Patterned tiles for a Mediterranean style kitchen
Don't be afraid to use patterned tiles in the kitchen
It's too easy to eschew pattern but you can be bold with floor tiles in the kitchen if you get the main colour right
A lot of us have moved away from ceramic tiles in the kitchen, in favour of resilient flooring such as vinyl, linoleum or rubber and glass splashbacks.
But if you want to be creative, take inspiration from the colourful and detailed encaustic patterns of the 19th century, which you see used to great effect in Mediterranean countries.
We love this contemporary kitchen, which moves seamlessly to the terrace using a mixture of concrete-effect ceramic tiles and patterned tiles inside and out. And it's the juxtaposition of modern and traditional tiles that makes the look so appealing.
Tiles by Spanish manufacturer Gayafores.
From an environmental point of view, ceramic tiles offer longevity and they are increasingly being recycled. If ceramics do go to landfill the material is inert. For information on recycling ceramics in the UK, visit the British Ceramic Confederation's website which has a downloadable PDF on the issue.
