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By using a variety of design elements, Xperiencemakers created a harmonious interior for this Stellenbosch client.

Our small tiles on the wall, all in cream with the checkerboard arrangement of large tiles on the floor contrast with the raw clay brick at the entrance to the kitchen.

The use of colour, with the cream on the walls, cabinets and stove binding the contrasting green and reds  of the cabinets at either side, creates a lively and all so homely kitchen.

The deeper tones of natural wood creates the necassary depth.

What else can you learn from this image?

View the full post with extra images, and some other inginious design elements with the use of words.

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The client, an artist herself, enquired about patterned tiles to use behind her stove and bash basin as  back-splash tiles.

I consulted with her, at the site, and advised her to opt for a rich plain tile that will compliment some of the paint techniques she uses on several of her paintings hanging in the area. In general her interior and objet d’art have a rich patina of colour and texture and there was no need for a big budget patterned tile.

Be so kind to view before and after pictures on www.handmadetiles.co.za

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Be so kind to view the development of this project here.

The demand for pattern as a decorative element is back! Interior designers, architects, clients, … have a healthy appetite for geometric designs, and not exclusively for wall use BUT on the floors as well.

The tiles were specially made to be flat and the patterns were all hand painted on a porcelain based clay body.

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What a surprise!

And the next inserts are also off-beat and refreshing.

I shall add some more information at a later stage.

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We have just received this image, not the best, but good enough to give you an idea of the final installation.

View the lay-outs here.

Hi Gerrit and Gillian,

Thank you for the wonderful Halcyon Days tile panel that you made for our new kitchen at Malgas and especially for having them ready within the time frame that you advised. We love them and will definitely send you before/after photographs of the tile installation above the gas hob once it is complete. The installation of the kitchen cupboards will commence early October, so the installation of the tiles should be complete by mid to end October.

Enjoy the upcoming long weekend.

Kind regards,

Hi Gerrit and Gillian,

Thanks very much for pushing this through, with as they say, “A Dash of Speed”

Once you let us know that the tiles are ready, we will collect them, if it suits you on a Saturday morning on our way to the Breede River.

The builder phoned me to say that the tiles that have already been installed above the gas hob really looked fantastic - so well done Team Mytile!

Kind Regards,

Guy and Jay

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We often have surplus handmade and hand painted tiles available that an individual or decorator can use to revamp a neglected area.

This kitchen is a great example of what can be achieved with our handmade Delft tiles.

The client attempted to use the Delft tiles as inserts with cheaper CTM tiles, but once he has received and viewed our quality tiles, realized that he need to use tiles from our studio exclusively!

“Hi Gerrit,

Gerhard Basson”

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We received this very special commission from Gert Gertzen Interiors for a prestigious new residential home on a farm near Stellenbosch.

“Hi Gerrit,

                We will be needing 16 sq meter plus waste ? of tiles all of the fade look  …..like 2-the farm yard    ,  1 delft style       ,    2delft style   all with the grey back ground   must have an old look about them.

                Can you give me a idea of price before we going any further…..as my  client loves your product.”

The final choice was the 1 in 3 image, with not one image repeating. Hundreds of farm animals, figures, birds, flowers, etc. were researched and hand painted in minute detail.

This new residential home is designed and build within the true Cape Dutch Vernicular but the request was for a Delft-style hand painted tile that was soft and not in your face. The artist received cartblanche with the decorative work and they proceeded at full throttle to paint hundreds of different images.

The animals, mostly related to farm-life, includes pigs, dogs, horses, sheep, cows, etc. and birds like roosters, chickens, ducks, peacocks, etc.

The figures were based on children playing, adults at work and play, hunters, horse riders, etc.

This property is newly redeveloped near Lanzerac in Stellenbosch, and a close resemblance of activities and farm life will be experienced when the  viewer engage with these unique tiles.

The pre-fired tile looks quite different from the final product. Special clay bodies and glazes need to be used to achieve this high quality tile and unique finish. Originally Delft was based on low-fired Majolica glazes, but we seldom use low-fire techniques due to the high quality expected from professional teams.

Some of the tiles at the studio before sorting and dispatch. This order for 1700 tiles necessitated the production of 4200 tiles to ensure a successful delivery within the deadline received for this project.

“Ten einde laaste is die mure geteel en lyk baie goed………”

We are still waiting for the images of the final installations and I dearly hope to receive the approval to display it publicly on our websites.

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Colour, it is personal, it is what you make with it, it is just …. so much more …. it is fun, happiness …. it is you … but it is also a shared emotive response …. !

Look a the following personalized example - matched a gloss transparent glaze to perfection with the colour on the paint swatch cards from Plascon/Dulux.

The colours are not from any one pure pigment but is mostly based on a monochromatic base glaze with the addition of a specific coloring agent.

The R&D left me with several options, I could have opted for a glossy transparent look, or a glossy solid dimension to the colour presentation of the tile. Even a matte option can produce very favorable results - it all just depend on the brief!

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The following image was e-mailed to the the prestigious Malibu Softs Interior Team, who subsequently commissioned us to produce flat handmade tiles with graphic designs interpreted by Danela Conti. The brief from the client was clear -  simulate the ambiance of this kitchen. Another contract from Malibu - Read more ….

Gillian, our head designer, formulated the presentation and the colours. To achieve the soft tonal effect a variety of blue colours were applied by hand. Tones of a single colour were achieved by the use of a soft brush and the  delicate hand painting of the geometric designs.

We hope to receive permission to publish the final installation pictures, and will update this post then.

The floor to ceiling concept with graphic patterns, in specific colour fields or even with a variety of bright colours is becoming a firm favorite with clients wishing to create an awesome focal point within their interior spaces.

Southern Art Ceramic Design will be focusing on the development of new concept tiles that could perfectly blend in with even the sleekest of ultra modern designs - the designers will pay special attention to fine handcrafted details and technological interceptions, that can aid a small specialized studio in the production of special individualized concepts.

The Tiles above are based on geometric designs, inspired by the image for this project. It could easily be interpreted as North African or Moroccan, and will be a magnificent addition to any pool, fountain or seaside lodge. The bottom row is a design, from a series of ours some 15 years back, a classic and still an eye-catcher!

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“Hi Gerrit and Gillian,Thank you for meeting with us on Sunday; a thoroughly enjoyable experience for us to meet two people who so enjoy what they are doing.As far as the picture below the wording “HALCYON DAYS” IS CONCERNED; we envisage a pair of Pied Kingfishers - one hovering in the foreground in fishing pose and the other in the background sitting on a branch (or reeds) hanging over the calm water. This can be on a single larger tile or 4 normal smaller tiles. We look forward to seeing your interpretation.Kind Regards, Guy and Jay”Gillian suggested the following  grout recipe for these aqua- green - gray tiles.Dry Mix Tylon grout powder, 2 Parts Ivory: 1 Part White: 1 Part Light Grey“Hi Gerrit and Gillian,Thank you for the wonderful Halcyon Days tile panel that you made for our new kitchen at Malgas and especially for having them ready within the time frame that you advised. We love them and will definitely send you before/after photographs of the tile installation above the gas hob once it is complete. The installation of the kitchen cupboards will commence early October, so the installation of the tiles should be complete by mid to end October.”The greens are very similar to the aqua green tiles used in this post, and is particulary suites to this Breede River riverfront cottage.Gillian Greer handpainted the decorative tile and with meticulous craftmanship she brought the Halcycon to life -  but not without the normal ceramic curve balls - the first artwork buckled, the second one had to light a background colour applied and the third and successfull tile had to be painted - a solid week of painting!The client was forced to order more plain tiles due to unexpected kitchen changes - this did not present a problem as we keep batched of glaze for at least a month after having delivered the order - but in this case we had to first produce the hand pressed tiles - all within a week!”Hi Gerrit and Gillian,Thanks very much for pushing this through, with as they say, “A Dash of Speed”Once you let us know that the tiles are ready, we will collect them, if it suits you on a Saturday morning on our way to the Breede River.The builder phoned me to say that the tiles that have already been installed above the gas hob really looked fantastic - so well done Team Mytile!Kind Regards, Guy and Jay”

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