Creating in Colour by Drift Cornwall Magazine
We were lucky enough to sit down with our favourite Cornwall-based magazine to talk about all things tiles, artists and nature.
WORDS BY LOTTIE LEWIS & PUBLISHED IN DRIFT MAGAZINE
We like to think that Decorum's work environment feels like the perfect home; a fruitful veggie patch, a couple of young Jack Russells careering around, quiet chatter and laughter floating out of the stable doors of the studio and a cup of tea offered the moment you enter.
Tall, heavy boughed trees hang over a large farmhouse, surrounded by various outbuildings. You can hear the resident sheep behind the hedge. A heron flies overhead. A couple of chickens pass by and ducks splash happily in the pond.
Decorum creates hand painted tiles in Cornwall. Made in our signature colours, the artists not only follow their extensive range of patterns and designs, but also create bespoke ideas for Decorum customers. Our designs can fill a space, assisting clients to add their own very unique style to their home.
Originally established in 1992 by our Founder Ray Koomen in Buckinghamshire, Decorum was launched when Ray and his wife Susan were in their early twenties. Their dream was to bring colour and creativity into the homes of their customers.
Three decades later they decided to relocate the studio and business to Cornwall.
During the process, Ray began to collaborate with his younger daughter Jessica, who brings her passion for sustainability and her MA in Sustainable Design to the company, and the next stage of Decorum’s life began. “Working with dad, who has 45 years of experience within the tile industry, and bringing together a team of local talented artists to produce high quality products, feels amazing,” says Jess, “After a decade-long trend of grey and beige we are excited to bring colour, fun and personality to homes. We offer something unique that transforms spaces and brings joy with a splash of colour or detail.”
“Our tiles are hand-painted, so each have their own individual character, as opposed to the standard manufactured look. Each piece is truly a work of art.”
“Our customers appreciate that Decorum products are designed, hand painted and fired in the UK. The tile bases are made in Italy and Spain to our exact specifications and then hand painted at our studio in Cornwall,” explains Jess.
The artists also speak highly of Decorum, proving the businesses level of investment in their employees. One of our team commented: “Variety really is the spice of life and every day in the studio is different. One day might involve screen printing a geometric tile design, another could be hand painting traditional tiles with Delft decors. Painting butterflies in vibrant teal and lilac for our well-known and established clients is a wonderful way to spend your work afternoon.”
Patience is a virtue when it comes to hand painting tiles. You have to wait for the washes of colour to dry in between each stage so you have to think carefully about ordering your work. The bees tend to be a favourite to paint, starting with washes of lemon and english mustard. Once dry we paint the round little body, delicate wings and the tiny hairs on their legs. When finished they’re slid carefully into cranks holding 10 painted tiles apiece which are then stacked in the kiln ready for firing.
It’s a lengthy process. The tiles are fired in the kiln for ten to 12 hours at 800 degrees, before being left for another 12 hours to cool off. One tile takes 24 hours to make, and the care in which they are created is apparent in the finished product.
We're proud to be selling online nationally and internationally and can truly say we've settled into the creative coastline of north Cornwall. By always keeping our tiles hand-painted, Decorum refuses to step into the ‘fast fashion’ industry, creating unique pieces to be loved by future generations.
