Our Customer Tile Style Profile feature takes a closer look at some of the amazing renovation and redesign projects our customers undertake using products from the Tile Mountain range. This month’s edition features Kypos Harrison of Trowbridge, who created a stunning en-suite wetroom using our large Carrara Marble Matt Porcelain Wall and Floor tiles and Black Metallic Effect Glass Mosaics. We had a quick chat with him about the project…
What were the circumstances behind the project?
The room was originally a en-suite bathroom but was very dated likely mid 1990s, so it was in need of a bit of a refresh.
Was your choice of decor & colour scheme influenced by the tiles you chose, or did you pick the tiles to fit in with a style you’d chosen for the rest of the room?
The selection of tiles originally were inspired by staying in a number of boutique hotels where every room was differently styled. The bathrooms were stunning.
What made you decide that the tiles you chose were the right tiles for your project?
We had viewed the porcelain tiles online and liked them but once the samples were received we knew they were perfect for our project.
How long did the project take to complete and did you do the tiling yourself or hire a professional tiler?
The ensuite was part of a larger project to completely revamp the master bedroom and dressing room which was completely stripped of the 1990s built-in wardrobes, decorations, flooring and electrics. The en-suite took the longest time as we had professional drawings made up from my amateur sketches and a number of companies quoted for the full project; both materials and labour. The whole work was completed by an experienced builder, with vital skill areas being signed off by electricians and plumbers. The whole lot took 14 months.
What part of the project was most difficult and why?
The most difficult part of the project was occasionally having to compromise. For example, the recess elements – which were a striking feature – had to be shortened due to support beams. We had to revise original design to incorporate them, meaning that the recesses had to shrink down a little.
Do you have any further decorating projects lined up?
The result of the project means that the other bathrooms look tired but they will have to wait as the kitchen will be our next project!
What advice would you give to people considering undertaking a similar project?
Take your time, go online and get inspired by other peoples designs. Focus on quality materials and finish. Complete a virtual mood board to select the elements that you wish to include. Don’t worry about the cost of the different elements initially as we learned just because one company may quote one number the prices can fall. Initially the cost of all materials was quoted as £12,500 but without sacrificing quality the material cost reduced to less than half. In addition, I kept a spreadsheet of the quoted costs of materials and parts, decided on a budget and then kept a list of the actual costs. This allowed us to stay within budget and use excess budget to spend a little more for quality parts.
What would you say to people who are thinking about buying tiles from Tile Mountain?
Without hesitation, the service is outstanding very friendly efficient, friendly staff; the samples were with us next day. The website is great and the quality of the materials are brilliant. The only thing cheap about Tile Mountain is the cost of the product. I have already referred to friends and clients who have already ordered and they have been equally pleasantly surprised.
If you’d like to see your project featured in our monthly Customer Tile Style Profile, simply leave a review of the products you bought and share photos of your completed tiling project on our Facebook wall. If we use your photos on our website we’ll send you a crisp £20 Amazon voucher for your troubles and even make you internet famous for a bit in this very feature.
Dean heads up the content team here at Tile Mountain, commissioning, editing and sometimes even writing some of the incredibly useful and entertaining content we bring to you on a regular basis. With a background in consumer journalism and a raft of content marketing experience gained from working with huge brands spanning mobile tech and automotive, right through to professional sports and lifestyle sectors, he knows a thing or two about creating content that people love to engage with. Dean also holds the mantle of being our resident grammar pedant, but when he’s not getting angry about dangling participles he spends his spare time going to gigs, watching his beloved Stoke City FC, and adding to his collection of deadstock adidas trainers.