|
Here's a sample of how the artist, A.M. Foulke,
brings custom designs to life. For more project samples, step into the studio with
our Facebook page
or visit our Design Ideas
area.
For more information on how to bring your own custom
ideas to life, see the Anatomy
of a Custom Project page.
Geneva Cabinet Company Project:
Objective: To provide an elegant focal
point in this finely crafted kitchen created by
Geneva Cabinet Company, in Lake Geneva, Wisconsin.
How the Artist did it: Creamy
white manufactured tiles form the background for Aurelia
Centerpiece (Gloss White) with a custom surround and
Chair Rail frame (in Mottled Aqua). The breezy
colors in this elegant setting provide a feeling of
light and openness.

The Artist's Kitchen:
Objective: To accent my 1935 home with
a motif that matches the era and adding textural elements
and a pop of color.
How the Artist did it: Since
this was my own kitchen, all of the tiles are handmade.
I used 4x4 fields against the granite, a liner
made from Kallisto Narrow, and the remaining space filled
with 4x8 Rhomboids. Rosa medallion with Sculpted
Leaf and Chair Rail molding is featured above the stove.
To continue the vintage look, I created a medallion
from Renaissance (6" round) for the opposite wall.
Variations in height and stop-points were cured
with the use of Pencil molding. The curve of the
granite was mimicked by the curve in the stop on the
stove wall configuration. All field (plain) tiles
were in Candlelight glaze and the accents are in Dark
Forest.


The Artist's Bathroom:
Objective: This second bathroom is
off of the kitchen (pictured above), so I needed to
tie in the colors, while keeping with the vintage 1930s
design.
How the Artist did it: Since
this project was done on a strict timeline, I needed
to tie manufactured tiles in with my handmade accents.
The field tiles are commercial 12
x 12s with buttery yellows and beiges. The accent
strip is Lucescere (3x8) pressed into 4x9 inch
pieces (to give a framing effect), and glaze is
in Deep Green. The vessel sink is a Prairie sink
glazed in a combination of Dark Forrest and Deep Green;
perfect for this small space!


Concordia Installation:
Objective: To provide a rich blue accent
and focal point in this light, airy kitchen while maintaining
economy using commercial field tiles and frame.
How the Artist did it: Concordia
gets the job done all in one single tile, while the
Ocean adds depth and interest!

HomeTech Project:
Objective: To accentuate the grand
height and custom cabinetry in the showroom of this
high-end builder/remodeler.
How the Artist did it: The premium
cabinetry custom-stained by this renowned Philadelphia
builder, HomeTech, demanded a stunning and unique centerpiece.
Custom-hewn granite countertops created an elegant
anchor for cabinetry stretching 12 feet toward the ceiling.
This grand scale allowed for a strong vertical
element above the stove area. By taking the Imaginatio
tile most often used in fireplace motifs, and reworking
the look using Chair Rail moldings, this entire composition
exudes grand elegance. The Earthly Purple glaze
plays off of the chocolate browns in the cabinetry,
while adding depth and interest and making this design
one of a kind. The field tiles were scaled to
fit the space in a 4 x 8 subway. Chair Rail moldings
form the perfect accent in Antique Bronze.

Leilani Custom-Design Project:
Objective: To create a tile to match
the artisan stained-glass window and surround it with
hand-made field tiles to create cohesive composition
and proportion. Pictures by Jen Capone.
How the Artist did it: A.M. Foulke
took the Fleur di Lis outline and shape from the window
and embellished it with her own personal style, shown
throughout Clay Decor's designs. The field tiles
were made to scale for the large kitchen at 3x6
inches and finished with Gloss White to compliment the
white cabinetry. Additionally, the surround and
frame for Leilani were created to fit the large space
above the stove.


In-wall Fireplace Project:
Objective: To create a fireplace surround
around a wall-mounted gas fireplace that compliments
the home's classic design elements, while providing
a dynamic focal point in this stunning master bath.
How the Artist did it: The big
challenge for this project was to custom-fit the moldings
and fireplace surround around an existing architectural
detail. Classic white was chosen by the homeowners
to compliment their soft color palette and glazed/antiqued
white cabinetry. The surround visually tied
the firebox to a large soaking tub, while providing
beauty and focus to this highlighted portion of the
master bath. The entire fireplace was built in
the artist's studio in one long session. The entire
work had to be created at one time in order to accurately
fit all tiles with each other and around what would
be the firebox opening. Imaginatio was used on
the sides, Delicatus engraved into two large corner
tiles, and Quies Imperial was used in the header and
along the bottom of the work, but cut and modified for
the bottom portion. Very large field tiles were
used between decoratives, and all moldings were custom-fit
just for this application. All of the fireplace
surround tiles were glazed in Gloss White.

Custom Concordia Kitchen:
This installation features custom designed accent
tiles; Concordia Vine and Concordia 3x3. The small,
coordinating accent tiles help to fill a large space
around the Concordia large medallion tile, while allowing
the elegant stone background tile to work in concert
inside the space. Concordia Vine, the long thin
pieces mitred at the corners, was created in two pieces
that are mirror images of the each other. Concordia
3x3 is a snapshot of the curling flowers found at the
top and bottom of large Concordia. The entire
design was glazed with Metallic Black.
Imaginatio in Bronze Project:
Objective: To use subtle, warm metallics
to enhance this gorgeous antique white and cherry cabinetry,
and to fill the space visually with a design as stunning
as the kitchen itself.
How the Artist did it: This backsplash
layout was the perfect canvas to feature Imaginatio.
A.M. Foulke worked with professional designer,
Diana Dyer
from le Blue Goose Custom Interiors (Skippack, PA) and Skippack Tile to
create this jewel for their clients. Antique bronze
was used on all tiles, but because of its rich variations
between tawny golds and rich, deep browns, the composition
is anything but boring.

Concordia Sero Tall Panel Project:
Objective: To expand upon the Concordia
design line with a huge new tile that could stand alone
as individual panels for this massive 7-foot grotto
space, glazed to compliment the client's georgeous custom
cherry cabinetry.
How the Artist did it: With the
help of Stone and Tile Emporium's Interior Designer,
Ann Romano, the artist developed this custom-designed
20x13 tile, surrounded it with Narrow Rope Molding and
enclosed all within using Chair Rail molding. Each
panel is created in a custom flat-black glaze, and surrounded
by commercial stone field tiles.

Classic White Kitchen Project:
Objective: To work with the client
to create a custom-sized, custom-fitted focal point
mural, as well as coordinated field tiles and liner
which would offer elegance, depth and interest all within
a pallette of creamy whites.
How the Artist did it: The designer
wanted to honor the clients' wishes for an entirely
hand-made backsplash that was custom created just for
their space. A.M. Foulke worked with professional designer,
Diana Dyer
from le Blue Goose Custom Interiors (Skippack, PA) and Skippack Tile
to size the Aurelia surround to fill the grotto area
above the stove, and to continue the large scale with
4x8 subway fields and a custom-created decorative liner.
We even put a bull-nose edge on fields and the
liner to create a perfect outer edge along the wall.
The creamy white color from Gloss White glaze
and combined with the almond-color grout echo the crisp
white cabinets and their antique glaze finish.


Anaglypto Fireplace Project:
Objective: Fit this modern firplace
with woodwork already installed with the Anaglypto design.
How the Artist did it: Modern fireplaces
with limited surround space present a challenge, especially
with a repeating design. There was 6 inches on
the sides and about 8 on top. The artist shaved
the barest 1/4 inch off the sides of the top tiles so
that the pieces would be even across. Because
the side designs wouldn't line-up to the repeat, these
custom corner pieces were created per the home-owner's
selection with Leilani 2x2 pressed into a custom sized
block tile. The sides were created with Anaglyptos
cut to fit precisely. There are custom 1/2-inch
thin pencils (made with the small crest from our Chair
Rail molding) around the outer edge and lining
the firebox to conceal the edge of the backer-board
inside, and to make the transition to the wood molding.
The hearth tiles are custom 12x12s. All tiles
are glazed in Earthly Plum. (Pictures taken before grout
haze removed.)

Keating Coat of Arms Project:
Objective: To translate the printed
coat-of-arms into a large tile plaque. Make the
tile plaque part of a large tile composition custom-sized
to fit a specific space in the client's decor.
How the Artist did it: This elaborate
coat of arms was a fantastic challenge to interpret
into the 3-dimensional medium. The artist had to
decide what areas would be raised-relief in order to
best represent the design, then translate that information
into a huge wood carving. The outer shape of the
coat was determined by the client, and mold cut to specifications.
The tile was carefully hand-pressed and refined,
then handmade background tiles and molding pieces were
created in raw clay so that the entire composition would
fit together perfectly. The client chose Autumn
Antiquity finish color, which was hand-rubbed into the
tiles to varying degrees so that the coat and frame
stood apart from the background. This finished
composition was approximately 26 inches tall by 34 inches
wide and mounted on a permanent backing.


Aurelia Companion Custom Kitchen Project:
Objective: To create a sense of space and
proportion in a small open-plan kitchen, and to compliment
creamy finish colors found in cabinetry and counters.
Pictures by Jen Capone.
How the Artist did it: We custom
created field tiles to be 5 by 2.5 inches,
rather than the standard 6x3. The medallion above
the stove was created using smaller Aurelia Companion,
with a surround and Pencil molding frame created to fit
the space centered between rows of field tiles. Gloss White, with its creamy whites
and warm beige undertones complimented the antique-white
finished cabinetry.
These pictures
highlight the elegant composition and interaction of
the hand-made field tiles with the Aurelia Companion
medallion.


Chara Grandis Installation:
Objective: To create a Tuscan-style
medallion and complimentary decorative tiles to enhance
the rustic beauty of the rough-hewn stone field tiles.
How the Artist did it: The project
was created for Plain and Fancy Custom Cabinetry through
Ted Smith Floors. Ted Smith designers chose Clay
Decor's rustic Autumn Antiquity finish for the Chara
Grandis half-round medallion tile, and Metallic Black
for the medallion frame, Chara Catillus, and Pencil
moldings. The rich black in the tiles created
a beautiful separation and accent to the warm reds and
golds in the file tiles and medallion. The round
shapes created interest and set this design apart from
the ordinary!

Custom Fireplace Project:
Objective: To create a custom-sized
fireplace surround in a finish that resembled distressed
ironwork. Pictures by Jen Capone.
How the Artist did it: This project
was the birth of several designs; Quies Imperial, Imagination
and Delicatus 6x6. The original Quies design was
enlarged and added-to fit the 10-inch-tall header. Imaginatio
was created in order to form a large vertical element
for the sides, and Delicatus enlarged to match the scale
of Quies Imperial. Custom-created field tile plaques
were created to fill spaces in between decorative tiles
and to form the large hearth. A custom glaze,
Flat-Black, was created to achieve the finish of ironwork.

Imaginatio Shower Project:
This elegant shower was created to emulate a luxury
spa in a small space. Imaginatio large medallions
were placed as mirror images of each other and framed
by Chair Rail Molding, forming a st

4-foot by 6-foot Giant Medallion Project:
Objective: To create a cohesive design
around Concordia to fill a 24 square-foot space as the
centerpiece in a massive gourmet kitchen.
How the Artist did it: Concordia
and Concordia Sero provide the centerpiece for this
massive composition. They are surrounded by large
custom field tile plaques, Lucescere wide border tiles,
and encapsulated by Chair Rail molding tiles. The
Concordia mural was customized with an incised wave
border. The entire composition (shown here in
lay-out not installation) was done in the Ocean glaze.

Whymsical Grape Project:
Objective: To make a huge framed
mural composition and accent tiles with a non-traditional
grape theme custom fit to a space 17 by 39 inches.
How the Artist did it: Since
ornate and traditional is usually what the artist gravitates
toward, this was a fantastic challenge for A.M. Foulke.
One of Clay Decor's mantras is to avoid
the ordinary. No grapes with fruit bowls, or a
wine bottle and cheese here! The design was a
whimsical extraction of vines, leaves, and grapes arranged
in a gently cascading fall for the centerpiece tile
(Vinaceus), and turned on end for the flanking Vinaceus
Companion tiles. The entire composition
was glazed with Antique Bronze. The glaze was
applied to compliment the design of the tile, so that
the burnished highlights in the glaze mirrored the flow
of the vine. Small 2x2 tiles created to
match (Bacca) were added as accents around the kitchen
installation. The mural was enclosed within
2.5-inch Chair Rail molding tiles. (picture
shows loose tiles, not installed)

Aurelia Centerpiece Smaller-Space Project:
Objective: To make a composition comprised
of Aurelia Centerpiece, surround, and Chair Rail
moldings fit into a space smaller than the pre-sized 21
x 26 inches.
How the Artist did it: Every
home and kitchen configuration is different. This
project demonstrates how the Clay Decor artist can custom-fit
existing designs to individual spaces. In
this case, the client wanted to use Aurelia Centerpiece
(very large tile) in the backsplash space above
their stove, which was of limited height proportion.
The surround was custom-created in wet clay
to be of minimal height but longer in length than the
original surround size. This composition was installed
horizontally above a 6-burner stove. This project
was additionally complimented with our hand-made field
tiles in the same Gloss White finish custom sized for
the small space to 2.5 x 5 inches.
In this photograph, the complete
medallion is pictured in our studio along with the wood
mold used to make Aurelia Centerpiece tile.
|