Hi Joe, I must admit I'm a sucker for black and white and I will definately use it when I start my reno next year. I would just like to tell you something that is quite disturbing or funny depending on your point of view. My mother -in-law recently passed away in Italy and my husband inherited a 200 hundred year old house that has been passed down through the family. This house is on an island that has no cars and it is a great place to unwind. The house is heritage listed and you can imagine the problems we have just painting the outside.We had to get permission to replace the front door and things do not exactly run at break neck speed. Anyway we are now back in Oz and my husband decided he wanted to renovate the very old kitchen. We did not have time to return so everything was done by phone. Our saving grace is that we know the builder and he project managed as well. What I am trying to say is I have chosen tiles, appliances, outfitted the whole kitchen and dining room plus chose the colours over the phone and most things from the internet.Their system is totally different to ours they do not have paint companies per say. ONe has to describe the colour, shade and finish or get a friend to go along to the factory and choose. I have chosen white tiles and a tile every so often with a delicate black design on it. I really have no idea if it will work as we are dealing with history .I am terrified to return because the whole job may be a fiasco. If you want to change tiles under the exhaust maybe the black and white ones are a solution. I think plain white is a bit boring why not break out and do something different. I am not suggesting you don't know what you are doing but this I hope will be of some help to you. I have gone around the block in my advise for you but I felt I had to bore you with my problem and explain that when I return to the house it may be a dogs dinner and I will have to listen to my husband whine. So good luck with your choice and please let us know what you have decided as I am very interested . Kind regards Miriam.

Hi Sue, I think it would look amazing if you used some tiles with a bit of texture. The wood look tiles that are popular at the moment would be an example. If you chose a colour that toned in with your floor you would get a really nice cohesive look but with a bit of interest. I've attached a photo of a recent design of mine as an example. Just a suggestion!

I think she may have been referring to what is called a "French Pattern" which looks like a random mixture of square and rectangle tiles, often in travertine. However while it looks random it is actually carefully planned, and the tiles are made to a consistent thickness. It also depends on the type of tile that you are using. Many traditionally hand-made ceramic tiles have a natural variation, which adds to their appeal and visual interest. Other types of tiles, such as your porcelains are much squarer, flatter and almost identical. I would suggest that you go with your your choice of grid pattern, as laying a random pattern has too many risks (plus your tiler will hate you and charge lots extra). Be very careful about the selection of your tiles depending on your preference for a rustic more organic look, or a hard-edged architectural look. Make sure that the surface that you are tiling to has been properly prepared and is flat, smooth and true, as your tiler will not be able to correct imperfections if you have a bad wall. Best of luck, Dr Retro of Dr Retro House Calls

If the hexagon tiles are to be the feature then the wall tiles should not draw attention to themselves. I would go with stacked horizontal as this will make the small room seem wider and it will be a simple grout pattern that won't try and compete with the hexagon mosaic. For small bathrooms understated and simple always looks cleaner. Best of luck, Dr Retro of Dr Retro House Calls