Spotlight on TILES
When it comes to finishes, next to joinery, tiles play a big part in your materials scheme and can subsequently transform a home. We love experimenting with tiles in our projects and incorporating them in our joinery designs.
We had a quick chat with our friend, Jasmine Dowthwaite - founder and owner of local tiles and lighting studio, Three Balls Red - who has offered us a simple and practical guide to finding and choosing the right ones for your project.
Image credit: Kristian Van Der Beek Project: The Olsens by Three Balls Red & Havendeen
What are some of the mistakes you see homeowners make when approaching a bathroom build or reno?
I would say planning! Think of everything before you start - are these the best size tiles for the space? Does everything fit in the space? Can we hide the toilet so you don’t look right at it from the door?
And always keep in mind, moving plumbing is expensive - are there other ways to approach the space without relocating services?
What are some of the key elements we need to consider when choosing tiles?
Make a mood or Pinterest board of the look you are wanting to achieve. Have a good idea of your budget including laying costs. If you have a larger bathroom, choose larger tiles, but if it is smaller, then size it down - otherwise you are just paying for cuts.
How can you tell the quality of a tile?
Cheaper tiles come with less faces so when they are laid you see the same face over and over. Good tiles just have a nice feel about them but some cheaper tiles are great. We are always on the hunt for a good, well-priced tile.
Large format or small - what's your choice? And how do we choose?
I think the space determines the size. Large is obviously great for less grout but with epoxy (resin) grout this eliminates some of the concerns. Tiles are rectified so butt right up next to each other for less grout.
Porcelain or ceramic - should we be favouring one over the other for bathrooms?
Both work well. Porcelain is very hard-wearing, so it’s perfect for large format floor and wall tiles. Ceramic is a bit more delicate and typically will be used in stunning smaller format feature tiles that almost look hand-made.
Can you explain to us slip-ratings? What do we need to look for?
Slip-rating is very important for commercial spaces or if you are planning on going down the Airbnb path.
The days of the old rough tiles that remove the skin off your knee are gone. We now have dry glaze which has a chemical that produces the slip rating, which is much smoother and easier to clean.
We always suggest our customers discuss it with their tiler or our team before you purchase.
I suggest choosing what you love and not following trends so much!
Choosing grout colours can be tough! Any insider tips?
Use a grout chart and get one of the girls at TBR to help you. Choosing your grout is just as important as choosing your tiles!
What tiling trends will we be seeing more of in the next few years (and that you're encouraging!)?
I suggest choosing what you love and not following trends so much!
