Brown paper packages tied up with strings...

We know that entering our showroom can be quite daunting to many. There are so many options and the hard part is always where to start. I often get asked what I would pick for my own home, and to be honest, I have no idea at all! There are so many different styles and items that appeal to me that I really would struggle if I were on the other side of the counter.

What I can share with you however are a few of my favourite magazines, websites and blogs. These have all, at some stage, given me amazing ideas and inspiration.

Without a doubt, my favourite website would have to be Pinterest. For those of you that have not discovered this amazing website, Pintrest is essentially a pinboard of inspiration and ideas for everything from home decor, to events, to automotive. There are thousands of images shared by thousands of users which means plenty of idea sharing! 

Another of my favourites is IKEA Hackers. I'm not a massive fan of the Ikea product as it is over used and not always the best quality, but I do love this website. It provides plenty of 'think outside the box' ideas that can be applied to a variety of objects. It is also great inspiration for small spaces. 

My newest favourite thing is Inside Out magazine. It's a magazine that has been out for quite a while but I have only recently discovered and I find myself counting down the sleeps until the next issue is released. This magazine, unlike many others, has something useful on almost every page, rather than being filled with product advertising. 

I also love the tips and tricks provided on the Honey&Fitz blog. There are also many other blogs floating on the internet that are full of information and inspiration which can be discovered by performing a blog search.  Enjoy x

When Less is More...

We quite often have customers visiting our showroom wanting to know how to make their home look ‘bigger’. A common misconception is that smaller tiles will make a room look larger as there are more tiles on the walls/floor, but this is not always so. Larger tiles can often make rooms appear larger as they provide more flow and fewer interruptions. Rectangles, laid horizontally, are also great for making rooms appear larger.

Gloss white 300x600 tiles are a favourite for bathrooms, particularly for those with dark, shadowy rooms, though it can be fun to think a little outside the box and go for something a little more dramatic.

Luxury Bathroom

Working with small, dark spaces doesn’t necessarily mean gloss white tiles. Working with the shadows and using dark tiles can create a magnificent room, full of drama and class. The bathroom to the left uses a combination of large format charcoal tiles and highly reflective glass mosaics, along with simple, clean lines with respect to the mirror, shower screen and vanity.

 

Kwreps

Similarly, this rather small kitchen uses dark and light contrasts to make a small, crammed space come to life. In this instance, the owners have chosen to use a small mosaic tile for their splashback, which brings together the dark and light tones of various finishes within the room.

The important thing in both of these rooms is the lack of clutter. Over styling and too many sentimental knick-knacks are the downfall of many fantastic rooms, making the space feel small and busy. A few choice objects around the room, and all clutter hidden, is the way to go, not only is it less to dust but it makes the space feel open and inviting.

Exciting Times Ahead

There are many exciting times ahead for Ultimate Tiles, which means many exciting times ahead for you, our customers.

At the moment we are working on the release of our new e-Newsletters which are tailor made to suit four different consumer categories (retail, design, trade and clearance specials). Our subscriptions are free and you can subscribe to more than one mailing list if you wish.

Our Facebook page has also been updated to include images and details of some of our clearance lines which means that you are now able to see what is on offer without leaving the comfort of your home!

But, by far, the most exciting thing that is happening at the moment is that our suppliers have FINALLY started to catch up with the international market and we are receiving some incredible new products that we are all just in love with! There are some divine digital prints that mimic beautiful natural stone (without the maintenance issue), large format products (800x800, 600x1200, 450x900), fantastic feature panels, beautiful new mosaics and new colourful options.

We have also seen the reappearance of the popular 100x100 format, coloured tiles. The colours that have been selected work beautifully within today's colour trends. There are 15 colours within the series that range from bright reds, blues and greens, through to neutral greys and browns, blacks and whites.

If you haven't found what you are looking for just yet, be sure to keep checking in store regularly. We have new products arriving constantly.

New Supplier = New Pretty Things

So it's been a while since our last blog post and my have things changed in store! We have recently established connections with a new supplier who import an amazing range of products that are completely different to much of what was previously on the market.

Each product has been carefully selected to fill a void in our current product range. There is a sensational array of tones, textures and sizes with many different installation options. Mosaic features, stone look wall panels, large format floor tiles and patterned wall tiles are all covered and provide a real point of difference for your next project.

To make way for these amazing new products, we have also been hard at work revamping our showrooms to allow for more display space and a more modern selection of concepts and ideas. This has been quite exciting for all of our team and there is a new energy in the air!

Our wonderful staff are, as always, on hand to assist you in the decision making process. Between us we have many years of experience (and perhaps wisdom) and a lot of design talent. If you're feeling a little bit lost, or can't quite find what you are looking for, now is a great time to come in and view our range!



As easy as 1...2...3...

Choosing colours for your new home or renovation can be so daunting and scary, especially if you have never done it before. There are so many objects, surfaces and colours to consider and if one thing isn’t right the whole project can be thrown into turmoil. 

So how do you make sure that you select the right colours? You could pay a small fortune for an interior designer and let them do it all for you, or you can follow these few steps and give it a go yourself! 

Step 1 – Research

Make sure you know what you like and what you think looks good. If you go into a show room and the salesperson shows you something you don’t like, don’t buy it just because the salesperson tells you it’s really popular. Trust your gut instinct and go with what you like; you have to look at it every day, not us!

Magazines, the internet and display homes are all great sources of inspiration. Have a bit of a look around before embarking on anything major.

Step 2 – Collect 

Collect samples and pictures of anything that takes your fancy. Spread them all out over a section of flooring that is in natural light and try to start to build a bigger picture of your project. Try to avoid picking the bathroom and then in six months time starting on the kitchen. Collect an array of surfaces and products that complement each other that you can then select from for each area of your home. 

Step 3 – Select 

Using the collection of things you have liked, try to select the colours for your whole house before starting anything so that, once finished, your house has some consistency. You don’t necessarily have to select the exact same cabinets in the bathroom as the kitchen and you don’t have to try to knock over your renovation in six weeks, but having an idea of where you are going with your project in its entirety before you start will give you a flowing, well finished home.

Brazilian Brilliance

Portobello

Coming soon to Ultimate Tiles are three amazing new ranges from Portobello in Brazil. These three ranges all offer a point of difference from our current lines and we think they are fantastic! 

The first of these ranges is the Eco Wood series. With six colours and two finishes, this range covers a wide range of timber colours and covers a multitude of different styles, from traditional to contemporary. 

I personally just adore the Eucalypto colour way. It combines beautiful washed neutral tones and gives an amazing base for so many fantastic designs. It would easily compliment French Provincial, Ultra Modern and Urban Contemporary styles and its warmth makes it perfect for use throughout the entire home. 

Portobello

The second range is the Travertino Navona series. This range has two colours in two large format sizes, 600x600 and 600x1200, and mimics the beauty of natural stone slabs. These tiles would make a stunning addition to a naturalistic or minimalistic themed home and tone beautifully with a multitude of different features and furnishings.

Portobello

The third range is the Pietra e Mattoni series. This series introduces five exciting new brick/subway tiles into the range. This series comes in varied colours and textures and has an option for every style. 

These stunning new products will be in our showrooms very shortly so pop by in the near future and check them out!

Urban Groove

homeinteriordesign

Sleek, modern and funky. ‘Urban Contemporary’ is a style which is being used more and more often in new homes and renovations. The style combines stone-like tones, dramatic contrasts and clean defined lines to offer a sleek yet welcoming finish. 

I love that this style allows for a house to really be a home! Whilst the furnishings in this style are minimalistic, this style has plenty of room for personal items such as photos and trinkets, as long as careful consideration is given to their placement. The style also encourages a creative use of available space, using wall units, chunky ottomans and couches that incorporate storage to conceal everyday clutter, keeping your home looking tidy and spacious. 

versace

Ultimate Tiles are currently displaying a large array of stone look products that range from budget smaller format tiles, right through to upmarket 800x800 tiles. We also have an amazing array of stone and glass/stone feature mosaics, with just about every colour, size and format catered for.

This is also an area of our range which has frequent new releases. Tiles mimicking natural stone and its drastic variation are becoming more and more popular. Several new releases within this area are indicative of a sway in trends from the traditional ‘brown and cream’ style of neutrals to naturalistic stone-like greys and soft whites, complimented by natural wood or natural looking wood laminates.

Just in Time for the Weekend!

Such a busy week we have had at Ultimate Tiles! We’ve landed a large selection of new ranges which have required some re-arranging and re-assessing of current product line. 

Brasil Lappatto

A favourite for all of our staff is the Brazil Lappatto! A stunning semi-polished tile that comes in 600x600 and 300x600 formats. This charcoal based tile has beautiful red-purple hues and can be described in no other way than ‘completely stunning’, surprisingly too; it doesn’t cost an arm and a leg. 

We’ve also landed a couple of new ranges in the glazed product area. These ranges consist of matching floor and wall options and cover a multitude of colours and styles. The floors come in a 300x300 and 400x400 matt finish or a 400x400 gloss finish, with a 300x400 gloss wall. 

There are two series in this release. One has a mottled, somewhat uniform pattern, while the other is designed to mimic the movement patterns of natural stone. Both of these series are reasonably priced and work well with a variety of different feature products. 

One of our new 'Glazed' releases

If you’ve been struggling to decide, and haven’t quite been able to find the tile for you, head down to Ultimate Tiles and view our new arrivals. The products above are just 2 of the exciting new releases we’ve had this week, there’s plenty more to view in store.

Resort Style Living

Homes Result

I don’t think there could be much better than waking up to your own resort every morning. Sipping freshly brewed coffee while relaxing on a comfy chair overlooking a beautifully manicured outdoor retreat. 

It all sounds so inviting and yet somewhat out of reach, doesn’t it? For starters, no one at my house brings me freshly brewed coffee in the morning. They’re all either in bed or already at work when I get up. 

Then there’s the issue of our house not looking like a resort, sure it’s a lovely house, but we live in it and therefore we create mess and we don’t have a cleaner that comes through on a daily basis to clean up after us and make our beds. 

Coco Republic

I have worked out that I can pretend though. Rather than getting up after pressing snooze ten times, I get up early enough to potter and relax. I make my bed as soon as I get up as I’m still half asleep and then it doesn’t feel like I’m the one that made it. I get my own cup of coffee and relax on the couch for a bit before getting ready for work. I’ve also tried to adopt a ‘clean it up now’ attitude, because by the time I tell myself ‘I’ll clean it up later’ a few times I have a really big mess to fix, then cleaning up feels like such a huge chore. 

Selecting the right type of hard and soft furnishings for your home is also really important in achieving a resort style of living. Items that require a great deal of maintenance to remain looking great have to go. The point of resort style living is to not be a slave to the maintenance of your home and garden. Low maintenance plants and minimal grass are a great option while neutral tones, clean lines, natural fibres and well selected soft furnishings are extremely important for inside the home.

Domain

Medium to strong impacts between internal colours and finishes also compliment this style beautifully. Deep dark wood combined with light bright walls and lots of natural lighting gives a laid back, relaxed feel, without being too stark and clinical. 

Woven baskets, earthy toned cushions, candles and indoor plants provide the perfect finishing touches and are inexpensive editions to this stunning theme and soften any large contrasts between light and dark, giving you your very own resort.  

Earth Stone

The ‘Earth Stone’ range from RAK Ceramics is a well priced, beautifully finished product available in 300x600 and 600x600 formats. The range consists of five colours ranging from a lighter cream/white through to taupe, browns and black. 

Earth Stone from RAK

The stunning natural stone like finish of the range lends itself beautifully to a variety of applications from ultra modern to classic to contemporary. 

The range is also complimented by two mosaic option which breaks up expansive walls without being a stand out feature. The range can also be complimented by a variety of mosaic features from other ranges and suppliers to give your concept the edge you are after. 

I personally love the darkest of the range, the charcoal black. Combine with a Satin White 300x600 wall tile and black pebble feature and you have yourself a stunning oriental base. Alternately, switch the pebble with a black glass & metallic mosaic and you have yourself a really funky modern design base. 

The ‘Silica Beige’ colour way can also be paired with a variety of features to alter its design theme. Paired with soft off whites and subtle marble features, this colour lends itself beautifully to a neutral country style, or pair it with white walls and a blended glass mosaic and you have a modern neutral theme.

Top 5 Laundry Ideas

I think I would be safe in saying that the most hated room in every house is the laundry. Let’s face it, the laundry is a work room and holds all the things required for the jobs you never want to do, be it cleaning the toilets, the washing and ironing, or in my house, the vacuum and mop. 

It’s the room that always gets forgotten in the renovation process, the room that always misses out on the stone bench tops and the nice finishes and the room that very rarely is given any careful consideration or thought.

So... I thought for today’s post it might be interesting to explore a couple of laundry ideas that struck me as very clever and well considered. 

Anna White

1. Pre-Sorted Laundry Baskets

I quite often tip my whole laundry basket onto the floor, pull out all my darks (because that includes all my work stuff and is the most important), put them into the machine and then never do the others because it’s annoying to go through the whole process again. This idea means that a load of washing can be quickly thrown on as you walk out the door in the morning, or amongst all the other cleaning jobs you have to do on the weekend. This particular design also makes dryers and front load washers a far more practical height and utilises the space underneath beautifully. Your laundry baskets also look neat and tidy in the process! 

2. Overhead Cupboards

Six Sisters

We utilise the overhead space in our kitchens but very rarely do we carry this logical theme through into our laundries. Overhead cabinets in the laundry are great for storing cleaning products or all those random little things that don’t have a proper home. It’s also a good spot to store your chocolate stash because nobody will go in there to look! 

Appliances Online

3. Fold out Ironing Boards/Centres

I will happily admit that I do not iron. I perform the scrunch test on all items of clothing prior to purchase and have informed my partner that if he wishes to wear business shirts he can learn to iron for himself! I do however think that part of this is to do with the effort associated with lugging out the ironing board and iron, setting it up, ironing a few items, and then lugging it back to its home again. Fold out ironing centres have a spot to keep the iron, a power point, a light and a shelf for the other bits you may use when ironing. It takes out all the extra effort associated with ironing and keeps this section of your laundry neat and tidy! 

Housing Touri

4. Hanging Racks

These racks are handy for both drying and ironing clothes. I don’t particularly like to put my nice knitted wear on the clothes line to get blown around so hanging it in the laundry provides a great solution. It also gives you somewhere to hang the ironing if you get onto a real roll, which would never happen in my household. 

Creative Junkie

5. Sink Covers

The laundry sink is used occasionally but for the most part is a waste of bench space! Covering this area with a flat surface increases bench space hides the stuff soaking underneath. Another option is to have a stainless steel rack the fits over the top. It allows you to dry cloths, etc. without them going smelly, and dry the mop and bucket. 

So there you go! My top 5 awesome laundry ideas! 

Beautiful Bluestone

SAI Bluestone

There’s a new kid on the block in the world of natural stones (or at least a revamped one). Natural Bluestone has always been a stone that has been associated with old world pubs and banks, but the new honed and sawn finished from SAI is changing the impression many have about bluestone and bringing the stone into the new era. 

Bluestone fits beautifully with the new contemporary style that many people are now leaning towards and the large number of formats offered by SAI provides a bluestone solution for a variety of applications. 

SAI Bluestone

 The best thing about this product is that it comes with three different coping options! There’s the traditional bullnose, a square edge and an 80mmdropped face coping. The series is also complimented by four different mosaic features, a solid 300x600x20 feature, cobblestones and crazy paving. 

This range is so versatile and stunningly simple. It just oozes elegance and style and compliments a range of colour concepts beautifully. It can be used around pools, for feature pillars, regular old paving or even driveways. 

Whatever your Bluestone application, SAI have the answer!