.... Which I absolutely love! I'm going to purchase some copper knives and some marble canisters to replace the ones next to the kettle but I am so so happy with how it looks so far :) we both want an induction hob which may come this year and I would absolutely love some white marble work tops to finish the kitchen but hey, work in progress

Hi Kelly, Sounds like an exciting project! We sell a lot of natural stone and a lot of porcelain, and in our experience as long as laid and cared for properly, both can work brilliantly in a family home. Tumbled limestone and travertine can look amazing, especially if you are wanting a more rustic look. If you go for an unfilled travertine, we would highly recommend slurry grouting (filling in the pits and voids) so that it is easier to maintain and clean. It is really important with natural stone to seal it. We recommend sealing once before and once after grouting, with perhaps a third coat around busy thresholds or near ovens/dishwashers etc in the kitchen. The sealer we sell lasts around 5-7 years, so not something you have to do too often. In terms of cleaning, you need to ensure you use natural stone cleaners or pH neutral cleaners, so you don't strip the protective sealer, leaving the stone prone to staining. To clean, it's simply sweeping or vacuuming (without the beaters on) and mopping. The beauty of natural stone is it ages and settles into the home the longer it's laid. Porcelain is really hard wearing, and most don't need sealing, although you can always apply a coat of sealer after laying in order to give added protection and seal grout lines to reduce the chance of staining. We also have wood effect porcelain tiles, which are really realistic if you did want the look of wood. I hope this helps, but if you do want any more help or to chat through options, please don't hesitate to get in touch on 01509 234000 or email us on enquiries@floorsofstone.com and we can make some recommendations. We also offer free samples of all of our tiles. Good luck with your project! Sophie // Floors of Stone

Have you embraced Christmas yet? It’s hard to escape at the minute, and if you haven’t already started your Christmas decorating at home, you’ll need to get on it pretty quickly. Whether you’re having a quiet Christmas or expecting lots of visitors and guests over the festive period, you’ll want to create a warm and inviting home. Thankfully, there are lots of ways to achieve this. Here’s our best tips for transforming your home into a cosy wonderland you’ll never want to leave. Adding a Christmas tree What home would be complete at Christmas without a tree covered in fairy lights and decorations? Most of us will opt to put at least one up this year, and whether it’s real or artificial, it’s a great start to adding that cosy festive feel to your home. Normally, adding a tree requires some furniture to be shifted around in your living space to make it fit, so don’t forget to add felt pads to the bottom of your tree stand and furniture before you move anything across the floor, to prevent any scratches or damage to your wooden floor. Welcoming guests to your home It’s traditional that family and friends call round to see each other at this time of year, so create a warm and inviting entrance to your home with outside decorations, lights and perhaps even a traditional Christmas wreath on your front door. Don’t forget to add a mat to the front door step too – otherwise you’ll end up with dirt or snow being walked in over your beautiful wooden floor in the hallway. Rustic cabin-feel to your décor There’s something very peaceful about the thought of staying in a remote log cabin with the snow falling outside, but for most of us we’ll be staying put at home this Christmas. That’s not to say that you can’t add this rustic-feel to your home décor though. Start with a traditional wooden floor in rustic oak, and layer it with thick deep pile cream or white rugs. Accessorize your home with lots of greenery and pinecones (also great for adding to wicker baskets as a centre piece too this Christmas!) Add some logs to the fire, grab some thick knit blankets and light some candles for a warm and inviting cabin-feel living space. Protecting your floor this Christmas A real Christmas tree is hard to beat, but it can cause havoc for your floors. Make sure you sweep up fallen pine needles every day so they don’t get embedded in your carpet or between floor boards and if you notice any sap on the floors try to clean it up straight away. The same applies to glitter from wrapping paper or new glittery Christmas clothes – the longer you leave it, the more it will end up everywhere. Many of us will enjoy lighting a few cinnamon-scented candles this Christmas but be careful you don’t allow any wax to drip on your wooden floors. If you notice any wax, leave it to set and get hard before you lift it off – it’s much easier than trying to wipe up a sticky, waxy mess.

Hi Lucy, Loving the concept you have chosen! i would recommend you do the Tadelakt on the long bath wall as you are planning, plus all three walls in the shower area. i would also do the bulkheads on both sides. Then either tile or paint the rest of the bathroom (its a bit difficult to judge without seeing the space properly). If budget allows, i would do the whole room and ceiling in Tadelakt. In my experience its easier to keep clean than grouted mosaic tiles in a wet area. I completely understand your concerns about Tadelakt so heres a useful article about maintenance. i would use this same cleaning process for the whole bathroom and use an E cloth (which is so you wont need to use any other chemicals). the article also recommends that if you do need to use cleaning products elsewhere then its best to spray the cloth and then clean. https://betterhomeblog.com/how-to-take-care-of-tadelakt/ I also agree with you about the larger hexagonal tiles. Hope that helps. Would love to see photos of the finished space! Regards, Shareen