Provided it is "... sealed correct [...] a costly exercise..." sic https://www.houzz.com.au/magazine/expert-advice-the-best-hard-flooring-for-your-open-plan-living-area-stsetivw-vs~27637060 "Travertine Travertine tiles are requested more than any other floor finish in the projects Bagnato takes on, and is often carried through from the open-plan living/dining/kitchen into the outdoor areas and even the garage. “You don’t want to have too many materials or it becomes a mishmash of everything,” he says. Unlike marble, which is soft and scratches easily, travertine is natural stone that’s hard enough to withstand wear and tear. Honed travertine is usually sanded smooth and used in interiors, while the more textured ‘tumbled’ travertine is used outside to prevent slips and to disguise dirt. PROS: Travertine is ultra-hard wearing and can accommodate under-floor heating. It’s cool under the feet in summer and easy to clean – no grout is required. It suits most decor styles. CONS: This material must be sealed correctly to prevent stains – a costly exercise – and is unforgiving if you drop something. Unheated, it can be unpleasantly cold in winter."

Do you have a photo of the exterior you can share? It was mentioned in another thread about how well colorbond colours work together. For example; paperbark and gully.

How long are you going to live in the house? If it is for quite a while and you like black tap ware (I do too) go ahead and enjoy. BTW, black is easier to clean than chrome. And then, when it comes time to sell and black has really dated, it would not cost a fortune to change a couple of taps and then you could sell the black ones on Ebay or Gumtree. And do you really think that someone who would love to buy your house would be put off by such easily replaceable items? Think not.

Hi Betty, You'll need to start with choosing your floor tile (if you are after a pattern) then choose either a complementary or similarly toned wall tile in a plain colour. Wall tiles are usually cheaper and not as hard wearing, but to get good colours - I'd suggest you go to a retailer that has a range of Spanish or Italian tiles. Many of those 20cm x 20cm square tiles are concrete (encaustic) and will need to be sealed - adding to the cost. For concrete tiles try jatana tiles and for wall tiles try classic ceramics - they have loads of colours. If you want to do a unique look like this - ask suppliers about lead times and work ahead. Many of the better quality and uniquely beautiful tiles are not available just off the shelf. But they are worth waiting for if you plan. Good luck!