Meet the Booragoon Potter Turning Clay Into Custom Kitchen Tiles
In a compact studio in Booragoon, slabs of clay are becoming something more intimate than a standard surface finish. Each tile is pressed, trimmed, glazed and fired by hand, carrying small variations that give a kitchen splashback the character of a crafted object rather than a background detail.
The potter behind the work approaches domestic surfaces with the patience of a maker and the eye of an interior designer. Colour is tested against Perth light, edges are considered alongside cabinetry, and the rhythm of a tiled wall is planned as carefully as the pattern of a woven textile.
This is a practice shaped by place. Western Australia’s strong sun, pale mineral tones and relaxed relationship with indoor-outdoor living all find their way into the collection. The result is a series of custom ceramic tiles that feel grounded, tactile and distinctly suited to contemporary Australian homes.
From studio clay to architectural surface
The process begins with a conversation rather than a catalogue. A client may arrive with a kitchen plan, a sample of timber or stone, and a loose idea of colour. The maker translates those references into a tile language: soft squares for a quiet renovation, irregular rectangles for a more expressive wall, or a combination of forms that brings movement to a restrained room.
Clay bodies are selected according to the intended finish and scale. A tile for a splashback needs to be durable, stable and easy to maintain, but those practical requirements do not have to flatten its personality. A fine speckle, a gently rippled face or a softened edge can add depth without compromising the surface’s everyday use.
Once shaped, the tiles dry slowly before their first firing. This stage demands a watchful approach, particularly in Perth’s dry climate. Any uneven change in moisture can cause warping or cracking, so the studio becomes a place of measured pauses. What looks like a simple handmade tile is the result of several controlled stages and a considerable amount of waiting.
Why handmade tiles change a kitchen
A splashback occupies an important position in a kitchen. It sits between the workbench and the upper cabinetry, catches reflected light and often becomes the strongest visual link between the room’s materials. Handmade tiles make use of that position by introducing a surface with variation at close range and a coherent field from a distance.
The difference is especially apparent in tonal glazes. A single colour can shift from pale and chalky to smoky or saturated across a wall, depending on how the glaze settles during firing. Light moves across those changes throughout the day, giving the kitchen a subtle sense of animation without relying on a bold pattern.
The potter’s role is also to understand restraint. A handmade finish does not need to compete with every other element in the room. In a kitchen with dramatic stone, richly grained timber or sculptural hardware, a quieter tile can offer balance. In a pared-back space, a stronger glaze or varied format can provide the detail that makes the room feel complete.
A palette drawn from the Western Australian landscape
The studio’s colours reflect a local sensibility without imitating the landscape too literally. Warm whites recall limestone and sun-bleached walls, while muted ochres, iron-rich browns and dusty pinks suggest the mineral character of the coast and inland earth. Blue-greens bring a cooler note, echoing ocean water, eucalyptus foliage and the shadowed side of a verandah.
Colour development is a gradual process. Test tiles are glazed in small batches, then viewed in morning, afternoon and artificial light. A shade that looks delicate in the studio may become unexpectedly strong beside white cabinetry, while a deep glaze can soften when placed against natural timber. The maker records these changes, building a working archive of recipes for future commissions.
| Design consideration | What the maker studies | Effect in a kitchen |
|---|---|---|
| Glaze colour | Light, cabinetry and benchtop materials | Establishes mood and visual continuity |
| Tile format | Wall dimensions, grout lines and joinery | Controls rhythm and perceived scale |
| Surface texture | Reflection, touch and cleaning needs | Adds depth while supporting daily use |
| Edge profile | Corners, transitions and installation details | Creates a refined or deliberately irregular finish |
| Firing variation | Batch size, kiln position and glaze movement | Gives the wall individual character |
The most successful palette decisions are often the least obvious. A near-neutral glaze with a warm undertone can make a white kitchen feel more welcoming, while a complex green may connect an interior to a garden without introducing an overtly botanical scheme. These are small shifts, but they influence how a room is experienced over time.
Designing a commission around the room
Custom work begins with proportion. A tile might be beautiful as an individual sample yet feel too busy when repeated across a large wall. The maker considers the height of the splashback, the position of power points, the width of open shelving and the way corners will be resolved before finalising the format.
Scale matters as well. Small tiles create more grout lines and a denser pattern, which can suit a compact kitchen or a project seeking a traditional reference. Larger handmade tiles offer a calmer field, allowing surface variation and glaze movement to do the visual work. Elongated formats can guide the eye horizontally, making a kitchen appear wider.
The studio also works closely with architects, interior designers and tilers. Installation is part of the design, not an afterthought. Slight differences in thickness may need a flexible approach, and a handmade edge may be intended to remain visible rather than concealed. Clear communication ensures that the character of the product survives its transition from workbench to building site.
For homeowners and designers developing a material schedule, visiting the studio can be valuable. Samples can be held beside stone, timber and paint colours, while different combinations of grout and layout can be tested before a larger order is made. The decision becomes tactile and spatial rather than purely digital.
Making imperfection feel intentional
Handmade does not mean careless. The appeal of these tiles lies in controlled variation: a glaze that pools subtly at the edge, a surface that catches a narrow line of light, or a small difference in tone between neighbouring pieces. The maker establishes the boundaries of variation so that the finished wall feels coherent.
That balance is particularly important in a kitchen, where surfaces are seen from close range and used every day. Tiles must be sealed or specified appropriately, laid with suitable grout and maintained according to their finish. A beautiful material becomes more convincing when its care requirements are understood from the beginning.
The character of the work can be described through a few practical principles:
- Begin with the kitchen’s fixed materials, including benchtops, cabinetry and flooring.
- Order enough samples to assess colour in both natural and evening light.
- Decide whether variation should be subtle across the wall or concentrated in selected tiles.
- Treat grout colour and joint width as part of the overall composition.
- Allow time for making, firing, quality checks and installation planning.
This approach helps clients embrace the handmade quality without losing a sense of order. The finished splashback can feel expressive while still belonging to the architecture of the room.
A local practice with a wider design conversation
The Booragoon studio sits within a broader Australian interest in materials made slowly and used thoughtfully. Architects and designers are increasingly looking for finishes that carry evidence of process, particularly in residential projects where tactile surfaces can soften the precision of contemporary joinery.
For a local maker, the benefits extend beyond the object itself. Custom production keeps conversations close to the project, supports specialist skills and allows design decisions to respond to Western Australian conditions. A tile can be developed for a shaded coastal renovation, a sunlit inner-suburban kitchen or a hospitality space requiring a more robust visual language.
The work also connects domestic design with the wider creative community. Ceramicists, fabricators, architects and interior designers often share knowledge through open studios, exhibitions and industry gatherings. For those wanting to follow the people shaping Perth’s design culture, a free pass offers an accessible way to enter that conversation and encounter new work in person.
There is a quiet confidence in the potter’s method. Rather than chasing novelty, the studio builds value through attention: attention to clay, colour, proportion, place and the way a surface will be lived with. That patience is visible in every finished tile.
A custom splashback made in Booragoon can therefore do more than protect a kitchen wall. It can hold the trace of a hand, reflect the particular light of Perth and give a daily ritual a stronger sense of setting. To see how local makers and design practices continue this exchange of ideas, explore the event recap and follow the projects shaping Australia’s contemporary interiors.
When the right tile is chosen, the kitchen gains a surface with memory and presence. Visit a local ceramic studio, bring material samples into the conversation and commission a wall that belongs specifically to its home.
