Glassworks @ BJ Mullen

Pretty Pastel Interiors

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Pastel tones like frosted blues, minty greens and dusty pinks are all brilliant for adding a sense of calm and simplicity to a space. But sometimes it can be tricky to know where to start when integrating pastels into a scheme, so here are a few ideas, tips and tricks to help get you started.

Glass Tiles

Tiles are a brilliant way to add colour and depth to a space and there are many pastel options, starting with glassworks collection. Try creating a splashback behind a kitchen or bathroom sink using pastel glass tiles to add a pop of colour. Not only are glass tiles beautiful, they’re also practical and durable making them a great choice.

Original Style Glassworks Eclipse Amalthea GW AML2276S 1

Glassworks Amalthea

Original Style Glassworks Columbia GW COL410F With CS1225 6030 CB05 034 10016

Glassworks Columbia

Glossy Glazed Tiles

Glazed wall tiles have been used in interiors for decades and now come in hundreds of shapes, sizes and colours. For pastel tones, the Winchester collection is the perfect choice. This collection features a range of beautiful hand-crafted tiles that are manufactured in Devon. Many of the tiles within this collection showcase pastel colourways and thanks to their soft, sumptuous glazes, colour tones are enhanced to showcase a deep and luxurious finish.

Choose from soft mints, sages, blues, pinks and yellows, all in a variety of formats and mouldings.

Winchester Cosmopolitan Mint W.VMI2025

Winchester Mint Half Tiles

Mosaics

Many spaces such as kitchens and bathrooms have seen a rise in pastel palettes and they’re most certainly here to stay. Mosaics are great for those looking to add a touch of pastel into a scheme, they look beautiful teamed with large format neutral tiles on walls and floors.

Original Style Mosaics Medine Pattern GW MDEMOS 3

Mosaics Medine

Original Style_Mosaics_Actamira EW-ACTMOS.jpg

Mosaics Actamira

Floors

Opting for a pastel floor can really help to lift a space as well as adding interest and style. The Mezzo collection teams pastel tones with contemporary greys, the perfect option for an understated pastel look.

Original Style_Odyssey_Mezzo_Rondo 8209_1.jpg (1)

Odyssey Mezzo Rondo

If you really want to embrace a pastel scheme, take a look at the new Victorian Floor Tile colours, Carnation Pink, Spring Green and Hawthorn Yellow. These new pastel colourways open up a whole new world of design opportunities, they can be teamed with existing colours to create patterns that are as subtle or as bold as you like.

DSCF1764

Patterned tiles

Patterned tiles have been around in interiors for decades and recent years have seen them make a comeback stronger than ever. The Living Collection is on-trend, full of style, and home to many beautiful patterned wall tiles. 

Original Style Living Afterglow Dusk 5

Living Afterglow

Original Style Living Artistry Georgia Green CS2312 6030 3 (1)

Living Georgia

The Original Style range of wall and floor tiles is available from BJ Mullen. Contact Us today to speak to one of our team for expert advice together with all the tools and accessories you need to complete your tiling job.

Field Tiles

Tile Patterns

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Your Guide to tile patterns

Tiles @ BJ Mullen

Before you get stuck into your kitchen or bathroom makeover, have you considered the layout of your tiles? Playing with angles and patterns is a brilliant way to add interest and a new dimension to your design. We’ve put together some tips and ideas on laying tiles to make even the simplest of schemes stand out.
1. Herringbone
This style of tiling is becoming more and more popular and works well with both half tiles and brick style. Although this layout is fairly challenging to install it pays off, providing a simple yet beautiful visual interest, to make a space appear bigger try tiling from the floor to the ceiling to help draw the eye along the length of the room.2. Running Bond
This is another good method for adding the illusion of space and height. Really it’s just a brick bond but on its side, so installation is fairly straightforward. Try teaming a panel of running bond half tiles in between large format tiles.

1 herringbone and running bond @ BJ Mullen

3.  Offset
If you’re using field tiles on your wall but want to add some interest, try laying them out in an offset pattern. Brick bonding field tiles is simple; the tiles are offset by half the width of the tile and can be teamed with mouldings and skirtings for more detail.

4.  Basket weave
This classic pattern is made up of rectangles and squares to create a woven basket effect. Creating this look is easier than you think and can also be achieved with ready laid out mosaics.

2 offset and basket weave @ BJ Mullen

5. Straight Herringbone
This take on the herringbone pattern has a more contemporary vibe with the tiles laid at a 90 degree angle instead of 45 creating a sharper edge. Designers use the herringbone pattern to enhance the size of a smaller room, but laying tiles in this way also adds a visual impact, even if only used as a small splashback.

6. Octagon Dot
Octagon Dot is another classic layout often seen on floors using Victorian Floor tiles. This pattern is versatile and works well in kitchens, hallways and paths. Opt for a simple monochrome style or mix up the colours by adding a drop in tile in another shade.

 

3 straight herringbone and octagon dot @ BJ Mullen

7. Diamond
Add some elegance by simply laying square tiles in a diamond pattern; this is a widely used tiling layout which works well on both walls on floors.  If your wall or floor isn’t perfectly square, a diagonal layout like this will help hide any imperfections.

8. Chevron
Laying tiles in chevrons can be time consuming and tricky, so why not cheat and use Chevron Parquet floor tiles instead to achieve the same look but with easier installation. You have to get very close to this porcelain tile to appreciate that it’s not actually wooden blocks. Each tile measures 1200mm but has the look of pre-laid tiles, only it’s far quicker to install.

Tiles @ BJ Mullen

9. Large Format Brick Bond
Brick bond is also a popular layout and although using an oversized brick is not technically different from a standard brick, the overall effect is another interesting look. 600x300mm tiles from the Tileworks collection are ideal for this and using large format tiles will help minimize the visual impact of grout, and gives the tiles a more seamless appearance.

10. Stack Bond
If you’re planning to use metro, half or brick tiles consider the stack bond layout. This is one of the most straightforward layouts; the tiles are aligned to form a basic repeating grid. The overall look is a clean modern look that will bring any kitchen or bathroom up to date.

6 large format brickbond and stack bond tiles @ bj mullen

11. Grid
Like the stack bond only with field tiles this layout is another classic. Bring the style up to date by teaming grey grout with white field tiles and this look will work anywhere and everywhere.

12. Modular
Create a farmhouse style using a variety of sizes, the geometric pattern repeat adds detail without chaos, creating the effect of perfectly balanced puzzle. This layout works best on an expanse of floor, so try using our Earthworks Grey Friars set, the undulated natural stone adds a rustic and homely feel.

4 grid and modular tiles@ BJ Mullen

For inspiration, call into BJ Mullen’s Tile Showroom and speak to one of our staff.

Glassworks @ BJ Mullen

Glass Tiles

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Elegant Glass Tiles

A to Z of tiles: G is for glass tiles
Glass is one of the most practical tile materials that you can use in your home. Glossy, reflective, easy to clean – what’s not to love? It comes in a range of shapes, sizes and formats, so here’s some tips for what you should consider when choosing your glass tiles.


Traditional or contemporary style?

What’s the style of your home or room and, perhaps more crucially, what style do you want to create? Glass is often associated with modern spaces thanks to its glossy and reflective surface, but certain types of glass look great in classic spaces, too. Contemporary rooms lend themselves to large format shapes in any hue that takes your fancy. Teamed with sleek, handleless kitchen cabinets, you can create the stylish kitchen you’ve always dreamed of.

In a traditional home, if you still want the wipe-clean benefits of glass tiles, consider choosing a frosted finish. Or take a look at some of our glass mosaics – gorgeous shapes in warm colours (such as Cora, shown top) look beautiful in a country kitchen or classic bathroom setting.

Which shape of tile should you choose?

Your choices are all but endless when it comes to glass tiles – from large format tiles to flat bricks, metro bricks, hexagon mosaics, round mosaics and more. Some shapes are better suited to certain styles of home – large format tiles look more contemporary than smaller, bevelled brick tiles so may be a better fit for a contemporary home. Ultimately, follow your instincts and select the shape that speaks to your own personal tastes as you’re less likely to tire of a style that you truly love. But don’t forget to let your head have a say too…

Practically perfect

One of the most important (but admittedly less exciting) aspects of choosing your tiles is to ensure that they suit your lifestyle. Glass is incredibly easy to clean thanks to its glossy surface, but grout still needs attention. Bear this in mind if you’re leaning towards glass mosaics; whilst the tiles themselves will be wipe-clean, the grout may need the occasional scrub to keep it looking fresh, especially if it’s used as a splashback behind a hob as this area is prone to cooking splashes.

Large format glass tiles are an excellent choice for those of us who prefer a low maintenance lifestyle. Fewer grout lines means less cleaning commitments, leaving more time to admire your décor!

Pop in to BJ Mullen for our full range of Glass Tiles.