Here's a sample of how the artist, A.M. Foulke, brings custom designs to life.  Pictures by Jen Capone.

 For more information, see the Anatomy of a Custom Project page.

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.

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 designers from le Blue Goose design firm 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.  

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.

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.  

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.