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Last Day To Enter The Terra Home Giveaway!
Have you decided what your favorite holiday is? That’s all you need to do to enter this week’s giveaway from Terra Home.
This beautiful set of four Not Just For Sushi Dishes ($88.00) will be zipping their way to you on Monday morning. But you have to enter! They come in three styles. You choose the one you like.
Terra Home makes beautiful, handcrafted dishes, and tiles. Here’s a peek at their tiles.
The winner will be chosen at random tomorrow morning and I’ll post the winner then. Leave a comment and tell us about your favorite holiday!
More Giveaways Coming Up!
Next week I’m running yet another fabulous giveaway! After that, there will be 2 per week up until Christmas. Yay! This is fun.
Friday Favorite: Helen Beard Ceramics
Helen Beard is a watercolor and ceramics genius. I adore her work.
What’s not to love? Her work is one-of-a-kind.
I’m scooting out the door to a client meeting. I’m working on her kitchen right now and am looking for accessories, like these, to dress the room. The project is winding up, so I’m looking forward to having a bit more time to write more posts. Stay tuned.
Helen Beard Ceramics
I recently discovered the beautiful ceramics designed by a true master. Helen Beard hails from the UK. Her work has been exhibited in museums throughout Europe, and is in the permanent collection of two.
Helen makes everything herself starting with vessels made of Limoge porcelain. These become the canvases for her watercolor motifs.
Her current work includes a collection of swimmers and another of birds. How do you choose? They’re both so lovely.
You can find her cups here in the US at Ashes and Milk. Prices start at $150.
If a set isn’t in your budget, one of these would look beautiful as part of a tablescape. Place one on a bookshelf, or use it as a pencil holder.
photos: Ashes & Milk
Heat-Sensitive Tiles
These are cool – heat-sensitive tiles from Inventables.
Are they a little gimmicky? Kind of. The question to ask when it comes to these sorts of things is, “Will I be embarrassed about this a year from now?” I think these tiles are pretty enough without the heat-sensitive thing that they will stand the test of time.
A bath seems like the best place for these. Flooring might get a little tired unless they’re installed in a seaside place. For some reason I see these near water, where things are more relaxed and fun.
The 4″ x 4″ tiles are pricey at $14 – $16 per tile. But chances are you’ll be the only kid on the block to have them.
What’s your opinion? Are these too silly?
Guy Wolff’s Studio
Guy Wolff, the master potter and designer of beautiful garden pots, sent me photos of his new shop in Woodville, Connecticut. It’s been his pottery home for 36 years. I’m off to a garden club meeting today, so I thought this would be the perfect time to talk about Guy and his workshop. Here are the photos, which he nicely arranged, of his place.
Guy’s new work room was added on to the original, 1740 structure. “It’s nice and airy,” says Guy, “But cozy in the winter.” It was renovated last year, saving older part of the structure from falling down. I miss old buildings like this.
Guy’s simple yet beautiful pottery is sold via his website, and at garden shops, and at Smith and Hawken. Thanks to Guy for sending me the photos.
A Delftware Kitchen
Today, I’m featuring kitchens designed to inspire us all. This beautiful example proves that you can blend the old world with the new.
Photo credit: Misha de Ridder
More Tiles! From Margaret Licha
I couldn’t resist adding these to my thoughts on tile resources during Kitchen Week. I know this style isn’t for everyone. And remember, a little goes a long way. But, if this is for you, tile designer Margaret Licha does a brilliant job.
Pewabic Pottery
Pewabic Tile has been a Detroit institution since it was founded in 1903. Their work is so distinctive. you can instantly identify it. They created amazing tiled murals and still do. My son attended a Pewabic tiled elementary school. Built in the 1920’s, the classrooms feature nursery rhyme characters at each classroom entrance. The two kindergartens have Pewabic fireplaces and fishponds. Those were the days! The fish have gone and so have the fires. But the tiles are still beautiful. Sorry, they wouldn’t let me take pictures! The photos, above, will have to suffice.
Below is a sampling of their tiles. You can take classes in pottery making at Pewabic. And, of course, you can contact them about custom design work.
Marlborough Tiles
These exquisite, handmade tiles are from British firm, Marlborough. These are one of those finishing touches that can transform and ordinary kitchen into something extra-ordinary. Marlborough will provide shipping overseas.
Creative Designs for Bath & Kitchen Tiles
I thought I’d try to make today an inspirational one. I’m starting with some interesting ways of using tile as well as some really cool tiles from Italian tile company, Etruria. Let’s take a look, okay?
Etruria has released a new line called Mondrian. These three photos show the variations that can be created.
If you play with the direction of the tile, you can create something with a textural quality while only using one color.
Here the Mondrian is used in two colors to accent the toilet and the sink. It turns what could have been a boring, gray bathroom into something striking. You can do the same thing with paint.
This line is called Haring, after artist Keith Haring. I don’t like the brown, but it comes in lots of colors. The pattern itself is striking.
Okay, I really love this tile design. Would someone who needs a new bathroom please call me right away? The only problem is the green. It looks great in the photo. But I wouldn’t want to wake up with a hangover and have to stumble into this looking for the aspirin. Fortunately, this, too comes in lots of other colors.
Finally, a little fun. File this under “Don’t Let This Happen To You.” This is from Hakatai. They make beautiful glass mosaic tiles. But why on earth is this on their site? It’s a restaurant restroom. So, while I’m on the subject of hangovers, can you imagine looking at yourself in the mirror after even one martini, much less three? I don’t care if you’re Angelina Jolie, you’re going to look like Frankenstein.
Add this to your list of decorating rules: Never use this color in a place where people drink and women apply make-up. It’s tantamount to fluorescent lighting in a swimsuit dressing room. By the way, Design Hole’s first rule of decorating is: Choose the paint last.
Frances Palmer Pottery
Have you seen Frances Palmer’s pottery? Her handmade gems are beautiful. She intentionally makes them asymmetrically to give them a quirky look. Here are a few of my favorites.
Tall Narrow Vase 16″h 
Log 13″w x 7″h
Cachepot 9.5″w x 7.5″hTiles from Erin Adams
Erin Adams has created a new line of tiles called Luna. She adds to her beautiful collection of work at Erin Adams Studio. Here is Luna and a few of my other favorites. Enjoy!
Luna is an environmentally conscious glass and aluminium collection.
Quilts is a less-expensive line designed to look like candy.Erin has designed her own candy based on the Quilts Collection.