The company is based in Aurora, New York, and has stores in New York City and Palm Beach, Florida, as well as at their plantation in Aurora. Their unique workspace is mirrored in their superb, one-of-a-kind creations.

The Aurora plantation is a 64-acre farm that is home to a small herd of Scottish Highland cattle, many gardens, and hayfields. The old dairy barn was transformed into a studio and creation space for over 100 MacKenzie-Childs artisans to do their magic. The ceramics that are created by MacKenzie-Childs staff are handcrafted. They start as clay and are molded into the various sizes and shapes and designs needed and are then hand painted and fired to achieve that rustic, unique appeal.

MacKenzie-Childs also has a terrific website where you can view their items. Tile is just one of the many products their artisans develop and create, but their tile products are truly works of art with their bright yellows and oranges juxtaposed with vibrant blues and reds and greens in diamond and square patterns, stripes, and grid patterns to name a few. And their ability to marry different patterns and designs together to create such unique styles is fresh and exciting.

You can have MacKenzie-Childs ceramic tiles installed in several places in your home or office…countertops, backsplashes, bathrooms, showers, and so on. Basic installation for ceramic tiling is what’s called for, and you can install the tile yourself. Do consult a professional, though, if you’ve never installed tile. There are a few tricks, especially in dealing with placement and cutting of tiles that have design elements on the pieces. And realize that these tiles are handmade, so no two will be exactly alike.

MacKenzie-Childs is certainly not your ordinary, everyday tile. Their blend of fancy and fierce quality make the products they design stand out above the rest. And if your tastes slant toward fun, then you’re certain to find you in these farm-born ceramics!

Pacilantic 

Installation can be done by a do-it-yourselfer, but you should definitely at least consult a professional for tips and warnings about installing these types of products. Also be sure and read the installation documentation thoroughly for your product before jumping in. The tiles should be installed with regular white thinset mortar, applied with a notched trowel. The tile sheets or tiles themselves should then be placed according to the design pattern and after a curing period can be grouted. Glass tiles can also be installed outdoors because they are non-porous and handle expansion and contracting that occurs when temperatures rise and fall.

We cannot stress enough how unique and beautiful these Pacilantic products are. Their ceramic tiles are hand painted and then layered with a unique glaze that gives the ceramic a glass-like appearance. The painted tiles can either be individual, or some are actually part of a mural that can be installed in coordination with other tiles to give you a unique look and feel.

Pacilantic glass tile products are also a vision. Their stunning pebble glass series has an almost otherworldly feel. The mosaics they offer come in a wide range of themes including the tropics, fruits and vegetables, and flowers and animals. Because the work is hand-produced, some variations of color and tone can occur. So if it’s not exactly as you see on the website, it’s ok, it’s actually more than ok — you’ll know you have a look that no one else will have. You can also find beautiful metal tiles in black, copper, or silver tones that can add splashes of light and a clean feel. Pacilantic also provides your “normal” slate and stone tiles as well as a combination of glass and stone that bring the rugged, sturdy look that is so popular today.