Bespoke Tiles

I can usually tell you quickly if I can do something, or it may take a few days to find out. While this is a very Morris way to do business, when we are in tile season, I can't spend a week on a fishing expedition to hear "We've discussed it and we've decided to go in a different direction." We have to share the risk. Here's how that risk breaks down.

How Much Would It Cost for ___?

Fishing License (Consultation): $250. New fishing expeditions incur a consultation charge to see if there are indeed any fish. We will schedule a time to talk so I can find out about your tile project, scope, colors, visions, and answer any questions you have. If we decide not to go forward, I will refund your consultation fee less 10% and the cost of mockups or sample tiles.

Minor Changes.

Minor color changes that do not require matching an existing color are not bespoke tiles. Some possible outcomes of a fishing expedition are:

1. It's a minor change and we're done fishing and you can proceed to order tile. Your consultation fee will apply to your tile order, less any mockups or sample tiles. A fishing license is also sufficient for size changes or if you want tumbled tiles rather than ceramic.

2. It is really a custom order, and I need to send you a Proof of Concept, or

3. It's not something I can do for you, or cannot do in a timely or cost-effective way, such as an exterior wall mural. In such cases, I'll give you recommendations of people who can help you get what you want. And I'll refund your consultation fee less $25.

Proof of Concept:

For entirely new projects, the next step is a Proof of Concept to ensure we are not talking past each other about what we're doing. A Proof of Concept is $250 for single tiles and this comes out of your consultation fee. I charge $350-$500 for large tiles, panels and murals but maybe less and certainly not more than that. You will get a mockup or photo of what we're making for your approval.

Estimate:

Once I have a mock up and made an initial tile or two, I can give you an estimate for the completed project. That estimate will be in the form of a not-to-exceed amount, unless I you and I agree. I try to avoid slithering up to customers telling them how far off I was, so I usually just absorb the cost but sometimes I just can't. If this does happen, I'll suggest a way we can descope the project to stay within our agreed-upon budget.

Custom Colors

The very best way to choose your field tile is to take one of your actual tiles with you to the tile store. There is variation, even between runs, and this is the safest way. I can send a small sample off the day I start your tiles and you'll have it a week or two before you get your actual tiles.

What is a Custom Color?

It is not custom work if you buy a sample tile and it arrives and you want it to be more red and I say no problem. It is custom work if you need to approve exactly how much more red is, or if you send me a knob, paint sample, field tile or other item.

That Way Lies Madness

It's important to know that I cannot match colors exactly to paint samples or fabric. Sometimes I come close but it's always a happy surprise when it works out. If you have a field tile with a little or more color variation, often consisting of little flecks of color, the color will appear different depending on how far away you stand and the light in the room. There is natural variation between runs and even some slight variation within a run,so an exact match is close to impossible unless your tiles are mass manufactured in a temperature controlled environment, rather than hand made. Moreover, matching gets more difficult as time passes and the environmental conditions change, which means that a sample tile I sent you in August is going to be near impossible to duplicate in January, and I will find myself trying to color match my own tile.

Cost of Custom Colors

I understand that web colors vary from computer to computer and you may want to see a color before deciding. That's not a custom color, that's just a good reason to buy a sample tile.

But... Fussing with colors is time-consuming and less fun than one would think. For both of these reasons, sometimes one more than the other, there is an extra charge per color, ranging from $0 for general requests of "I'd like that yellow flower to be just a little lighter" to $100 per color for more than one color change in a design.

Custom Color Tile Samples

One sample tile with your requested color change comes with your Consultation. If you know the range of color you like, you can send me that and I'll do my best to get in that range. If we have to go back and forth, it's a new sample tile invoice every time. Have I talked you out of Color Matching yet?

Matching Colors in Existing Tiles

For ceramic, if the original base white shows, well, the thousands of colors of white may highlight differences between the original tile and the replacement, even if everything else goes well. Complementary colors are likely to give a better result than matching.

Minimum Number of Custom Tiles

In most cases, the minimum number of tiles is 15. I set a minimum number of tiles because there's a point where the time and set-up for an order gets out of proportion. If you are getting multiple patterns, and the color we finally agree upon is the same through, I'll waive this.