Chequered pattern dilema - where do I cut the tiles?

[Red R]

I not all that experienced at tiling so please bear with me -

I hope I can explain this so that my confusion can be understood!

I am using basic 15cm square black and white tiles - part of the pattern I am creating is a chequered band around the bathroom.

I decided to plot it out before I start cos I realise the pattern could go very wrong if I don't start in the right place.

By starting on the wall behind the bath I end up with approx. 6cm of tile at each end. So far so good.....

1.GIF (7.24 KiB) Viewed 1165 times

My thoughts are that as I go into the adjacent walls I should continue the pattern so that it gives the effect that the pttern is continuous. So the cut on the next wall is just under 10cm. Is this the way this would normally be down with this sort of pattern??

2.GIF (4.54 KiB) Viewed 1165 times

The dilema though is that on one the walls this then creates a narrow cut of about 3cm (once the next wall is tiled only approx. 2.4cm will show). I can then do the same as the other corner and do just over a 12cm cut round the corner to continue the pattern...

3.GIF (5.62 KiB) Viewed 1165 times

I hope my description makes sense! I think it would look wrong if I start in the centre of each wall and end up with nicely balanced cuts at each end but at the expense of the chequer continuing (or would it?) I having trouble visualising what the final result will look like and I am thinking this must be text book problem that someone with experience will be able to help me get my head round.

Thanks in advance.

[tictic]

Do you have a window in the room...?....if so you will set out from this....so you have a nice even cut around/down window...

Centre window and walk/measure from window centre into corners and see what size cut you will have..if to small,then from centre window mark,...come off the centre off your tile into corners for a better cut...

Then take the tile in corners and go for a full or near tile rap round and see how it works out into other corners,if small slithers,try coming off centre of other walls....it's just a case off using your focal point..ie window and working off this...you will need to just mess about with the st up to suit,you may not be able to get all corners full tile wrap round but near as will be fine...

[Red R]

Thanks Tictic- I'm glad I asked, I hadn't thought about the window as the main focal point - obvious now!! Nothing fits as I'd like it to - knew I should have gone for plain tiles - but I think I've come up with the right compromises.