14/07/2026
For our High Victorian kitchen in Sussex, the Artichoke team designed over two thousand bespoke architectural tiles to envelop the grand 3.5 metre-high room. Meticulously translating the classical elements of an architectural façade, each tile individually drawn and plotted into fully resolved elevations.
The level of technical resolution was extraordinary, with every junction, return and profile carefully considered to accommodate shrinkage during firing and achieve millimetre precision when finally installed alongside our handcrafted joinery.
To realise our designs, we commissioned Britain’s oldest surviving purpose-built tile factory, . Traditional block moulds were produced for every profile, combining hand-carving for the more intricate architectural elements with modern machinery where greater precision was required. Following weeks of drying and multiple firings, every tile was individually hand dipped before its final firing, with some of the largest architectural pieces requiring two craftspeople to glaze.
Our Interior Design team developed four bespoke crackle glazes exclusively for the project, introducing subtle tonal variation through soft greys, blues and mushroom tones. A deliberate change in grout colour above the principal frieze further accentuates the layered architecture, gently drawing the eye upwards through the composition.
While the ambition of the tiling extended far beyond that of a typical residential scheme, there is something to be said for the commitment to commissioning finely crafted materials. More than a remarkable feat in the art of architectural ceramics, the project represents a shared dedication to preserving and advancing Britain’s rich tradition of heritage craftsmanship.
Read more about the process of creating these tiles through our notebook on our website.
