Fun with Colour...

Pencil Box by SCC

Summer is the time of year where everything turns from drab, boring shades to stunning bright colours and thankfully, this season is starting to bring some colour back to the tile industry. 

We have had a limited release of products that have coloured options for floor, a couple more for wall, but most of these coloured items are designed for use as features. 

One of my personal favourites at the moment is the Pencil Box range from Southern Cross. This product is Australian made, fantastic quantity, and has striking colour matched with subdued neutral tones. This product gives you the oomph without being too over the top for those that are less daring. 

Stile by Refin Ceramiche

I’m also quite a fan of the Stile series by Refin Ceramiche. The black concept inset comes in a variety of different colours, however the importers for this product only bring in the red, nero and bianco colour ways. It is so striking and different, with strong bold colour options and a classy floral pattern.

Yet, still, the most popular option is the Matrix series from Southern Cross Ceramics. This series offers a huge range of 72 colours all available in 16 different formats.  That’s 1200 different options and a huge array of different combinations. These tiles can be paired with each other to create a multitude of different looks. ‘Same Colour, Different Format’ or ‘Different Colour, Same Format’ offers a point of difference while still remaining sleek and streamlined. 

Matrix by SCC

In addition to these ranges, we have a large array of coloured mosaics with new releases happening regularly and our wonderful team are most happy to help you work to achieve a design with a colourful difference. Paired with black and white as a base, almost anything goes... and if it doesn’t we can just change the base colours.

D.I.Y.

BathroomRenovationsPerth

It’s been a busy couple of days at Ultimate Tiles. Last week's bad weather seems to have pulled everyone from the beaches, into our showrooms, and back to their home renovation projects. This week we have had many people in quizzing us about how they should go about their DIY projects and our
trade centres have been dishing out advice left right and centre.

We have everything you need to complete your DIY tiling project. From primer, to glue, to grout, to tools, and obviously tiles, but the most important thing we have is the right advice. We also stock shower grates, soap holders, glass shelves, tile trims and Jigsaw shower bases. All the things you need to get a professional finish when working on your own.

My philosophy on DIY tiling is that if I can do it, so can you. Obviously it probably won’t have the same perfect finish that you would expect from a professional tiler, but with a bit of patience you can come pretty close.

There are a few things that are important to remember when you are attempting your own tiling job;

DIYLife

• Primer is a must!  It stops your glue from delaminating which causes tiles to lift. 
• Waterproofing is now part of the Australian Tiling Standards. If you do not have your bathrooms waterproofed by a qualified waterproofer, and you have a leak, you could find yourself in all sorts of strife.
• A minimum of 3mm grout joins on the floor and 1.5mm on the wall. Again by Australian Standards.
• Stick to the same brand of Primer, Waterproof, Glue and Grout. They are designed to be compatible which can prevent many problems in the long run.
• Tile spacers are not designed to be left in the grout joint. As a home handyperson you will get a much better result if you take the spacers out. 
• Try to avoid making your first attempt at tiling a 600x600 rectified tile. There is a reason that tilers charge more to lay them. 
  

If you are after any further advice on how to attempt your next project, pop in to one of our stores today. you can also find further 'how to' information on our website or the ParexDavco website.

Classic Country Charm

Sourec

There’s something so comforting and welcoming about a country kitchen. It reminds me of many school holidays spent with my Nanna learning to cook and trying to master the art of making pancakes. She had a wonderful kitchen that was certainly not modern but was filled with warmth and many little trinkets that were reflective of her and our family. 

There were a couple of key elements in her kitchen that, even as a child, stuck in my head as important parts of this style. Her bench was never clear of objects, there were always appliances, herbs and spices, recipe books and cooking utensils scattered around. She could never see the point in putting something away that she was going to need an hour or two later. 

Wood featured heavily in her kitchen and does in many country style kitchens. Nan’s cabinets were all made of wood with detailed panelling however I have in recent times seen many examples where the cabinets are in a modern cream with a beautiful wooden bench top which also looks wonderful. The room should also, ideally, have large windows and a lot of natural light providing warmth. 

Sourec

A country kitchen is the hub of the home, where meals are prepared lovingly and shared with the whole family around the dinner table. For this reason there was no television in Nan’s kitchen. Lunch and tea time were about spending quality time together and T.V. only provided a distraction. 

All of our meals were cooked on a reliable upright cooker, which by today’s standards would be considered quite small, but Nan always managed to create culinary masterpieces. Falcon/AndiCo have sensational cookers that I have always admired, and one day, when I have a kitchen big enough, I will own a 110cm Falcon cooker. 

Nan’s tiles weren’t a statement, but classic and complimentary to the rest of her kitchen. She was proud of her tile selection as they suited her house famously. They were warm, neutral and non-rectified and carried the theme of her kitchen throughout her entire house. The tiles in this style must remain rustic and natural in finish. Big format tiles generally don’t sit so well in this style as they are too modern for the classic charm this style oozes. Simple 100x100 or 100x200 tiles for the splashback are often the best option, with something stone-like and matt finish for the floor. 

Showcase

Though this style has been around for years, it is still one which is extremely popular as it constantly remains classy and attractive. Sadly, the supply demand for large, modern tiles has seen a decline in the range of products available for this style. Fortunately though, we do still have a reasonable range of 100x100 format tiles, a few options in 100x200, and a large range of stunning marble features they can be paired with.To view the options we have available, please visit us in store. 

Renovating on a Budget

A shower fit out in 'Standard Range' tiles

For many people the idea of renovating seems daunting, complex and financially unattainable. However, with our current economic climate, we are seeing people become more and more adventurous as they try to captialise on what they already have, rather than upgrade to a newly built home. 

It's fair to say that renovating can be costly, however it doesn’t have to cost tens of thousands of dollars and it doesn't need to look cheap and nasty. Granted you probably won’t get much in the way of polished porcelain or rectified tiles but it is still possible to achieve a really nice result without spending too much. 

We have a large range of tiles that come in under the $30.00m2 mark. We tend not to deal with anything ultra cheap, because in this instance the price certainly reflects the quality of the tile and just ends up causing our clients more headaches and expense in the long run. It's possible using our ‘standard range’ to tile an average sized bathroom for under $500 or retile your kitchen splashback for $100. 

A selection of our 'Standard Range' floors

It just means cutting back a bit and not having floor to ceiling tiles or anything overly luxurious, and giving it a stab yourself. There are also plenty of plumbing discount centres (both online and in the flesh) and reasonably priced cabinet makers or, alternately, a can of acrylic paint can make old tired cupboards look new again. 

Setting aside a hundred or so dollars for mosaics is also a worthwhile investment and gives the room a real lift. 

If you’re after information on how to get the most for your money, or how to go about attempting your next project, contact your local Ultimate Tiles store.

Fabulous Folio

Today’s post has been written by Jan from our Mornington Store...

WHY ARE ALL THE GIRLS AT ULTIMATE TILES SO EXCITED???

Botanica

Because of an exciting new range release from Southern Cross Ceramics, an Australian owned company that specialise in top quality decorative products. Their latest range is called the Folio Series and we LOVE IT!!! 

There are nine different concepts in two sizes and varying colour ways. 

Weave

All compliment using larger format wall tiles with the flexibility of being able to be laid vertically or horizontally, in a solid panel or spaced between the body wall tiles at random. 

The range has funky floral as well as chic and contemporary designs.

If you have a new project in mind, we suggest that you take a peek at this range. You are sure to be as impressed as we are.

Stunning Stone Solutions

Maison Designs

The range of beautiful products offered by Maison Design are amongst the favorites of our team at Ultimate. They offer such a diverse range of beautiful items; stunning wall panel features, water features, paving, tables, sculpture screens, planter pots, the list is endless. 

The Masion range of reconstituted products has a solution for every project. Each item within the range has been carefully selected to complement each other and provide a multitude of different options and ideas.

Maison Designs

We adore this collection of products so much that we are dedicating a large section of our new external display to them, something which is coming together nicely. 

Brochures and colour samples can be obtained by contacting your local store. These contact details can be found on our website.

Japanese Beauty

seasonalhomedecoration

Traditionally, baths in Japan are used for relaxing rather than cleaning the body, a tradition which is reflected in their bathroom design. Japanese bathrooms are created as a sanctuary defined by clean lines, minimalistic furnishings and the use of a multitude of natural products.

I’ve always loved this particular style for its simplicity and elegance. It’s also a style which can be duplicated with budget range products or the crème de la crème. It works well in large areas and small. It also lends itself well to areas which are generally quite dark. Such a large expanse of white gives light to the room, while any remaining shadows enhance the concept and add drama and depth.

trendir

This concept consists of four main elements; white walls, dark charcoal-black floors, natural timber vanities/detailing and natural stones. I also love how plants play a feature role in this style. They soften the distinct lines and strong colours, promoting a calming effect within the room and with such a large array of fake plants on the market it’s easy to find something which suits your application perfectly, without requiring any TLC.

Everything about this style is so simple, yet so effective. It doesn’t require lots of fussy little things to finish it off (and collect dust), just a few well thought out objects strategically placed around the  room. 

This style doesn't just give you a luxury bathroom (or home), but a sanctuary. Somewhere you can escape to after a long day at work, or when the kids are driving you absolutely mental.