A Tile Tale Inspired by Life and Process: Meet Guy Mitchell

Handmade products are one of the easiest ways to create an artful kitchen.  In fact there was a whole turn of the century style devoted to that concept.  The Arts and Crafts movement (1880-1910) was a reaction to the industrial age of machinery and mass production.  Proponents felt that items crafted by human hands were imbued with a soulfulness that was lacking in factory produced goods. I think they had a point and, although mass production definitely has its perks, it's nice to include unique handcrafted tiles, tableware or linens in your kitchen.

 Today we're seeing a resurgence of this philosophy in the "Makers' Movement". More on that later but, since today is Tile Tuesday, I'd love for you to meet Guy Mitchell, a tile artisan that takes his craft to the next level.  He has graciously agreed to an interview with AK.

AK:  What is your background and how did you get into making artisan tile?

Guy: All of my education has been art based, resulting in a degree in three-dimensional design, specialising in ceramic making and tableware. What I loved best was experimenting with glazes and finishes, so whilst other students were spending weeks sculpting huge ceramic art pieces I was making hundreds of tiles to test glazes on! After university I took up a voluntary placement in a pottery department at a day service for adults with learning disabilities. This led to paid work and then a career in the care sector, but a move away from art and craft. Jump forward to late 2013 and I was in a position to buy a kiln and set up a studio in the garden.

AK: I notice that you are in the UK.  Are your products available in the US?

Guy: I am based in the UK and I can ship to the US. There are no stocklists of my work in the US just yet but if any retailers over there to want to get in touch then please do!

AK: What is your inspiration?

Guy: I take inspiration from all sorts of places. I love the colours and patterns of Islamic tiles,the simplicity of Victorian English architectural and subway tiles and also British and Scandinavian mid-century studio pottery. African and Japanese textiles are also a big influence as is contemporary interior design. I like dark and glamorous rather than light and plain. Inspiration also comes from the process of making, and the results I get from experimenting with glaze colours.I think there is beauty in simple repetition and tiles are the perfect medium for this.

AK: Do you accept custom commissions?

Guy: Yes! Custom commissions are most welcome. I can supply wall tiles for any room but I can also design and make art panels than can be used as back splashes, counters or table tops. I'm happy to receive offers for any tile related work, just email me at guymitchellartist@gmail.com

AK: What has been your favorite project/tile?

In the last month I have been working on a couple of table tops and I am very happy with the designs. Like all of my work, the tiles are cut out by hand, from a slab of clay I've rolled out by hand. All of the glazes and colours I have used are mixed from scratch using raw materials.

Thank you to Guy for sharing his vision with us on Tile Tuesday.  His work is unique and beautiful. If you'd like to know more check out the following links:

www.instagram.com/guymitchelldesign

www.facebook.com/guymitchellart

www.etsy.com/UK/shop/guymitchelldesign

www.twitter.com/guymitchellart

email:guymitchellartist@gmail.com

Tile Tuesday: In Valencia Art is a Way of Life

Welcome to today's installment of Tile Tuesday!  The second half of my adventure with Tile of Spain took us to Valencia, location of Cevisama the annual trade show held to showcase the latest innovations introduced by the Spanish tile industry.We traveled by train east from Sevilla to Valencia, which is situated on the coast about 300 miles south of Barcelona. At first glance Valencia appears to be very modern with a predominance of what I call “the new Spanish architecture” featuring waves, curves and a visually interesting asymmetry.But there is an older Valencia to explore as well. The heart of the city features structures such as The “Iglesia de San Juan del Hospital” which dates back to the 1200s! The current city grew from this center. What a crazy combination of styles!  You can see Roman, Gothic, Renaissance  and more because different sections were constantly added to the original structure.Again we had a passionate knowledgeable tour guide who did not allow us to leave one inch of Valencia uncovered!  One of my favorite spots was the Mercado de Colón, a beautiful example of the Art Nouveau style. Glass and tile adorn this early twentieth century marketplace, now a gathering place full of interesting bars and restaurants.Hallmarks of the Art Nouveau style include free flowing organic shapes,  rich earth tones and lots of tile! At the turn of the nineteenth century there was no aspect of living that was not touched by the movement.  It was a global trend as well.  In Germany it was known as Jugendstil, in Spain Arté Joven and Secession in Austria.  The American version evolved into the what we know as the Arts and Crafts Movement, a simplified, more linear version.   According to Art Nouveau philosophy,  art should be a way of life. No wonder I'm always intrigued by it!If you're looking to "Nouveau" your kitchen here are somethings you can include:-Rich brown wood stains-Green, green and green 

Traditional Tile by Los Angeles Tile, Stone & Countertops Filmore Clark

-Some curvy shapes (more affordable to do this with your counter top than with cabinets)-Oak wood floors or cabinets -Certain flora and fauna like the dragonfly, the ginko leaf and the thistle are all images often seen in Art Nouveau styling-Ceramic tile backsplashes (preferably with the above motifs)Next Tile Tuesday: More Cevisama and the future of tile. 

Getting Creative at Cavastone

Time to switch from "turkey talk" to tile!  Hope you had a great holiday.  If you haven't found the new Kitchens for Living page on Facebook, please check it out and give me some love (ok I'll settle for a like). Today I'd like to highlight  a local resource that you should definitely know about if you live in South Florida.Cavastone is located in Boca Raton.  I've worked with them before but I was recently in the neighborhood so I decided to make a pit stop and check out the latest in the world of tile.   The showroom is stunning, sophisticated, and well lit which allows you to view the products to their full advantage.  I was most impressed with the options they have for porcelain tile but there is also a large assortment of granite and marble slabs.The tile above is gorgeous! It's a natural semi-precious stone accented with silver! Makes me think of a decadent boudoir or dressing area. Digital printing technology allows for an infinite number of options when it comes to porcelain tile.  They've got the natural look down!  The nice thing is if you ever need more it can be made for you. Those large sizes (see top) also come in 25" by 25" in case your abode is not quite that large. This dimensional look is also a big trend, used for walls in both interior and exterior applications.  You can find all Cavastone info right here on the Kitchens for Living Local Resources page. If you've got a great local resource clue me in.  I'd love to hear about it!

Spain Takes the Stage at Cersaie 2014

Tile of Spain, a collective of 90 Spanish ceramic wall and floor tile manufacturers, recently showcased new collections and innovations at the Cersaie 2014 show.  Held last month in Bologne, Italy, Cersaie is THE yearly international exhibition of ceramic tile.I love to note the trends at this show as they are a barometer of what we’ll be seeing here in the near future.  It’s not only the tile itself but how it’s being used that intrigues me and can offer us a wealth of design ideas.Tile has been used in building as far back as 3000BC in ancient Greece.  First used to replace thatch roofs, they were desired for their fire resistance.   Today tile finishes are vast, varied and constantly reinvented through the advent of new technologies affecting both performance and aesthetics.This year Spanish manufacturers, reflecting the latest design trends, showed vintage styles, hexagon shapes, three dimensional profiles and more.Here are some of my favorites from Tiles of Spain showcased at Cersaie 2014Porcelanosa (above) makes a complete contemporary statement with this combination of tiles.  I especially like the subtle injection of Old World suggested by the matte black floor tile. Other than the fact that chevrons are always cool, I love the gradient shades of grey shown here by Equipe Ceramicas, so original!  The grey and white are also neutral and easy to design around.Think pink! A lot of chick-pad-pink from Unicer (above). It's all tile, the white, the print the textured and the matte.  Would you?If you're going to use tile in the kitchen, go big! It really makes a statement.For more ideas check out the Tile of Spain USA Inspiration Gallery. 

The Rest of the "Hot Pepper" Kitchen Story

Happy new year peeps! Back at the drawing board this week after a nice holiday break. I got a lot of annoying little things done AND spend a little time in the studio but that's another story. Last post I told you about my dream kitchen. I don't know about you but I'm still dreaming and that was just enough to pique my interest. The lovely Shannon Pepper of Shannon Pepper Design in New Zealand, YES, New Zealand (who knew they were rocking such awesome design down under?)  shared some of her musings with me:

Modern Kitchen by Auckland Kitchen & Bath Designers shannon pepper design

 KFL:  What parameters were you given before designing this kitchen?Shannon:  The kitchen needed to be very functional for a busy family of 5. The kitchen is very much centralised in the home so it also needed to be very " good looking " for better words. There needed to be space to tuck things away like appliances etc to keep the space tidy.KFL: What was the biggest challenge of the project?Shannon:  Hmmm, I'm not sure there were any real challenges in this project as the client was very easy to deal with and realistic.  The space was very proportional and easy to plan. I say that but originally, in the plans from the architect, there was a window on the hob (stove) wall which we were trying to work around. After much thought  the client decided that since the space would only look out onto a hedge and wouldn't  offer much light  we opted to remove the window and add under cabinet lights to keep the space light.

Modern Kitchen by Auckland Kitchen & Bath Designers shannon pepper design

 KFL:  Is there anything you'd have done differently if you could?Shannon: Not really,  I love this kitchen and loved working with this client.KFL:  Can you describe they type of client you were designing for? Shannon:  The clients were both doctors and they have 3 children under 12. The family is busy with extra activities after school for the children and wanted a space that was functional and easy to maintain.KFL: What brand of cabinets did you use?Shannon:  The cabinetry used is a Dezignatek vinyl wrapped (known here as thermofoil)  product. The colour is white gloss and the profile of the doors and drawers is Milan. This product is great for giving you a painted finish look but without the chipping and scratching possibilities of paint.Not only is this a dream kitchen but it sounds like it was an all-around dream job too.  Check out Shannon's website for more pics of her beautiful projects. 

Tip #3: Where can I save money and what items are worth the splurge?

Many of our clients begin kitchen remodeling projects in the summer.  Kids are out of school and our commitments tend to be less (for some of us) in the summer months.  Today's client query is one that I hear a lot.  Naturally we all want to get the most for our money in all our investments but where can you save money in a kitchen remodel and what items are worth the splurge?The answer to that is largely subjective as we all have differing needs and priorities.  That said, there are some principles that should never be compromised and those include efficient use of space, safety and the best quality you can afford.

Contemporary Kitchen with standard depth refrigerator.  Courtesy of Houzz.com

Eclectic Kitchen by Indianapolis General Contractors Wrightworks, LLC This counter depth

refrigerator is a much better fit.  Courtesy of  Houzz.com

 SplurgeI must confess, there are some standards in the kitchen industry that are just plain wrong.  One of them is the standard depth refrigerator.  A standard base cabinet depth is 24" (25" including doors).  A standard refrigerator is about 33" deep!  It might look perfect standing solo at the appliance store but it could look like a beast in your kitchen!  Yes, they stick out.  Depending on the layout of the kitchen we can sometimes work around the depth by surrounding the fridge with extra deep side panels and a cabinet above pulled forward.  But if you're tight on space it is worth investing in what's known as a counter, or cabinet depth refrigerator.  This means that the cabinet box will be flush with your counter top and your "stick out" will just be the thickness of the door.  It makes a big difference.  Here GE shows the difference between standard, or free-standing and counter depth.  A standard GE french door refrigerator would be about 26 cubic feet and retails at about $2,100 vs. a comparable counter depth model which is around 21 cubic feet and retails at $2,700.00. Yes, you will have less cubic footage with a counter depth fridge and I suggest keeping the old fridge in the garage if that's an option.  If the kitchen is large enough you can add a beverage cooler.  When water, soda, beer and wine are taken out of the main fridge you get all kinds of space. There is also a third category if you've got the big bucks and that is true built-in or integrated.  Those are even shallower but they are also more than a foot taller to compensate.  Whether you opt for Sub Zero or GE. a built-in refrigerator is pricey but the most visually seamless, particularly if you add matching cabinet panels. 

Contemporary Kitchen Cabinets by Other Metro Tile, Stone & Countertops Quality Stone Concepts

This kitchen was created using stock cabinet.  Courtesy of  Houzz.com

 SaveYou can save money on your cabinets if you can keep to standard, or stock, sizes.  Simpler cleaner lines with minimal molding can also save you enough money to splurge on that refrigerator!  There are just two things to keep in mind.  Make sure the quality of the cabinetry you buy is sound and backed by a warranty.SplurgeMany professional kitchen designers will be happy to consult with you on the layout and selections for your kitchen.  An hourly fee is well worth it to have your plan validated by a pro.  In many cases, if you purchase your cabinetry through your kitchen designer, design services are included. 

Contemporary Kitchen by Washington Architects & Designers Barnes Vanze Architects, Inc

Here they saved on cabinetry by selecting clean simple slab doors with no moldings and

they splurged on the counter depth refrigerator and focal point pantry door.

Splurge

You may have heard me say this before but I'll say it again.  Buy a good quality faucet.  Your faucet is arguably one of, if not the most, used items in your kitchen.  Splurge up front and you won't be sorry.  Buy a cheap faucet and within a couple years you will have drips and leaks.  By the time you pay the plumber and replace the faucet you haven't saved anything. If you buy a stainless steel sink make sure the gauge 18 or lower to avoid denting and horrible water spots.

Kitchen Faucets by Bonita Kitchen & Bath Designers Jamie Gold, CKD, CAPS

You can get this Solna faucet by Brizo for under $400.

Save

If you've decided on granite counter tops, think about using 2cm material with no build up so that your total cabinet thickness is 3/4".  The minimal look works especially well with contemporary designs.  You'll get the functional advantages of a stone counter top without the extra labor to build up the edge to 1 1/2".  The look happens to be great, especially in dark counter tops.  If funds are tight you can also leave the back splash for last.  The area between your counter and upper cabinets can be tile or otherwise and it can always be finished at a later date.  However if you have enough material leftover from your tops maybe you'll want to use it for the backsplash. A word of caution: if you're using a slide in style range you'll want to make sure it's compatible with the finished height of your cabinets.

 SaveI love unique artsy cabinet handles as much as the next person but did you know that you can spend anywhere from $1.99 to upwards of $50 a piece for them?  Aim towards the $5-$10 for really good quality knobs or pull.  If you happen to fall in love with one of the $50 buggers maybe you can use just a couple for a special area. 

Asian Kitchen by San Francisco Architects & Designers John Lum Architecture, Inc. AIA

Focal point hardware is on refrigerator (true built-in).  The rest are simpler designs

in the same finish.  It works!  Courtesy of Houzz.com

 Next up, Tip#4: Granite or Quartz?