( A Great Look With Delft Tiles )

I first came across Dutch Delft Tiles whilst freelancing at a design company called Central Design Studio, working on an amazing restaurant called Union Jacks, Winchester, UK, owned by Jamie Oliver.

Hand painted Delft Tiles have been popular since the Sixteenth Century, and many of the designs offered today have changed little since then! Delftware, or Delft pottery, denotes blue and white pottery made in and around Delft in the Netherlands.

I just love this image above of an old dairy work room which shows Delft Tiles used to depict a classic dairy farming scene. Back in the 16th and 17th Century Delft tiles where used a lot in this format, to create beautiful hand painted scenes, often using the countryside as a main subject matter. 

Today these beautiful hand painted blue and white tiles are still used in a tradition way, such as country kitchens, bakery shops and fireplace surrounds. 

I personally would love to see more of these tiles used in a more contemporary surrounding to bring them into the 21st Century. I love how they have been used as a headboard in the first image... what a great idea :)

I have put together a 'Delft Look' Board, to show how to create a look for your kitchen. I have mixed the tiles with some traditional elements and relatively contemporary pieces to show you how great these can work with different design elements and materials. 

Products by: 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. Cushion (below).

Colour Palette by Me (Stuart Wilson)

A great Delft style cushion or two, would look great in a very clean-lined contemporary space. You can get these from House of Leisure.

First three images via: 1. 2. 3. 4.