Q: For my kitchen wall, I want to intersperse plain cream tiles with tiles showing images of flowers and nature. Would that look too old-fashioned?

A: Tiles with nature scenes are rather a cliche for a “country kitchen” and bring to mind red checked curtains, copper pans and wooden stools. That style of kitchen design went out in the 1980s, I’m afraid.

But don’t worry – kitchens with a warm, rural ambience will always be in fashion. Just update the look with simpler lines, graphic prints and streamlined finishes. Instead of dainty hand-painted tiles, look for sets of tiles that feature one large graphic, such as a close-up of a cabbage or the heart of a flower.

Or you can go with the ever-popular Scandinavian “pine and sunshine” look of Swedish furniture manufacturer Ikea’s modern country kitchens. Here, pale woods like pine are teamed with stainless steel and easy-care melamine surfaces. Try to avoid using prints on tiles as they are permanent, and you can’t change them as your taste evolves. Instead, go bold with materials you can update or change easily like fabrics and furniture. Strong, simplified nature prints on upholstery and blinds will make a bigger impact than wall tiles.

Credits
Photography: Alan Lee/Mekong Pictures
Design: Project File