Projects
Artichoke Lake Maggiore
This bespoke kitchen project, designed by Artichoke, showcases how handmade tiles can elevate a space through subtle detail and thoughtful placement. Used here with a careful, restrained approach, our Delft tiles form part of a richly layered interior, that balances craftsmanship and timeless design.
The Delft corner tiles used throughout the kitchen were handcrafted individually, with each piece made, glazed, and painted by hand using traditional techniques. When taking a closer look, subtle variations in colour, brushwork, and glaze reveal the unmistakable marks of the maker, giving the surface depth and softness that cannot be replicated by machine-made alternatives. These small differences are not imperfections, but details that speak to time, care and process.
Rather than acting as a dominant feature, the ties have been used with restraint, allowing them to sit naturally within the wider material palette of the kitchen. Their gentle blue tones introduce pattern and visual rhythm while remaining calm and considered, complimenting the surrounding cabinetry and stone. The result is a surface that feels decorative without being overpowering, and characterful without drawing attention away from the architecture of the space.
The handmade nature of the tiles becomes particularly evident in moments of close inspection, where light catches the glaze and subtle tonal shifts emerge across the surface. This interplay between uniformity and variation brings warmth and humanity to the kitchen, softening clean lines and adding a sense of lived-in elegance. Over time, these qualities only deepen, allowing the tiles to age gracefully alongside the rest of the interior.
In this project, the Delft tiles act as a quiet anchor, grounding the design in craftsmanship and tradition while sitting comfortably within a contemporary setting. They demonstrate how considered decorative elements can enhance a space no through excess, but through balance, material honesty, and an appreciation for the handmade.
To view more of this project, visit
Artichoke
Price on application / artichoke.co.uk / +44 (0)1934 745 270 / available worldwide
Photography – Paul Whitbread
