In the first episode of Interior Design Masters with Alan Carr, one simple decorating trick stood out — and Jonathan Adler says it creates a ‘very expensive’ look.
Now in its seventh series, the competition sees amateur designers transform commercial spaces each week, this time vying for a homeware collaboration with Next.
For the opening challenge, contestants were tasked with designing a beach hut in Dorset. Jonni, a stage school manager from Watford, transformed his into a mid-century-inspired Miami beach club.
The space was filled with striking details, from deckchair-inspired ceiling drapery to butter-yellow built-in features. But one element in particular caught the judges’ attention: dappled mirror tiles lining the back wall.
Interior designer Jonathan Adler, who was a guest judge, was the first to point it out. ‘This simple tented ceiling is perfect and then these mirrored tiles – that kind of like dappled thing makes them look very expensive,’ Jonathan told head judge Michelle Ogundehin.
‘Yeah, and it’s not as obvious as just mirroring it, but it just gives that very nice, dappled kind of sea kind of feel,’ Michelle added.
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If you’re looking for a simple way to upgrade your walls at home, tiles with a dappled effect might be the answer. While mirrored tiles are known for making a room feel bigger, dappled finishes reflect light more softly, creating a subtler yet more visually striking effect.
Ideal for bathrooms or kitchen splashbacks, the tiles’ rippled texture naturally suits spaces where water is present. That’s why they worked so well in Jonni’s seaside beach hut – reflecting the light while echoing the movement of the sea beyond.
Rather than installing a full mirrored wall, Jonni left deliberate spacing between each tile, creating a clean, modern grid effect. He also cut the tiles at the top to follow the beach hut’s slanted roofline.
For an expensive-looking update that doesn’t require a full renovation, dappled or ripple-effect mirror tiles are a smart, low-lift option.
