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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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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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The potential of floor to ceiling tiles, decorative or plain, to create a focal point with imposing charm and character has been recognized by many top designers. Handmade products adds that one factor, the ultimate personalisation - the option where you can opt in to have top craftsmen create a product with your imput for that  unique element that will make your home truly personal and not just four walls filled with choices from an impersonal catalogue!

“This looks fantastic, just what we are looking for.
Yes I did, I think they are beautiful. I have a meeting with Sarah Watermeyer the designer who is helping me with my kitchen probably next Tuesday. Will let you know colours etc after that.

Much appreciated
Jenny”

We provided several samples and the preferred colour tones were the pale olive green colours and not the brighter and purer greens.

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 And another STUNNER!” Dear Gerrit, Didn’t forget you - I was waiting for our blinds to be put up but I will go grey waiting for this! Only been 6 months!As you can see the tiles look sensational! Work SO well with the Farrow & Ball wall colour. I am sending this to you as a taster to pop onto your web site and will send some more through later?Kind regards, Louise Croxton”“Hi GerritJust been thinking about the tile colours of my order and just wanted to stress that the “grey BW24-HR 5-1” sample tile must be the very darkest of the variety you make up in those shades – I can afford to play it on the light side as I find the darker the colour the more GREEN the “grey” tile looks. The washed grey aqua appeals to me but I am nervous of a really green impression. The colour for my kitchen cabinets is a greyish duck egg blue which looks almost pale aqua in some lights, to be off set by a cream stone counter top – the overall impression I want to achieve is a soft muted one – very understated and unusual I hope – but with the “punch” being the range tiles.So looking forward to seeing the tiles! Actually the most anticipated part of my new kitchen!”We are specialists at formulating a custom colour for handmade tiles - like the brief I have received from Louise to match the Pale Duck Egg Green from the Laura Ashley website.Dozens of formulation tests and changes will be made over a short period of time to meet the deadlines - but as can be seen and read - Louise’s testimonials confirm that Southern Art Ceramic Design has delivered the ultimate element - the textural glossy gray-green handmade tiles - that could reflect the changing moods of the day!I have to appologize for the images in this post - it is impossible to capture the colour and  atmosphere in a sun drenched kitchen like this!Only a site visit will do this kitchen merit,  and an early morning start with a cup of coffee will just be the time to experience the meticulously planned colour and handmade Duck Egg Green porcelain tiles changing its moods and reflections as the day progress!

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Gillian Greer, our graphic designer completed 10 different options for this client’s authentic farm-style kitchen. All these options have it’s own cost attached due to the different time allocation for each. The borders are extremely labour intensive and ad substantially to the quote.

Any of the above will enhance an old traditional farm kitchen. The AGA stove will compliment the handmade panel and the quarry tile floors and yellow wood beams will create the ambiance for many festive encounters in and around this kitchen with its Aga stove and handmade Delft style tiles.

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Danela Conti and Leigh Samson the owners of MalibuSofts, an interior design company, commissioned these superb individualized customized tiles for their client’s property at De Zalze golf estate near Stellenbosch. This post show some intriguing originality in the use of colour and positioning of the installed tiles by these two fast thinking individuals. It was an absolute pleasure to work with them as they were consistent and quick with their decision making.

These tiles, brightly coloured and with icons, has found relevance in the bathrooms that is deeply personal and one cannot imagine these bathrooms and guest toilets without it!

These tiles were used as pairs and positioned above the door in one bathroom and above the taps at the bath in another. In the guest toilet the three tiles were used next to the curtain. Individually these tiles have an overpowering presence but the understated use in number and with the surprise factor of positioning these characterful tiles just blend in to create an one of a kind bathroom experience!

We are the proud suppliers of customized handmade tiles at De Zalze Golf Estate to several homes and properties with projects ranging from kitchens tiles, decorative wall tiles, floor tiles, wall tiles and house names.

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We are very proud to present this handmade ceramic tile website to you. It is a one of a kind handmade portal presenting you with an awesome choice of unique handmade tiles. These handcrafted art tiles can be purchased as gifts or you can enhance, revive and revitalize your environment.

www.handmadetiles.co.za is the perfect portal for interior designers and architects who wish to add something special to their designs. These objects are on a scale that your clients can relate to and it will create one of a kind architectural structures and interior spaces, fresh, new, modern, contemporary and chic!

Create a one of a kind kitchen and be sure that it will be the talking point and envy of your friends! HOTFOOT to the website NOW!

The tiles were passionately crafted by several talented artists and this online shopping portal will be expanded substantially over the next six months.

If you pick up any small glitches be so kind to inform us, the tile site is huge, and less than 10% of the tile objects loaded.

www.handmadetiles.co.za will be the ultimate handmade tile portal to shop at in the world and just to keep you tempted we shall announce the opening of our arttile shopping portal in the near future as well!

Enjoy our new baby and any responses will be appreciated.

Kind regards

Gerrit

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Many moons ago I formed several impulsive platters, all of them rectangular with some organic overtones decorated with dots. I was quite pleased with the end result, and sold most of the platters.

This platter ended up in this apartment and would invite viewers to click on the image to view the website with more images of this awesome and most inspiring environment. This home is a lived in interior space communicating a story, vibrant, colorful and exciting!

How can rooms, four walls, without art … ceramic art …  by the likes of Ruan Hoffmann, Robert Hodgins,Hylton Nel, Haneke Benade and others … be called a home?

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With the superb match of the charcoal grey and the black Lacanche stove in the Top Billing feature I searched for a few other matches of where the stove and tiles match seamlessly.Matching the colour of handmade tiles with your Aga, Lacanche, Falcon or other stoves is a most  important decision and best left in the capable and experienced hands of Southern Art Ceramic design.This kitchen with a magnificent AGA stove attracts constant attention in many magazines like SA Home Owner and South African Decor & Design mini buyers guide. The South African Decor and Design mini buyers guide add with a similar image of this cream Aga stove and matching handmade tiles resulted in a unprecedented response and a flood of inquiries.South African  Home Owner used the above kitchen in their December 2008 issue featuring classic designs!We were not surprised, are you?

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Mrs Elwes, a passionate collector of our art work, had this ceramic tile panel installed in a entrance with a skylight. The sun is far to intense to hang any conventional painting in this spot and a ceramic tile panel was one of the few options.

This wall being exposed to strong afternoon sun was neglected till now, but wow what a difference does this new art panel make!

This close up display some of the soft velvety textures of these proteas, enticing one to touch them and imaging the real flower under your fingertips!

Soon panels like these will be for sale on Southern Art Ceramics e-commerce site, which promise to be the most dynamic and diverse online gallery from one studio in the world!

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