Behind the Print : Painted Tile

Let’s go behind the scenes and explore the inspiration behind Painted Tile, my latest wallpaper design…

Lately I’ve been obsessing over tile. Not just any tile though, it’s the iconic blue & white Delft Tiles that particularly have my heart. These tiles originated in the mid-1600s out of the Netherlands. At this point in time, everyone was obsessing over the blue & white porcelain imported from China. It would take many more years before they perfected the craft of China Porcelain, but in the meantime potters in Europe began creating tile using tin-glazed earthenware to copy the shiny white porcelain look they loved. The potters began decorating each tile with their own crests or depictions of everyday life. It’s this juxtaposition of structured tile with designs that change from square to square that interested me, as well as the sense of storytelling inherent to it.

Left : The Badenburg Right : Packwood House in Warwickshire House (Source House & Garden UK)

A modern interpretation of Delft Tiles from Plain English via Luxe Source

A set of rare 17th century Delft tiles in blue with different kind of shepherd scenes via Regts Delft Tiles

I created my own iconography through exploring motifs like four-leaf clovers and crescent moons that paired with pastoral scenes of farm-animals and fantastical beasts.

I practiced painting using only two shades of light and dark blue, creating simplicity in the line work to evoke each character.

Using Delft Tiles as a starting point, I set out to create a pattern that was at once a geometric with strong repetition, but that at the same time full of individuality and whimsy.

Once I finalized the scale and pattern, I started to play with color - of course I had to have a color-way that captures the distinctive flare of Delft Tile …i.e blue and white! From there I started playing with a bolder navy to anchor the design, adding in pops of jewel tones that change within each square. Celeste Blue is the third color way in this collection, full of soft blue-greens and hints of gray.

Porcelain Blue

Celeste Blue

Multi

Looking for even more inspiration? Check out more beautiful Delft Tiles and modern interiors over on Pinterest