Hand-Painted Border Tiles for Subway Tile, Kitchens & Bathrooms
Balian border tiles are painted by hand in our Jerusalem studio, the way this family has painted them since 1922. They are made to run along a plain subway tile field – above a kitchen counter, around a shower, across a stair riser – and turn a wall everyone has into one that is yours.
Three sizes, priced per tile: 6×3 in (15×7.5 cm) $10 · 8×4 in (20×10 cm) $14 · 6×2 in (15×5 cm) $8. Glazed ceramic, about 8 mm (5/16 in) thick, so they sit flush with standard 3×6 subway tile. $100 minimum order, shipped door to door across the USA.
Seventeen patterns below, each painted to order in the colors shown or in yours. Pricing and delivery · Order form · Ask for a sample
How Border Tiles Work With Subway Tile
A 6×3 in Balian border is exactly the length of one 3×6 in subway tile, so a single course of borders lines up with a running-bond field without cuts. The 8×4 in size suits 4×8 subway tile and larger walls; the slim 6×2 in size works as a pencil line between field tile and countertop, or as trim around a shower niche.
How many you need: two 6×3 borders per linear foot – a 10 ft backsplash run is 20 tiles, $200. Count one and a half 8×4 borders per foot, or two 6×2 borders per foot, and add a spare or two for the cuts at corners.
Set and grout them exactly as you would the field tile. A grout that matches the field lets the pattern read as one continuous band; a darker grout frames each tile. They are used on kitchen backsplashes, bathroom walls and shower surrounds, fireplace surrounds and stair risers.
Water Wave Red
6×3 in $10 · 8×4 in $14
Water Wave Light Blue
6×3 in $10 · 8×4 in $14
Water Wave Brown
6×3 in $10 · 8×4 in $14
Water Wave Dark Blue
6×3 in $10 · 8×4 in $14
Floral Multicolor
6×3 in $10 · 8×4 in $14
Floral Brown
6×3 in $10 · 8×4 in $14
Floral Blue
6×3 in $10 · 8×4 in $14
Chains Light Blue
6×3 in $10 · 8×4 in $14
Chains Green
6×3 in $10 · 8×4 in $14
Chains Dark Blue
6×3 in $10 · 8×4 in $14
Hishams Green
6×3 in $10 · 8×4 in $14
Hishams Dark Blue
6×3 in $10 · 8×4 in $14
Hishams Turquoise
6×3 in $10 · 8×4 in $14
Vart Turquoise
6×3 in $10 · 8×4 in $14
Bird Border
6×3 in $10 · 8×4 in $14
Gazelle Border
6×3 in $10 · 8×4 in $14
Grape Border
6×3 in $10 · 8×4 in $14
Bathroom and Shower Border Tiles
A hand-painted band at eye level around a shower, or above a vanity, is the simplest way to give a white-tiled bathroom a point of view. The colors are fired under the glaze, so they do not wear off and the tile wipes clean like any glazed ceramic. Pair a border with 6×6 in decorative bathroom tiles ($20 each) for a niche or a feature panel above the tub.
Kitchen Backsplash Border Tiles
Run a border along the top of the backsplash under the upper cabinets, or as a single line at countertop height. It reads from across the room and costs a fraction of a fully painted wall: a typical 8–10 ft run is 16–20 tiles. For a backsplash painted edge to edge, see our kitchen backsplash tiles, made to order in any pattern and color.
Custom Colors and Patterns
Every border is painted to order, so the colors are not fixed. Send us the pattern you like and the colors of your field tile, cabinets or countertop, and we will paint a sample to match. Custom patterns – a motif from a photograph, a family emblem, a border to continue an antique one – are drawn and quoted individually. Painting and firing time is confirmed with your quote.
Hishams Green
6×2 in · $8
Hishams Dark Blue
6×2 in · $8
Hishams Light Blue
6×2 in · $8
Chains Light Blue
6×2 in · $8
Chains Green
6×2 in · $8
Chains Dark Blue
6×2 in · $8
Water Wave Red
6×2 in · $8
Water Wave Light Blue
6×2 in · $8
Water Wave Brown
6×2 in · $8
Water Wave Dark Blue
6×2 in · $8
Floral Multicolor
6×2 in · $8
Floral Brown
6×2 in · $8
Floral Blue
6×2 in · $8
Grape Border
6×2 in · $8
Square Dance Blue
6×2 in · $8
Painted in Jerusalem Since 1922
The Balian family came to Jerusalem from Kütahya in 1919 to restore the tiles of the Dome of the Rock, and opened its own workshop on Nablus Road in 1922. Four generations later, the borders on this page are still drawn, painted and glazed by hand in that workshop, in the Kütahya tradition of underglaze painting on white slip. Our tiles have been collected by the Smithsonian, and most of what we make today ships to homes in the United States.
Border Tile Questions
Will Balian border tiles sit flush with my subway tile?
Yes. They are about 8 mm (5/16 in) thick, the same as most 3×6 in ceramic subway tile, so they set flush with the field using the same thin-set and no build-up.
What sizes and prices are available?
Three sizes: 6×3 in (15×7.5 cm) at $10 per tile, 8×4 in (20×10 cm) at $14, and 6×2 in (15×5 cm) at $8. Orders have a $100 minimum plus shipping.
How many border tiles do I need?
Measure the run in feet. Count two 6×3 in tiles per foot, one and a half 8×4 in tiles per foot, or two 6×2 in tiles per foot, then add one or two spares for corner cuts. A 10 ft kitchen backsplash needs 20 of the 6×3 in borders.
Can I order a sample first?
Yes. Order a single tile of any pattern as a sample and we will paint it in the colors you specify, so you can see the glaze and the color match before committing to the run.
How do I order and pay?
Send the pattern, size, quantity and your delivery address through the order form or contact page. We reply with a quote including door-to-door shipping by FedEx, DHL or EMS. Payment is by bank wire or PayPal.
Do you ship to the USA?
Yes, to all 50 states, door to door. Most Balian orders go to the United States.
Can the colors be changed?
Yes. Each border is painted to order, so any pattern can be painted in your colors. Send us a photo of your field tile or cabinets and we will match it.
What is your returns policy?
Returns are accepted within one week of receipt of the goods, with the customer paying return postage.
Ready to Order?
Send us the pattern, the colors you want and the length of the run, and we will reply with a quote and a sample. Contact us · Order form · Pricing and delivery
Discover Our Other Collection of Hand-Painted Tiles
Waterline Pool Tiles: Sun-safe and elegant, perfect for pools and fountains.
Modular Decorative Tiles: Mix and match patterns for walls or floors.
Accent Tiles: Small touches that brighten any space.
Fireplace Tiles: Heat-resistant and made to stand out.
Black & White Tiles: Timeless, simple, and stylish.
Chain border backsplash tile
