Hertfordshire: Luxury En-Suite Bathroom

This en-suite is at the same Hertfordshire property as the cloakroom. The client called us in for the tiling and we also carried out the waterproofing before any tile went down. The feature walls are tiled in an onyx-effect porcelain at 1200 x 600mm, a material with dramatic grey, cream and amber movement that shifts significantly from tile to tile. Vein matching was a deliberate part of the setting out. Before any tile was fixed, the sequence was planned so the veining would read continuously across adjacent panels, creating the impression of a single large stone surface rather than a series of separate tiles. At this format and with this much visual movement, the difference between a matched and an unmatched wall is immediately apparent.
The three illuminated niches set into the feature wall beside the vanity each had to be tiled with full tile setting out on every face. The back, the top, the base and both sides of each niche were planned so full tiles land wherever possible, with the veining continuing from the surrounding wall into the niche without breaking. Each niche has its own recessed spot light above, which means the tile surface inside is directly lit and any inconsistency in the setting out shows clearly. The shower also has a full-width illuminated niche running across the back wall at mid-height, set out to the same standard. Above the wall-hung toilet, a recessed storage cabinet was tiled to match the surrounding wall. That is four separate recessed elements, all tiled, all lit, and all needing to sit cleanly within the tile layout before the setting out could be committed to.

The floor and side walls are tiled in a softer cream and beige marble-effect porcelain at the same 1200 x 600mm format. That lets the onyx-effect feature walls lead without the whole room feeling heavy. The walk-in shower was formed to maximise the usable floor area, with the cream marble-effect porcelain running continuously from inside the shower out across the main bathroom floor and a flush square drain set into the shower zone. Every corner throughout the en-suite was mitred. No tile trims were used anywhere in the room.
The combination of the vein-matched feature walls, the four recessed tiled elements, the mitred corners and the continuous floor gives the room a consistency that holds together from every angle. Four rooms in the same house, all done to the same standard. That is what the client asked for and that is what they got.