DECORATING WITH TILES

Tiles are not new. The tradition of their use as decoration on magnificent palaces and public buildings, as well as in homes of every type, stretches back over many centuries. In different parts of the world and throughout the ages tiles have been used for a variety of aesthetic and practical purposes, from decorating the exotic domestic quarters of the sultans' harems in 16th-century Turkey to keeping out the damp in Dutch merchants' houses in the 18th-century. The first part of the book traces this fascinating history and looks at how colours and shapes have been influenced by social, geographical and historical trends. The second part of the book is a treasure trove of clever and original ideas for using tiles in your home. Never before has there been such a rich and varied choice of tiles available, ranging from brilliantly colourful craft tiles and delicate blue and white delft to the warmth of classic terracotta. Over a hundred colour photographs of tiles and their settings should inspire the reader to use tiles in new and exciting ways: on floors and walls, in kitchens and bathrooms, as detailing around doorways and windows, and even on furniture. To complement this, a practical guide to arranging, fixing and sealing tiles will help you get started if you want to do your own tiling.