Kitchen Tiles Ideas

It makes me so happy when customers name their tile installations, and this one makes me especially happy: the homeowner and her family have started calling the kitchen in their new house “The Purple Rooster” after the hyacinth-colored, handmade rooster tiles that make up their backsplash. They haven’t moved in yet, but I love knowing they’ll soon be greeting each day with “Breakfast at the Purple Rooster” (as well as lunch and dinner!). The space behind the range features fourteen of my handmade rooster tiles in Hyacinth glaze, set among rustic, commercially made field tiles from another supplier. Here is...

This Mississippi kitchen features seven multicolored handmade tile panels, each carefully planned and thoughtfully placed around the kitchen. Each panel is different! The color pattern repeats, but no two are alike. Some feature trees, and all feature animals. I love that the dog and cat are looking at one another from either side of the sink. (Cats are a recurring theme in this kitchen and home, more on that later...) The largest of the panels was originally designed with a few white tiles mixed in, but after seeing them in person, she decided to swap them out with other colors....

This cheerful backsplash was installed by a son for his mother, a zoo docent with a deep love for animals. The project features a collection of animal tiles set among simple white field tiles, creating a bright background that allows the relief designs to stand out. For this installation, I made the animal tiles along with the bullnosed edge pieces that frame the backsplash. The white field tiles have a softly handmade look that blends beautifully with the relief tiles, but they are actually from from Home Depot. The brand is Ivy Hill, and the color is called either Kingston...

These tiles shipped out a few weeks ago and they are already installed! The homeowner said that the counters came with the house and, while they aren't what she would have picked out herself, she decided to lean into the black and white by adding coordinating tiles. I love the results, and more importantly, so does she! She included a lovely message along with the photos: "I LOVE my tiles!!!! Thank you so much Emily! Everyone who sees them looks like this 😀. Happy! Thank you for the Joy!!" She selected 4x4 inch tiles featuring plants and animals that had...

It took two tries to have this "Birds on a Branch" installed just right in this "forever home" in Tennessee. The first time they were installed in what seemed like the perfect spot, until the stove was installed and partially covered them up. Fortunately, the homeowner was undeterred and ordered a second set so they could be installed at the proper height. One of the wonderful things about tiles is that it is possible to replace just one section, and no one will ever be the wiser! I think they look just lovely, and am honored that they get to...

Behind the range in this serene, open kitchen are my 6x6 Ginkgo Tree and Leaf tiles in Celadon glaze, paired with matching 2x6 field tiles. The rest of the backsplash features Heath Ceramics’ Myrtle Green, which complements the tiles I made beautifully. With high ceilings, soft grays, natural stone, and warm wood floors, the whole space feels calm and grounded and the tiles add just the right touch of character. The homeowner shared: “Your tile is very happy in our new kitchen and we are beyond thrilled. It’s EXACTLY what we wanted — thank you so much for helping us...

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...

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...