Along with Queen Victoria, we're longtime admirers of a black and white mosaic tile front path. It's a quintessentially English look, with as much curb appeal now as at the height of its popularity in the 19th century. Here are some of our favorite patterns (and tile sources, if you care to lay your own):
Above: Photograph via Flower Garden Girl.
White plastered walls, wrought iron metal gate, and a black-and-white mosaic tile front walk. Where did the look originate?
We have Herbert Minton to thank for the Victorian Age mosaic tile path. A member of the same family of English potters that brought us Minton china (my grandmother had a Blue Willow milk pitcher and yours probably did too), Herbert Minton decided to manufacture colored tiles in the family factory in the 1830s. He got the idea around the same time archeologists were starting to dig up mosaic tile floors in long-forgotten medieval monasteries. Soon after, Queen Victoria laid a mosaic tile floor. A craze was born.
Above: You can create the same look—or repair a Victorian era path—with geometric, colored tiles available in a wide variety of patterns and sizes. For instance, a classic checkerboard with a simple black border is sold as loose tiles, in standard sheets, or in custom size sheets. The pattern is available in four sizes, including (L) Classic 50 (£221.99 for a standard Sheet) and (R) Classic 100 (£125.44 for a standard sheet) from London Mosaic.
Above: Photograph via Apartment Therapy.
A white painted brick facade, orange front door, and black and white mosaic tile front stoop should not work. But somehow it does. If this photograph inspires you to paint your front door orange, we've got you covered—for inspiration, see our recent post, Curb Appeal: 8 Best Orange Paints for a Front Door.
Above: Create a similar pattern with (L) Black and White Panel Tiles (£14.95 per sheet) and a border of (R) Black and White Border Tiles (£9.95 per sheet) from Walls and Floors.
Above: Photograph via Flower Garden Girl.
We like mosaic tile paths because they look as modern now as ever. Also? The tiles are durable, and their matt surface acts like a doormat. Dirt from shoes gets left outdoors.
Above: A traditional Victorian pattern with a three-lined dogtooth border, Stevenson 70 is sold either in pre-laid sheets or as loose tiles; £264 for a standard sheet from London Mosaic.
Above: A black and white tile front path in Islington. Photograph via RHS.
Above: In Islington, a sandstone side path abuts the mosaic tile walkway. Photograph via RHS.
Above: Photograph via Howard Design Studio.
Above: Tiles set in a geometric Barton Design are available in several color combinations, including black and white. For more information and prices, see Tiled Perfection.
For more tile inspiration, see:
- Design Sleuth: Marrakech-Inspired Tile Garden Path.
- Patchwork Tiles: 11 Mix-and-Match Ideas.
- Remodeling 101: White Tile Pattern Glossary.
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