clean lines work well with the precision of everything else in the house, including the contemporary art on the walls.
Finally, my Dad and his partner added a kitchen/diner/family room onto their house back in early 2016 and all was completed apart from the splashback. They were thrilled with the extension but wanted a splashback to finish the room and add a little sparkle. After exploring endless options, I showed them our Anzer Grey Polished Marble Mosaics in a hexagonal pattern and they were sold. My Dad finally got round to installing them a few weeks ago and I took the opportunity to photograph them on a beautifully sunny day last weekend.
