Tile Files February 2024
A selection of development tiles and colours
I have always loved ceramics but I did not think I could ever work with clay. I was particularly inspired one day by piles of detailed picture tiles sold outside a gift shop in Sorrento in 1998. I bought about six, wrapped them carefully in clothes in the middle of my suitcase and I have displayed them and loved them in all five houses I have lived in since then.
Once I realised I could actually make tiles, Design Hubbard began and I sketched and made tiles throughout 2023 .
I have two projects in progress. Both are sets of tiles for fireplaces.
Tile File No 1 is a new build house with a simple electric fire. The brief is to source a fire surround and make beautiful tiles. The client loves the Design Hubbard ivy motif and wants green to fit the decor in the lounge. This project is in full swing. I have found a great wooden fire surround and I have just taken a batch of ivy tiles out of the kiln. I now need to look at the surround dimensions carefully to make sure I have the correct number and balance of tiles. Each one of these ivy tiles is completely unique, like ivy itself. The ivy will be slighter denser with bigger leaves at the top and grow down into smaller stems.
Tile File No 2 is a project for a Victorian house with great fireplaces but they are a little plain. The brief here is to create tiles to look good with the existing fires and decor. The client likes old features and good clean lines. I will be staying away from some of the very detailed and fussy designs that the Victorians were fond of! One of the designs I came up with needed straight lines. It was inspired by Victorian floor tiles rather than fireplace ceramics. I spent many hours trying to achieve clean lines and could have easily given up. I didn’t because I thought the tile had enough promise to persevere! I am currently working with a couple of different clays and trying out various colourways. I still love this one. I hope my client does too!
I am posting images on the Design Hubbard instagram account as the tile files take shape and progress…
