NATURAL BEAUTY
A monochrome floor doesn’t strictly have to be black and white. Just as glamorous and effective is to choose another pairing of light and dark neutrals – the result will just be softer and subtler. Studio Indigo was inspired by the chequerboard floor of the Painted Hall of Chatsworth House in Derbyshire when it came to decorating the double-height entrance hall of a townhouse in Notting Hill and its chequerboard floors have the unique appeal of being at once timeless and modern. A calm and soothing space, the floor is a mixture of a cream- and chocolate-coloured polished English stone, the colour of which has been alluded to in the polished plaster walls.
CAZ MYERS, founder and director, Caz Myers Design, cazmyers.com
SHAPELY STYLE
Wherever possible, try to make the most of any attractive architectural features. In this elegant bathroom scheme (top left) designed by Tiffany Duggan of Studio Duggan, the elaborate alcove opening around the bath has been cleverly echoed in the arabesque floor tiles.
CONTINUED THEME
With a strong patterned tile, don’t feel limited to covering the floor only. As in the home (top right) of Roddy Murray, founder of RJ Murray Design, taking them up the wall to the dado height creates a stronger impact. With a comprehensive monochrome scheme, add an accent colour for a fresh touch.
COLOUR SWAP
Use patterned tiles to define different areas. These Victorianstyle porcelain tiles (above) by Topps Tiles have been used in both the entrance and hallway but in reverse colourways. This creates a visual zoning between the spaces, but also helps to link them.
SCHEMES “PATTERNED IN MONOCHROME FLOORING ADD UNEXPECTED IMPACT TO SPACES SUCH AS HALLWAYS. THEY CREATE A SENSE OF DRAMA AS SOON AS YOU ENTER THE HOME”
“A GEOMETRIC OR PATTERNED WALL-TO-WALL CARPET IS A FAVOURITE. I’M HANKERING AFTER THE SIBYL COLEFAX & JOHN FOWLER MOSSY BESPOKE CARPET FOR A LIBRARY, SNUG OR DRESSING ROOM”
EASY LIVING
Warm underfoot, easy to install and even easier to maintain, the appetite for vinyl flooring (top left) in heavy-traffic areas such as hallways, kitchens and bathrooms is growing. Companies such as Atrafloor can customise colours to match interior schemes, too.
STEPPING IT UP
Bright and coloured stair runners, like this design by Roger Oates (top right), are a practical solution for high-traffic areas, and help draw the eyes up, but by fitting them with matching wall-to-wall carpeting, the pattern will then continue and the sense of space increase exponentially.
BUFFER ZONE
Don’t forget to change the floor surface to create a bold distinction when aiming to define a dining area that’s sited within a larger catch-all space (above left). These vibrant tiles create a rug-like effect beneath the table but are a more practical choice than carpet under a table.