Tiles - where to get ones that are actually nice colours?!

[lowrib]

I'm looking for tiles for my new kitchen. We're not sure exactly what we want, but we'd like something with a bit of colour and thought maybe something yellowish or warm-coloured maybe as it'll go with the kitchen (but not too intense unfortunatly as we'll be renting the flat out.)

Been to everywhere I can think of locally, but I think we must be out of step with current tile trends - besides the standard blacks / whites / beiges (sorry stone) they only seem to stock greens and blues - many of which are lovely, but won't go with my kitchen. Oh and red.

So where can I go for a wide range of colours? I can't believe nowhere at all stocks yellows / oranges?!

TIA

Do you have to have tiles? They are a bit out of fashion in kitchens at the moment (which may be why you are seeing more bathroomy colours)

Plus yellow and orange ate quite statementy so possibly not widely appealling anyway.

I have just used a splashback behind the hob and washable paint.

Have you tried Fired Earth?

Yes - glass splashback? But this is quite contemporary.

Also may be more expensive so not good if for renting. Topps Tiles have a very wide selection, although we did masses of research for our showers ( me through gritted teeth as I wanted glass, DH won that one ) and ended up getting some very plain ones from Homebase of all places.

We have a few out of town shopping hellholes near us that as well as housing PC World etc have numerous specilaist home improvement places including about 3 big tile superstores. ( incl Topps ).

We've been ooh-ing at the glass tiles - very nice! But at £6.99 each!!! I'm afraid my tennants are going to miss out on that one!

I'm open to other ideas. If you don't use tiles what do you do?

We though about just going for a splashback, but the wall by the sink needs something really. I was wondering about using some other kind of material all the way round, rather than tiles. They do it in glass (I forget what they call them, but they're effectively splashbacks that go up about 8 inches) but again they're very pricey in glass. I wonder if they come in other materials? Does anyone know where we'd start looking for such a thing.

We've tried topps tiles. They do have a wide selection, but unless you go for the really pricey stuff, the one near us is all bathroom colours, really bright indeed or variants on beige. Perhaps I need to try a larger one.

I haven't tried Fired Earth or Homebase, I'll have a look again today.

The builder is in, and nearly finished on the bathroom so the pressure's on!

Sorry, I totally forgot my manners!
Thanks, DecorHate and taffetacat!

Fired Earth tiles are gorgeous, but they aren't exactly cheap.

I think B&Q do glass splashbacks in a variety of colours - pobably worth a look.

Yes you can get perspex. Its much cheaper than glass, but you can't use it near heat so not for by hob. Fine for sink though. Bear in mind it may scratch a bit.

Oooh I love [http://www.firedearthshop.com/epages/FEShop.sf/en_GB/?ObjectPath=/Shops/FEShop/Categories/Browse_Ca talogue/WallTiles/TileBasics/Collage&PageSize=200 these]]!

Especially the pencil line detail.

But not suitable for a rented flat I know

oops, let's try again

www.firedearthshop.com/epages/FEShop.sf/en_GB/?ObjectPath=/Shops/FEShop/Categories/Browse_Catalogue/ WallTiles/TileBasics/Collage&PageSize=200

If it scratches easily I'm guessing that's not great for a rented flat?

Would look nice though ...

This is the kitchen we've got

With very similar worktops, and black granite floor, but no wall cupboards (ceilings too low.

The flat's in a basement and the kitchen doesn't get an awful lot of light, so we're steering clear of anything too dark.

Bloody hell Fired Earth are expensive! Gorgeous, but way too nice for my tenants I'm afraid!

It's only a 1 bed in Hackney, not a penthouse in Mayfair!

here are B and Q's glass splashbacks. You could paint the wall behind whatever colour you like - a friend did this in lime green - it needed 4 coats - and then put the splashback over.

Oh, I see now it's the ones I like which are particularly pricey. Think I must have expensive tastes

They're lovely taffetacat!

But if you go for a glass splashback what do you do with the rest of the walls? What about the rest of the kitchen e.g. behind the sink?

Sorry if that's a daft question. You'd think with the amount of time I've spent watching Sarah Beenie and co I'd just know these things!

Hmmm. Glass splashback and white tiles maybe?

Homebase looks good actually.

OK, on the list for this weekend are

• Homebase in Walthamstow
• Fired Earth in Islington

so far.

Also maybe a bigger BnQ - the tiles at the local one were all a bit beige really, but they had some stuff in their catalogue that ooked OK.

One splashback behind the hob and one behind the sink? Do you have any stainless steel appliances? because Ikea do really cheap stainless steel splashbacks which would be great if you are on a budget. And I think they do glass ones in the same range too.

I agree that custom-made glass splashbacks are pricy but probably a lot cheaper than paying a tiler. If you go to a glass merchants they can do one in whatever size you want and you can have it painted in your chosen colour (rather than painting the wall behind)

Ikea glass ones

here

Or they now do coloured wall panels

here

Didn't think of IKEA, but there is one not too far from the homebase come to think of it.

DP was there just yesterday in fact, for something else entirely. I'm sure he'll be delighted to go back again today!

What seems the norm is to have a coloured splashback and white walls. Altho if you have no sunlight creamy colour may be better.

Tiles bought!

We found a great tile shop, I highly recommend it ...

The Homebase range was rubbish, as was BnQ. The IKEA panels looked really cheap and Topps Tiles didn't have what we wanted, and the tiles were overpriced IMO.

But thanks so much for your suggestions - while driving from Homebase to IKEA we came across Al Murad, who are brilliant! (I've never heard of them before but they're national apparently. The one we went to is in Walthamstow). Were it not for your suggestions of Homebase and IKEA we wouldn't have chanced upon it.

Their selection is brilliant - they've got everything you could think of from plain or traditional to very funky indeed.

It's all displayed really nicely so you can see what it'll look like - rather than having to imagine it from a couple of tiles, they give you free samples to take away, the sales staff are really friendly and gave helpful advice.

But most of all, the prices are excellent. For example, they've got the same funky glass tiles for £1.99 each, that Topps Tiles are selling for £6.99! And they let us buy individual tiles (rather than by the box, so we didn't waste money by have to round it up to the nearest metre). They say their prices and range are good because they import the tiles themselves.

I must sound like an advert for them! I'm not on commission honest! It's just I've been living world-of-tiles for the last week, and become slightly obsessed I think! Also I've been really underwhelmed by the what's on offer in B&Q / Topps Tiles etc, and was delighted to find these guys.

Their website is total pants! But definitely worth a visit if you're after tiles. www.al-murad.co.uk

HTH someone else searching for tiles