Why chequerboard tiles are a timeless choice for a bathroom
There are certain pairings in the interiors world that just make sense: sash windows in Georgian houses, bookcases in the living room, and chequerboard tiles in the bathroom. When placed together, these pairings are both beautiful and timeless. They are immune to changing trends, and therefore make good sense both financially and decoratively.
Chequerboard tiles are most commonly seen as large, black and white floor tiles, but there are many more innovative ways to use them. Below, we've compiled 7 ideas for how to use chequerboard tiles in the bathroom.
Chequerboard tiles have a fan in interior designer Joanna Plant, who used them to brilliant effect in her west London house. “At home, I used green and white encaustic tiles for the floor and walls in our bathroom. It’s a clever way of introducing pattern, without too much commitment.”
For those looking to employ the pattern in other creative ways, Joanna offers the following advice: “We have used chequerboard floors in multiple ways depending on the project. At one client's house in London we asked decorative painter Rosie Mennem to paint an existing timber floor with large squares and a smart double border in very dark green which was a little bit softer than using sharp black. We then rubbed it back so that it looked aged and settled. Marble tiles set out on the diagonal also have a classical elegance that brings to mind grand Parisian apartments."
Alexander James1/7In this charming Notting Hill flat by Studio Peake, the brief was to offer a French country feel, to contrast with the other, more ‘jewel-like bathroom.' In a punchy yellow and white combination, the wall behind the bath is covered in chequerboard tiles. They are ‘Zellige’ by Mosaic Factory.
Mark Fox2/7The wallpaper in the main bathroom in Katie Glaister's London house is Busted’ by Work & Sea. “I love the art and the depth of this paper and have surprised myself by finding it incredibly peaceful,” says Katie. It's the perfect pairing for the floor, which is covered in zellige mosaic tiles.
Ollie Tomlinson3/7At Anahita Rigby's design of a Regency house in Marylebone, the walk-in shower features bespoke taps made from unlacquered brass. The tiles are ‘Paintbox’ from Mandarin Stone. Here, the chequerboard pattern feels at once serene and grand.
Joachim Wichmann4/7The black and white bathroom tiles in Pernille Lind's bathroom are from Bert and May, and the taps and shower fittings are from Lefroy Brooks. The opaque ceiling light is from Trainspotters.
Tom Griffiths5/7In this blue and white bathroom in Melinda Stevens' house, the wooden wallpaper serves to ground the blue and white chequerboard tiles and create a more soothing space.
Owen Gale6/7The most prominent feature of the bathroom in Angus and Charlotte Buchanan's space is the pair of tiled ‘cabins’, the one on the left housing the shower, and the one on the right the loo. They are tiled in handmade Moroccan zellige tiles in pink and white.
Maree Homer7/7This colourful house in North Sydney is a riot of bright colours and, here in the bathroom, patterns. The panelling is painted a custom pink, while the yellow notes of the floor and towel hark at the bedroom and hallway colour. It ties the whole house together. A fabric curtain under the sink adds to the country house effect, while artwork on the walls and a patterned blind add yet more transfixing places to look.
