Walls are being woken up with everything from vibrant hues to decadent duskiness and tactile finishes.

Who would have thought it, but the '70s and '80s love affair with patterned tiles is being revived. Texture is also triumphant, with exotic animal skins to bird prints raising the game. If you thought you had waved goodbye to botanical drawings, floral prints, butterfly motifs, and stripes, be prepared to get hung up on a new wave of wall wonders this year.

"The minimalist white look has had its day. Darker, richer, more luxurious looks are the way tiles are going, " says James Rush of Surface.

"Industrial grey and charcoal-coloured porcelain tiles in large formats and in finishes that can resemble concrete or slabs of stone are in. The polished white tile, so popular with designers only a few years ago for that ultra-minimalist effect, is now considered too sterile a look, " he remarks.

"Well-being, health and relaxation are to the fore, with the emphasis on creating a mini spa area for the bathroom, pleasant moods for living areas with strong organic or industrial colours and the tiles as large as possible, " Rush says.

"Luxury baroque patterns are becoming increasingly popular even with designers intent on creating minimalist looks, " he remarks.

"The classical elegance of the baroque styling gives a bathroom or living area a timeless look. Floral patterns on gold and black tiles are great for creating a dramatic opulent look, " he says.

"Also popular in patterned tiles are African motifs that have been reinterpreted to suit contemporary taste, " he says.

The patterns and decorations in these tiles feature earthy tones and are usually combined with minimalist furniture and objects for a natural ambience.

According to Isabelle Regan of Regan Tile Design, florals, checks and black and white combinations are on-trend.

"As more furniture is going into bathrooms, people are tending to do something different, but on fewer walls. They might opt to tile a feature wall and another wall, " she says.

Borders in different sized and shaped pieces of stone, including onyx, or crystals, can be run vertically in a single strip to eye-grabbing effect, she says. Strips can also be used to highlight features such as mirrors or alcoves.

The latest look is about coordinating the colours and playing with the patterned textures to create the striking designs, says Rush.

Feature walls, behind a washbasin or as the back wall of a shower area in the bathroom, or along a single wall in a living area are in favour.

Modern materials, she says, include stone, glass, porcelain, ceramic and metal. Mosaics have always been, and will always be, marvellous.

USEFUL CONTACTS

» Marcel Wanders: www. marcelwanders. com
» Regan Tile Design, 2 Corrig Avenue, Dun Laoghaire, Co Dublin, 01-280 0921
» Surface, Ashgrove Industrial Estate, Kill Avenue, Dun Laoghaire, Co Dublin, 01-663 7803; www. surface. ie
DO SAND DON'T S
»Do live it large. Use large format tiles. Even small areas look better with larger looks. Smaller tiles will make small rooms seem small and result in much more grout to maintain
»Don't go beyond the pale. Don't use white tiles or white grout on a floor. White tiles will break your heart trying to keep the floor looking clean. If you hanker after a white floor, try a white sheet on the floor for a few days and see what happens
»Do show your dark side. Feature richer darker shades for drama. They are also generally easier to maintain, as they tend not to show dirt too readily
»Don't leave the size or colour of the grout up to the tiler. Discuss it with them first
»Do think thin. Have your tiles laid with as thin a joint as possible and get a more 'fitted' look to the design
»Don't rely on a tradesman to calculate the amount of tiles required. Double check all measurements and be sure to add at least 12% extra for wastage due to the cutting during the fitting
»Do get hued in. Use a grout colour as close to the tile colour as possible for a better look
»Don't throw surplus tiles away after the fitting. You may need them in the future if you change anything in the area that hasn't been tiled under
»Do lighten up. Consider the light in the room. If natural light is poor then recessed spotlights can be very effective for creating a relaxed mood for a kitchen or bathroom