I create custom and reproduction Dutch tiles for your specific project at a reasonable price.

When customers approach me with a project, I consider it a collaborative process. Together, we will discuss the ideal look and budget for your idea. Once I receive a 50% deposit, you will gain access to a large archive of my research images for inspiration. Within the week, you will receive a digital drawing of the proposed tile layout for approval (if requested). During the fabrication process, I stay in touch with progress updates and photographs so you can provide feedback and stay up-to-date. Finished tiles are inspected, securely wrapped, and shipped to your address. I also offer local pick-up and drop-off depending on your location.

Thirteen centimeters.

Dutch tile enthusiasts want an authentic, bespoke look. Like the antique collectibles, my handmade tiles are 13 x 13 centimeters (5.2 inches) and have slight inconsistencies that add texture and charm. These should be installed by a professional, using a thin grout line.

I make tiles the same way they were created in Holland centuries ago. Using an earthenware clay body with grog to avoid warpage, I roll out a slab and smooth the surface with a rib tool. Once the clay is leatherhard I use a wooden template to cut squares and stamp the back with my maker's mark, a simple ‘KV’. I stack and weight the tiles to keep them flat until they are bone dry, and bisque fire to cone 06: 1000 degrees C / 1835 degrees F.

I offer three shades: warm white, cool white, and Dutch white.

The majolica glaze used in historic potteries was not pure white. I offer a selection of custom shades to compliment your interior space. My three options of white are matched to antique tiles in my collection.

I offer blue, manganese, and polychrome tiles. I can also mix a custom color to match your decor.

BLUE

Delft blue is quintessential. Inspired by Asian imports, Dutch artisans attempted to recreate the look of cobalt-glazed porcelain. However, they did not have the skill or materials necessary to make convincing replicas. Instead, local clay was glazed with an opaque white tin glaze and the designs evolved into euro-centric themes. Delftware became the new trend.

This is a good choice for a classic and recognizable look. Blue can appear refined or country/farmhouse depending on the design.

MANGANESE

This is a dark brown glaze that can lean purple depending on the formula and the firing. This was also a typical Delftware color. This color has a more formal quality. It is perfect for intricate scenes, understated elegance, and a muted ambiance. Manganese tiles were popularized in the 18th and 19th centuries.

POLYCHROME

The most involved and dazzling of the options. Polychrome means multiple colors: brown, blue, red, yellow, green, and orange. Generally, the outline for a polychrome tile is done in a manganese or blue glaze. Polychrome is best for formal murals and floral tiles, but nearly any design can be colored in polychrome.

I offer optional details to create a customized and authentic reproduction.

NAIL HOLES

Nail holes are found in tiles made before 1860 in opposite corners of the tile. Artisans used a template with two nails embedded in the corners to hold the clay slab in place as it was being cut into a square.

CRACKLE WITH OPTIONAL PATINA

Many antique tiles have a crackle pattern on the surface. Over the years the crackle gets darker.

DISTRESSING

Many antique tiles have experienced wear and tear over the centuries, particularly when they are removed from a wall. I offer a distressed edge and face of the tile to mimic the original collectibles.

(See photos below)

Field tiles do not have a central design.

Field tiles can have a corner motif or be completely white.

Corner motifs are the small decorations in the four corners of the tile.

I offer a variety of corner motifs or none at all. One classic corner motif is the oxhead, and another is the spiderhead. There are dozens of historic corner motifs in existence, though! For inspiration, I have created an archive of images. Clients gain access to hundreds of my research photographs once I receive a 50% deposit.

Another option is to use an elaborate border, creating an intricate pattern.

(See photos below)

I specialize in reproductions, but can customize your designs.

My kitchen was my first project. I created a schéma of historic and original designs. Since I live in New England, I included flora and fauna found in my region and some designs with personal significance like a portrait of my puppy and the flowers from my wedding bouquet.

I have made custom tiles depicting life on a hobby farm in Indiana, flora and fauna of Virginia, a nautical backsplash for a client in coastal Massachusetts, and a Sun Valley-themed mural for a home in Idaho. We can diverge from tradition or create a wall of reproductions. My only request is that we do not copy the work of other existing tile companies or living artists.

I offer a range of prices.

I have a custom program to calculate the exact cost of your project, so every quote is accurate. There are multiple factors that influence the price of each tile. For example, a simple corner motif or no corner motif will cost less per tile than a complicated border. A simple central design will cost less per tile than a complex design. Polychrome costs slightly more than monochrome. Crackle and patina are a minor additional charge.

It depends on the project and my availability.

The fabrication process is generally four to eight weeks for 25+ tiles, including our consultation and design process.

One sample tile can be made and sent within a week.