It's refreshing to see nautical, navy BLUE. Everyone is saying the same thing for the most part - just introduce another color, definitely bright (yellow or orange IMO) and it will make it more current. What I really like is how your style will withstand the test of time - and with minor updates now and then it will always look fresh and "current".

I think we are going to use the white subway tile to keep the budget down as I priced new tiles and it would blow out the budget. Really like the contrast grout idea to add a bit of texture and pattern. My partner is a builder and he loves the reclaimed wood shelf idea as we have a lot of spear old wood left over from the renovation. We have made a dinning table and fire place mantel from it already so it would tie in really well.

I'd like to suggest that the most important thing here is more about who is using the room. If It's a child's bedroom use lovely children's curtains - there's so much around and any pattern could pick up the wall and floor colours. If a guest room and not used often I'd suggest a beautiful velvet or good quality Linen and forbid the little ones from going in to that room!!!!!! alternately a blind attached at floor level could be raised or lowered so the view is still there but with privacy from waist height perhaps. Good luck. Bee

Lino has been used in bathrooms, laundry rooms, kitchens and entranceways for 150 years (it is the THAT old...yep). The traditional checker board (black/white) is quiet "hot" in many areas of N. America...especially when a "retro" theme has been brought in (think 60's Diner). Lino is the old fashioned "vinyl" before plastics were invented. Then plastic was invented and people switched to "vinyl". Now people are moving away from plastics ('cause we've learned a thing or two about the environment) and are going back to the tried and tested Linoleum (Marmoleum = brand name for lino). Lots of fun in the black and white checkers! I think you'll like it.