Tag: decorative tiles

Our Flagship Tile Showroom in Exeter has had a huge transformation! Our renovated showroom seeks to take you on an inspirational tile journey, showcasing a series of room sets, from modern bathrooms and kitchens to colourful feature walls and even gorgeous, garden ideas. Our Exeter Showroom on Apple Lane opened over 30 years ago and we’ve since opened eight more tile showrooms across the UK. We’ve been glazing and firing tiles since 1986, as well as designing exclusive prints to create patterned tiles. Our heritage spans 30 years, with our story beginning in the development of tile sets for cast iron fireplaces. Today, we are renowned for their unrivalled glazes, market leading designs and innovative tile solutions; many of which continue to be produced in Exeter, Devon. The newly renovated showroom offers a distinctive and high-quality portfolio of tiles to suit all budgets. Whether you’re redesigning your bathroom or kitchen, or undertaking a larger renovation project, the refurbished showroom displays a wide range of tiles. Each of our tile ranges is displayed across the showroom in a variety of settings: Kitchen Inspiration; Browse a range of kitchen settings featuring modern floor tiles, colourful glazed options and patterned tiles for the ultimate feature wall or floor. Bathroom Inspiration; Be inspired by lots of tiled bathroom settings, from classic styles featuring our heritage Artworks and Winchester ranges to contemporary spaces featuring large-formats and natural tones. Hallway Inspiration; With a dedicated Victorian Floor Tile area you can find your perfect pattern and colourway. Flooring Inspiration; Explore our wide range of floor tiles, suitable for every room in the home including wood-effect and stone-effect options, parquet style flooring and patterned tiles. Outdoor Inspiration; Discover contemporary outdoor tile solutions with our range of 20mm porcelain tiles. From large gardens and open plan spaces, to smaller areas and terraces, there’s something to complement every outdoor living space. Our Exeter team have over twenty years of experience between them and are on hand to discuss your project and offer design support. Cut and full sized samples are available along with high stock levels and quick delivery, if required. Feeling inspired? Visit our new Exeter Showroom to kick start your tiling project. We look forward to welcoming you soon!   Read more...

We love seeing customer projects come to life, whether it’s a modern kitchen or bathroom, a heritage hallway or a beautiful patio! When we discovered @casaoldcorn on Instagram and saw the most beautiful hallway featuring our Victorian Floor Tiles, we were delighted to work with Lauren and Mark on an exciting fireplace makeover.   Lauren’s Instagram account @casaoldcorn showcases the renovation of her beautiful family home, from her eclectic styling and design to makeover projects and interior ideas. We caught up with Lauren to find out more about how tiles can totally transform a space. Original Style: Can you tell us a little bit about your beautiful home? Lauren: We live in the north east of England and have lived in our home for around five years. Our home is Edwardian and was built in the early 1900s, our first home was a new build but we really love all the character and features you get in a period property.  Original Style: What were your primary goals when it came to updating your home, especially the living area and fireplace? Lauren: Our primary goals when decorating are always to make it more cosy and interesting. With the fireplace we could see its full potential and wanted to make it into more of a feature in the room. We knew the fireplace would look great painted a colour so we opted for a deep blue and we adore Original Style tiles, tiling the fireplace hearth has created so much more impact. We opted for Victorian Floor tiles in a bespoke pattern using pops of pastel colours - it looks amazing!  Original Style: Where did you find the inspiration for your hallway and living room? Lauren: Lots of our inspiration comes from other homes on Instagram. We love bold patterns and colours and have lots of quirky items that are conversation starters throughout our home. We love traditional prints and colours but with a twist. As soon as we moved in we knew tiles would look so much better in the hall than the dark wood floors which were installed beforehand. We had seen others hallways and could see the potential in ours.  Once we had decided on tiles for both the hallway and hearth we went on the hunt for the perfect ones. We found Original Style Victorian Floor tiles and loved all the different patterns and the quality looked great. The Original Style team where so helpful at helping me choose a pattern and colours for the hearth and sending me images to help me pick, they were fantastic and nothing was too much trouble. Original Style: Why did you choose this particular Victorian Floor Tile pattern, border and colourway for your fireplace?  Lauren: We went with the monochrome checkerboard tiles for our hallway as we think they’re stunning and timeless. We know for as-long as we live here they will never age and any decor will easily go with them. We decided to go for a detailed Victorian Floor Tile pattern for our hearth as it’s really traditional but with a little twist which we love. The pastel centres really bring it all to life.  Original Style: How important would you say it is to use a professional tiler? Lauren: We were on the hunt for a good tiler for the job and we found a really good local man to lay them. He was great and took the time and had the skills needed for the job. I think it’s really important to use an experienced tiler as the patterns are complex, with a number of pieces - it’s definitely an art and a job we couldn’t tackle ourselves. Original Style: What would you say to someone looking to incorporate tiled focal points in their home? Lauren: If you’re looking to incorporate tiles into your home, I would say go for it! They add so much character and they’re beautiful. It’s so special adding original features back into a period home. Walking into our home with our beautiful floor brings us so much joy.  Browse the full Victorian Floor Tile range here or check out our brochure for pattern ideas, more real life installations and tips on selecting a border and colourways.   Read more...

We’re passionate about keeping up to date with the latest interior trends, researching innovative styles and new products to forecast what will dominate the interiors scene during 2023. Our tile portfolio offers a wide range of designs, textures, finishes, colours and formats. We have an extensive range to ensure you’re choosing the most up-to-date styles for an interior that you’ll love for years to come. Our in-house designers, Jane Addis and Becca Keenan have done extensive research for 2023 interior trends, carefully selecting the following three key themes that are set to be everywhere throughout the upcoming year. This year we’ve focused on shining a light on timeless tiles from some of our most loved collections with enduring style and quality.   Surface The Surface trend is all about our tiles that we’ve sourced from around the world, highlighting in particular our carefully curated range of contemporary tiles. Think clean lines, mixed formats and unusual surfaces, this trend is great for those looking to achieve a modern yet glamourous finish. Incorporating texture into a scheme is a great way to add detail and interest, without committing to bold colours or patterns. This trend focuses on an eclectic mix of tiles, showcasing some of our most interesting formats and textured products that have been meticulously sourced by our expert teams. Creating a luxe look in your home can be easily achieved by pairing together certain design elements. ‘This trend seeks to bring deep tones, contrasting surface finishes and subtle textural detail together to create an elegant feel with rustic touches. We’ve styled black marble hexagons with distressed pink brick tiles, green and gold accents and natural textures to create a look embodying the Surface trend.’ Becca Keenan, New Products Designer.   Colour Glossy jewel-tones, rich reflections and impact, the Colour trend is all about our glazed tiles. Bolder colours have been slowly making their way to the forefront of design, with vivid ceramics becoming a popular choice for those looking to inject some colour into kitchens, bathrooms, hallways and throughout the home. When it comes to embracing the Colour trend with tiles, the options from our ranges are almost endless. Illustrating a radiant feel, this trend features a range of artisanal tiles that are glazed in our factory. Take a look at bright pink and blue wall tiles from our Winchester collection, the deep tones of green and red from the Artworks range, bold designs from both Odyssey and Living ranges and even heritage shades from our geometric Victorian Floor Tile collection. Manufacturing these tiles in-house allows us to create a vibrant and unique range of timeless colours options, so you can find the perfect shade for your interior. Our hand-mixed glazes have been carefully developed over the decades, with precise and perfected recipes. Each tile is fired in our beloved kilns at an exact temperature and time depending on the recipe and glaze. ‘Embrace the Colour trend with the bold shades of Vermillion, Teal or Straw from the Winchester collection. These vibrant wall tiles feature our signature glossy glaze, creating a luxurious yet lively feel. For a creative style statement choose a complementary yet detailed wallpaper, or a contrasting colour for the floor or even the ceiling. The combination of playful prints and bright colours will help you to achieve a fresh, unique finish in kitchens, bathrooms or hallways.’ Becca Keenan, New Products Designer.   Craft The Craft trend embraces our unique and celebrated manufacturing processes, featuring hand-crafted tiles from our most cherished collections. We've celebrated over 35 years as a leading tile manufacturer with our story beginning in the development of decorative tile sets for cast iron fireplaces. Today, we are renowned for our unrivalled tile glazes, exclusive designs and comprehensive tile options; many of which continue to be produced in Exeter, Devon. ‘The Craft trend celebrates our wide range of manufacturing methods. From screen-printing and hand-painting to casting, moulding, glazing and digital printing - everything we produce in our Devon factory is unique thanks to the experience and passion of the skilled crafts people, artists and designers who make up our team.’  Jane Addis, New Products & Design Manager. Our unique manufacturing story has allowed us to create a beautiful range of tiles. Our in-house creative team are at the forefront of ceramic techniques including hand-painted intricate florals, botanical details, raised fruits, screen-printed heritage designs, larger format decoratives and glaze development. These wonderful tiles include timeless delft drawings and Art-Deco designs all the way through to contemporary prints and patterns that have been designed by our specialist teams and printed on our state-of-the-art digital printer.  ‘To achieve this look style our checkerboard effect Harlequin tiles from the Odyssey Grande collection with softly glazed Mere field tiles from the Winchester Cosmopolitan collection. Together these tiles create the basis for a rustic yet timeless kitchen or bathroom space.’ Becca Keenan, New Products Designer.   Read more...

The hallway is the first room you and your guests see when entering your home, so it’s worth investing in the design to make a great first impression. This room can sometimes be overlooked as one of the less frequently used rooms in the home. But opting for hard-wearing yet beautiful geometric floor tiles is a great way to add character as well as practicality. Victorian Floor tiles are renowned for decorating the floors of period properties. From simple chequerboard pathways to detailed porches and entryways, this style of geometric tiling has never gone out of style. Our Victorian Floor tile patterns are made up of individual pieces such as squares, rectangles, triangles and hexagons in many sizes and colours. This allows for the creation of lots of pattern options like the classic octagon-dot and more complex layouts, that incorporate a number of pieces. It also helps for those working with older properties where walls and floors may be a little uneven, the small, individual tiles allow for greater flexibility on installation and can be cut to fit tricky spaces. Our Victorian Floor Tile collection is produced using similar production techniques to their original counterparts, which adds to their authentic charm and means they will last for generations to come. To create something truly unique, explore our range of decorative drop in tiles to really set off the look. If you have a dark hallway, it might be worth leaning into a more atmospheric style with dark walls and a contrasting floor. A really important part of selecting your Victorian Floor Tiles is taking some time to look and feel samples. You can create your own mood-boards, play around with shapes and colourways and start to think about which pattern you will go for. Choose from a variety of colours including traditional Buff and Red, classic Black and White, contemporary greys and even pastel tones. These colours are designed to work together and complement each other in order to create a range of pattern options. Whatever your taste, Victorian Floor Tiles can act as the foundation to build upon. While some designs may be seen as complex and bold, the designs can be paired with a variety of schemes. To really express your style go for bold wallpaper, complementary paint colours and playful accessories and create a gorgeous, eclectic space as pictured above. Or, if you prefer neutral interiors, pare back a bold pattern with light walls and fresh lighting. …So if you’re thinking of installing Victorian Floor tiles in your home or just want to find out more about our iconic range, take a look at our brochure and find your nearest retailer here Read more...

Bold botanical palm leaves, gorgeous green tones and our signature glossy tile glaze – Paradis Mere is our Tile of the Year for 2023! We have been nominating a Tile of the Year for the last six years, choosing exclusive tiles like Paradis Mere that are truly unique and set to influence upcoming trends.Small in format but bold in design, Paradis Mere has four faces. Each face showcases more of the pattern, offering a varied abundance of tropical leaves. Inspired by gorgeous botanical gardens and the summer palms found in Devon’s local areas of outstanding beauty, Paradis Mere was a natural choice for our Tile of the Year 2023.Paradis Mere has been designed and developed in our Design Studio in Devon and is manufactured in Exeter by our skilled and passionate production team. Using some of the most authentic manufacturing processes and glaze recipes, this tile is truly unique. Each tile is hand-crafted by skilled artisans using the longstanding screen printing method which, together with its reactive inks, means each kiln produces a different effect, so no two tiles are the same.‘We really love the unpredictable, rustic nature of reactive print. Botanical motifs are here to stay for the foreseeable - palms especially. After spending time visiting local botanical gardens, we saw this project as the perfect opportunity to combine them both together to create Botanique Paradis! Designed, developed, and produced in our Devon factory, Botanique really embodies the skilled craftsmanship and passion that we have for creating new products at Original Style.’ Becca Keenan New Products Designer. Botanique Paradis Mere is a versatile product, create a range of different looks with this tile – whatever your style! For a rustic kitchen look, mix up the faces, using ‘Mere’ or the coordinating plain tile 'Cotton' from our Winchester collection, to break the pattern up and add a pop of colour.For something more edgy, try using Paradis inside a shower enclosure without any coordinating plain tiles mixed in. You could use ‘Mere’ to tile the rest of the room, or maybe even just choose some areas to create a zoned effect. For a subtle look, team with our new ‘Cotton’ field tiles, their soft white glaze coordinates perfectly with Paradis Mere.Paradis Mere is a brand new tile and its versatile design can be styled to create a range of different looks - contemporary or traditional. But, however you choose to style Paradis Mere, this tile will no doubt bring a unique, botanical touch to your interior décor and we hope it brings as much joy to you as creating it has to us! To discover more about our Tile of the Year campaigns, click here.  Read more...

Victorian geometric floor tiles have been used in interiors for decades and are still just as popular today, especially for those renovating period properties. Our collection began in 1990 and since then we have developed an extensive collection. We’re proud to offer a range of shapes, colours and hand-crafted decorated tiles that are created in our Devon factory. Here’s our guide on Victorian Floor Tiles.   A brief history With these geometric floor tiles dating back to the 1800’s, it’s fair to say that the Victorians knew a thing or two about enduring style, as this trend has truly stood the test of time! For many years Victorian floor tiles were found mainly in castles, palaces, churches and pubs but from around 1860, many British homes began being built with tiled front paths, porches and hallways. Favoured for their durability and hard-wearing properties, as well as beauty and charm, Victorian floor tiles have been growing in popularity ever since, especially for homeowners today who are renovating period properties but wanting to stay true to their original features such as geometric tiled floors.   Areas of use Although often found in hallways and pathways, Victorian floor tiles are also brilliant for kitchens, bathrooms and living spaces. There durability makes them a great choice for high traffic areas and means they can withstand the tread of everyday life – whilst still looking fantastic! Our Victorian Floor Tile collection is produced using similar production techniques to their original counterparts, which adds to their authentic charm and means they will last for generations to come. As the patterns are made up of individual pieces, it means tricky areas like corners can be tiled to perfection and you don’t need to worry about things looking uneven or unfinished. When compared mesh-mounted (i.e. mosaic) alternatives, individual tiles allow for greater flexibility upon installation and provide a more aesthetic and authentic finish. Back in the Victorian era, this is how these tiles were installed – it’s a true craft and takes more time than your average tiling project but the finished result is worth it. While Victorian floor tiles are often associated with grandeur and large rooms, they also look fantastic in smaller areas, especially for adding a touch of luxury and style. These spaces typically include fireplace hearths and small porches.   Colours, patterns and borders Our Victorian floor tiles are made of clay and powdered glazes, then fired in a kiln, giving them a matt finish in many colour options. As individual pieces create the patterns and borders, there are a wealth of design options to choose from, or you could even create your own bespoke pattern, the opportunities really are endless! Starting with the simple checkerboard, in either classic black and white, buff and red or even contemporary greys. These patterns are known to us as Cambridge (a square checkerboard) and Oxford (a checkerboard where the square is on its point to create a diamond effect). The same patterns can also be created using smaller square tiles, known as the Wellington and Dorchester patterns. For something with a little more detail, there are patterns such as Norwich and Falkirk. Again you can use a number of colourways, from cool greys and monochromes to greens, blues and browns. For larger areas we love the look of more complex patterns, such as Blenheim and Hexham. Borders are great for framing an area and provide the perfect finishing touch, there are many borders to choose from, the Kingsley border is a popular choice Take a look at our decorative options too, the popular Salisbury tile in tones of grey is wonderfully detailed. There’s also tile set options for those looking to make a statement. If you fancy creating your own bespoke pattern, you can view all the colour and shape options in our brochure. Once you’ve got something in mind, we offer a CAD (Computer Aided Design) service to help you visualise pattern and bring your project to life.   Installation We always recommend using a professional tiler when installing Victorian floor tiles in order to achieve the best possible finish. This type of tiling is a true craft and takes skill and experience to produce a quality finish that will stand the test of time. Much of the work when tiling is in the preparation, from levelling floors to working out how best to lay the chosen pattern. Your local retailer will be able to assist in helping you find a tiler. Our CAD service is also available for tile quantity guidance as well as to help you see your chosen pattern in your home – whether that’s bespoke or one of our existing patterns.   Inspiration If you’re considering Victorian Floor Tiles, we recommend doing your research and getting samples to try at home. Some of the best places to get inspiration are Pinterest and Instagram, as well as in our very own Victorian Floor Tile brochure.     Read more...

Are you dreaming of a space that’s distinctively different? It’s time to bring your vision to life. The Living collection offers wall tiles with a twist, in a range of patterns perfect for adding that personal touch.   Our Living Collection is on-trend, full of style, and now home to six brand new ranges! Each range has a different feel and a different pattern, so they appeal to a wide range of tastes and lifestyles.  All the designs have been created and produced by our in-house teams in our dedicated factory in Exeter, Devon. The introduction of these new ranges includes Arbour, ‘Trellis’, ‘Malmo’, and ‘Artistry’, all of which are elegant and graceful in design. The precious ‘Radiance’ and ‘Afterglow’ ranges are produced using a delicate printing material that creates a magical ‘lustre’ effect, here’s a closer look at the new collection:   Arbour Adorn your walls with top-to-toe botanical tumbling foliage, inspired by trailing florals like wisteria; these graceful patterns will awaken any interior space.   Trellis Cool and Contemporary prints to harmonise any space   Malmo Add a touch of cosiness with the warm tones of Malmo, inspired by traditional Scandinavian folk art. These soothing hues elevate a neutral palette, perfect for creating a cool yet cosy feel.   Artistry Patterns can be incorporated into all manner of interior schemes and these modern rustic tiles exude charm and character, bringing rooms to life   Radiance Give your walls an oh so suave update with these geometric patterns all in a chic, iridescent finish, perfect for adding some 1920’s vivacity   Afterglow Fun, fresh, playful prints in 3 distinctive patterns perfect for those looking to interject some personality to a space Read more...

Living – it’s time to start! Here’s a new approach to tiling – eight capsule collections of large format tiles designed for different lifestyles and tastes.   All the designs have been created, produced and delivered by our in-house teams and they completely embody our unique style. The tile patterns are printed on-site in our dedicated printing unit in Exeter, here in the heart of Devon. To complement the range each collection has a plain coordinating tile to go alongside each pattern.Over the next two weeks we will be revealing the entire range here on the blog and on our inspiration pages, starting with Palazzo. This collection is a mix of timeless and glamorous designs that look as if they have been inlaid on classical Carrara marble, perfect for adding a touch of luxury to kitchens and bathrooms. For something completely different yet totally on trend we’ve designed Eden, lush and leafy designs in subtle tones of green and grey. Choose from three patterns, ‘Glade’ - a delicate bouquet of ferns, ‘Pergola’ (which has tailing fronds and gentle details), and ‘Hothouse’ - a riot of palm leaves!   Maison is inspired by French interiors and comes in three pattern sizes. Think effortless elegance, understated patterns and subtle flourishes. These muted French blue designs are printed on a softly textured off white base tile with a linen style texture. The Opera collection was influenced by traditional damask wallpaper. There are three designs, all with timeless appeal, in a light or dark colourway. Opera can be styled in both modern and traditional ways creating a simple, elegant statement for any room Read more...

We’re so excited to announce the launch of the Mezzo collection, our latest range of patterned floor tiles that also look fabulous on walls as well! This new collection has been added to the Odyssey Collection, our popular range of eclectic designs that have been inspired by arts and cultures from around the globe.   Mezzo’s new nine exclusive patterns have been designed in-house, taking inspiration from everything from traditional tiles and rugs to ancient art. But these designs are anything but old fashioned – they have a modern feel with an urban edge… As well as being designed here they are also printed in our Exeter factory, in the heart of Devon. The cement-effect surface has a slightly aged, worn look. The subtle colour palette of duck egg blue and grey on the warm beige base is limited so the nine designs can be combined into an elegant mélange as well as working beautifully as individual layouts.     Read more...

Updating any room in your home is exciting, especially the kitchen, which for many families is the heart of the home. There is so much to think about when choosing your kitchen style and tiles can often be an afterthought. This week we’ve put together 5 easy mistakes to avoid when selecting your kitchen tiles, so that you can make the best possible choice for your home.   Not doing your research You might have your heart set on the exact style of kitchen you want, which is great, but sometimes thinking about other, maybe more practical options is worthwhile. You might be surprised and even change your mind. We love this guide from Ideal Home which breaks down the steps into planning a kitchen.  When it comes to selecting tiles, we recommend visiting your local retailer to browse the huge selection of products that are available. Bringing samples home with you is a great way to get a feel for the product and see how it works with the lighting in your kitchen, as this can make a big difference on the final effect.   Overlooking aftercare Aftercare is so important with tiles, especially in areas that are exposed to water, like behind the sink. Sealing your tiles will make them easier to clean and help them look their best for longer. Not mixing before you fix We’ve mentioned this a few times on our blog but with any tiles you purchase, we always recommend you check each box and mix the tiles before you fix them to the wall or floor. Lots of our tiles are handcrafted with undulating glazes, such as tiles from the Winchester Tile collection and the Artworks collection. These glazes catch the light differently and checking out the shade variation in them before installation means you can properly arrange the tiles to create a more even look.   Not trying out different grout Grout makes a huge difference to the overall appearance of your tiles so it’s worth trying out what works for you and what doesn’t. Grey grout is hugely popular at the moment and a great way to add some definition into your scheme, especially against crisp whites as shown below.   Taking shortcuts Although it can be tempting to have a go at some DIY and install the tiles yourself, tiling is a skill that requires experience and we always recommend hiring a professional. Paying a bit more for a tiler is a great investment, especially when it comes to something likeVictorian Floor tiles, as they can be tricky to install. Although this style of flooring is often associated with hallways and paths, Victorian Floor Tiles also look fantastic in a kitchen, not to mention their hardwearing qualities which make them the perfect tiles for the high traffic and spills endured by our kitchens Read more...