Timeless Tiles: Clean Lines, Classic Colours

Think white and grey are a bit snooze? Think again. The clean, classic aesthetic has evolved over the design timeline with regards to material, colour and pattern, but monochromatic tiles are timeless for a reason. 

The Como House by Belle Lifestyle Home is a testament to how classic tiles can take your space from plain to phenomenal. 

Let’s single out subway, for example – this popular go-to wall tile is the ultimate exemplar for style. Used with careful consideration in any interior, these humble tiles create contemporary spaces with a high-end feel and a practical finish. By curating your design, you can balance elegance and cost by mixing up patterns and grouting. Simple can be stunning.  

Plains and patterns

Visual interest is the ace up the subway’s sleeve. Even the simplest tiles come into their own when laid with flair. Choose a vertical or horizontal layout, or add texture and shape with a graphic pattern. Remember, and dimensions can differ – while subway tiles can be square, the most familiar size is the three-by-six-inch rectangle.

When it comes to patterns, there are many options to keep things interesting. These three frontrunners as seen in The Como House have been executed with clever consideration to keep a simple selection looking fresh. 

  1. Herringbone

Look carefully and you’ll see this elegant pattern is influenced by the skeleton of a fish. Using large or small rectangular tiles in a zig-zag effect, the 45-degree V-shaped rows form an arrow-like flow. Great for cosier spaces like hallways, this popular pattern makes small rooms look wider. It’s a classic layout that looks brilliant on a backsplash and can be paired with contrasting grouts to create visual pop. In The Como House, the herringbone pattern creates visual interest using a grey tile. 

  1. Brick pattern 

This definitive pattern also goes by the name of running bond. With each tile starting at the centre of the tile below and above, the effect emulates brickwork. A clean and enduring choice for your walls, it’s perfect for inducing an industrial feel. The Como House uses the brick pattern in a grey tile to give the bathroom a sense of luxe, and a brick pattern with square white tiles to streamline the kitchen splashback. 

  1. Stacked pattern

Simple, straight and sleek, the stacked pattern lines up as a repeated grid. This tile motif lends itself to a contemporary look with streamlined shapes and elegant angles. Emphasise the clean lines with a bright grout for ultimate sophistication and note that square tiles will give a more traditional feel. Carry out contrast using this tile pattern to offset against organic features such as wood or stone. The stacked pattern in The Como House brings a simple beauty to the shower and bathroom wall.

If you’re planning to utilise tile patterns – as a general rule, remember to order 10% more tiles than your estimation. This allows for the waste generated by cuts and breakages. 

Go with the flow

If you’re showcasing grey and white tiles inside, echo your palette by taking them through to the outside. This creates consistency which in turn tells a coherent story and continues the classic feel. From the front patio to the kitchen splashback, through to the laundry and poolside spaces, The Como House achieves a beautiful balance of tone and colours. 

Here, grey and white is the predominant palette, woven together with organic materials like timber and stone. 

Grout goals

Choosing a tile is your dominant decision, but once you’ve specified your tile, grout selection is every bit as impactful. Don’t leave this decision to your tiler – save some energy for proper grout investigation because this in-between element can make or break your end result. 

When you’re working with plain decorative tiles, grout can be transformational. For a soft, subtle feature, go with a tile-grout synergy to create clean lines. To make your monochrome pattern pop and highlight the direction of the tiles, opt for contrasting grout. Grout is a dominant design tool in The Como House. Paired with a grey tile, the white grout takes the bathroom wall from background texture to design hero.

Savvy surface solutions

About to embark on a home reno or new build? Let’s work together to curate a classic, timeless aesthetic with smart selections to meet your brief. Our design experts will guide you through the process and help transform your ideas into a surface solution that reflects your needs. Budget or boutique, indoors or outdoors, our handpicked, quality range of styles and colours will lift your look.

Come into your local ColorTile showroom, chat through your concepts, and bring your style to life.

Credits

Builder BelleLifestyleHomes

Kitchen design and Joinery by Vicello Kitchens

Photography by The Palm Co

Tiles by ColorTile