Ground rules

The materials used underfoot can set the tone of a room - in these spaces they are the stars

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NATURAL CHARM

Patterns can be subtle and sophisticated, particularly when decorating with natural materials in neutral colourways. Jo le Gleud, co-founder of interior design studio Maddux Creative, says the marble references for this London townhouse were from Villa Planchart [the house Gio Ponti designed for his clients Anala and Armando Planchart in Caracas, Venezuela]. 'We use marble patterned like this for any high-traffic areas; the colours chosen resonate with the antique mosaic on the wall in this entrance-meets-boot room,' says Jo. All other areas are so much softer with the Parquet de Versailles, which was the default throughout the rest of the lower and upper ground floors of this house.

CLASSIC CHARACTER

In a kitchen adding a patterned floor is a wonderful way to bring another decorative element to a room where it is mostly hard surfaces, says interior decorator Elizabeth Hay. She designed this kitchen with green-and-white floor tiles, teal cabinets, a teak table, and rattan stools for clients in Singapore. Overhead is a light from Hector Finch and she's added tongue-and-groove cladding to the ceiling for extra texture. The kitchen is now the heart of the home and we want it to feel like a room we can relax in rather than just see it as a utilitarian space,' says Elizabeth. Adding a pattern to the floor is one way of creating interest and can be achieved in a practical way through tiles which are easy to keep clean.' 

RECLAIMED SPACES