| About Designs in Tile and Mudita TileWorks |
Aesthetic movement history & Designs in Tile and Mudita TileWorksStarting in the mid-1800's, the Arts & Crafts Movement promoted the collaborative effort between architecture, the "decorative" arts and the "fine" arts. This design reform movement revived an appreciation of "Art Tile" - fine, hand executed craftswork created on ceramic tile for permanence and durability - fine art to be totally integrated into a structural environment.It is with this faith in the collaborative effort and the belief that "Art Tile" has a timeless and permanent place in our environment that we embarked on the creation of Designs in Tile and our sister company, Mudita TileWorks . Our goal is to provide "Art Tile" rich in the traditions of the past. Designs in Tile supplies plain tile and trim and Decorative Art Tile from our Tile Design Library. Mudita TileWorks plans, designs and executes tile for complete installations. Although we serve as independent consultants/designers/ artisans, it is the process and philosophy of Designs in Tile and Mudita TileWorks to work to satisfy the needs of the client. Each project is approached as unique. There is a great sensitivity to the work as it will appear installed. Constant focus is placed on attention to detail, in design as well as layout, for the ultimate in tile installations. Information to help you planFully coordinating decorative tile and plain field tile and trim can elevate a plain tile installation into a work of art. Our installation gallery shows many examples of beautiful decorative tile combined with coordinating field tile and trim. We have the expertise to serve as consultant/designer/artisan in all phases of ceramic tile restoration or new work. Years of applied and academic research in historic tile -- design, materials and methods -- has allowed a primary orientation towards historic and traditional patterns. Our work ranges from delicate, hand painted luster tiles to commercial grade flooring. We are specialists in creating installations of custom, historic styled tile and murals. Our installations use coordinated borders and field patterns plus plain, subway-styled tile (often in a variety of sizes), molded trim and flooring. Inspired by our favorite historic styles, Victorian and English/American Arts & Crafts, we create both reproductions and adaptations. Designs shown in the Tile Design Library represent fully coordinated patterned borders, corners and field tiles in historic reproduction motifs, traditional patterns or adaptations. The patterns may be used together and modular elements may be arranged to fit almost any architectural design. Where can we use Designs in Tile and Mudita TileWorks products?Traditional tile installations encompass fully tiled kitchens, baths, fireplaces, walls and floors. Unusual historic applications for our custom, hand painted tile include wall and floor murals, fountains, pools, spas and custom furniture. All tiles are hand-decorated and high-fired for permanence and durability. Our white-bodied subway styled tile (3"x6", 6"x6", 4-1/4" x 4-1/4", 4" hex) is suitable only for interior, vertical installations. Contact the Studio for information on stoneware and porcelain tiles suitable for kitchen counters, hearths, floors, pools, fountains, or exterior use subject to extreme freeze/thaw conditions. Please contact the Studio for proper specification of materials and installation methods. Custom Services from Mudita TileWorksBesides the creation of a beautiful and durable product, our services may include these specialties:
Tile layout to fit architectural specifications To obtain Custom Services, please provide floor plans/elevations with accurate measurements. Specify age and style of house/room and desired color scheme. Photos, wallpaper and fabric swatches and paint samples are also helpful. Consultation, room design and custom tile or mural design fees are quoted on a per job basis. Working with Designs in Tile and Mudita TileWorksAs we are a custom Art Tile Studio, each job is completed on an individual basis and provides the ultimate flexibility in final color and design. We work in residential and commercial settings, often designing over long distances using blue prints and fax.
Contact the Studios to review your project. To obtain Custom Services, please provide floor plans/elevations with accurate measurements. Specify age and style of the house or room and desired color scheme. Photos, wallpaper and fabric swatches and paint samples are also helpful. What is Designs in Tile and Mudita TileWorks "hand-painted" tile?
Color selections should be made from actual tile samples, not from electronic or printed catalogs, since printing technology and inks cannot duplicate true glaze colors. NOTE: Color variation is a desired and inherent characteristic of all handcrafted ceramic products. Our tiles are hand decorated and fired in high temperature kilns and may vary slightly in shade from tile to tile and lot to lot. We recommend ordering all tiles for a project at one time. |
Project consultation from concept through completion
We have a large reference library to support custom art/design development.
The phrase "hand-painted tile" can be very misleading. At Designs in Tile and Mudita TileWorks, the phrase refers to the application of the decoration with the finest ceramic materials. Each tile, individually decorated by hand, is fired to high temperatures that makes our product extremely durable. We don't use any sort of unfired paint or epoxy, or low-fired china paint. Our tile meets the industry's durability standards for wall or floor tile as Decorative Special Purpose Tile.