The Beauty Is in the Details: Designing and Installing Custom Tile with Intention
When clients ask what truly elevates a home from beautiful to exceptional, my answer is always the same: the details. Custom materials—especially tile—have the power to transform a space, but only when they’re designed and installed with intention.
Tile isn’t just a finish. It’s a storytelling element. The size, finish, pattern, artwork, and placement all work together to create something that feels layered, personal, and timeless. When you’re investing in custom materials, the goal isn’t just uniqueness—it’s meaning.
Why Custom Tile Matters
Custom tile allows us to move beyond standard solutions and create something entirely tailored to the home and the people who live there. Whether it’s a subtle texture or a hand-painted motif, custom tile gives us the freedom to respond to architecture, light, and location in a way mass-produced materials simply can’t.
But selecting the tile is only the beginning.
Design Doesn’t Stop at Selection
One of the most overlooked aspects of custom tile is the installation itself. Unlike repeating factory patterns, hand-crafted and custom tiles require thoughtful placement. Where one tile lands versus another can completely change how a space reads.
That’s why I take a hands-on approach—working side by side with installers on site to lay out tile, study patterns, adjust spacing, and make real-time decisions about placement. This level of collaboration ensures that the final result reflects the original design vision and honors the craftsmanship of the material.
A Custom Tile Case Study: Southampton Fireplace Surround
A perfect example of this approach is a current project in Southampton, where we’re installing a custom, hand-painted tile fireplace surround.
Each tile is individually painted with sea creatures, corals, and shells, drawing inspiration from the surrounding coastal landscape. The goal was not to create something literal or overly themed, but rather a fireplace that feels collected, artful, and quietly special—a moment that reveals itself the longer you spend with it.
Because every tile is unique, the installation is an essential part of the design process. In the coming weeks, the installer and I will meet on site to carefully lay out the exact placement of each tile. This allows us to:
Balance imagery across the surround
Create rhythm without repetition
Ensure focal motifs land intentionally
Adjust spacing and orientation to preserve visual harmony
This process transforms the fireplace from a simple architectural element into a bespoke work of art—one that feels deeply connected to place and purpose.
Each tile is unique, requiring precise placement.
Why the Extra Care Is Worth It
Custom design is an investment - financially and emotionally. These are the surfaces you live with every day. When tile is thoughtfully designed and meticulously installed, it elevates a space in a way that feels effortless and enduring.
My role is to guide that process from concept through execution, to make sure that what we design together is carried through to the very last detail. Because when something is done well, you may not consciously notice every decision—but you feel the difference.
And that’s where true beauty lives.
Interested in adding custom details to your own home?
Whether it’s a hand-painted fireplace surround or a tile pattern tailored to your space, we’d love to help bring your vision to life—layered, personal, and beautifully done. Reach out and let’s chat.
