Tile style

Fireclay Tile (Design District)

GOODS & SERVICES • FOUND Shop

Anyone who’s ever dreamed of a kitchen renovation in San Francisco (first sighs, and then) thinks of Heath Ceramics, the iconic mid-century standard of California interior style. And yet, while digging into the kitchen renovation of our hundred-year-old fixer, our designer recommended Fireclay Tile, which turned out to be a delightful discovery.

Founded in San Jose in 1986, Fireclay has an airy showroom in the Design District. Tiles are handmade in California, and you won’t find them at big box stores — purchase through Fireclay, or not at all. A certified B Corp that’s into sustainability, Fireclay runs on renewable energy and recycles materials; they’re also 30 percent worker-owned.

But how are the actual tiles? Bon mots withstanding, I raised an eyebrow and booked a free consultation with designer Mark Jacques, who warmly welcomed us into the showroom and patiently explained to a couple of new homeowners how this overwhelming process works, starting with western-inspired colors from rosemary green to Crater Lake blue, then dialing in shapes from rectangles to honeycombs. He then loaded us up with samples to take with us and consider in our home’s distinct light.

We wound up with a glazed thin brick in “Olympic” white with a lot of variation, and an extra long “Norman” length. To me, it felt a little more rustic and European than a uniform subway tile; I’m hoping it will create a beautiful backsplash for our British-heritage Aga stove. And it rang in at $26 per square foot, a fair amount less than we were expecting to spend. Sold. –Becky Duffett

→ Fireclay Tile (Design District) • 901 Brannan St • Mon-Fri 10a-5p, Sat 10a-4p.