Blue and white Dutch tiles have framed fireplaces since the 17th century, in Dutch and English houses alike. We make Delft style tiles for surrounds, hearth walls and chimney breasts, printed with traditional motifs or your own design and kiln-fired at 900°C in Somerset. They sit in our wider range of Delft tiles, so a fireplace project can match a kitchen or bathroom elsewhere in the house.
Delft tiles, after the town of Delft in Holland, whose potters made tin-glazed earthenware in blue and white from the 1600s, inspired by Chinese porcelain. The same style spread across the Netherlands and into England, where makers in London and Bristol produced what became known as English delftware. Around a fireplace, the original tiles were often set as a single row of scenes on either side of the opening, with flowers, ships or figures on each piece. That historical layout still looks right in a period interior today.
Yes. Ceramic and porcelain tiles don’t burn, and ours handle heat up to 700°C. The print is fired into the glaze at 900°C, so the warmth of a fire on the surround won’t fade or lift it. Fix the tiles with a heat-resistant tile adhesive and grout. Inside the firebox itself, use the fire bricks or boards that your fire or stove maker specifies, as no decorative tile belongs there.
A classic surround mixes a different scene on every tile. For a calmer, contemporary scheme, repeat one motif or one flower all the way round. A small bedroom fireplace in a period home suits a single row of Delft tiles on each side, which decorates the room without filling the wall.
Send it with the size of your wall. We check the image and reply with a layout and a free quote.
For a surround tiled onto the wall, any of our sizes works, and the 13x13cm tile gives the most traditional look. Prices are per tile, with printing included:
Pick a gloss or matt finish to suit the room. There’s a £36 inc VAT (£30 + VAT) setup charge on orders under £120 inc VAT (£100 + VAT). If you’d like to see a design on a real tile before ordering, a sample costs £12 inc VAT (£10 + VAT) and is deducted from your order total. Most orders take 1 to 3 weeks to make, and the colour on every design has our 50-year UV guarantee. For a panel, we number each tile on the front and send a fitting map, so your fitter knows where every piece goes.
Type your idea, pick a style and see it on your wall, tile by tile, in about 20 seconds. Send us the design you like and we'll email your quote.
Free to try. No sign-up for your first two designs.
Porcelain doesn’t burn and handles the warmth of a surround or a hearth wall. Inside the firebox, use the fire bricks or boards your stove maker specifies, not decorative tiles.
On the hearth wall, yes. We don’t recommend them on the hearth floor in front of a wood burner, although they handle the heat. A stone or slate hearth in front sets off the blue and white tiles on the wall above.
Yes. The same motifs work on a splashback, so you can carry a design from the fireplace into the kitchen. See our Delft kitchen tiles.
No. We make new tiles in the Delft style only.
I have now used Unique Tiles for a couple of projects and I am thrilled with my decision, the results far exceeded my expectations. The tiles supplied were of the highest quality and the images on the tiles are very clear. 5 stars and I fully recommend.
Paul Skivington
UK
We want to thank all those at Unique Tiles for their help in creating a positive experience working with the community here in Tepoztlan, Morelos. We look forward to doing this again in an even larger space and with a larger community of people. It has been a pleasure working together.
Judith Wray
Mexico
Absolutely thrilled with the results of my bathroom tile mural. Highly recommended using Unique Tiles, their expertise, advice and support was much appreciated and is reflected in the finished project.
Dionne Mathews
UK
Measure your surround, send us the sizes with the designs you like, and we’ll send you a layout and quote. Or start with a sample tile.
