Why Our Bay Area Clients Are So Captivated By Fireclay Tiles

6 Inspiring Berkeley Kitchen Remodels

An important part of remodeling is finding small details and features that make a house feel warm, interesting, and different from others on the block. Tile is one fail-proof way to achieve this, especially when certain brands exist with an ethos that centers on uniqueness. Fireclay Tile is a company that is often called out by our clients when making product selections for their kitchen remodel, and understandably so. This bay area brand focuses on creating handmade tiles that are more organic, have (intentional) imperfections, and feature a range of slight color, shape, and texture variations that create a cohesive finish — but one that’s not sterile or too uniform.

Whether they’re requested in one of our Berkeley kitchen remodels or chosen for a bathroom, it’s clear Fireclay Tile has become a popular selection for our bay area remodels and redesigns. So much so that we’ve gathered six different ways we’ve incorporated Fireclay Tile into our kitchen remodels.

Fireclay Tile is renowned for its artisan-crafted tiles made with sustainable practices, which makes them a popular choice among Bay Area homeowners. They blend seamlessly into organic, earthy, wabi-sabi-inspired homes, but equally feel right at home in modern kitchens and bathrooms. Here's a look at six stunning kitchen remodels that feature these tiles and why our clients are so captivated by this local tile company.

  1. Rugged MidCentury Kitchen in Berkeley 

Homeowners interested in embodying certain elements of mid-century modern style at home or folks who have a penchant for Scandinavian-inspired designs can use color to their benefit. These rooms aren’t beholden to just subtle neutrals and quiet hues. Using Fireclay Tile’s Blue Ridge bricks, this Berkeley kitchen’s raw wood cabinets received a superb backdrop that doesn’t overwhelm the kitchen’s intended style. The light wood against the bold blue tiles is the perfect amount of contrast in a cooking space, balancing one another out nicely.

2. A Modern White Berkeley Kitchen with a Feature Wall

Although Fireclay Tile is beloved for its perfectly-imperfect tiles, modern kitchens can still implement offerings from the brand without leaning too earthy, as proven in our Montgomery Berkeley kitchen.

A layer of Small Diamond tiles beneath the upper cabinets adds a unique touch, with its noticeably unique crackle finish, without taking away from the cohesion of the kitchen space. But why stop at just a singular colored backsplash? A feature wall behind the stovetop and range hood goes a long way. With the same tile type and a change in color, a star pattern emerges making a white kitchen suddenly feel much more personal and stylized.

3. A Minimalist Wood and White Kitchen Remodel

In our Park Hills Berkeley kitchen remodel, Fireclay tiles are used as a muted, modern backdrop rather than an eye-catching statement. However, white tile isn’t necessarily synonymous with boring or dull — as these tiles show. The matte, salt white finish and modern brick shape with a hint of beige undertone differ from the traditional square tiles or wider subway silhouettes seen in other kitchens, making them stand out in their own subtle way. It’s a small decision that pays off tenfold when it comes to choosing the right modern upgrades.

4. A Berkeley Kitchen Remodel with a Pop of Blue

White kitchens have left the trend designation and earned classic status. They’re requested often — and for good reason. These cooking spaces feel bright, airy, and spacious and manage to stay stylistically relevant for decades. But that doesn’t mean your remodel has to be a cookie cutter replica of every other white kitchen out there. One way to elevate and differentiate is through a splash of colorful tile, like found in our Virginia Berkeley kitchen. Using Fireclay’s Crater Lake tile, the team added a point of interest where each tile holds color variations from one another to create a depth to the space, elevating the room without hindering the freshness of a white kitchen.

5. A Tranquil Sage Green Kitchen In Berkeley

Statement tile doesn’t have to necessarily sit in the realm of maximalism, as seen in our Colusa Berkeley kitchen remodel. It all depends on the feeling you’d like to evoke. Kitchens can be energizing and vibrant spaces, but with the right finish, shade, and shape, a kitchen can feel relaxed and calming, too.

Tessellating the rounded and pointed edges of Fireclay’s soft green Ogee tiles that subtly shift with a tinge of blue in the light, we completed a wall that perfectly toes the line between a unique feature and a contributing factor in the overall calming atmosphere this kitchen exudes.

6. A Classic Subway Tile Kitchen Remodel in Berkeley

There’s a reason why classic tile configurations — such as subway tiles — remain top of mind for many homeowners looking to remodel their spaces. In our Windward Hill Berkeley kitchen, a mix of colors and styles seen in the flooring, cabinets, and structural features are pulled together through classic white subway tiles. These warm, satin bricks have minimal variation, so they feel consistent across the entirety of the kitchen — an important consideration when components like the floor tiles range in finish and color.

BONUS 7. A Sleek Berkeley Herringbone Floored Bathroom

Kitchens aren’t the only spaces where tile serves a big role in the overall finish. Fireclay Tile bricks are often requested in our bathroom renovations as well, as this Park Hills Berkeley remodel displays.

In bright white bathrooms or those that feature quiet neutrals like grays and beiges, a pinch of black can dramatically elevate the space. Using Fireclay Tile’s Basalt bricks, this bathroom remodel received a dramatic upgrade to the floor that helps punctuate the space and plays perfectly with the window frame.

If you’re looking to create a truly unique space, incorporating Fireclay Tile’s handmade tiles with its organic variations into your remodel can be the solution you’re looking for. Many of our Berkeley clients would tend to agree with you and these are just a few who have enjoyed the uniqueness of each tile in their home remodel. Our team are experts at installing these colorful, variated tiles — whether you’re envisioning a statement floor, subtle backsplash, or stylish accent wall.