Special accents can turn an ordinary house into a home with panache and Canine Style! Tune in to this episode of Decorating Tails as host and Interior Design Hound Cynthia Waldenmaier explores the world of tile with Ceramic Tile Artist and Dog lover, Margaret Licha.
Margaret’s tiles have appeared in Better Homes & Gardens, Remodeling Magazine, Women’s Day, Old House Journal and Bark Magazine. Crafted in her studio, Margaret Licha Designs Her handmade Dog Tiles have added warmth and whimsy to the Interiors Design of pet friendly homes, commercial projects and Veterinarians’ offices across the country. Don’t have the room to create a Dog shower? Don’t worry, Margaret has tips for bringing a touch of style with tile to any size home or budget.
More details on this episode MP3 Podcast - Designing with Dog Tiles & Creating a Dog Shower on Pet Life Radio.
Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/decorating-tails-pet-friendly-interior-design-pet-life-radio-original--6671872/support.
Margaret’s tiles have appeared in Better Homes & Gardens, Remodeling Magazine, Women’s Day, Old House Journal and Bark Magazine. Crafted in her studio, Margaret Licha Designs Her handmade Dog Tiles have added warmth and whimsy to the Interiors Design of pet friendly homes, commercial projects and Veterinarians’ offices across the country. Don’t have the room to create a Dog shower? Don’t worry, Margaret has tips for bringing a touch of style with tile to any size home or budget.
More details on this episode MP3 Podcast - Designing with Dog Tiles & Creating a Dog Shower on Pet Life Radio.
Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/decorating-tails-pet-friendly-interior-design-pet-life-radio-original--6671872/support.
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Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:04):
You're listening to Petlifradio dot com.
Speaker 2 (00:17):
Welcome to Decorating Tales with the Interior Design Hound on
pet Life Radio. I'm your hopest Cynthia Waldemeyer, and I'm
glad you're here today, Thanks for joining us. It's the
special touches that make the difference that can turn a
house into a home one that fits your lifestyle and
your personality. And as a dog lover, it doesn't matter
(00:37):
whether you share your life with a rescued mutt, petigreed pooch,
or a whole pack of animals. Our companion's influence can
be seen all over our homes. It's really fun to
express our love of dogs through artwork and collectibles and
what I like to call canine style. That is why
I am so excited to have Margaret Leecha as our
(00:58):
guest today. Margaret is a ceramic tile artist and we'll
be joining us from her studio in California where she
creates the most fabulous ceramic dog tiles. Her work has
been featured in magazines such as Better Homes and Gardens,
Remodeling Magazine, Women's Day, Old House Journal, Bark Magazine. That's
just naming a few, so grab your dog. Get comfortable,
(01:22):
because we'll be right back with Margaret Lecha to discuss
designing with dog tiles and creating a dog shower.
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Speaker 2 (04:30):
Welcome back to Decorating Tales on pet Life Radio, and
we have a special guest today, Margaret Lecha, to discuss
designing with dog tiles and creating a dog shower. Welcome Margaret.
We're glad you're here.
Speaker 6 (04:43):
Well, thank you for having me. It's nice to be here.
Speaker 2 (04:45):
I'm so excited. Tell us how you started making dog tiles.
Speaker 6 (04:50):
Well, I went back to school as the college as
an adult when my kids were in high school. In
high school and got a degree in arc and with
an emphasis in ceramics, did a little showing in galleries.
And I've always loved tiles, and so I started making
tiles in ninety one ninety two, and eventually at first
(05:12):
they were just flat tiles and did a lot of
hand painting. But then I started with relief tiles, and
I love animals.
Speaker 2 (05:18):
So it was very obvious you have so many dog
braids on your site and they're in relief, which I
think just gives it a wonderful dimension and style. About
how you make that, well.
Speaker 6 (05:30):
They're all hand made. There, I make an original mold,
I make the original tile, and then I make a
plaster mold out of that, and then all my dog
tiles are are hand pressed, and the coloration they fired
for the first time, and then after that I put
the coloration on and it's used. They usually fired again,
and then I put the transparent glaze over so they
(05:53):
could be in in bathroom areas or kitchen, back splashes,
dog bath areas.
Speaker 2 (05:59):
Right, I just absolutely loved tile. I've always loved tile.
My husband calls me. He says, they're like my chick lits.
I love to play with them and decorate with them.
But they're not just for the bathroom or a backsplash anymore.
You can use them around or they've never actually been
around fireplaces, even backsplash and desk areas. They just add
that pop. And I know that I have done a
(06:21):
home rama and did a dog sweet and we actually
did a shower in the garage for the dogs so
when they brought the dogs in from outside, they could
get them clean before they came into the house. And
you have the most fabulous shower design on your website.
Tell us a little bit about it.
Speaker 6 (06:38):
Well, actually that started. That was my first dog shower
that I did, and I received a request for a
client back east and she wanted to make a dog
shower just as you said, for her dogs to come
in out of the woods and that wouldn't get a
house dirty. And that was the first one, and that
was probably about six years ago. And dog showers have
(06:58):
become a lot more popular. And they're not just good
to wash your dogs. Are good for washing your plants, office,
there's many uses.
Speaker 2 (07:05):
Your boots exactly. Yeah, some people will think that that's
so extravagant. They think you have a dog shower, are
you kidding me? But really, if they're in a mud
room depending on the weather of where you live, if
they're in your garage, they are great. You can put
plants in there, you can wash the kids off in there.
Anything that you would have awkward to throw in a sink,
or that you wouldn't want in your bathtub, you can
(07:26):
rent off in there. And it's really terrific.
Speaker 6 (07:28):
I can go from the extravagan to you know, really
quite simple exactly exactly.
Speaker 2 (07:34):
And because you're well, the other thing that I love
about your tiles is there's nothing worse than being in
the middle of a design project and falling in love
with a beautiful tile, and then you find out they
don't have the appropriate trim pieces, and you offer every
trim piece possible, and if someone wants a crazy trim
piece you don't have, you actually can make one for them.
Speaker 6 (07:55):
Yes I can. Though many people have just used a
commercial that it has a handcrafted quality to it. Obviously
they look bad and they look beautiful with stone too,
but yes, I do offer.
Speaker 2 (08:06):
The whole look right, And that's I'm glad you brought
that up, because that's a good point. A lot of
people think that artistic tiles, you know, they're a higher
price point because they are handmade, and that's why we
love them, because they're so beautiful. But you can actually
use a field tile from a regular tile store or
your home improvement center and pop a custom tile or
(08:27):
art tile in every so often in the design and
it really adds some punched and makes it a designed
feature and turns it. It's a very economical way to do.
Speaker 6 (08:36):
That, right, Then you really do have a unique space that.
Speaker 2 (08:39):
You speaks of you exactly, which is what is all
about making a house a home. Now, tell us about
your custom tiles. You actually, if someone sends a photograph
of their dog, can create a tile with the dog
on it, that a special, unique one just for them.
How does that work?
Speaker 6 (08:55):
Yes, yes, I can. Well, they can send me a
picture and I just really beg of a very good picture,
a close up, and that the picture is similar to
how my tiles look, so you're really looking at the dog.
And that usually takes about eight weeks to get the
first one done. It takes quite a bit of time
to make that first tile. I mean I always make
(09:15):
them hold of it just in case I accidentally break it.
Speaker 2 (09:18):
They more than one, right, and my collection also, that's funny. Now,
when you say the photograph needs to be like your tiles,
what you're really saying is it should be more of
a close up on the face rather than write in profile.
Speaker 6 (09:33):
Right.
Speaker 2 (09:34):
I also love the custom sink that you did for someone.
Tell us about that.
Speaker 6 (09:39):
Well, I don't make the sink. I buy the sink
from a woman that is in the Bay area here
in the San Francisco area, and she makes handcafted sinks.
Then I buy the sink from her. It has been
fired once, but there's no glaze on it. All my
work is done with underglazis. A lot of hand painting
is done with China paint, which is a glaze that
goes on top of a These are underglaziers and they're
(10:02):
fired several times before I put on a final glaze
on a spray of final glaze on it to get
a under glaciers or something like a watercolor if you're
familiar with in water colors to get.
Speaker 2 (10:14):
But you actually painted the dogs and the design on
the sink time right.
Speaker 6 (10:19):
With the designed the form, and then I do everything
else right.
Speaker 2 (10:23):
So that's terrific. Well, we're going to have to continue
talking to you in just a minute. We're going to
break right after these messages. We'll be back with Margaret Stay.
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Speaker 2 (13:30):
Welcome back to Decorating Tales with the Interior Design Hold.
We're discussing decorating today and designing with dog tiles. Margaret
has a studio in California where she has created everything.
Literally it wasn't the kitchen sink, it was the bathroom sink,
but it had dogs on it. She has a variety
of tiles that are in relief form that are beautiful.
(13:51):
One of the favorite tiles of yours that we haven't
discussed yet has little pall prints on it. Tell us
about those tiles.
Speaker 6 (13:58):
Well again that somebody actually asked for paw prints because
they wanted My tails are really recommended for a wall, correct,
some people have install them on the floor where there's
not a lot of traffic, and she wanted the pallprints
throughout on her floor. Oh that's how those started. And
then there's the dog biscuits also that are I think
(14:21):
are fun.
Speaker 2 (14:22):
They are very fun. I love the biscuits because it
breaks up some of the design. It's just really fun
in a laundry room or the kitchen. And I love
the paw prints because if you go to Mexico or
Spain or Italy, you actually see the old tiles that
when they baked in the sun, that a dog actually
walked over, and I just think that's charming. I just
think that's loads of fun. Now you could also use
(14:44):
tiles to go around a mirror as well.
Speaker 6 (14:47):
Yes, on my gifts page. On my website, there's a
mirrors again, I purchased a frame, though I have done
mirrors where I've constructed the whole mirror myself and the
three corner each plywood, but the one on the website
are I have purchased a frame and the clients usually
call it, chooses which dog they would like to have
(15:09):
in the mirror, some of the things they use, and
then it's like a mosaic actually of your pet's life.
Speaker 2 (15:18):
Right. I thought they were terrific, and not only do
they look fabulous, and it's so personal because it is
a mosaic of your pet's life. If someone is in
a position where they don't own the home and they
aren't able to do a backsplash or a bathroom or
add tile to a remodeling or building project, it's a
great way to bring tile into your home if you
have an apartment, or if you move often because of
(15:39):
your job or circumstances. I thought they were just terrific.
What other ways do you recommend that people use tile
in their home? How else can they use the tiles
that you create?
Speaker 6 (15:50):
Well, some people have just hung them. They can have
a notch on the backs. There are little frames that
they can go into and people have just.
Speaker 2 (15:56):
Hung them, right, which is really right.
Speaker 6 (15:58):
Yeah, some people just love tile and just collect them
and they never install them, and what do.
Speaker 2 (16:03):
They do with them? That's so funny. Yeah, I'm a collector.
I have a collector gene, so I can relate. But
I mean, do they put them out on display?
Speaker 6 (16:10):
They just they can put them out on display. You
have your favorite statues.
Speaker 2 (16:16):
Or right, so they just put them like in a
plate stand or up against bookshelf I gotcha, or all books.
Speaker 6 (16:23):
And they can actually hang them on the wall if.
Speaker 2 (16:25):
They want, right. Right.
Speaker 6 (16:27):
Mainly they are installed in either kitchen or bathroom backslashes
or around the fireplace, around.
Speaker 2 (16:34):
And you actually help your clients with design projects if
they come to you and say, well, we know we
are looking for a backsplash here or a measurements this
is kind of the direction we want to go, and
you actually help them with that, Isn't that correct?
Speaker 6 (16:47):
I can help them with suggestions, Yes, I can help them,
but I always suggest that they talk to their tiled installer.
Speaker 2 (16:55):
That's right, because you can design the most beautiful thing
in the world, and if you're not communicating with the
tile installer. It can be a disaster, yes, to.
Speaker 6 (17:03):
Get a good tile installer. And it's nice if you
have one that loves handcrafted.
Speaker 2 (17:07):
Tiles right because their thickness is free to do. Yes, Yes,
their thickness is different, the weight is different, so sometimes
you have to do, depending on the field tiles, a
thick set of you know, to adhes it onto the
wall or the surface. The other big tip that I
would give people for backsplashes, particularly in the bedroom or
(17:30):
the bathroom or the kitchen, is the electrical outlets that
you consider where those are on the floor plan before
you create your beautiful design creation or you will come
in and find a big outlet in the most inappropriate
severe design. So yes, sometimes change that you know, and
you have to work around right, And sometimes it is
(17:53):
code and you have to work around that. Sometimes they
slap them up where they would like to and there
might be a way to tweak get So by all means,
please looked at the electrical plan before you're designing with tiles.
It's it's really important to keep the integrity of what
your design was or where your focal points will be.
I just am so excited about your tiles. Do you
(18:15):
add different breeds at different times by request or how
did you come up with the ones that you do carry,
because you carry quite a few.
Speaker 6 (18:22):
Many of those were because the request. The various breeds
that I have on my web side. Yes, it has
grown and they're continuing to grow.
Speaker 2 (18:31):
How many do you have?
Speaker 6 (18:31):
Now?
Speaker 2 (18:32):
Do you even? Do you know? What? I don't really know,
But that's okay, that's okay. What is your most Is
one more popular than the other or not? Really?
Speaker 6 (18:39):
The old Golden Retriever? Probably the Golden Retriever and the
lab because many people will ask for their breed, but
also they'll throw in other dogs into their design also.
And really the Golden Retriever, I think it's one of
America's most favorite dogs. And the lab. Right, those are
probably the two most favorite of all the dogs.
Speaker 2 (19:01):
I have worked with a veterinarian before on a design
in their office. Have you done some commercial work with
your tiles in VETS office? I think they would be perfect.
Speaker 6 (19:10):
Yes, yes, I have done several VETS office throughout the
United States.
Speaker 2 (19:14):
Oh, that's just so great. And did they end up
in the examining rooms or was it just like a
feature when you walk into the vet's office.
Speaker 6 (19:22):
Well, it varies in one store actually in the Bay Area.
I'm in each one of their little offices, and I
also am in the waiting room upon you know how
big the office is.
Speaker 2 (19:35):
Right. I always think in commercial design, especially with these tiles,
especially at a vet, when people are stressed when they're there,
it takes their mind. Artwork takes their mind off of
you know, it gives them something to look at and
focus at rather than I'm taking my dog in to
see the vet right now. So I think it's a great,
great feature for an office as well as for a home. Well,
what about fireplaces? Have you done many fireplace arounds, because
(19:58):
I think that is that would just look terrific.
Speaker 6 (20:01):
Well, in one veterinarian office in Pennsylvania, I do believe
it if I have done. It was an old Victorian
type of house that has been remodeled into a veterinarian
office and they redid the fireplace around and my dogs
are there. I have done more, perhaps with the wildlife
that I do, I've done that have been in fireplaces
(20:24):
more right than the.
Speaker 2 (20:25):
Dogs, because you have so many different animals. Margaret, tell
me about why you think it's important that people bring
dogs into their decorating and design schemes.
Speaker 6 (20:34):
Well, I just think that they bring warmth and a
whimsy to you into your life. The tiles do and more.
It seems like we're also stressed and so busy that
when you go home, it's just nice to have a
place that you feel protected and that you can relax
and that reflects you as a person exactly. So that's
I mean, I just that's the way I think I
(20:56):
would like to have them. I personally don't have them
in my house, but next time I moved, which is
going to be in another year, so I'm going to
put them in my house also.
Speaker 2 (21:04):
Absolutely. I think, you know, we just love dogs, and
it means so much when our home is a reflection
of who we are and that it's personal. I know
that a lot of design shows say, oh, well, worry
about resale. Worry about resale, don't paint it this wild color.
But if you're just going to live in a vanilla box,
it's cold, and you like to bring your own personal
(21:26):
stamp and touches on things, and when your dog is
a part of your life and is important, I think
it's important that you reflect that in your design because
it's something special to you. So if you're not in
a position to redo the backsplash, you could put a
mirror up or put some special touches in displays. I
think that's really important. Now, I love your dog liners.
(21:48):
They have like three different dogs on it. That tell
us about those and what design instances you've used those
in before?
Speaker 6 (21:55):
Well, they had the uses them as a little liner
on as I don't think I have an example of that.
And you wanted something a little smaller and something to
carry through a design, so maybe you just don't have
spots of tiles if you wanted to care have your
eyes go in a continuous line and add a few
more dogs into it. And then the one little dog
(22:17):
at the end, which is a border Collie and quotes
is really after my dog. I have a border Collie
dog that's quite old now, and I thought, but she
needed to be in my work.
Speaker 2 (22:28):
Oh absolutely. Now, what is your dog's name?
Speaker 6 (22:30):
My dog's name is Ruby.
Speaker 2 (22:32):
Ruby. Have you always had border Collies or how did you?
How did Ruby come into your life?
Speaker 6 (22:38):
I've always had hurting dogs. I love hurting dogs. I
just think that they're smart, they're so attuned to you,
so I've had Queensland's, I've had border Collies probably they've
all been much since. And she is too.
Speaker 2 (22:48):
She's across.
Speaker 6 (22:49):
Yes, I've always I like your intelligence and that they're
so tuned to you. I don't think she would be
a good working dog.
Speaker 2 (22:59):
Well, she obviously made a great model because she looks
terrific on that dog liner. Now you've got two by
two like a mosaic tile, which is small, and it
has the little biscuit on it. It comes in other sizes,
but that also comes in several different glazes and colors
that someone could actually use just a regular field tile
and pop that in every so often and give it
(23:20):
a really nice look. I'm sure those are very popular.
Speaker 6 (23:23):
The dog biscuits are very popular, very popular, right, Probably
the dog biscuits are probably more popular than than the pause.
Almost everybody gets some of the biscuits, and they're so scattered.
Sometimes they're as on the dog shower page. They've used
them as a continuous line around the dog shower that
some people have just spotted. The man just as more fun.
Speaker 2 (23:47):
It sure does. Now you're in California, but you do
work all over. You mentioned Pennsylvania and other places.
Speaker 3 (23:54):
I know.
Speaker 2 (23:54):
I have a brother that's on the West coast, as
well as a sister and a brother on the East coast,
and my parents are in the South, so I travel
quite a bit and regionally. Sometimes designs are a little
bit different. But anymore, with the Internet and all of
the television shows, everyone is aware of what's going on everywhere.
One trend that I see that makes me yawn is
(24:15):
the subway tile trend that we see over and over
again right now in all the shelter publications. Is that
popular where you are? Yes?
Speaker 6 (24:24):
Yeah, No, I think popularity and tiles now is just
it's just nationwide because of the publications, because of the Internet.
And some people have used my tiles with subway tiles,
and they look good. I think I like them more
with a four x four. I like a smaller tile myself.
But everybody's aesthetics is different and how people have used
(24:47):
them when they I've been fortunate enough that they've sent
me pictures that they look great and people are.
Speaker 2 (24:52):
Happy with them, and that's the most important.
Speaker 6 (24:54):
I've received the warmest compliments about my tile, and really
sometimes it almost brings tears to my eyes that you
can it just brings something to their living space.
Speaker 2 (25:06):
And it makes it special, and I think that's important.
I'm a color girl myself, not crazy wild mod colors,
but I could not live in an all white interior.
So I am ready for the all white kitchen with
subway tile to go away. I'm sure I'll get lots
of letters. But I remember the first time that I
attended the kitchen and Bath show, which is held every year,
(25:28):
and this was many, many years ago. I was so
disappointed because there were not many tiles there. That's more
what you see at surfaces and so forth. But I'm
a big tile person, and I think anyway that you
can express your love of dogs and what's going on
in your life and making it personal is so much fun.
And their conversation starters when people come to your home.
Speaker 6 (25:48):
Yes, I'm in agreement with you, and I just really
love it when somebody calls. It's just really the bet.
They're ready to bet on themselves and their.
Speaker 2 (25:57):
Aesthetics, which is great, which is what it's all about.
Not to have someone tell you what your home should
look like, or what happens to be the flavor of
the month or the trend of the month. Your home
should be a reflection of your personality, and it needs
to fit your lifestyle, which obviously includes dogs to most
of our listeners. And it should be fun for you,
(26:18):
not what your neighbor, your mother in law, or your
friends tell you you should have. You're the one that
has to live there, and it should be comfortable and relaxing.
And I think your tiles really add a special touch.
I really do.
Speaker 6 (26:30):
Well, thank you. And if you don't want to do
them in your kitchen, I mean even like the little mirrors,
if you do have a dog, or if you have
a friend or your mother that has a favorite dog,
the little mirrors are just fun and they could be
hung anyplace.
Speaker 2 (26:44):
Oh absolutely, Or like you said that you make those
the tiles that are six by six, the special tiles,
that's just terrific hanging anywhere in a home. It's just
a special little moment. Or you could use it as
a tribute. So that's terrific.
Speaker 6 (26:59):
And my dogs, I know many of these breeds have
like the King Charles can come in right now on
my website's kind of the reddish brown, but I know
that they have trycolor and if people send me pictures
of the dog, I can get a color likeness, and
I call it a lightness, not a portrait exactly.
Speaker 2 (27:16):
And I think the beauty of your tiles is they're handmade.
Each one is individual and they have their own characteristics.
And while you do represent a Dalmatian or a Great
Dane or a Doxin or a pug, it's not going
to look exactly like everybody. Just like people, every dog
looks different and has different characteristics. But certainly when you
look at it, you know it's a Bernese Mountain dog
(27:37):
or a Jack Russell, and you recognize the breed, but
it's just that added little ump. And I think arts
and crafts are so important fine crafts in America to
support it when there are so many things that are
being imported, and this just adds beauty and value I
think to any home. Thanks again for coming, thank you
for calling you. If you love animals at all, you
really have to check out Margaret's site and we'll have
(28:00):
links up so you can find them. I so appreciate
you coming today, Margaret, and I thank all of our
listeners for visiting Decorating Tales today and listening to another episode,
and thank you for sharing your expertise on how to
decorate with dog tiles. If you want any more information
on pet friendly decorating, please visit interiordesignhound dot com. You'll
(28:23):
find loads of pet friendly pictures, information and links about
my favorite subject, good design with a knine twist. Don't
forget to drop me a line at Cynthia at petlifradio
dot com if you have any comments, ideas, questions about design,
or have a serious decorating dilemma, we just might use
it on the show. I want to thank all of
you for listening and sharing a part of your day
(28:45):
with decorating tales on pet Life Radio. Later, I've got
to let the dog out.
Speaker 10 (28:51):
Let's Talk Pets every week on demand only on petlifradio
dot com.
Speaker 9 (29:01):
Name recent negor names
You're listening to Petlifradio dot com.
Speaker 2 (00:17):
Welcome to Decorating Tales with the Interior Design Hound on
pet Life Radio. I'm your hopest Cynthia Waldemeyer, and I'm
glad you're here today, Thanks for joining us. It's the
special touches that make the difference that can turn a
house into a home one that fits your lifestyle and
your personality. And as a dog lover, it doesn't matter
(00:37):
whether you share your life with a rescued mutt, petigreed pooch,
or a whole pack of animals. Our companion's influence can
be seen all over our homes. It's really fun to
express our love of dogs through artwork and collectibles and
what I like to call canine style. That is why
I am so excited to have Margaret Leecha as our
(00:58):
guest today. Margaret is a ceramic tile artist and we'll
be joining us from her studio in California where she
creates the most fabulous ceramic dog tiles. Her work has
been featured in magazines such as Better Homes and Gardens,
Remodeling Magazine, Women's Day, Old House Journal, Bark Magazine. That's
just naming a few, so grab your dog. Get comfortable,
(01:22):
because we'll be right back with Margaret Lecha to discuss
designing with dog tiles and creating a dog shower.
Speaker 3 (01:28):
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Speaker 10 (04:17):
Let's Talk Pets on Petlife Radio dot com.
Speaker 2 (04:30):
Welcome back to Decorating Tales on pet Life Radio, and
we have a special guest today, Margaret Lecha, to discuss
designing with dog tiles and creating a dog shower. Welcome Margaret.
We're glad you're here.
Speaker 6 (04:43):
Well, thank you for having me. It's nice to be here.
Speaker 2 (04:45):
I'm so excited. Tell us how you started making dog tiles.
Speaker 6 (04:50):
Well, I went back to school as the college as
an adult when my kids were in high school. In
high school and got a degree in arc and with
an emphasis in ceramics, did a little showing in galleries.
And I've always loved tiles, and so I started making
tiles in ninety one ninety two, and eventually at first
(05:12):
they were just flat tiles and did a lot of
hand painting. But then I started with relief tiles, and
I love animals.
Speaker 2 (05:18):
So it was very obvious you have so many dog
braids on your site and they're in relief, which I
think just gives it a wonderful dimension and style. About
how you make that, well.
Speaker 6 (05:30):
They're all hand made. There, I make an original mold,
I make the original tile, and then I make a
plaster mold out of that, and then all my dog
tiles are are hand pressed, and the coloration they fired
for the first time, and then after that I put
the coloration on and it's used. They usually fired again,
and then I put the transparent glaze over so they
(05:53):
could be in in bathroom areas or kitchen, back splashes,
dog bath areas.
Speaker 2 (05:59):
Right, I just absolutely loved tile. I've always loved tile.
My husband calls me. He says, they're like my chick lits.
I love to play with them and decorate with them.
But they're not just for the bathroom or a backsplash anymore.
You can use them around or they've never actually been
around fireplaces, even backsplash and desk areas. They just add
that pop. And I know that I have done a
(06:21):
home rama and did a dog sweet and we actually
did a shower in the garage for the dogs so
when they brought the dogs in from outside, they could
get them clean before they came into the house. And
you have the most fabulous shower design on your website.
Tell us a little bit about it.
Speaker 6 (06:38):
Well, actually that started. That was my first dog shower
that I did, and I received a request for a
client back east and she wanted to make a dog
shower just as you said, for her dogs to come
in out of the woods and that wouldn't get a
house dirty. And that was the first one, and that
was probably about six years ago. And dog showers have
(06:58):
become a lot more popular. And they're not just good
to wash your dogs. Are good for washing your plants, office,
there's many uses.
Speaker 2 (07:05):
Your boots exactly. Yeah, some people will think that that's
so extravagant. They think you have a dog shower, are
you kidding me? But really, if they're in a mud
room depending on the weather of where you live, if
they're in your garage, they are great. You can put
plants in there, you can wash the kids off in there.
Anything that you would have awkward to throw in a sink,
or that you wouldn't want in your bathtub, you can
(07:26):
rent off in there. And it's really terrific.
Speaker 6 (07:28):
I can go from the extravagan to you know, really
quite simple exactly exactly.
Speaker 2 (07:34):
And because you're well, the other thing that I love
about your tiles is there's nothing worse than being in
the middle of a design project and falling in love
with a beautiful tile, and then you find out they
don't have the appropriate trim pieces, and you offer every
trim piece possible, and if someone wants a crazy trim
piece you don't have, you actually can make one for them.
Speaker 6 (07:55):
Yes I can. Though many people have just used a
commercial that it has a handcrafted quality to it. Obviously
they look bad and they look beautiful with stone too,
but yes, I do offer.
Speaker 2 (08:06):
The whole look right, And that's I'm glad you brought
that up, because that's a good point. A lot of
people think that artistic tiles, you know, they're a higher
price point because they are handmade, and that's why we
love them, because they're so beautiful. But you can actually
use a field tile from a regular tile store or
your home improvement center and pop a custom tile or
(08:27):
art tile in every so often in the design and
it really adds some punched and makes it a designed
feature and turns it. It's a very economical way to do.
Speaker 6 (08:36):
That, right, Then you really do have a unique space that.
Speaker 2 (08:39):
You speaks of you exactly, which is what is all
about making a house a home. Now, tell us about
your custom tiles. You actually, if someone sends a photograph
of their dog, can create a tile with the dog
on it, that a special, unique one just for them.
How does that work?
Speaker 6 (08:55):
Yes, yes, I can. Well, they can send me a
picture and I just really beg of a very good picture,
a close up, and that the picture is similar to
how my tiles look, so you're really looking at the dog.
And that usually takes about eight weeks to get the
first one done. It takes quite a bit of time
to make that first tile. I mean I always make
(09:15):
them hold of it just in case I accidentally break it.
Speaker 2 (09:18):
They more than one, right, and my collection also, that's funny. Now,
when you say the photograph needs to be like your tiles,
what you're really saying is it should be more of
a close up on the face rather than write in profile.
Speaker 6 (09:33):
Right.
Speaker 2 (09:34):
I also love the custom sink that you did for someone.
Tell us about that.
Speaker 6 (09:39):
Well, I don't make the sink. I buy the sink
from a woman that is in the Bay area here
in the San Francisco area, and she makes handcafted sinks.
Then I buy the sink from her. It has been
fired once, but there's no glaze on it. All my
work is done with underglazis. A lot of hand painting
is done with China paint, which is a glaze that
goes on top of a These are underglaziers and they're
(10:02):
fired several times before I put on a final glaze
on a spray of final glaze on it to get
a under glaciers or something like a watercolor if you're
familiar with in water colors to get.
Speaker 2 (10:14):
But you actually painted the dogs and the design on
the sink time right.
Speaker 6 (10:19):
With the designed the form, and then I do everything
else right.
Speaker 2 (10:23):
So that's terrific. Well, we're going to have to continue
talking to you in just a minute. We're going to
break right after these messages. We'll be back with Margaret Stay.
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Speaker 2 (13:30):
Welcome back to Decorating Tales with the Interior Design Hold.
We're discussing decorating today and designing with dog tiles. Margaret
has a studio in California where she has created everything.
Literally it wasn't the kitchen sink, it was the bathroom sink,
but it had dogs on it. She has a variety
of tiles that are in relief form that are beautiful.
(13:51):
One of the favorite tiles of yours that we haven't
discussed yet has little pall prints on it. Tell us
about those tiles.
Speaker 6 (13:58):
Well again that somebody actually asked for paw prints because
they wanted My tails are really recommended for a wall, correct,
some people have install them on the floor where there's
not a lot of traffic, and she wanted the pallprints
throughout on her floor. Oh that's how those started. And
then there's the dog biscuits also that are I think
(14:21):
are fun.
Speaker 2 (14:22):
They are very fun. I love the biscuits because it
breaks up some of the design. It's just really fun
in a laundry room or the kitchen. And I love
the paw prints because if you go to Mexico or
Spain or Italy, you actually see the old tiles that
when they baked in the sun, that a dog actually
walked over, and I just think that's charming. I just
think that's loads of fun. Now you could also use
(14:44):
tiles to go around a mirror as well.
Speaker 6 (14:47):
Yes, on my gifts page. On my website, there's a
mirrors again, I purchased a frame, though I have done
mirrors where I've constructed the whole mirror myself and the
three corner each plywood, but the one on the website
are I have purchased a frame and the clients usually
call it, chooses which dog they would like to have
(15:09):
in the mirror, some of the things they use, and
then it's like a mosaic actually of your pet's life.
Speaker 2 (15:18):
Right. I thought they were terrific, and not only do
they look fabulous, and it's so personal because it is
a mosaic of your pet's life. If someone is in
a position where they don't own the home and they
aren't able to do a backsplash or a bathroom or
add tile to a remodeling or building project, it's a
great way to bring tile into your home if you
have an apartment, or if you move often because of
(15:39):
your job or circumstances. I thought they were just terrific.
What other ways do you recommend that people use tile
in their home? How else can they use the tiles
that you create?
Speaker 6 (15:50):
Well, some people have just hung them. They can have
a notch on the backs. There are little frames that
they can go into and people have just.
Speaker 2 (15:56):
Hung them, right, which is really right.
Speaker 6 (15:58):
Yeah, some people just love tile and just collect them
and they never install them, and what do.
Speaker 2 (16:03):
They do with them? That's so funny. Yeah, I'm a collector.
I have a collector gene, so I can relate. But
I mean, do they put them out on display?
Speaker 6 (16:10):
They just they can put them out on display. You
have your favorite statues.
Speaker 2 (16:16):
Or right, so they just put them like in a
plate stand or up against bookshelf I gotcha, or all books.
Speaker 6 (16:23):
And they can actually hang them on the wall if.
Speaker 2 (16:25):
They want, right. Right.
Speaker 6 (16:27):
Mainly they are installed in either kitchen or bathroom backslashes
or around the fireplace, around.
Speaker 2 (16:34):
And you actually help your clients with design projects if
they come to you and say, well, we know we
are looking for a backsplash here or a measurements this
is kind of the direction we want to go, and
you actually help them with that, Isn't that correct?
Speaker 6 (16:47):
I can help them with suggestions, Yes, I can help them,
but I always suggest that they talk to their tiled installer.
Speaker 2 (16:55):
That's right, because you can design the most beautiful thing
in the world, and if you're not communicating with the
tile installer. It can be a disaster, yes, to.
Speaker 6 (17:03):
Get a good tile installer. And it's nice if you
have one that loves handcrafted.
Speaker 2 (17:07):
Tiles right because their thickness is free to do. Yes, Yes,
their thickness is different, the weight is different, so sometimes
you have to do, depending on the field tiles, a
thick set of you know, to adhes it onto the
wall or the surface. The other big tip that I
would give people for backsplashes, particularly in the bedroom or
(17:30):
the bathroom or the kitchen, is the electrical outlets that
you consider where those are on the floor plan before
you create your beautiful design creation or you will come
in and find a big outlet in the most inappropriate
severe design. So yes, sometimes change that you know, and
you have to work around right, And sometimes it is
(17:53):
code and you have to work around that. Sometimes they
slap them up where they would like to and there
might be a way to tweak get So by all means,
please looked at the electrical plan before you're designing with tiles.
It's it's really important to keep the integrity of what
your design was or where your focal points will be.
I just am so excited about your tiles. Do you
(18:15):
add different breeds at different times by request or how
did you come up with the ones that you do carry,
because you carry quite a few.
Speaker 6 (18:22):
Many of those were because the request. The various breeds
that I have on my web side. Yes, it has
grown and they're continuing to grow.
Speaker 2 (18:31):
How many do you have?
Speaker 6 (18:31):
Now?
Speaker 2 (18:32):
Do you even? Do you know? What? I don't really know,
But that's okay, that's okay. What is your most Is
one more popular than the other or not? Really?
Speaker 6 (18:39):
The old Golden Retriever? Probably the Golden Retriever and the
lab because many people will ask for their breed, but
also they'll throw in other dogs into their design also.
And really the Golden Retriever, I think it's one of
America's most favorite dogs. And the lab. Right, those are
probably the two most favorite of all the dogs.
Speaker 2 (19:01):
I have worked with a veterinarian before on a design
in their office. Have you done some commercial work with
your tiles in VETS office? I think they would be perfect.
Speaker 6 (19:10):
Yes, yes, I have done several VETS office throughout the
United States.
Speaker 2 (19:14):
Oh, that's just so great. And did they end up
in the examining rooms or was it just like a
feature when you walk into the vet's office.
Speaker 6 (19:22):
Well, it varies in one store actually in the Bay Area.
I'm in each one of their little offices, and I
also am in the waiting room upon you know how
big the office is.
Speaker 2 (19:35):
Right. I always think in commercial design, especially with these tiles,
especially at a vet, when people are stressed when they're there,
it takes their mind. Artwork takes their mind off of
you know, it gives them something to look at and
focus at rather than I'm taking my dog in to
see the vet right now. So I think it's a great,
great feature for an office as well as for a home. Well,
what about fireplaces? Have you done many fireplace arounds, because
(19:58):
I think that is that would just look terrific.
Speaker 6 (20:01):
Well, in one veterinarian office in Pennsylvania, I do believe
it if I have done. It was an old Victorian
type of house that has been remodeled into a veterinarian
office and they redid the fireplace around and my dogs
are there. I have done more, perhaps with the wildlife
that I do, I've done that have been in fireplaces
(20:24):
more right than the.
Speaker 2 (20:25):
Dogs, because you have so many different animals. Margaret, tell
me about why you think it's important that people bring
dogs into their decorating and design schemes.
Speaker 6 (20:34):
Well, I just think that they bring warmth and a
whimsy to you into your life. The tiles do and more.
It seems like we're also stressed and so busy that
when you go home, it's just nice to have a
place that you feel protected and that you can relax
and that reflects you as a person exactly. So that's
I mean, I just that's the way I think I
(20:56):
would like to have them. I personally don't have them
in my house, but next time I moved, which is
going to be in another year, so I'm going to
put them in my house also.
Speaker 2 (21:04):
Absolutely. I think, you know, we just love dogs, and
it means so much when our home is a reflection
of who we are and that it's personal. I know
that a lot of design shows say, oh, well, worry
about resale. Worry about resale, don't paint it this wild color.
But if you're just going to live in a vanilla box,
it's cold, and you like to bring your own personal
(21:26):
stamp and touches on things, and when your dog is
a part of your life and is important, I think
it's important that you reflect that in your design because
it's something special to you. So if you're not in
a position to redo the backsplash, you could put a
mirror up or put some special touches in displays. I
think that's really important. Now, I love your dog liners.
(21:48):
They have like three different dogs on it. That tell
us about those and what design instances you've used those
in before?
Speaker 6 (21:55):
Well, they had the uses them as a little liner
on as I don't think I have an example of that.
And you wanted something a little smaller and something to
carry through a design, so maybe you just don't have
spots of tiles if you wanted to care have your
eyes go in a continuous line and add a few
more dogs into it. And then the one little dog
(22:17):
at the end, which is a border Collie and quotes
is really after my dog. I have a border Collie
dog that's quite old now, and I thought, but she
needed to be in my work.
Speaker 2 (22:28):
Oh absolutely. Now, what is your dog's name?
Speaker 6 (22:30):
My dog's name is Ruby.
Speaker 2 (22:32):
Ruby. Have you always had border Collies or how did you?
How did Ruby come into your life?
Speaker 6 (22:38):
I've always had hurting dogs. I love hurting dogs. I
just think that they're smart, they're so attuned to you,
so I've had Queensland's, I've had border Collies probably they've
all been much since. And she is too.
Speaker 2 (22:48):
She's across.
Speaker 6 (22:49):
Yes, I've always I like your intelligence and that they're
so tuned to you. I don't think she would be
a good working dog.
Speaker 2 (22:59):
Well, she obviously made a great model because she looks
terrific on that dog liner. Now you've got two by
two like a mosaic tile, which is small, and it
has the little biscuit on it. It comes in other sizes,
but that also comes in several different glazes and colors
that someone could actually use just a regular field tile
and pop that in every so often and give it
(23:20):
a really nice look. I'm sure those are very popular.
Speaker 6 (23:23):
The dog biscuits are very popular, very popular, right, Probably
the dog biscuits are probably more popular than than the pause.
Almost everybody gets some of the biscuits, and they're so scattered.
Sometimes they're as on the dog shower page. They've used
them as a continuous line around the dog shower that
some people have just spotted. The man just as more fun.
Speaker 2 (23:47):
It sure does. Now you're in California, but you do
work all over. You mentioned Pennsylvania and other places.
Speaker 3 (23:54):
I know.
Speaker 2 (23:54):
I have a brother that's on the West coast, as
well as a sister and a brother on the East coast,
and my parents are in the South, so I travel
quite a bit and regionally. Sometimes designs are a little
bit different. But anymore, with the Internet and all of
the television shows, everyone is aware of what's going on everywhere.
One trend that I see that makes me yawn is
(24:15):
the subway tile trend that we see over and over
again right now in all the shelter publications. Is that
popular where you are? Yes?
Speaker 6 (24:24):
Yeah, No, I think popularity and tiles now is just
it's just nationwide because of the publications, because of the Internet.
And some people have used my tiles with subway tiles,
and they look good. I think I like them more
with a four x four. I like a smaller tile myself.
But everybody's aesthetics is different and how people have used
(24:47):
them when they I've been fortunate enough that they've sent
me pictures that they look great and people are.
Speaker 2 (24:52):
Happy with them, and that's the most important.
Speaker 6 (24:54):
I've received the warmest compliments about my tile, and really
sometimes it almost brings tears to my eyes that you
can it just brings something to their living space.
Speaker 2 (25:06):
And it makes it special, and I think that's important.
I'm a color girl myself, not crazy wild mod colors,
but I could not live in an all white interior.
So I am ready for the all white kitchen with
subway tile to go away. I'm sure I'll get lots
of letters. But I remember the first time that I
attended the kitchen and Bath show, which is held every year,
(25:28):
and this was many, many years ago. I was so
disappointed because there were not many tiles there. That's more
what you see at surfaces and so forth. But I'm
a big tile person, and I think anyway that you
can express your love of dogs and what's going on
in your life and making it personal is so much fun.
And their conversation starters when people come to your home.
Speaker 6 (25:48):
Yes, I'm in agreement with you, and I just really
love it when somebody calls. It's just really the bet.
They're ready to bet on themselves and their.
Speaker 2 (25:57):
Aesthetics, which is great, which is what it's all about.
Not to have someone tell you what your home should
look like, or what happens to be the flavor of
the month or the trend of the month. Your home
should be a reflection of your personality, and it needs
to fit your lifestyle, which obviously includes dogs to most
of our listeners. And it should be fun for you,
(26:18):
not what your neighbor, your mother in law, or your
friends tell you you should have. You're the one that
has to live there, and it should be comfortable and relaxing.
And I think your tiles really add a special touch.
I really do.
Speaker 6 (26:30):
Well, thank you. And if you don't want to do
them in your kitchen, I mean even like the little mirrors,
if you do have a dog, or if you have
a friend or your mother that has a favorite dog,
the little mirrors are just fun and they could be
hung anyplace.
Speaker 2 (26:44):
Oh absolutely, Or like you said that you make those
the tiles that are six by six, the special tiles,
that's just terrific hanging anywhere in a home. It's just
a special little moment. Or you could use it as
a tribute. So that's terrific.
Speaker 6 (26:59):
And my dogs, I know many of these breeds have
like the King Charles can come in right now on
my website's kind of the reddish brown, but I know
that they have trycolor and if people send me pictures
of the dog, I can get a color likeness, and
I call it a lightness, not a portrait exactly.
Speaker 2 (27:16):
And I think the beauty of your tiles is they're handmade.
Each one is individual and they have their own characteristics.
And while you do represent a Dalmatian or a Great
Dane or a Doxin or a pug, it's not going
to look exactly like everybody. Just like people, every dog
looks different and has different characteristics. But certainly when you
look at it, you know it's a Bernese Mountain dog
(27:37):
or a Jack Russell, and you recognize the breed, but
it's just that added little ump. And I think arts
and crafts are so important fine crafts in America to
support it when there are so many things that are
being imported, and this just adds beauty and value I
think to any home. Thanks again for coming, thank you
for calling you. If you love animals at all, you
really have to check out Margaret's site and we'll have
(28:00):
links up so you can find them. I so appreciate
you coming today, Margaret, and I thank all of our
listeners for visiting Decorating Tales today and listening to another episode,
and thank you for sharing your expertise on how to
decorate with dog tiles. If you want any more information
on pet friendly decorating, please visit interiordesignhound dot com. You'll
(28:23):
find loads of pet friendly pictures, information and links about
my favorite subject, good design with a knine twist. Don't
forget to drop me a line at Cynthia at petlifradio
dot com if you have any comments, ideas, questions about design,
or have a serious decorating dilemma, we just might use
it on the show. I want to thank all of
you for listening and sharing a part of your day
(28:45):
with decorating tales on pet Life Radio. Later, I've got
to let the dog out.
Speaker 10 (28:51):
Let's Talk Pets every week on demand only on petlifradio
dot com.
Speaker 9 (29:01):
Name recent negor names
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