I have tumbled travertine (basically a form of marble) in the master bedroom and a marble mosaic in the master bath. It is higher maintenance. It stains and it wears differently in different areas. I am not doing natural stone in my new home. There are some fantastic tiles now that mimic all the stones, and a good quality porcelain tile will be very durable. Some ceramic wall tiles are "weaker" but I have had excellent luck with porcelain tile. Granite floors. Sure. But as people have said they also require maintenance like periodic sealing etc. In a house that size you don't want a different kind of floor in every room. I would stick to one or perhaps two types of floor tile in the main rooms. You can get away with additional types on walls in the bathrooms but I would keep the floors consistent. As far as cost goes, there is a very broad range of tiles and stones. In my shopping I have found some very good high quality floor tiles for reasonable prices. Stone has priced out higher...at least the ones I have looked at. Good luck!

Hello Nitin, Thank you, for some excellent suggestions. I would however like to clarify my requirements/dilemma a bit more. 1) The built/carpet area for this 3 BHK is about 1600 sqft (Superbuilt 1960 sqft). What is the appropriate tile size I need to scout for? More specifically, will Ultima-range-like huge tile sizes (i.e. 120x180cm2, 120x120cm2) be suitable for this area? 2) While I am thinking of white (based) tiles, I am not necessarily looking for super-white tones (it gives a bit of a commercial look, and will need extreme maintenance). Something more practical, and with some depth/dimension is what I am trying to identify. Any suggestions? 3) Would you advice that I consider other white-toned flooring options like Terrazzo (Bharat Floorings is having a Cast-in-Situ option, but I am yet to go to their showroom)? Thanks and Regards.

Hi Nadia, Using different design styles for interiors has two consequences - 1] You may end up with a poor patchwork reminiscent of a interior design showroom. 2] You may end up with a perfect blend of eclecticism. Avoid giving each room a different look as this will not only break the continuity of the space but will be visually overwhelming. Instead try to blend. This way you will maintain a visual connectivity of different spaces and the entire home would look balanced and cohesive even on being eclectic. You may achieve this by using the following tips: 1] Use a colour palette that suits the theme. You may use neutrals all the way and splash a bit of colour in on a wall or two just to highlight. These walls may be the ones in your foyer or passage or balcony or simply behind the sofa or TV unit etc. Remember that the colour is being used as a highlighter so place it judiciously. 2] Each design style comes with a set structure and rules hence, use an interpretation of design styles and not the styles as they are. This will allow you to make decisions flexibly as there will be lesser restraint. 3] Have a clear control on the aesthetic. Minimize, dont overdo, else the space will look like a museum and not a home. 4] Make judicious use of furniture. Use colonial designs for all your loose furniture like chairs, end tables etc. Keep your beds and sofas clean and contemporary. Add eclectic cushions. 5] Use furnishings wisely - american pleat curtains in pastel hues, damask/textured wallpapers, natural fabrics like linen, silk etc for upholstery. Add a bit of greenery in the form of plants. 6] Use natural stones for flooring (rustic tiles would also do) with motif tiles to highlight spaces like the kitchen, bathroom wall or foyer floor. For further reference, here is an excellent example to suit your taste - https://www.houzz.in/magazine/mumbai-houzz-this-compact-2-bhk-flat-is-a-lesson-in-mix-and-match-stsetivw-vs~108222821 Hopefully, these tips will guide and help you. Regards, RnD Atelier Nagpur

Dear Mr Venugopal, Hope your flooring project has come out elegant. Hope you spend some quality time with your new project. @Ms. Preeti, thank you for your compliments. These comments truly mean a lot to us and this is what keeps the team motivated and going. For your knack of reading, I recommend you check the following ethnic styles. for flooring/ceiling/wall options : 1. Jaipur cobalt blue based porcelain products or blue pigments as wall paint/ceiling paint A lost art, remnant of Persian influence, promoted by ancient Moroccan immigrant artiste. 2. Bishnupur/ Haripur terracotta tiles- mughal art form on indian clay palette. Incredibly beautiful to behold and imparts a timeless elegance to ethnic structures. 3. Odisha terracotta art panels- Remnant of same Mughal dynasty. Artiste carve objects of delight using modern clay kilns. Districts- Kendujhar, Sonepur, Khordha and Balangir. 4. Bidriware ceiling tiles - Metallic panels with heavy inlay work . Remnants of Persian Artefacts. 5. Marble inlay works and marble floor medallions- Mughal architecture, colorful setting often inspired by flora and fauna or geometric islamic patterns. Craftsmen mostly from Rajasthan. 6. Khiching Black chlorite floor medallions/ wall panels/ Stone Bathtub and Sinks- Traditional odia ethnic patterns hand carved on Black Chlorite stone. One of the hardest stone in India. Objects include large format floor tiles and solid stone bathtubs. Imparts a stunningly modern perspective to structures. Exclusive to Mayurbhanj district, Odisha . (We are soon to start an export house on the stone based bathware/wall panels/ floor panels) 7. Stone jaalis of Jaipur -Indo-Persian architectural element- intricately carved geometric/floral jaalis for wall panels and cutouts. 8. Compressed Bamboo tiles from Assam- Traditional material with modern technologies- excellent insulating properties and easy to lay-an alternative to wooden flooring. 9. Mother of pearl inlay/ wall tiles -Iridiscent tiles for ultra-luxury -Persian element- Supposedly interacts with the body to calm the senses. Skilled craftsmen from Hyderabad, Mumbai, Kolkata and Lucknow. 10. South Indian Oxide flooring in traditional floral motifs and geomtric patterns- Red, Blue and Yellow are primary oxides. Available as Athangudi tiles . 11. Limestone paste , mud and cowdung flooring for sustainable buildings -zero energy flooring , pest repellent and could be used over existing floor slabs with proper sealing. Compatible with mud houses and concrete as well. Incredibly rustic and long lasting element. 12. Odisha stone wall panels/tiles - Made traditionally of sandstone, chlorite or granites . Traditional odia motifs hand carved over stones. Labour intensive process and recommended for contemporary fusion settings. Found in Khordha, Puri and Mayurbhanj districts. 13. Wooden floor/wall motifs - Mughal element of geometric patterns and floral designs. adds definite interest to any wooden flooring/ wall panelling. Skilled craftsmen available in UP- Shahranpur, Agra, Lucknow and throughout Jammu and Kashmir. These are only a few popular elements. For further research, books on traditional temple architecture, Mughal architecture are recommended. Regards, Aurum Ideas and Spaces Bhubaneswar