Interior Design
Spotted! A Fresh Spin on the Patterned Tile Mash-up
Singapore's no stranger to patterned tiles, but this on-trend way of using them is bringing a revival of sorts
Peranakan tiles – elsewhere in the world known as Majolica tiles for their origins in Majorca, Spain – have a meaningful way of telling a story. The Art Noveau-influenced graphics of historic Peranakan tiles symbolised something – such as the family name or business – and different tiles were combined to identify the family who owned the mansion that the Peranakan tiles decorated.
Salvage and restoration of tiles
These days, however, Peranakan tiles are more often collected as nostalgic pieces, and regular patterned ceramic tiles are mixed and matched in a pot-pourri.
Photo by Jericho Law
Shades of grey
Black and white tiles create a backsplash with overall grey tones in this predominantly wood-surfaced kitchen. The mix of patterns as well as the colour scheme allow the power points and cords to blend in better with the kitchen counter, too…
Shades of grey
Black and white tiles create a backsplash with overall grey tones in this predominantly wood-surfaced kitchen. The mix of patterns as well as the colour scheme allow the power points and cords to blend in better with the kitchen counter, too…
… The black-and-white mix is more pronounced in this kitchen, with a glossy black countertop contrasting with the white overhead cabinets…
… while in this foyer, the black and white mix draws the eye to the floor…
Photo by Allen Tan
… And in this bathroom, the black-and-white tiles have a touch of sepia that fashionably ties in with the dark brown vanity cabinet fronts.
… And in this bathroom, the black-and-white tiles have a touch of sepia that fashionably ties in with the dark brown vanity cabinet fronts.
Softly monochromatic
In this bathroom, the mix-and-match tiles were selected from the same colourway, which complements the wood-grain hues of the floor, creating a monochromatic look that’s far from blah.
In this bathroom, the mix-and-match tiles were selected from the same colourway, which complements the wood-grain hues of the floor, creating a monochromatic look that’s far from blah.
Floor show
Matte grey floor tiles contrast with the glossy patterned tiles on the wall of this walk-in wardrobe and bathroom. The blue oriental-style ladder adds a pop of colour without distracting from the mix-and-match pattern.
Take the Houzz Tour
Matte grey floor tiles contrast with the glossy patterned tiles on the wall of this walk-in wardrobe and bathroom. The blue oriental-style ladder adds a pop of colour without distracting from the mix-and-match pattern.
Take the Houzz Tour
Going Mediterranean
The mishmash mix here is enhanced by the choice of patterns for a romantic Mediterranean getaway feel in a small Singapore bathroom…
The mishmash mix here is enhanced by the choice of patterns for a romantic Mediterranean getaway feel in a small Singapore bathroom…
… The blue-and-white mix takes on a bolder look in this bathroom, with more saturated blues. This makes the tiled walls the focal point in this tiny bathroom, distracting the eye from the small footprint.
Singing the blues
The blue-and-white scheme is all over this kitchen. Slashes of brown, from the wooden doors and cabinets, ground the all-encompassing presence of mix-and-match tiles.
The blue-and-white scheme is all over this kitchen. Slashes of brown, from the wooden doors and cabinets, ground the all-encompassing presence of mix-and-match tiles.
Modern mix-it-up
In this kitchen, patterns aren’t mixed in a patchwork-style manner; rather the designer took a cue from the owner’s art background and used art tiles to create a colourful, visually tactile kitchen.
Read more about this arty kitchen
In this kitchen, patterns aren’t mixed in a patchwork-style manner; rather the designer took a cue from the owner’s art background and used art tiles to create a colourful, visually tactile kitchen.
Read more about this arty kitchen
Vintage touch
Muted colours enhance the retro vibe of this kitchen – their faded effect harmonising with the wood-look laminated worktops and raw concrete walls…
Muted colours enhance the retro vibe of this kitchen – their faded effect harmonising with the wood-look laminated worktops and raw concrete walls…
… A similar colour scheme was applied to this barn-style bathroom…
… And in this contemporary, industrial-style bathroom as well, where the printed tiles are bigger, albeit in a smaller area.
Boundary lines
A strip of mix-and-match tiles demarcates the kitchen from the living area in this open-plan space. In soft black and white, the patterns add visual texture to the floor in a subtly graphic manner…
A strip of mix-and-match tiles demarcates the kitchen from the living area in this open-plan space. In soft black and white, the patterns add visual texture to the floor in a subtly graphic manner…
Photo by Jericho Law
… Here’s another home where mix-and-match floor tiles rather than walls define spaces.
… Here’s another home where mix-and-match floor tiles rather than walls define spaces.
Focal point
In this soothing, Scandi-style space, a little mix-and-match goes a long way – the backsplash leaps out from the kitchen, inviting the eye towards the heart of the home.
TELL US
Are you into the mix-and-match tile patterns? Which application do you like most? Or share a photo of how you’ve done it in your home in the Comments section!
In this soothing, Scandi-style space, a little mix-and-match goes a long way – the backsplash leaps out from the kitchen, inviting the eye towards the heart of the home.
TELL US
Are you into the mix-and-match tile patterns? Which application do you like most? Or share a photo of how you’ve done it in your home in the Comments section!