Handmade Tile: 2009.07

Handmade Tile Inspired by the Italian Renaissance: Our Firenze Collection

handmade hand made ceramic art tile with carved renaissance urn and flowers,arts and crafts, for a backsplash

Above is a sample installation of Firenze Collection tiles in Dry Stone glaze, combined with our beautiful elongated diamond field tile in Balsamic glaze. We've used the corner tiles together here to form a patterned 4" square between the Fleur de Lis.

With motifs drawn from Bronwyn’s Italian sketchbooks, these tiles, in rich colours of marble and plaster, feature designs adapted from Renaissance stone carving in Florence, Venice, and Rome. Each handmade tile design in this collection is an original Terra Home creation. After a long process of creating, sketching and refining, the final design is meticulously drawn out to scale, then transferred to a block of wet clay. The image is then carved carefully into the clay, creating a relief pattern and delicate detail work, like the veins on bamboo leaves or the Buddha's serene smile. This painstakingly carved original, which can take up to a day to execute, is destined to be destroyed so a mold can be created. Once the master mold is created, subsequent tiles are pressed by hand into the mold, in a labour-intensive, traditional process. No machines or presses are used in the creation of our decorative relief tiles - just the touch of the human hand.

italian handmade tile handmade ceramic tile renaissance carved tile arts and crafts

Above: Venetian Urn, 6" x 8" decorative relief tile. Available in a range of glaze colours, shown here in Dry Stone. Click on the image to see full page.

Above: Firenze Border and Corner, 2" x 6" border tile with rounded glazed top edge, and coordinating 2" corner piece with two glazed edges. Available in a range of glaze colours, shown here in Dry Stone. Click on the image to see full page.

italian handmade tile renaissance carved tile arts and crafts

Above: Florentine Fleur de Lis, 4"decorative relief tile. Available in a range of glaze colours, shown here in Balsamic. Click on the image to see full page.

Click on the image at left for a full size, high resolution printable file of the catalog tear sheet for our Kyoto Collection. For current pricing contact Bronwyn, (bronwyn@linguaterratile.com) to request a wholesale, trade, or retail price list. Wholesale pricing is available to showrooms and retailers who carry our tiles. Trade pricing is available to professional interior designers, architects, building contractors and developers, landscape designers, and interior decorators. For more information on how to order our tiles, visit our How to Order page here, or call 250.335.3149.

Bronwyn with her sketchbook in the garden of her apartment in Florence, 2001.

Handmade Pine Cone Tiles with an Arts and Crafts Flavour

hand made ceramic art tile with pinecone pine cone motif in relief in the arts and crafts style for a fireplace

Here are some of the finished tiles which we custom designed and created for the Arts and Crafts fireplace project I told you about in this post. These tiles were created from plaster molds, which I cast from actual pine cones. I gathered the pine cones in the beautiful Provincial Park on the ocean just a short walk from our studio. I will post photos of the fireplace once the tiles are installed! These tiles are available in Teak, the rich brown glaze shown above; they also look great in our Lichen Green and Emerald Green glazes. For purchase information, see our How to Order page, or give us a call at 250.335.3149.

hand made porcelain vase, modern, celadon turquoise

A new addition to our tableware collection, this vase is made from a beautiful pure white porcelainous stoneware, glazed in a delicate celadon/turquoise. It is constructed using a combination of slab building and press molding techniques. Now available in the tableware shop!

Our Handmade Tile Collections: An Introduction

All of our tiles are designed and created on site, in the Terra Home studio. Each piece is made by hand, with care and love invested in each step of our labour-intensive, traditional process. Our tiles are grouped in collections, with different themes, to complement different design schemes:

hand made tile inspired by japanese garden, with koi fish, willow, bamboo, plum blossom, pine, cherry blossom, and buddha

Kyoto

Inspired by the natural serenity of the Japanese garden, these tiles, in colours of stone and lichen, feature koi fish, plum blossoms, bamboo, pine, and Buddhist imagery. Click here to see the full collection. CLICK HERE FOR A PRINTABLE TEAR SHEET OF THE KYOTO COLLECTION.

hand made tile inspired by Moorish design with turquoise crackle glaze

Alhambra

Inspired by the timeless beauty of Moorish architecture, this collection of rich cobalt and turquoise tiles feature stylized floral motifs and traditional arabesque patterns. Click here to see the full collection. CLICK HERE FOR A PRINTABLE TEAR SHEET OF THE ALHAMBRA COLLECTION.

hand made tile with Italian designs, fleur de lis, renaissance stone carving, in traditional ochre and terra cotta colors

Firenze

With motifs drawn from the designer’s Italian sketchbooks, these tiles, in rich colours of marble and plaster, feature designs borrowed from Renaissance stone carving. Click here to view the full collection. CLICK HERE FOR A PRINTABLE TEARSHEET OF THE FIRENZE COLLECTION.

whimsical hand made tile for kitchens with hand painted designs and italian words, limone, lemon, casa, oliva, olive, vino, wine

Italian Sketchbook

A more whimsical take on the Italian theme, these wax-resist decorated tiles feature charming line drawings which capture the essence of the Tuscan kitchen and countryside. Click here to see the full collection.

hand made hand painted tile, colorful, modern, graphic discs and stripes in blue, white, turquoise and earth tones.

Hacienda

Inspired by the courtyard gardens of Old Mexico, the bold graphics and floral motifs of these tiles capture the brilliant colours of the tropics. Click here to view the entire collection, CLICK HERE FOR A PRINTABLE TEARSHEET OF THE HACIENDA COLLECTION.

hand made tiles in colors and designs of japanese kimono silks

Hanabi

Inspired by the modern sophistication of Japanese textile design, these unusual tiles feature stylized chrysanthemums, waves, and cherry blossoms, in a soft but colourful palette reminiscent of antique kimono silks. Click here to view the full collection. CLICK HERE FOR A PRINTABLE TEARSHEET OF THE HANABI COLLECTION.

Vancouver Island

Inspired by the natural beauty of the Northwest Coast that surrounds us every day at Terra Home, the relief images on these hand pressed tiles are cast from actual natural objects gathered from forests and beaches. Click here to view the whole collection.

In addition, we produce a full line of hand pressed field (plain) tiles in various shapes and sizes, including 4” square, 4” hex, and 3” x 5” traditional subway, as well as border, corner, and listello tile for most applications. Field tile is available in a wide range of glaze colours.

We are happy to work with you on your installation. Projects are priced individually, depending on glaze choices, custom elements, design time, and deadline. We are happy to provide you with a quote for your project. For more information, visit out How to Order page, or contact our designer Bronwyn at bronwyn@linguaterratile.com

Tiny Spotted Plates

Wonderful, bright, and cheerful, this Trio of Tiny Spotted Plates in Lime Green are great for holding little jewels and treasures, tea lights or tea bags, condiments, tiny craft supplies, teddy bear picnic food, etc. They will definitely bring a smile to your face. The little plates measure 3" across. They were cut by hand from a hand rolled slab of white earthenware, and draped over plaster molds. They were then fired, glazed, and fired again. All the glazes are lead free and food safe. Buy here. Check out recent mentions at DecorGreen and WickedlyChic!

Beautiful Handmade Buddha Tiles in Soft White Glaze

Hand made ceramic art tile with Buddha in white, buddhist imagery

Our Buddha Mural is one of the pieces I get the most feedback on. People love it. It makes me happy to think of creating an image that brings beauty, and a reminder of peace and mindfulness, into people's homes and lives. When I carved the original piece, I took the process very slowly and savoured my time working on this lovely image. Now, each tile in the mural is pressed by hand, by me or my partner, into our original mold. I can't help but think that this care and attention in the making translates into a feeling of peacefulness about the finished piece...

We've been using the same lovely stony glaze (Dry Stone) on this piece for a while, and I like the way the glaze texture suggests a low relief sandstone carving. When a client requested the mural in a white glaze, I was hesitant at first - I wasn't sure I'd care for the results. I chose a semi-transparent soft porcelain white, and fired a test tile. I love it! You can see the finished piece here. I brushed the glaze on carefully, then rubbed it back to reveal bits of the rosy tan clay body here and there. I'm so pleased with the results that I'm adding this glaze to our regular glaze options for the Kyoto Collection. See our How to Order page or give us a call at 250.335.3149 if you'd like to order a beautiful white Buddha like this one. CLICK HERE to view the whole Kyoto Collection.

The Alhambra - Inspiration for Gardens, Colour, Tile Design...

By lovely coincidence, our Plum Blossom tile was showcased in not one, but two beautiful Etsy treasuries today, both on the theme of aged metal. They are here and here.

Custom Handmade Floor Tiles with Old World Feel

Remember this custom job? We were commissioned to create an accent floor tile for the client's gorgeous summer home on in Ontario lake country. The beautiful calligraphic motif has special meaning for the family. Here are a couple of photos from the client, of the tiles being set in place. Once grouted and finished, I think these floor tiles will have a wonderful, been-there-forever feel.

Hand Made Tile in Lichen Green Complements Architect's Kitchen

This stunning Florida kitchen features tiles from our Kyoto Series; the Plum Blossom, and the hand-pressed field tile in our unique Dry Lichen glaze. Note the gorgeous earth plaster walls tinted to match this glaze! We worked closely with the client to assure the gorgeous results you see here. FOr a quote on tiles and design for your dream kitchen or bath, contact us with your ideas!

Featured Tiles: Our Kyoto Collection

The tiles in our Kyoto Collection are inspired by the natural serenity of the Japanese garden. Glazed in the colours and textures of stone and lichen, these elegant tiles feature koi fish, plum blossoms, bamboo, pine, and Buddhist imagery. Create a serene, spa-like bathroom, a warm, traditional kitchen, a meditative entryway or yoga room... enjoy this slide show, featuring Kyoto tiles alongside the natural beauty which inspired them... (Click here for full screen version)

Bronwyn Simons is the founder of and principal designer for Lingua Terra Tile & Terra Home. She has a life long love of design, art history, and beautiful hand made objects. She believes that our homes, however modest, can and should provide sanctuary for our spirits, delight for our senses, and inspiration for our communities. She is passionate about the revival of craft, ethical and creative entrepreneurship, and luxurious eco-positive living (yes, it is possible!) When she's not playing with clay and dreaming up new ways to make your homes sweeter, she's bellydancing, doing yoga, walking her dog on the beach and in the forest, making mixed media art, cooking, gardening, journaling, or reading.... she lives on four acres of meadow and forest on a beautiful island with her husband and daughter.

Terra Home Architectural Ceramics

All of our tiles are designed and created here, in the Terra Home studio. Each piece is made by hand, with care and love invested in each step of our labour-intensive, traditional process. Our tiles are grouped in collections, with different themes, to complement different design schemes:

Kyoto
Inspired by the natural serenity of the Japanese garden, these tiles, in colours of stone and lichen, feature koi fish, plum blossoms, bamboo, pine, and Buddhist imagery. CLICK HERE FOR A PRINTABLE TEAR SHEET OF THE KYOTO COLLECTION.

Alhambra
Inspired by the timeless beauty of Moorish architecture, this collection of rich cobalt and turquoise tiles feature stylized floral motifs and traditional arabesque patterns. CLICK HERE FOR A PRINTABLE TEAR SHEET OF THE ALHAMBRA COLLECTION.

Firenze
With motifs drawn from the designer’s Italian sketchbooks, these tiles, in rich colours of marble and plaster, feature designs borrowed from Renaissance stone carving. CLICK HERE FOR A PRINTABLE TEARSHEET OF THE FIRENZE COLLECTION.

Hanabi
Inspired by the modern sophistication of Japanese textile design, these unusual tiles feature stylized chrysanthemums, waves, and cherry blossoms, in a soft but colourful palette reminiscent of antique kimono silks. CLICK HERE FOR A PRINTABLE TEARSHEET OF THE HANABI COLLECTION.

Italian Sketchbook
A more whimsical take on the Italian theme, these wax-resist decorated tiles feature charming line drawings which capture the essence of the Tuscan kitchen and countryside.

Hacienda
Inspired by the courtyard gardens of Old Mexico, the bold graphics and floral motifs of these tiles capture the brilliant colours of the tropics. CLICK HERE FOR A PRINTABLE TEARSHEET OF THE HACIENDA COLLECTION.

Vancouver Island
Inspired by the natural beauty of the Northwest Coast that surrounds us every day at Terra Home, the relief images on these hand pressed tiles are cast from actual natural objects gathered from forests and beaches.

In addition, we produce a full line of hand pressed field (plain) tiles in various shapes and sizes, including 4” square, 4” hex, and 3” x 5” traditional subway, as well as border, corner, and listello tile for most applications.

We are happy to work with you on your installation. Projects are priced individually, depending on glaze choices, custom elements, design time, and deadline. Visit our "How to Order" page for more info on ordering. We are happy to provide you with a quote for your project. We also offer fully custom project design. For a quote, contact bronwyn@linguaterratile.com

Welcome to Terra Home!

Exquisite Artisan Tile
From our sunny post-and-beam studio nestled in meadow and forest on lovely Denman Island, we send our traditionally made artisan tiles across North America. We offer hundreds of original designs in six gorgeous collections. Along with our exquisite decorative relief tiles, we create hand painted accent tiles, tile murals, field tile in square, hex, subway, and mosaic, as well as borders and listellos. Custom design is a specialty. We believe in quality, tradition, sustainability, beauty, craftsmanship, and an artful approach to life and business. Our website and blog is designed as a resource for our friends and clients, and anyone interested in creating a more beautiful, serene, hand-made, and eco-positive living space.

testimonials

"I get wonderful compliments every time someone comes into the kitchen. In addition, the tile installer stated it was the very BEST quality of tile she ever worked with!! Thank you so much for your talent and vision!!" R.M., New Jersey, 2008.
View this job here.

"Your tiles are the highlight of our kitchen!" B.C., Florida, 2008. View this job here.

"The tiles are SO worth the wait! They are absolutely exquisite; there is no way that their beauty and uniqueness could possibly be captured on a computer monitor. They are so gorgeous." E.H., Connecticut, 2009.

"Thanks again so much for the gorgeous tiles. I'm especially enjoying the many ways the Koi and Willow tiles can work together. I've really appreciated working with you both..." J.H., Colorado, 2007.

"Thank you so much for everything! We were delighted with the ease and enjoyment of the custom design process..."
M.G., Ontario, 2008. View this job here.

"The clients already had a stone back splash installed in their butler's pantry when I was brought in on the job, and were really unhappy with how monolithic it looked. I suggested an insert of your tile, and now they LOVE how it looks..." R.H., California, 2007. View this job here.

"I received the box of tiles yesterday... The colors of your glazes are so beautiful! You do good work with your art. Thank you so much. You inspire me to work in clay!" J.A., Colorado, 2009.