Designer's Choice - Tiles under $80 per square metre

Designer's Choice - Tiles under $80 per square metre Buying Guide

Designer's Choice is a selection of tiles chosen for texture, pattern and character, for renovations that want a considered, finished look. It brings together handmade look subway tiles, period mosaics, penny rounds, finger mosaics, terrazzo and soft stone and travertine looks in porcelain and ceramic. Current pricing for every tile sits on its own product page.

What tiles are in the Designer's Choice range?

The range covers a mix of feature and foundation tiles.

• Handmade look: Luca in 75 x 150mm subway and 100 x 100mm square, in White and Sage, with soft rounded edges.
• Period mosaics: St Kilda 97 x 97mm octagons with a black, burgundy or green dot, in white or cream.
• Small mosaics: Mooloolaba 20mm penny rounds and the Ava satin white kit kat finger mosaic.
• Terrazzo: Clio large-grain terrazzo in 600 x 600mm and 300 x 600mm with tech grip, and Theo 200 x 200mm in White and Pink.
• Stone and travertine looks: Avorio, Valerie, Tuscan in 600 x 1200mm and Kew Grey.

What is a handmade look tile?

A handmade look tile is machine made to copy the charm of a traditional handmade tile, with gentle variation in colour, surface and edges. Luca tiles have a soft, slightly uneven surface that catches the light, which suits splashbacks, niches and feature walls. They are made for indoor walls, and the gloss finish adds extra glow.

Which tiles in this range can go on floors?

The porcelain stone, travertine and terrazzo looks are made for floors. The Clio terrazzo and Valerie travertine tiles have a tech grip finish rated P4, suitable for bathroom floors and covered outdoor areas, and the Avorio tiles are rated P5. The Luca, Sunset and Theo tiles are wall tiles. Mosaics such as St Kilda and Mooloolaba suit light-traffic floors like ensuites and bedrooms, so check the wear rating on each product.

Are octagon and dot tiles suitable for a period home?

Yes, the octagon and dot pattern is a classic of Federation and Victorian bathrooms, entries and verandahs. St Kilda is a porcelain version of that period look, supplied on mesh sheets for easier laying. A white base with a black dot is the most traditional choice, while burgundy and green dots on cream give a warmer heritage feel.

How do I use feature tiles without overdoing it?

Pick one feature and keep the rest calm. Use a patterned mosaic on the floor with plain white walls, or a handmade look subway on one splashback wall with a quiet stone look floor. Pairing tiles that share a colour, such as Luca White with Clio Grey terrazzo, ties a room together. On small mosaics, grout colour has a big effect, so test it with a sample first.

How many tiles should I order?

Measure the area, divide by the box or sheet coverage and add about 15 per cent for cuts and breakages, a little more for mosaics with many edges. Order everything from one batch, as handmade looks and natural looks vary between batches, and keep a few spares.

Completing the room

Explore octagon dot tiles, penny round tiles, terrazzo look tiles and feature tiles, or browse travertine look tiles at The Blue Space.