Ultimate Tiles

Brazilian Brilliance

2012-02-28T16:40:00.001+11:00

Coming soon to Ultimate Tiles are three amazing newranges from Portobello in Brazil. These three ranges all offer a point ofdifference from our current lines and we think they are fantastic!

The first of these ranges is the Eco Wood series.With six colours and two finishes, this range covers a wide range of timbercolours and covers a multitude of different styles, from traditional tocontemporary.

I personally just adore the Eucalypto colour way.It combines beautiful washed neutral tones and gives an amazing base for somany fantastic designs. It would easily compliment French Provincial, UltraModern and Urban Contemporary styles and its warmth makes it perfect for usethroughout the entire home.

Portobello

The second range is the Travertino Navona series. Thisrange has two colours in two large format sizes, 600x600 and 600x1200, andmimics the beauty of natural stone slabs. These tiles would make a stunningaddition to a naturalistic or minimalistic themed home and tone beautifullywith a multitude of different features and furnishings.

Portobello

The third range is the Pietra e Mattoni series. Thisseries introduces five exciting new brick/subway tiles into the range. Thisseries comes in varied colours and textures and has an option for every style.

These stunning new products will be in ourshowrooms very shortly so pop by in the near future and check them out!

Urban Groove

2012-02-14T16:53:00.000+11:00

homeinteriordesign

Sleek, modern and funky. ‘Urban Contemporary’ is a stylewhich is being used more and more often in new homes and renovations. The stylecombines stone-like tones, dramatic contrasts and clean defined lines to offera sleek yet welcoming finish.

I love that this style allows for a house to really be ahome! Whilst the furnishings in this style are minimalistic, this style has plentyof room for personal items such as photos and trinkets, as long as carefulconsideration is given to their placement. The style also encourages a creativeuse of available space, using wall units, chunky ottomans and couches thatincorporate storage to conceal everyday clutter, keeping your home looking tidyand spacious.

versace

Ultimate Tiles are currently displaying a large array ofstone look products that range from budget smaller format tiles, right throughto upmarket 800x800 tiles. We also have an amazing array of stone andglass/stone feature mosaics, with just about every colour, size and formatcatered for.

This is also an area of our range which has frequent newreleases. Tiles mimicking natural stone and its drastic variation are becomingmore and more popular. Several new releases within this area are indicative ofa sway in trends from the traditional ‘brown and cream’ style of neutrals tonaturalistic stone-like greys and soft whites, complimented by natural wood ornatural looking wood laminates.

Just in Time for the Weekend!

2012-02-03T16:54:00.001+11:00

Such a busy week we have had at Ultimate Tiles! We’ve landeda large selection of new ranges which have required some re-arranging andre-assessing of current product line.

Brasil Lappatto

A favourite for all of our staff is the Brazil Lappatto! Astunning semi-polished tile that comes in 600x600 and 300x600 formats. This charcoalbased tile has beautiful red-purple hues and can be described in no other waythan ‘completely stunning’, surprisingly too; it doesn’t cost an arm and a leg.

We’ve also landed a couple of new ranges in the glazedproduct area. These ranges consist of matching floor and wall options and covera multitude of colours and styles. The floors come in a 300x300 and 400x400 matt finish ora 400x400 gloss finish, with a 300x400 gloss wall.

There are two seriesin this release. One has a mottled, somewhat uniform pattern, while the otheris designed to mimic the movement patterns of natural stone. Both of theseseries are reasonably priced and work well with a variety of different featureproducts.

One of our new 'Glazed' releases

If you’ve been struggling to decide, and haven’t quite beenable to find the tile for you, head down to Ultimate Tiles and view our newarrivals. The products above are just 2 of the exciting new releases we’ve hadthis week, there’s plenty more to view in store.

Resort Style Living

2012-01-28T12:25:00.000+11:00

Homes Result

I don’t think there could be muchbetter than waking up to your own resort every morning. Sipping freshly brewedcoffee while relaxing on a comfy chair overlooking a beautifully manicuredoutdoor retreat.

It all sounds so inviting and yetsomewhat out of reach, doesn’t it? For starters, no one at my house brings mefreshly brewed coffee in the morning. They’re all either in bed or already atwork when I get up.

Then there’s the issue of ourhouse not looking like a resort, sure it’s a lovely house, but we live in itand therefore we create mess and we don’t have a cleaner that comes through ona daily basis to clean up after us and make our beds.

Coco Republic

I have worked out that I canpretend though. Rather than getting up after pressing snooze ten times, I getup early enough to potter and relax. I make my bed as soon as I get up as I’mstill half asleep and then it doesn’t feel like I’m the one that made it. I getmy own cup of coffee and relax on the couch for a bit before getting ready for work.I’ve also tried to adopt a ‘clean it up now’ attitude, because by the time Itell myself ‘I’ll clean it up later’ a few times I have a really big mess tofix, then cleaning up feels like such a huge chore.

Selecting the right type of hardand soft furnishings for your home is also really important in achieving aresort style of living. Items that require a great deal of maintenance toremain looking great have to go. The point of resort style living is to not bea slave to the maintenance of your home and garden. Low maintenance plants andminimal grass are a great option while neutral tones, clean lines, naturalfibres and well selected soft furnishings are extremely important for insidethe home.

Domain

Medium to strong impacts betweeninternal colours and finishes also compliment this style beautifully. Deep darkwood combined with light bright walls and lots of natural lighting gives a laidback, relaxed feel, without being too stark and clinical.

Woven baskets, earthy tonedcushions, candles and indoor plants provide the perfect finishing touches andare inexpensive editions to this stunning theme and soften any large contrastsbetween light and dark, giving you your very own resort.

Earth Stone

2012-01-24T15:58:00.001+11:00

The ‘Earth Stone’ range from RAK Ceramics is a well priced, beautifullyfinished product available in 300x600 and 600x600 formats. The range consistsof five colours ranging from a lighter cream/white through to taupe, browns andblack.

Earth Stone from RAK

The stunning natural stone like finish of the range lendsitself beautifully to a variety of applications from ultra modern to classic tocontemporary.

The range is also complimented by two mosaic option whichbreaks up expansive walls without being a stand out feature. The range can alsobe complimented by a variety of mosaic features from other ranges and suppliersto give your concept the edge you are after.

I personally love the darkest of the range, the charcoal black. Combinewith a Satin White 300x600 wall tile and black pebble feature and you have yourselfa stunning oriental base. Alternately, switch the pebble with a black glass &metallic mosaic and you have yourself a really funky modern design base.

The ‘Silica Beige’ colour way can also be paired with avariety of features to alter its design theme. Paired with soft off whites andsubtle marble features, this colour lends itself beautifully to a neutralcountry style, or pair it with white walls and a blended glass mosaic and youhave a modern neutral theme.

Top 5 Laundry Ideas

2012-01-20T16:26:00.000+11:00

I think I would be safe in saying that the most hated roomin every house is the laundry. Let’s face it, the laundry is a work room andholds all the things required for the jobs you never want to do, be it cleaningthe toilets, the washing and ironing, or in my house, the vacuum and mop.

It’s the room that always gets forgotten in the renovationprocess, the room that always misses out on the stone bench tops and the nicefinishes and the room that very rarely is given any careful consideration orthought.

So... I thought for today’s post it might be interesting toexplore a couple of laundry ideas that struck me as very clever and wellconsidered.

Anna White

1. Pre-Sorted LaundryBaskets

I quite often tip my whole laundry basket onto the floor,pull out all my darks (because that includes all my work stuff and is the mostimportant), put them into the machine and then never do the others because it’sannoying to go through the whole process again. This idea means that a load ofwashing can be quickly thrown on as you walk out the door in the morning, oramongst all the other cleaning jobs you have to do on the weekend. Thisparticular design also makes dryers and front load washers a far more practicalheight and utilises the space underneath beautifully. Your laundry baskets alsolook neat and tidy in the process!

2. Overhead Cupboards

Six Sisters

We utilise the overhead space in our kitchens but veryrarely do we carry this logical theme through into our laundries. Overheadcabinets in the laundry are great for storing cleaning products or all thoserandom little things that don’t have a proper home. It’s also a good spot tostore your chocolate stash because nobody will go in there to look!

Appliances Online

3. Fold out IroningBoards/Centres

I will happily admit that I do not iron. I perform the scrunchtest on all items of clothing prior to purchase and have informed my partnerthat if he wishes to wear business shirts he can learn to iron for himself! Ido however think that part of this is to do with the effort associated withlugging out the ironing board and iron, setting it up, ironing a few items, andthen lugging it back to its home again. Fold out ironing centres have a spot tokeep the iron, a power point, a light and a shelf for the other bits you mayuse when ironing. It takes out all the extra effort associated with ironing andkeeps this section of your laundry neat and tidy!

Housing Touri

4. Hanging Racks

These racks are handy for both drying and ironing clothes. Idon’t particularly like to put my nice knitted wear on the clothes line to getblown around so hanging it in the laundry provides a great solution. It alsogives you somewhere to hang the ironing if you get onto a real roll, whichwould never happen in my household.

Creative Junkie

5. Sink Covers

The laundry sink is used occasionally but for the most partis a waste of bench space! Covering this area with a flat surface increasesbench space hides the stuff soaking underneath. Another option is to have astainless steel rack the fits over the top. It allows you to dry cloths, etc.without them going smelly, and dry the mop and bucket.

So there you go! My top 5 awesome laundry ideas!

Beautiful Bluestone

2012-01-19T17:05:00.000+11:00

SAI Bluestone

There’s a new kid on the block in the world of naturalstones (or at least a revamped one). Natural Bluestone has always been a stonethat has been associated with old world pubs and banks, but the new honed andsawn finished from SAI is changing the impression many have about bluestone andbringing the stone into the new era.

Bluestone fits beautifully with the new contemporary stylethat many people are now leaning towards and the large number of formatsoffered by SAI provides a bluestone solution for a variety of applications.

SAI Bluestone

The best thing about this product is that it comes withthree different coping options! There’s the traditional bullnose, a square edgeand an 80mmdropped face coping. The series is also complimented by fourdifferent mosaic features, a solid 300x600x20 feature, cobblestones and crazypaving.

This range is so versatile and stunningly simple. It justoozes elegance and style and compliments a range of colour conceptsbeautifully. It can be used around pools, for feature pillars, regular old pavingor even driveways.

Whatever your Bluestone application, SAI have the answer!

Fun with Colour...

2012-01-17T15:49:00.000+11:00

Pencil Box by SCC

Summer is the time of year where everything turns from drab,boring shades to stunning bright colours and thankfully, this season isstarting to bring some colour back to the tile industry.

We have had a limited release of products that have colouredoptions for floor, a couple more for wall, but most of these coloured items aredesigned for use as features.

One of my personal favourites at the moment is the PencilBox range from Southern Cross. This product is Australian made, fantasticquantity, and has striking colour matched with subdued neutral tones. Thisproduct gives you the oomph without being too over the top for those that areless daring.

Stile by Refin Ceramiche

I’m also quite a fan of the Stile series by Refin Ceramiche.The black concept inset comes in a variety of different colours, however theimporters for this product only bring in the red, nero and bianco colour ways.It is so striking and different, with strong bold colour options and a classyfloral pattern.

Yet, still, the most popular option is the Matrix seriesfrom Southern Cross Ceramics. This series offers a huge range of 72 colours allavailable in 16 different formats. That’s1200 different options and a huge array of different combinations. These tilescan be paired with each other to create a multitude of different looks. ‘Same Colour,Different Format’ or ‘Different Colour, Same Format’ offers a point ofdifference while still remaining sleek and streamlined.

Matrix by SCC

In addition to these ranges, we have a large array ofcoloured mosaics with new releases happening regularly and our wonderful teamare most happy to help you work to achieve a design with a colourfuldifference. Paired with black and white as a base, almost anything goes... andif it doesn’t we can just change the base colours.

D.I.Y.

2012-01-16T09:57:00.001+11:00

BathroomRenovationsPerth

It’s been a busy couple of days at Ultimate Tiles. Last week's bad weather seems to have pulled everyone from the beaches, into our showrooms, and back to their home renovation projects. This week we have had many people in quizzing us about how they should go about their DIY projects and our
trade centres have been dishing out advice left right and centre.

We have everything you need to complete your DIY tiling project. From primer, to glue, to grout, to tools, and obviously tiles, but the most important thing we have is the right advice. We also stock shower grates, soap holders, glass shelves, tile trims and Jigsaw shower bases. All the things you need to get a professional finish when working on your own.

My philosophy on DIY tiling is that if I can do it, so can you. Obviously it probably won’t have the same perfect finish that you would expect from a professional tiler, but with a bit of patience you can come pretty close.

There are a few things that are important to remember when you are attempting your own tiling job;

DIYLife

Primer is a must! It stops your glue from delaminating which causes tiles to lift.
Waterproofing is now part of the Australian Tiling Standards. If you do not have your bathrooms waterproofed by a qualified waterproofer, and you have a leak, you could find yourself in all sorts of strife.
A minimum of 3mm grout joins on the floor and 1.5mm on the wall. Again by Australian Standards.
Stick to the same brand of Primer, Waterproof, Glue and Grout. They are designed to be compatible which can prevent many problems in the long run.
Tile spacers are not designed to be left in the grout joint. As a home handyperson you will get a much better result if you take the spacers out.
Try to avoid making your first attempt at tiling a 600x600 rectified tile. There is a reason that tilers charge more to lay them.

If you are after any further advice on how to attempt your next project, pop in to one of our stores today. you can also find further 'how to' information on our website or the ParexDavco website.

Classic Country Charm

2012-01-10T12:39:00.000+11:00

Sourec

There’s something so comforting and welcoming about acountry kitchen. It reminds me of many school holidays spent with my Nannalearning to cook and trying to master the art of making pancakes. She had awonderful kitchen that was certainly not modern but was filled with warmth andmany little trinkets that were reflective of her and our family.

There were a couple of key elements in her kitchen that,even as a child, stuck in my head as important parts of this style. Her benchwas never clear of objects, there were always appliances, herbs and spices,recipe books and cooking utensils scattered around. She could never see thepoint in putting something away that she was going to need an hour or two later.

Wood featured heavily in her kitchen and does in manycountry style kitchens. Nan’s cabinets were all made of wood with detailedpanelling however I have in recent times seen many examples where the cabinetsare in a modern cream with a beautiful wooden bench top which also lookswonderful. The room should also, ideally, have large windows and a lot ofnatural light providing warmth.

Sourec

A country kitchen is the hub of the home, where meals areprepared lovingly and shared with the whole family around the dinner table. Forthis reason there was no television in Nan’s kitchen. Lunch and tea time wereabout spending quality time together and T.V. only provided a distraction.

All of our meals were cooked on a reliable upright cooker,which by today’s standards would be considered quite small, but Nan always managedto create culinary masterpieces. Falcon/AndiCo have sensational cookers that Ihave always admired, and one day, when I have a kitchen big enough, I will owna 110cm Falcon cooker.

Nan’s tiles weren’t a statement, but classic andcomplimentary to the rest of her kitchen. She was proud of her tile selectionas they suited her house famously. They were warm, neutral and non-rectifiedand carried the theme of her kitchen throughout her entire house. The tiles inthis style must remain rustic and natural in finish. Big format tiles generallydon’t sit so well in this style as they are too modern for the classic charmthis style oozes. Simple 100x100 or 100x200 tiles for the splashback are oftenthe best option, with something stone-like and matt finish for the floor.

Showcase

Though this style has been around for years, it is still onewhich is extremely popular as it constantly remains classy and attractive.Sadly, the supply demand for large, modern tiles has seen a decline in therange of products available for this style. Fortunately though, we do still havea reasonable range of 100x100 format tiles, a few options in 100x200, and alarge range of stunning marble features they can be paired with.To view the options we have available, pleasevisit us in store.

Renovating on a Budget

2012-01-09T15:53:00.000+11:00

A shower fit out in 'Standard Range' tiles

For many people the idea ofrenovating seems daunting, complex and financially unattainable. However, withour current economic climate, we are seeing people become more and moreadventurous as they try to captialise on what they already have, rather than upgradeto a newly built home.

It's fair to say thatrenovating can be costly, however it doesn’t have to cost tens of thousands ofdollars and it doesn't need to look cheap and nasty. Granted you probably won’tget much in the way of polished porcelain or rectified tiles but it is stillpossible to achieve a really nice result without spending too much.

We have a large range oftiles that come in under the $30.00m2 mark. We tend not to deal with anythingultra cheap, because in this instance the price certainly reflects the qualityof the tile and just ends up causing our clients more headaches and expense inthe long run. It's possible using our ‘standard range’ to tile an average sizedbathroom for under $500 or retile your kitchen splashback for $100.

A selection of our 'Standard Range' floors

It just means cutting back abit and not having floor to ceiling tiles or anything overly luxurious, andgiving it a stab yourself. There are also plenty of plumbing discount centres(both online and in the flesh) and reasonably priced cabinet makers or,alternately, a can of acrylic paint can make old tired cupboards look newagain.

Setting aside a hundredor so dollars for mosaics is also a worthwhile investment and gives the room areal lift.

If you’re after informationon how to get the most for your money, or how to go about attempting your nextproject, contact your local Ultimate Tiles store.

Fabulous Folio

2012-01-07T09:15:00.000+11:00

Today’s post has been written by Jan from our MorningtonStore...

WHY ARE ALL THE GIRLS AT ULTIMATE TILES SO EXCITED???

Botanica

Because of an exciting new range release from Southern Cross Ceramics, an Australian owned company that specialise in top quality decorativeproducts. Their latest range is called the Folio Series and we LOVE IT!!!

There are nine different concepts in two sizes and varying colourways.

Weave

All compliment using larger format wall tiles with the flexibilityof being able to be laid vertically or horizontally, in a solid panel or spacedbetween the body wall tiles at random.

The range has funky floral as well as chic and contemporary designs.

If you have a new project in mind, we suggest that you takea peek at this range. You are sure to be as impressed as we are.

Stunning Stone Solutions

2012-01-06T08:55:00.000+11:00

Maison Designs

The range of beautiful productsoffered by Maison Design are amongst the favorites of our team at Ultimate.They offer such a diverse range of beautiful items; stunning wall panelfeatures, water features, paving, tables, sculpture screens, planter pots, thelist is endless.

The Masion range of reconstitutedproducts has a solution for every project. Each item within the range has beencarefully selected to complement each other and provide a multitude ofdifferent options and ideas.

Maison Designs

We adore this collection ofproducts so much that we are dedicating a large section of our new externaldisplay to them, something which is coming together nicely.

Brochures and colour samples canbe obtained by contacting your local store. These contact details can be foundon our website.

Japanese Beauty

2012-01-05T15:07:00.000+11:00

seasonalhomedecoration

Traditionally, baths in Japan are used for relaxing ratherthan cleaning the body, a tradition which is reflected in their bathroomdesign. Japanese bathrooms are created as a sanctuary defined by clean lines, minimalisticfurnishings and the use of a multitude of natural products.

I’ve always loved this particular style for its simplicityand elegance. It’s also a style which can be duplicated with budget rangeproducts or the crème de la crème. It works well in large areas and small. Italso lends itself well to areas which are generally quite dark. Such a largeexpanse of white gives light to the room, while any remaining shadows enhancethe concept and add drama and depth.

trendir

This concept consists of four main elements; white walls,dark charcoal-black floors, natural timber vanities/detailing and naturalstones. I also love how plants play a feature role in this style. They softenthe distinct lines and strong colours, promoting a calming effect within theroom and with such a large array of fake plants on the market it’s easy to findsomething which suits your application perfectly, without requiring any TLC.

Everything about this style is so simple, yet so effective.It doesn’t require lots of fussy little things to finish it off (and collectdust), just a few well thought out objects strategically placed around the room.

This style doesn't just give you a luxury bathroom (or home), but a sanctuary. Somewhere you can escape to after a long day at work, or when the kids are driving you absolutely mental.

What's in a name?

2012-01-04T16:26:00.000+11:00

Ultimate Tiles was founded when two Victorian tile shop owners had an idea. "The Boys", as they are affectionately known by their employees, wanted to create a shopping environment that was classy, yet welcoming. They wanted to provide their clients with top notch service, quality product and reasonable prices, a recipe that sounds simple enough, but seems to be rarely followed. Since our inception, the team at Ultimate Tiles have been working hard to ensure that this recipe is followed.

We all bring something different to the table, which is why I wanted to start this blog. The intention is that we will all share our thoughts, ideas and inspiration in a forum that is more casual and relaxed than our website. It will be somewhere that we can share our excitement about pretty new products, discuss new and emerging trends and hopefully inspire you, our much valued clients.

We like to think that the difference between us and other tiles shops is that we are here because we genuinely enjoy what we do and what better way to share our love of tiles and design than here. If there is something you would like see please shoot us an email at infomornington@ultimatetiles.com.au.

Happy Reading

Kim

P.S. you can also find us at our website www.ultimatetiles.com.au or on our Facebook page http://www.facebook.com/ultimatetiles.

P.P.S. Ultimate Tiles are committed to serving builders, renovators, tilers, designers and every individual client to the best of our ability. Below are two examples of how we are achieving our goal of providing the best service.

One of our dedicated Trade Centres

Our dedicated trade centres are designed to provide our trade clients (as well as home handy men) with fast service and the best possible advice. Our trade centre staff members have a specialised knowledge of the products they are selling, and ensure that they are up to date with the newest products.

One of our Builder's Selection rooms

Our selection rooms provide a one stop shop for builders clients who are building their new homes. These rooms have samples of everything from roof tiles, to bricks, to paints, to carpet. These rooms are by appointment only and appointments are booked at the request of your builder.