Taylor Wimpey house, no tiles at all in the kitchen

silverwhistle

I was just about to ask PN what metro tiles were, when I realised search engines are you friend and had a look at some images.

Have to say I agree, a very apt description, and don't like them.

I don't see that you can't look in the bathroom ranges for ones you like. Sometimes lifestyle articles like this are useful, not necessarily for the examples but for the names of suppliers: http://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/gallery/2015/sep/11/the-space-edit-10-top-tiles-in-pictures

As an example Mandarin Stone look like an interesting supplier you might not have come across. For those of you who look at property as something to flip - like the housebuilders! - getting a distinctive tile _you_ like is probably a bad idea. For everybody else, why follow fashion, get what _you_ like.

AdrianC

There's a reason they're called "metro" tiles.

teddysmum

Our house is 44 years old and back then you only got a partly tiled kitchen: Over the sink and on the window ledge, plus some half way on two walls


When we had a new kitchen fitted, I indulged in some expensive but lovely and easy to clean Pilkington brand tiles with a border mural.


The trouble is that, now we need a new kitchen, the lovely tiles cannot be guaranteed to stay intact , but the choice for kitchens (as opposed to bathrooms) is very poor; nearly all plain, many seem porous (mine are smooth but not glossy) and colourways are limited.

PixelPound

It sounds like they used emulsion paint and you are too. You need to use a good kitchen paint and maybe prime it again first, then it will wipe or scrub clean.

cattermole

We are buying a new build from a small developer and no tiles. There is a glass splash back at back of hob.

I agree totally about a good quality kitchen paint, the dulux or crown kitchen paints are excellent.

A friend of mine had a very expensive new kitchen fitted recently and she specifically chose not to have tiles. Her rational was if you got fed up with them it was a pain to change them and the grout was a nuisance to keep looking clean and fresh.

Sammydog

cattermole wrote: »

A friend of mine had a very expensive new kitchen fitted recently and she specifically chose not to have tiles. Her rational was if you got fed up with them it was a pain to change them and the grout was a nuisance to keep looking clean and fresh.

Totally agree.

I've lived in a house for 10yrs now and every time I boil the kettle I look at the tiles and think how horrible they are ... the trouble is, they cover 2/3 of the kitchen walls so changing they would have been a huge job and despite much prodding, it was a job that kept getting put off. Lucky we're moving now ... the new kitchen has those Metro tiles, but in much smaller quantity

fashionvictim

AdrianC wrote: »

<looks at user name>

It's amazing now one day your a fashion victim the next you're old

We did our flats kitchen four years back and I avoided metro tiles. They were everywhere in the stores with little other choices. I thought they might be a fad and date the kitchen. Little did I know that it seems just having tiles was making me out of date !!

Slinky

PasturesNew wrote: »

I think metro tiles look like public toilet walls from the 1950s/1960s.

Totally agree with you.

Contessa

PasturesNew wrote: »

I think metro tiles look like public toilet walls from the 1950s/1960s.

I completely agree!

Blackpool_Saver

Thank you for all the replies.

I think you should be able to relax in the kitchen and not be afraid to briskly stir a stir fry, or wash large pots in the sink. Yes I am careful but you shouldn't be scared to cook or wash up.
I have decided to put a splash back behind the sink, and install a dishwasher. I am not confident about tiling and I am not prepared to pay for someone else to do it.
There is a steel back plate behind the hob, but to the right and left of it there is plain emulsion wall, not sure what to do with this at all..... edited to add, I thought about the washable paint thanks, but I would prefer something more fixed....