Dutch Delft Tiles Add Warmth and Permanence

Fireplace surrounds, or the back walls of fireplaces are sometimes tiled with old delft tiles to add traditional warmth and a sense of permanence to a room. This decoration also reminds us of the continental tile stoves that are scarce in North America. My own house is of a Tudor style built in 1930. When we decided to renovate our kitchen, the only thing I insisted on is to have a back splash tiled with hand painted old delft tiles. A factory in the Netherlands still produces tiles in the same dimensions, crackled, and handpainted, making it possible to intersperse less expensive plain tiles with the old pictured ones.