Three different renovations mean lots of Tile options. Lucky for us, Jaclyn Johnson, founder of Create & Cultivate, and designer Ginny Macdonald were up for the challenge. The best part? Jaclyn's kitchen is the very first project featuring colors from our new Desert Collection!
Tile Shown: 3x9 tiles in Tumbleweed // Image: Jessica Bordner
Love Jaclyn’s style? Bring it home with our Create & Cultivate Sample Pack, showcasing Tile from her home renovation. Featuring 2x4 Ceramic color samples in Tumbleweed, Tempest, and White Wash; and 2x4 Glass color samples in Blue Jay Matte and Rosy Finch Matte.
Jaclyn: Can you tell me a bit about yourself and Create & Cultivate? I am the CEO & Founder of Create & Cultivate, a modern media company that serves working women. I am also a dog mom, wine enthusiast and amateur gardener.
Jaclyn: Can you tell me about your home? Was this project a remodel or renovation?
The home is a 1940s Spanish style home that was converted to a modern Spanish a few years ago. The renovation they did was VERY white box, the bones were beautiful and the details were there but there was no inherent style or vibe of the house EVERYTHING was just white so it gave us a great blank canvas.
Jaclyn: What made you decide to work with a designer? All the logistics! When it comes to things like tiling especially there are so many details! Grout, shape, color, style it can be so overwhelming so it was definitely helpful to have a professional in the mix!
Tile Shown: 1x1 Glass Tiles in Rosy Finch Matte // Image: Jessica Bordner
Ginny: How did you get involved with this project? Had you worked with Jaclyn before? We designed her LA office for Create & Cultivate, so when she bought her new home and wanted to give it a facelift, we were brought on-board.
Jaclyn: What was your process like working together?
Well it was unique for sure given Covid. We pretty much communicated via zoom and on video chats --- the house was empty for 3 weeks while we were planning to move so we could have people in and out at separate times to measure or evaluate but it was extremely challenging!
Ginny: Since we worked together on the Create & Cultivate office, we already had a good grasp on her personal style. Jaclyn is a client that knows what she wants and makes decisions fast- which is great!
Image: Sara Tramp // Styling: CJ Sandgren
Ginny: Can you tell me about your firm? Where are you based? How did you get your start?
We are Ginny Macdonald Design based in Los Angeles, CA. I got started with my own design studio in 2018 after having clients personally reach out to me from my work with Emily Henderson and specifically from redesigning my own home.
Image: Sara Tramp // Styling: CJ Sandgren
Ginny: How did you hear about Fireclay Tile? What are your favorite products? I was first introduced to Fireclay Tile while working with Emily Henderson and have been proposing Fireclay on almost all our projects because of the range in colors and textures. I love the variety of trim pieces you offer as that really helps to finish off the tiles edges.
Tile Shown: 3x6 tiles in French Linen // Image: Tessa Neustadt
I also love the glass tiles that you launched a couple of years ago. I think when people think of glass tiles they associate it with bad design but the shapes and colours you created feel modern and energetic.
Glass Tile Shown: Pheasant, Carolina Wren, Rosy Finch and Lark
Ginny: Why do you love tile?
Tiles can really transform a space! Not only with colour, but also, depending on how you use the tile. It’s a fun way to play around with shapes and colours to create a custom pattern. Plus it can be installed on different surfaces and is really durable which is important to clients.
Tile shown: 3x9 tiles in Tempest // Image: Sara Tramp // Styling: CJ Sandgren
On to the house! Jaclyn, what sort of feeling did you want to create in your home? I really wanted to channel it feeling like a hotel, clean, welcoming and full of life. I also wanted it to feel cozy but modern which I think we definitely achieved.
Image: Sara Tramp // Styling: CJ Sandgren
Ginny: What type of look or aesthetic were you going for?
Jaclyn has great style and isn’t afraid to use colour and pattern. We were really going for a chic Euro Modern look for her home.
Let's talk about the kitchen first! What were your goals for this space? What made you choose the Tumbleweed in the 3x9?
Jaclyn: The space is open and gorgeous but VERY white -- we knew we wanted something to warm it up and enhance the wood tones and carrera marble! The tumbleweed was a beautiful tone, a perfect mix of pink and beige that really made the whole space pop!
Image: Jessica Bordner
Ginny: The kitchen opens out to the dining and lounge area of the home, so we wanted to make sure that it made a statement as it is going to be the backdrop for all of Jaclyn’s future entertaining.
Image: Sara Tramp // Styling: CJ Sandgren
Image: Sara Tramp // Styling: CJ Sandgren
Ginny: It’s no secret that Jaclyn LOVES pink, so Tumbleweed was the perfect tone of pink to make a statement without overpowering the kitchen.
Tile Shown: 3x9 in Tumbleweed // Image: Jessica Bordner
On to the bathrooms! Do you each have a favorite of the three?
Ginny: The Guest Bath is so much fun! We used the Blue Jay in a herringbone pattern and paired it with an amazing wallpaper from House of Hackney. It’s bold and unforgettable.
TIle Shown: 2x12 Glass Tiles in Blue Jay Matte // Image: Sara Tramp // Styling: CJ Sandgren
Jaclyn: I mean selfishly our master bathroom! I love the way it turned out and the tiles all have their own unique look & feel.
Tile shown: 3x9 tiles in Tempest // // Image: Sara Tramp // Styling: CJ Sandgren
What made you choose 3x9 in Tempest for the master?
Jaclyn: The unique look and feel of each of the tiles is absolutely gorgeous and is the perfect green/gray palette we wanted!
Image: Jessica Bordner
Ginny: Jaclyn is a busy gal and her primary bath should be a place for her to relax and forget about her crazy schedule. Tempest is the most soothing blue/green tone that fits perfectly with the serene and moody look we were going for.
Image: Jessica Bordner
How about the glass tiles for the other two bathrooms?
Jaclyn: I loved the look of the glass tile -- super clean and chic and we new we wanted to add tile into the mix to give each room a fresh new look.
Tile Shown: 1x1 Glass Tiles in Rosy Finch Matte // Image: Jessica Bordner
Ginny: Jaclyn was pretty set on the colour theme for each bathroom so we used the 1x1 glass mosaic in Rosy Finch Matte for the powder room. Pink can be sometimes overbearing but this added a nice softness to the space.
Image: Jessica Bordner
How did the installation process go? Did you face any challenges?
Ginny: We worked with a tile installer for this project and it went as smoothly as it can go, especially considering we’d just entered a pandemic!
Jaclyn: Really good! No challenges but the herringbone pattern in the guest room does take a while to do because every piece of tile has to be meticulously measured and cut but it came out gorgeous!
Tile Shoqn: 2x12 Glass tiles in Blue Jay Matte // Image: Jessica Bordner
Ginny, do you have three design tips you could share?
1. Hire the best installer your money can buy!
I’ve seen tile installed really poorly and in some expensive houses and it’s because the client (not one of ours) wanted to cut costs. This area is not where you want to cut costs.
Image: Jessica Bordner
2. Don’t forget the importance of grout as it can completely change the look of the tile and therefore the whole space.
Have your contractor do samples or at the very least provide grout chips.
Tile shown: 3x9 tiles in Tempest // // Image: Sara Tramp // Styling: CJ Sandgren
3. Have fun!
For the most part you’ll be installing tiles in a bathroom or kitchen area. While white can look clean and modern, but so can other colours. People get wrapped up in tile being forever, which is true, but why not make that forever a little less boring? :)
Tile Shown: 2x12, 4x12 and 1x1 Mosaic Glass Tiles in Blue Jay Matte // Image: Sara Tramp // Styling: CJ Sandgren
Tile Shown: 1x1 Glass Tiles in Rosy Finch Matte // Image: Jessica Bordner
Inspired by this home? Order your sample pack now. Need some help? Simply call, chat or fill out our Design Assistance Form and one of our talented Design Consultants will get back to you shortly!
