Handmade Tile

Back around the holidays, I got the best kind of Christmas surprise: photos of a freshly finished tile installation that had just shipped earlier in December. Now, looking back from late summer, it still feels like the perfect reminder of how timeless and calming handmade tile can be. This beautiful bathroom features a tub surround designed with a variety of my tiles, all glazed in “celadon” and set among white field tiles. The combination, framed by natural woodwork, a picture window, and happy houseplants, creates what I think is a perfectly serene spot to enjoy a relaxing soak. The homeowner...

This fireplace couldn’t be more perfect for a home affectionately called Green Heron Pond by its owners. Their 1990s house already had a lot to love, but the new tile has added just the character they were looking for. They chose "celadon" feature tiles depicting a pair of herons (of course!) as well as other animals. This is a picture I took of the tiles before they left the studio: The homeowners set the handmade feature tiles among coordinating field tiles from another source, and framed them all beautifully with honey-colored woodwork. The combination feels warm, welcoming, and just right...

This Texas kitchen once had a plain, shiny black backsplash: sleek, but a little too stark for the homeowners’ taste. They wanted something with more warmth, character, and visual interest. The solution? A custom backsplash filled with my 4x4 inch handmade tiles, each one glazed in "spearmint" green and featuring the flora and fauna that surround the home. The homeowner shared this lovely note with me: “It makes a huge difference! The tiles get noticed and complimented all the time because our home is open concept. People get up to see all of the different critters. I have seen all...

I’m genuinely thrilled to share photos of a one-of-a-kind hearth installation at Westminster Shabby, a delightfully named, beautifully restored 1906 home in Brooklyn, NY. The home is shared by artist Syrie Moskowitz, whose expertise spans historical costuming, aesthetics, and fairy-tale scripts and sets, and her partner, Grammy Award–winning musician Stuart Matthewman. This project was a true collaboration: Syrie designed the layout, and I made the tiles. Few things are as satisfying to me as following a client’s “map” while creating the tiles, and Syrie's mock-up made that process a joy. It never would have occurred to me to mix these...

Over the years, a small number of very special customers have installed my tiles at more than one address because they moved and wanted to bring Emu Tile with them. As you can imagine, whenever this happens, it makes me feel all warm and fuzzy inside regardless of the size of the project. I must admit, however, that it was especially gratifying to receive these photos of Jody's two beautiful kitchens, each featuring a significant number of my tiles. They were installed about a decade apart, and they undoubtedly win the prize for the two largest installations by a single...

When fellow artist Kim McAninch ordered handmade tiles for her Florida home, I had no idea how beautifully it would all come together- or how quickly! The tiles for this project shipped out just over a week ago and they’ve already been installed. The results are stunning. Kim is a talented painter originally from Cleveland, now based in Florida. (The Ohio diaspora is clearly alive and well; I’m fortunate to meet so many wonderful Ohio transplants through my work!) Her vision for this home bar was elegant, thoughtful, and impeccably planned. It’s no surprise, really- artists make some of the...

Have I mentioned how much joy customer installation photos bring me?  The happiness is multiplied when they are accompanied by a wonderful message like this:"We love our new fireplace so much!! I admire it every day :) Our house is from 1920 so we feel your work fits perfectly <3. I've attached some images. We would 1000% use your same tile again if we had to do it all over!"Thank you so much, K., for including my tiles in your project, for taking the time to share photos, and for sharing the brand of field tiles you used: Magma Zellige...

The beauty of blue and white is timeless, and in this airy Ohio kitchen it brings a fresh, calming presence to the space. This installation features my heron tile set with a 2- and 3-inch border in watercolor blue, along with coordinating 2x2s and 4x4s featuring birds, trees, and a few whimsical cats. Here is a close up of the heron set over the stove: The blue glaze has a bright, sky-like quality that pairs so nicely with the surrounding whites and the natural light coming through the window. The plants on the sill add a touch of green that...