The latest ideas and essential purchases for your renovation
Harvey Maria’s new luxury vinyl tiles (LVT) collection is inspired by Victorian pottery company Mintons’ colourful encaustic floor tiles. Northmore, which comes in six colourways, blends unique designs, heritage colour pigment and authentic patina in waterproof, slip resistant LVTS. They cost £47.35 per square metre.
See Northmore’s smart look for utility floors on page 54
Harriet Goodacre, tile consultant at Topps Tiles, toppstiles.co.uk, offers advice on using shaped tiles
What Shapes can You get?
‘If you can think of one, it’s likely there’s a tile made in it. Square and rectangular shapes remain favourites, but there are also intricate mosaics, bold hexagons, geometric rhombus shapes, plain planks, arabesque styles and triangles. Our tile of 2020 is a scalloped tile called Syren in a rich Midnight Blue, making a statement through shape and colour.’
How versatile are they in designs you can create?
‘The laying pattern depends on tile shape and dimensions. Most popular are brick bond, linear and basket weave. A herringbonestyle, where rectangular tiles are laid in a zig-zag look, can make a small or narrow space feel wider or taller depending on the orientation of the tile. Creative laying patterns can even change the theme of the room: a fan-shaped tile laid upright is Art Deco inspired, placed upside down as a ‘tear’ it has a Moroccan feeling, and on its side, it represents fish scales for a marine-inspired décor.’
How can different designs enhance a room?
‘A horizontal herringbone will make a room feel wider; tiles laid in this pattern on the floor vertically can elongate it. Using a vertical brick bond, known as the ‘stepladder’, can make a ceiling feel higher. With small-format tiles, tiling part way up a wall and painting above in the same colour gives the illusion of height.’
How easy is DIY tiling?
‘Spend time watching how-to videos to accurately work out your cuts. Curves can make it difficult to use spacers, so the more prep and practise the better chance of success. For challenging spaces, use tile nippers to cut away edges then file neatly. Some shaped tiles require a wider grout join and may need to be tiled by eye rather than with spacers to get the right look.’