Asking friends, colleagues and relatives is often the best place to start as you get the warts n'all version. As you note, if the spaces are small then design becomes even more important. The cost of producing drawings and time needed resolving design/technical issues tends to be similar on most jobs (up to a point). This does translate to a fees becoming a higher percentage on a smaller budget job. Remember it is all part of the investment you make in your home so you need to be confident that you are getting both the best physical outcome but also financial outcome. Next weekend is Sustainable House Day, a great opportunity to go and look through some great examples of design that are working on many levels, you may find you designer/architect through that.... Good luck finding your 'one'

I have tried all the suggestions Perini - didn't look purple in real life. Tile Boutique - no purple floor tiles at all. All all the lots and lots of other places = no purple floor tiles. Yes I have seen purple glass mosaics almost everywhere but I don't want small mosaics on the floor. Will also cost $55 sqm more to have grouted than a regular size floor tile. Looks like I'll just have to do boring grey as it's the trend but I have at least found one with sparkles if I can't have purple. I'm also amazed at reactions of the tile sales people - questioning, surprise, snobbery and happiness to be trying to look for something that is different. Cant' say I can't find purple, I have but with a 10 to 14 week wait to be ordered from O/S and lots of $$$ but I need to reno the bathroom by then so can't wait. Motto: If you have time and money can do anything.

Hi Hang, for a simple fix you could cut and fit a piece of timber to fill the gap and paint it the same colour as your tiles. Alternatively you could get a piece of timber that will fill the gap and cover your step, i.e. making one transition instead of two. Whether you can do this will depend on the height of your step and it may require some chipping out of the tile glue/concrete that appears to have oozed out from your original tiles. Otherwise you could get a steel strip made to size to fit in the gap between your new tiles and the step.

To me , you are looking at things the wrong way around -- essentially you are asking can I keep the aesthetic but go for a more contemporary vibe ( basically , can I go more modern but keep the tiles ) ; I think you should be asking will these tiles work with something more contemporary , or will you just be making compromises ? Basically , if you are going for a clean 60's vibe like dreamers 2 pics , it will wotk , but to go with modern cabinetry , appliances , fittings , lighting and the like -- you run the very real possibility of making a mess IMO .