Project Showcase: Easy Elegance

DESIGNED BY JO BROWN, THE FOUNDER OF TILEHOUSE STUDIO

The vast and elegant kitchen has two islands - one with seating for informal dining - and a cosy seating area with a media unit. Artisans of Devizes’ Aquitaine Limestone flooring was perfect for the scheme. ‘We were able to choose the colour of the cabinets so we opted for one that really complemented the tone of the limestone,’ says Jo. She chose All White for the kitchen cabinets and Mouse’s Back for the media unit, both by Farrow & Ball, to set off the greeny tones of the marble floor.

Each of the bathrooms features pure marble from Artisans of Devizes on the flooring, vanity unit countertops, and on the walls, except one room, which has a bamboo-effect porcelain wall tile, also from Artisans of Devizes. ‘We wanted different takes on marble, so we did metro, scallop, leaf and reeded - it gave interest to what we were doing but also used a beautiful product in different ways,’ says Jo. ‘We wanted individuality for each shower room. I love working with marble because it is such a beautiful product.’

For the flooring in the main bathroom, the owners fell in love with a chocolate brown marble they spotted in a hotel. A statement rolltop bath and panelled walls contribute to the period feel of the space. Jo created a statement floor with Mizu marble mosaic leaf tile, which creates a herringbone effect, around the bath, with Aliseo square marble tiles in the rest of the room and incorporated the owners’ must-have stone with a chocolate brown Mayfair marble stone border trim for contrast. ‘It is lovely to finish such a majestic space with a beautiful border tile,’ says Jo.

The main shower with its bespoke floating seat meanwhile exudes the wow factor with Calacatta Oceana Oro, an amazing veined marble. ’It has drama but it is still elegant,’ says Jo. The marble has warm tones to link to the caramel shades in the main bedroom.

Jo opted for marble with a grey vein in the other shower rooms because it toned with the colour schemes of the other bedrooms. The Mizu marble mosaic leaf tiles were also used on the wall in one of the daughter’s shower rooms where it makes a striking splashback. A handy niche was incorporated for toiletries, and a floating bench in Aliseo marble.

Another daughter’s shower room has a feminine feel with Aliseo Marble Mosaic scallop tiles, made from a classic white marble with a subtle grey veining, creating a lovely textural effect. Again, a  niche creates space for toiletries, while an Aliseo marble floating bench tones beautifully.

To ring the changes, Jo used grey Bamboo porcelain tiles in the son’s shower room, with a floating bench and floor tiles in Aliseo marble. ‘We opted for slim rectangular tiles and a slightly darker tone. It is a little more masculine,’ she says.

The rectangular tile is mirrored in another daughter’s shower room where Mizu Reed Mosaic tiles create an elegant look.

Finally, the guest shower features Aliseo Metro marble tiles with Mizu marble pencil beading for a panelling effect. ‘Incorporating beading embedded into the tiling is a beautiful way to present a metro tile,’ says Jo. An Aliseo marble floating shower seat and floor tiles complete the look.