Do floor tiles drive you dotty?

Good Morning

Think this article from the USA may give you some dotty insperation:

One simple floor design technique that can really add life and punch to your room, while remaining a classic layout is adding “dots”;. This can be simple or very detailed. Another name for this installation technique is called “clipped corners”;. This installation technique can be particularly effective when the style and design in the rest of the room is quiet, simple or without a lot of other patterns.
There are many different ways you can add these dots.

Tiles laid on the diagonal with dots in the intersection of each tile.
Tiles laid on the diagonal with dots in the intersection of every other alternating tile.
Tiles laid out with dots with the addition of a border around the perimeter of the room.
Field tile that is laid straight. In a clearly defined area, most likely the center of a room, laid out with a border that created an area rug. The center of this area rug can be laid on the diagonal with dots in each intersection or every other intersection.
There are many different tile sizes that can be used for dots as well as ways to achieve “dots”

1×1 tiles (works best with tiles at least4×4)
2×2 tiles (works best with tiles at least 6×6)
3×3 tiles (works best with tiles at least 6×6)
4×4 tiles (works best with tiles at least 12×12)
6×6 tiles (works best with tiles at least 12×12)
Mosaics that can create custom sizes or standard sizes like 3×3, 4×4 or 6×6
12×12 natural stone pieces cut down into custom sizes or standard sizes like 3×3, 4×4 or 6×6

Areas in your home that “dots” can be used:

Complete floors
Accents in floors
Showers
Tub Surrounds
Backsplashes
Accent areas in backsplashes such as behind the stove or sink
Wainscoting
Color combinations that are attractive uses for dots or clipped corners:

Solid color field tile and same solid color accent dot
Solid color field tile and different color accent dot
Solid color field tile and patterned accent dot
Field tile with natural stone accent dot
Light colored field tile with contrasting dark accent dot such as black dot and a white floor or cream floor and dark brown dot
Darker colored field tile with contrasting light accent dot such as a black floor with a white dot or a dark brown floor like emperador marble with a crema marfil or travertine dot. (shown below)
Solid floor tiles with decorative accent tiles.
Accents can be created from natural stone, glass mosaics, glass tiles, metal tiles, ceramic tile, decorative ceramic tile or porcelain tile.
Keep in mind that the installation cost is usually higher due to the amount of work it takes to cut each tile that receives dots. If the dots are created by cutting other tiles, this can increase the labor costs even more. The uniqueness that this pattern provides is well worth the additional labor costs.
For other installation patterns, Happy Floors has a great source on their website. You can enter the size tiles you are working with to ensure the size tile lays out properly with the dot you’ve selected.
A great visual resource for trying these designs out is on the WFCA website’s Virtual Room Designer. Here you can choose different tiles in different room applications.
Happy Designing! Get Creative!
Go to source web page: Floor Talk! » Ceramic Tile / Natural Stone

How to clean floor tile grout

Keeping Floor Tile Grout Clean

Tiles are the easiest surfaces to clean in your house due to their durable, non-porous nature.

However, what about the concrete mixture in between your tiles? This grout is which unless it is properly and permanantly sealed at the time of installation is porous, which means it is not stain-proof or waterproof.
If this material becomes tarnished it can ruin the entire look of your flooring, countertop, or shower.

Perhaps you used a dark coloured grout which can hide the blemishes for awhile. Or maybe you did protected it with a special sealer, which can prevent against dirt and stains for quite a long time before needing another application. However, there is no avoiding the truth: it has to be cleaned occasionally in order to restore the original appearance of your tile surface and keep the installation germ free
.
What ever precautions you have taken cleaning the grout is something you have to do at least every every year to keep your floors looking good. The most thorough way to clean grout is to hire a professional who has the proper high-powered steam cleaning equipment to tackle the job properly, alternatively most hire shops will rent out siutable equipment. The use of high-pressure water vapor to clean grout is the ultimate solution. These machines remove dirt, grease, and stains while avoiding the use of harsh chemicals which can harm your floors over time. Plus, this process also provides a deeper grout cleaning by removing mold and mildew, therefore leaving your grout not only sparkling, but sanitary as well.
Household cleaning solutions can be used for smaller areas or light stains, you may you decide to do this job yourself. If so, you'll only need a few household tools. Wear a sturdy pair of rubber gloves and buy a small brush that can get in between the tiles (often a cheap toothbrush will do the trick). The real dilemma comes when deciding the best form of grout cleaning solution since there are several theories out there about which makes for the best cleaner. You can be creative by using baking soda with a small amount of vinegar in it. You can use bleach as long as you have extra-light colored grout. But the safest answer is to buy special pH-balanced products from tile supply companies that ensure against discoloration. You may want to consult a professional about what would work best for your particular tile. Depending on whether the surface is ceramic, porcelain, or brick will determine which type of solution will work most effectively with the least amount of damage. As these grout cleaning solutions can be a bit strong, lay down a protective cloth over unprotected areas (like nearby carpet) and open a window to circulate the air. First, pour the solution over the surface and allow it to sit for several moments. Then, with your toothbrush, scrub the areas in between the tile as thoroughly as you can. Finally, wash away the solution with fresh water. Afterwards, this clean grout may appear stain-free, but make sure it completely dries before coming to this decision: wet concrete is dark and can hide remaining stains. Let it air-dry and then come back to the area later to see if blemishes still appear; if so, repeat this process until they're totally removed.