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Objects of Design #165: Fired Earth Tiles

Tiles can really make a bathroom. Given that everything in it is basically white it’s a real chance to add a dramatic touch, or to keep it all cool and clean depending on what you choose.

tiles from fired earth
tiles from fired earth

You can also spend as much, or as little as you need. In my bathroom we fell in love with some metallic silver tiles which cost a fortune, but we just used three behind each basin as a small splashback. In the shower we used plain white metro tiles, which are perennially popular and, dare I say it, quite cheap.

metallic tiles in the bathroom
metallic tiles in the bathroom

In the shower room, I really wanted to make a statement as it’s a tiny space and I thought we could afford to be bold. I ordered these tiles from Holland and fixed them in a stripe from floor to ceiling. For those of you who are wondering, the tiles were much cheaper in Holland than they were in London, although by the time you add the shipping, there wasn’t that much difference. Having said that, mine are black and cream and I couldn’t find that colourway here.

black and white tiles in my shower room
black and white tiles in my shower room

So have some fun with your tiles. I love the Fired Earth range and remember you can always mix them up with some plain ones or just use a few if the budget doesn’t stretch.

metro tiles are always popular
metro tiles are always popular

If you don’t need to have them on the walls, then they conduct underfloor heating well and, as the owner of a bathroom with floorboards I feel qualified to say, that tiles are more practical.

natura tiles from fired earth
natura tiles from fired earth

This bathroom with grey metro tiles is very masculine but I still love it. You could always soften it with the addition of some coloured towels – soft pink or orange for example.

perfect
grey metro tiles from fired earth

For more information on the different types of tiles click here

 

 

 

 

 

Kate Watson-Smyth

The author Kate Watson-Smyth

I’m a journalist who writes about interiors mainly for The Financial Times but I have also written regularly for The Independent and The Daily Mail. My house has been in Living Etc, HeartHome and featured in The Wall Street Journal & Corriere della Sera. I also run an interior styling consultancy Mad About Your House. Welcome to my Mad House.

3 Comments

  1. This is such a timely series as I am doing both my bathroom and en suite (and the rest of the house too…). I love your use of the black and white tiles (although it is almost impossible to dislike anything in black and white, I think) and I am also rather keen on the basin. Can you recall what make and model it is by any chance?

    1. I must apologise for my late reply Jill. I was on holiday and have only just seen this. The basin was from bathstore.com and I’m afraid I can’t recall the model but it will have been one of the smallest ones!

  2. One thing to bare in mind with metro tiles (which are great) is they are a bit of a bugger on external corners because of their beveled edges. You will have the beveled edge of the end of a tile with the square edge of a half tile. Maybe an expert would tell me a solution – or do you just accept it is odd…?

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