Tile choice?

9 years ago

Hi Houzz'ers.
Hoping you wonderful people can help me??
We've recently completed a major kitchen reno and now it's time to tile.
It's a large Victorian house with lots of original features so my plan was to try keep the traditional feel of the house but with a contemporary kitchen.
As you can see from the pics of the kitchen/diner (apologies about the mess in pics, I'm still putting stuff away)... we've got traditional herringbone patterned floors, original fire place and cornicing etc but a more contemporary Matt kitchen. I'd always thought of a white metro tile with white grouting as I think this will make it feel simple but my hubby is keen on white metro tile with dark grouting. I'm worried this may make it feel too industrial or retro (both looks I like but not what I want in this space).
I know I could go for a more jazzy tile cause it's all quite plain but I'd prefer to keep it more simple and instead add colours with accessories.
Thoughts on tile choice and grouting please?
Thanks in advance

Featured Answer

Sarah Chalker
Original Author

9 years ago

Thanks everyone for your comments! Lots to think about. I've now also found a metro tile which has a Carrara marble finish which might work as that's the same as the worktop?

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Comments (18)

dorcaswynneparry
9 years ago
Hi,

Your house is beautiful. Before you tile why don't you look at glass splash backs, just painting high gloss and hang some nice pictures above. Or maybe a beautiful coloured enamel pane or some other alternative to tiling. I really don't like tiles and when looking at properties to buy I have to factor in the cost for replacing them whether they are state of the art or not.

Good luck,
User
9 years ago
Beautiful space! I'd usually agree with what dorcuswynneparry said above, as I'm not a big fan of tiles in the kitchen, but when I opened your picture it screamed 'white metro tile' at me! I don't know if it's because it reminds me of other pictures I've seen on houzz though. This could be good or bad. Good because you know it'd work; bad because it'd look like a lot of others. If you do go for white tile I think you try a light grey grout as a happy medium. It would pick up on the wall colour.

Anyway, because you've got quite an expanse of wall, it does need something to break it up - shelves maybe?
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Thanks both, I really appreciate your replies. It’s a good point about how the light will hit the floor differently. And when you’re outside of the shower the view of the tray will be obscured by the doors. Which I think comes back to the point you raise Sarah - how the tiles sit alongside the flooring. I haven’t settled on a flooring yet - I was thinking LVT (don’t want tiles as cold and can’t install underfloor heating pad) but am struggling to find something I like. I quite like basket weave style patterns but I worry it will look too busy with large format patterned wall tiles. I also really liked Savannnah sheet vinyl by Unnatural Flooring but for complicated reasons were doing our bathroom Reno in two stages and it won’t work with sheet vinyl to lay half of the flooring first and the other half later. Otherwise I guess I’ll go for some kind of warm oak-coloured plank style LVT.
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minnie101
9 years ago
Hi Sarah. Personally I'd just continue the worktop material with an upstand and splashback for the hob (although sockets may need to move slightly). I agree I'd add either shelves or art to the left of the extractor just to balance it. Lovely room!
PRO
Floors of Stone
9 years ago
What a beautiful house!

Personally we'd stick with a light grout colour if you want to keep with a more simple finish. We recently had a customer who used our handmade tiles (I know not a metro tile, but hopefully will give you an idea) with a matching white grout and they look stunning! Really simple and lets the detail of the tiles shine through.

Good luck with the rest of your project!

Sophie // Floors of Stone
Jonathan
9 years ago
Personally I think that tiles with grout is quite a busy look especially against a simple kitchen.
Personally I would rather see a small upstand in the same material as the worktop and a higher upstand behind the hob.
Alternatively glass would produce a simple look. I like opaque looking glass (practically while).
I also think antiqued mirror would look in keeping with your home.
Daisy England
9 years ago
My pet hate is metro tiles. I always think I'm in a underground. You have a lovely contemporary kitchen. Just add upstands and a splashback behind the hob.
Carolina
9 years ago
I think the marble could be nice, but you could also go for something interestingly shaped, like these for example... http://www.bakedtiles.co.uk/collections/creative-geometrics
Carolina
9 years ago
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Juliet Docherty
9 years ago
I would absolutely use tiles, probably cement ones. Although these are in a bathroom, their chalky surfaces could work really well in your kitchen. Fired Earth and Mandarin Stone have some nice ones.
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strawberry47
9 years ago
How about theses tiles. Found them in a house article not sure where to purchase them
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The London Tile Co.
9 years ago
What about these Bronte Hexagon tiles? They have a rustic hand-made look but a modern shape, and they look great with a light grey grout that highlights the shape but is not too bold.
lynneamandahayes
9 years ago
Beautiful refurb of kitchen, I too think white metro tile with white grout or Laura Ashley do some in tones similar to your wall colour. I'm not usually a fan of tiles and love soft coloured glass splash backs but your room would look fantastic with metros.
Have fun.
Krystle Dine
9 years ago
I love your floor!! I think the hexagonal or geometric tiles would look great in your kitchen. I'm not a fan of glass splashbacks at all, but the Carrara marble tiles would look lovely with a pale grey grout.
Sarah Chalker
Original Author
9 years ago
Omg thanks everyone. I love all of the suggestions so now not sure what to pick haha. I'm also slightly obsessed with these antique mirror tiles although they may look too bling which I don't want
lynneamandahayes
9 years ago
Love them
Carolina
9 years ago
They are gorgeous!
PRO
Walls to the floor
9 years ago
How about microcement instead of tiles or splash backs? lots of colour to choose from and NO grout lines so you'd get your simple yet contemporary look :)