M. C. Escher lives anew in the magic creations of Lisa Schmidt. In her Seattle studio, opened in 2021, sits Good Press Ceramics, a place where the freedom of clay is explored and enjoyed. With huge amounts of freedom from finish, texture, shade, and shape, ceramics offer endless opportunities to learn new skills, hone techniques, and play with new ideas. For Schmidt, ceramics add uncertainty … Continue reading Emulating Escher
With a mission to ‘enrich life through discovery, education, and the conservation of plants and the natural environment’, a small group of Houstonians came together to form a living museum. That living museum, better known as the Houston Botanic Garden is made up of 132 acres of varied ecosystems. From wetlands to woodlands, and prairies to pine groves, these distinctive spaces create opportunities for education … Continue reading Rippling tiles frame Houston’s culinary garden
Myths and folklore inform the magical tiles of multidisciplinary artist Edith Morris. Made in Cornwall exclusively for The Shop Floor Project, each of the 22 designs feature creatures, scenes, and woodland plants that tell stories passed down through generations. In one, a pair of Knockers (cave dwelling, 2ft tall gnome-like creatures from Cornish folklore) stand, dressed in minors clothing. In another poses Krampus, a half-goat, … Continue reading Fine Folklore Forms
Last, but by no means least, the final addition to our month of companies and creatives – Lofa Ceramics. Making small batch, high fired ceramics to order in Guadalajara, Mexico, Lofa Ceramics offers sculptural pieces rich with character, texture, and style. Striking glaze effects and uniquely curated colour schemes decorate the 3D shapes and unusual forms with charming imperfections, varied tones, and matt/gloss details giving … Continue reading Lofa Ceramics
Earlier this year we featured the striking tiled exterior of Café Tengo in St Austell, Cornwall. Created by Matter of Stuff, Teamwork Italy, and Studio HOTmess this 3D facade was made to honour the local area, utilising traditional techniques whilst adding greenery and contemporary intrigue to the town. One half of the HOTmess duo is our creative of choice today. Charlotte Moore, raised in Cornwall’s Tamar Valley, builds … Continue reading Charlotte Moore
Working with clay for over 20 years, Michigan-based Gretchen Kramp creates three dimensional handmade tiles decorated with cosy creatures and home comforts. Each gently irregular piece measures between the tiny 2 x 2″ and more stately 8 x 8″, with diverse subjects, themes, and styles for a variety of tastes. Toast, cereal, and fried eggs serve up scenes for breakfast lovers whilst Mothman, Mermaids, and … Continue reading Gretchen Kramp
This month it’s all about unique companies and creatives in the tile world – those with a penchant for personality and a way with whimsy. Leading the charge is Atelier Champagne – a Montreal-based treasure trove of handcrafted tiles, installations, and unique ceramic pieces founded by Marilyn Champagne in 2023. The collections of Atelier Champagne – Collection 01, Collection 02 – Natural, and Collection 03 … Continue reading Atelier Champagne
It’s the most wacky, wonderful, whimsical time of the year so feast your eyes on this spooky selection of Halloween-themed tiles. 1) Sin Horned faces, skulls, skeletons, and bleeding hearts form the tattoo-style motifs of the Lingerfelt Delft Sin collection from Haustile. Made as the evil twin to Lingerfelt’s Holy designs, Sin tells a more twisted story through its iconography. 2) UFO Designed by Léa … Continue reading Twelve tiles with Halloween style
Centring on the human body whilst exploring the theme of utility, experimental creative Charlotte Dualé forms compelling artworks that walk a fine line between chic homewares and personal discomfort. With gruesome inspirations and a fine eye for play, Dualé’s pieces range from wormy text and folded piles of glazed ceramic to intricately detailed shelving installations featuring unique elements to bolster storage and add beauty. From … Continue reading Dualé Purpose Shelving
Filled with unique objects, sculptures, and tiles, La salle de bain de Bob (Bob’s Bathroom) decorates the window of the Parisian showroom of boutique tile shop Bob Carrelage. Created by Stéven Coëffic, Bob’s Bathroom follows on from Bob’s Kitchen, a unique space that blends art, design, and function with playful ceramics, unusual coverings, and a touch of minimalist whimsy. Aiming to create a dialogue around … Continue reading Ceramic Compositions and Bob’s Bathroom
The fireplaces of Polish company Manufaktura Ceramiczna sit like dramatic art installations, bold and contrasting with striking shapes, inventive textures, and vibrant colours. Founded in 1995 by Krystyna Kaszuba-Wacławek, an artist who has been designing and sculpting stove and fireplace tiles since 1982, Manufaktura Ceramiczna has been churning out unique creations and restoring vintage stoves for three decades. Both small scale furnaces and large incorporated … Continue reading These stove designs are fire
Polish company Riwal Ceramika have etched out a sweet spot between tradition and modernity. Founded on a desire to create unique and distinctive interior design features, Riwal’s portfolio is bursting with texture, colour, and statement decor. Using non-standard glazes, their hand-carved creations form striking statement walls, hand-painted accents, and unusual visuals. Each piece has its own identity, adding a layered charm to interiors, and filling … Continue reading Riwal Ceramika
Established in 2010 by artist and designer Magda Jurek, the pieces of Pani Jurek transcend trends. Each light, vase, or mirror is an artwork created to be loved and enjoyed for decades, forming a language throughout the home that is highly personal. Much of the Pani Jurek designs are made of ceramic, such as the curvaceous Barva vases, or the TRN collection that pay homage … Continue reading Pani Jurek’s Pola
Inspired by the ceramic traditions and surrounding landscape of Faenza, Iris Ceramica‘s Bottega d’Arte offers a trio of curated series – Terre, Dedica, and Città di Faenza – that each present an elegant take on the artisanal heritage of the collection’s name. Made from locally sourced clay, Terre showcases five finishes that explore the differing ways in which red clay was worked in the past, … Continue reading Bottega d’Arte
From tiles made of snail poop to those that to look like body parts, the tile world is full of wacky wonders. Here are five more to enjoy. 1) Królik Filling a void in the decadent, intricately detailed wall covering sphere, Polish tile company Królik‘s offerings feature 3D designs made to create striking, unique, and wonderfully colourful interiors full of whimsy and wonder. 2) Poop to … Continue reading Five more wacky wonders from the tile world
From furniture to storage, lighting to looping, sometimes tile is more than just a pretty face. 1) Hoops and Rods Dutch product designer Marieke Van Heesbeen makes use of the permanence of tile to serve a purpose beyond aesthetics. With her delightful set of hoops and rods, stylish storage solutions are offered for the bathroom and beyond. 2) Hooks and Lighting Create seamless lighting design with … Continue reading When tile is more than tile II
If you love playful interiors and unique, functional art, you’ll love this curated collection of companies and artists. 1) Hal Haines In bold and beautiful colours, Hal Haines translates the everyday into wonderful, whimsical scenes that live in perpetual summer. Read more about his work here. 2) César Bazaar Through collaborations with artists from around the world, César Bazaar has created a cement tile portfolio … Continue reading Six tile companies and artists drenched in colour and fun
We love nothing more than stumbling across tiles that cleverly combine function and beauty. Previous examples include the 3D printed succulent pot facade of the Cabin of 3D Printed Curiosities, tiles made to protect reefs and imitate mangroves, and the gorgeously colourful designs by Trix Newham of Lux Pottery. And today we add another wonder to the list – the playful loops of Dutch product … Continue reading Hoops of Heesbeen
A few years ago we shared a little of the magnificently unique tile designs of South Africa-based Veelvlak Signature Surfaces. Now, with the addition of Veelvlak FRĒODŌM, their artistic approach to tiles takes on dizzying new heights. Striking, hand-sculpted, multidimensional designs play with texture and imperfection for bold statement interiors. Playful colour mixing and glaze effects pair with shape for artistic features and delicate imagery scatters … Continue reading VEELVLAK FRĒODŌM
Accidentally making it a habit to post a collection like this every few years, it appears the time has come to share five more wonderful cafés full of tremendous tiles. For previous tiled café round-ups click here or here. 1. Blue Bottle Coffee in Shanghai, China Designed by Keiji Ashizawa Design, Blue Bottle Coffee’s interior is given depth and drama with a dark and moody … Continue reading Five more tantalisingly tiled cafes
