Nicole, via facebook, asks....

 Should you use the same tiles in all the wet areas of the house even if the rooms don't meet each other?

The current trend in house design is very much 'open-plan' with colours and finishes similar throughout.  Where the space is divided by walls or rooms, the idea is to maintain flow through your home by extending the finishes and colours into these new rooms.

I would definitely use the same floor tiles and wall tiles in all the wet areas throughout your home.  Even with the rooms not meeting each other, the use of the same tiles maintains this flow.  Even down to the feature tiles, if used.  Some might think that feature tiles within the toilet and laundry is a little 'decadent' but these small details all help to maintain the flow throughout your home.

To achieve this is a lot easier if you are building a new home.  Although check with your builder as most do have a specification on the tiling for the wet areas and this might need to be changed.  

If renovating you might also need to include the cost of removing any existing tiles when working out your budget.

If you are after a more traditional look, then still use the same tiles in the wet areas but not necessarily the same tiles as in the rest of the house.

Jo, via facebook asks...

 What colour walls really set off artwork? and do different types of artwork look better against different colours?

At first glance, people might think this is a very easy question to answer.  However artwork comes down to  your personal taste.  It is as individual as each artist and each person is unique.   You only choose artwork that 'speaks' to you directly.  Even if you are purchasing a particular artist or style.

So, generally speaking...
 The more colours you paint on your walls and the more features you highlight, the more your artwork needs to compete for attention.

Traditionally walls would be one colour, ceilings another, trims another and doors another.  Further colours might be used if you have extra high ceilings, picture rails, breeze ways and other architectural features.  

The best colour scheme to make your art the statement is monochromatic.  That is, using as few colour variations as possible, as artwork usually stands out best against a neutral background.

Monochromatic doesn't necessarily mean white!  It can be in any shade.  The life of this scheme comes from the use of differing colour strengths and finishes.  This provides subtle highlights whilst not obviously competing against the artwork.

Or, if you are a little more daring....

The other option is to select your wall colours individually for each piece of artwork you are wishing to display.  This 'extends' the boundaries of the artwork past the frame to include the wall.  It generally works best with abstracts rather than the more traditional styles.

He are a few insiders tips when using this scheme;

• less is more - only one or two pieces per room
• maintain the flow with the one colour for your skirting boards
• use the same flooring throughout

In conclusion, there is no definitive answer that covers all options.  A professional Colour Consultant is able to devise an individual colour scheme around you, your home and your artwork.

Your Questions answered....

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It really is that easy!