10 texture and colour tips, inspired by a tile expert's home

Colour, print and texture envelope this extended three-bedroom house in Poppleton, Yorkshire. Owned by the founder of a successful tile company and his husband, the property is peppered with bold motifs, calming colours and natural materials to create a comforting sanctuary for the family.

With tween daughters and two dogs, the space needed to retain a familiar feel, but was in need of a contemporary upgrade suitable for this working couple.

1. Wood-clad walls create a dramatic effect

‘Line’ tiles create an oversized, graphic surround to make more of a feature of the woodburner.

‘The ground-floor open-plan kitchen/dining/living space faces the garden, so is incredibly bright, with plenty of natural light that bounces off the white-painted ceiling. This space also features sleek Fifties-style cocktail chairs and wood detailing on the walls, which adds warmth, depth, and texture. A woodburner brings this area together and makes it feel intimate and inviting.’ explains the homeowner.

Buy the key pieces: Stovax Studio Air 2 freestanding woodburner, £2,899.99, flames.co.uk. Grid Line tiles, £157.50 sq m, Bert & May. Loha rug, from £450, Floor Story.

2. Skylights add invaluable daylight

'A shabby lean-to at the back of the house was demolished to make way for a double-storey extension, which incorporates the open-plan kitchen/ dining/living area. Again, with the focus on allowing as much natural light into the space as we could, we opted for sleek skylights that sit neatly in the kitchen side return, allowing the sun to stream in gently and brighten the space.' 

Buy the key pieces: Larger Soprano pendant lights in concrete, £86 each, Pooky.

3. A central island makes a statement

'We wanted the kitchen, as with the rest of the house, to feel relaxed and inviting, and we also wanted it to be functional. The central island is very much the focal point of this space. It’s clad in tiles that create a graphic pattern to really pull you in.’

Buy the key pieces: Island clad in Hexagonal Split tiles in Pearl & Brighton Stone, £219.24sq m, Bert & May. Nerd for Muuto bar stools, £445 each, Chaplins.

4. The right undertones modernise white paint

'We used a pure-white paint colour for the kitchen so that the space would reflect as much light as possible, both natural and electric. The colour is perfect for a modern, open feel, and the natural yellow and green undertones make it comforting and contemporary. The light fitting above the dining table ties into the colour scheme, adding character without being obtrusive.’

Buy the key pieces: Walls painted in Charterhouse No4 matt emulsion, £55.50 for 2.5ltr, Mylands. Wishbone chairs, £480 each, The Conran Shop. Try the Dar Lighting Alana 6 pendant, £89, Fenwick.

5. Deep shades give the snug a warm feel 

Floor-to-ceiling wooden panelling ensures the fireplace is the central focus.

'Separated by the open-plan living space by Crittall doors, our main living room/snug is warm and cosy. I wanted to create a bold space that wasn’t overwhelming but was somewhere to relax and unwind. The paint on the walls is a deep, cocooning colour that’s enhanced by the light that streams through the windows. It makes our rich teal velvet sofa really pop.’

Buy the key pieces: Walls painted in Purple Brown absolute matt emulsion, £52 for 2.5ltr, Little Greene. Scott sofa, from £1,250, Made. Sofia footstool, £450, Soho Home.

6. A dark scheme is grown-up and sexy

The brass fittings really stand out against the backdrop of the inky-coloured tiles in this black bathroom design.

‘The main bathroom is moody and sultry, with striking hexagonal wall tiles that continue seamlessly into the shower. The dark colour scheme is incredibly captivating and feels luxurious, but it also makes a statement, which is what I really love about it.’

Buy the key pieces: Hexagonal tiles in Old Iron Black, £2.64 each, Bert & May. Round concrete basin, £730, The Poured Project. I Catini oval box mirror by Cielo, £1,528, West One Bathrooms.

7. Deep green paint gives a calming effect

'With its earthy colour palette, the main bedroom feels revitalising, but also tranquil. We used a very deep, dark green paint on the walls to provide an atmospheric backdrop that felt sophisticated, and chevron wood flooring to complement the green and create an enticing natural scheme.’

Buy the key pieces: Walls painted in Market Green No38 marble matt emulsion, £55.50 for 2.5ltr, Mylands.

8. Tiles make a great bedroom feature wall

'We really considered what would be luxurious and indulgent, and used green arch tiles to create an accent wall in this bedroom, which looks like something you might find in a boutique hotel. The tiles have an Andalucian feel, which is where the Bert & May story started, on a trip there in 2010, when I met the owner of a family-run local factory making traditional encaustic tiles. That was the spark!’

Buy the key pieces: Livingetc Arch tiles, £8.82 each, Bert & May. Deco marble bedside table, £249, Atkin & Thyme, is similar.

9. We wanted a luxurious escape from the house

The textured timber cladding on the walls feels rustic and inviting, as does the reclaimed timber desk.

'Sitting neatly at the bottom of the garden, our standalone home office space is a Study Box, which we designed in collaboration with architects Box 9 Design Ltd. We wanted it to be a little hideaway but also somewhere to really settle down and work. Inside, mid-century furniture and floor tiles give the space its contemporary feel.’

Buy the key pieces: Drake wooden retro-style adjustable task lamp, £100.24, Universal Lighting, is similar. Try Gallery Direct Neyland Heritage occasional chair, £520, Olivia’s.

10. Our garden room fits in seamlessly

‘The wooden exterior of the office space works in harmony with the garden, while the sleek black door frames and modern outdoor furniture on the exterior deck provide a contemporary edge. It’s a pleasure to work in here and it fits in really well with the surroundings.'

Buy the key pieces: Study Box, from £27,500, Bert & May.