How Do I Decide Which Beautiful Natural Stone or Porcelain Tile to Use?
13th March 2014
Here at Floors of Stone we get asked this question regularly. Sometimes it’s just the size or format of the tile which presents customers with a decision to make; sometimes it’s narrowing the stone choice down to just one! We now have such an extensive range of natural stone and porcelain tiles, it can often make the decision process for customers a lot harder, as in most cases, they are only able to choose one. We appreciate choosing the ‘right’ stone is a big decision as it is a big investment and once it is down it is there to stay.
A good place to start is choosing a stone tile which will complement your property or room in which you intend to lay the stone. For example, we have some beautiful large format limestone tiles which look great in older properties or cottages, giving the traditional flagstone look. The ever popular Umbrian Limestone and Worn Grey Limestone, which we have laid in the cellar at our new premises, Cotes Mill, are two such examples. If you are after something a bit lighter, the Worn Ivory Sandstone is a great alternative and with many of these flagstones being suitable for internal and external use allowing you to create the ‘infinity’ look, with the same stone following through from your internal living space onto a patio or landscaped garden area.
Our unfilled and tumbled travertine tiles are also an excellent choice for a more rustic, country finish. The heavily tumbled edges and naturally pitted surface give an authentic, aged appearance. A contrast between rustic and modern can also look unexpected and give the room added interest.
If you are looking for a more contemporary, clean looking tile, then we also have lots of options. Limestone tiles, such as the Limra Limestone, Myra Limestone and Monaco Limestone, which are beautifully light and have a neat square edge, can bring a touch of sophistication and simplicity to a room.
Our polished or honed marble tiles have wonderful variation throughout, making them look truly stunning in the right setting. One of the latest trends in tiling for 2014 is wall-to-wall marble in the bathroom, which is a great way to make your space look bigger. The photo below is of the Cappuccino Polished Marble and we think it looks great against the crisp white bathroom suite.
If you are after something a bit more dramatic and to really make a feature of you floor, slate tiles are an excellent option. The Brazilian Black or Green Slates work well as a contrast in rooms with lots of natural light, or the multi-colours of the Peacock Slate are a fantastic feature against a plain, simple kitchen.
And let’s not forget our fantastic range of porcelain tiles. They are very practical with minimal upkeep – great if you have a house full of children you’re forever cleaning up after. We have a range of quartz porcelain tiles, which are of a consistent colour throughout or we are also proud to sell Villeroy & Boch Porcelain tiles, which have a bit more texture and variation to them in keeping with natural stone.
Whatever you are interested in, don’t be afraid to give us a call and ask our opinion or advice. As my colleagues have mentioned previously, we are all stone bores, so we can, and do, talk about stone flooring all day long and will do our best to help you make the right choice for your home.
