Custom Ceramic Tiles, Hand-Painted and Made to Order
What Custom Ceramic Tiles Are, and What We Can Make
Balian has been making custom ceramic tiles by hand in the same Jerusalem studio since 1922. Four generations on, we still paint, print and kiln-fire every tile ourselves, which means you can order a custom ceramic tile in any design, any size, any shape and any color, from a single accent piece to a full commercial installation. Our work is held in the Smithsonian and the Victoria & Albert Museum, and we ship to all 50 US states.
A custom ceramic tile is one made to your specification rather than picked from a catalog. In practice that covers four things, and most clients want a mix. Design: your own artwork, photograph, logo or pattern, reproduced on the tile face. Size and shape: tiles cut and fired to your dimensions, including hexagons, scales, arabesques, planks, circles and one-off geometric profiles. Color: glazes mixed to match a paint reference, a fabric swatch or an existing tile. Reproduction: an exact copy of a discontinued, damaged or historic tile.
Because we glaze and fire in-house rather than sending work out, all four can be combined in a single order. Every custom ceramic tile we make is kiln fired for durability with non-toxic, UV-resistant finishes, so it performs in wet areas such as shower walls and kitchen backsplashes as well as high-traffic floors and outdoor installations.
How to Order Custom Ceramic Tiles
Ordering from us is a five-step process, and we guide you through every stage.
1. Send us your design. A high-resolution photograph is usually enough. If you are matching an existing tile, mailing us the physical piece gives the most accurate result.
2. Confirm size and use. Tell us the size in inches, whether the tiles are for interior or exterior use, and whether they will be installed on walls, floors or in a swimming pool.
3. Approve a fired sample. We recommend a technique, then produce a fired sample for your approval. Color on screen is never color on ceramic, so this step exists to make sure there are no surprises.
4. Production and firing. Most orders are produced and kiln fired within 2 to 4 weeks of design approval, depending on size and complexity.
5. Delivery to your US address. Door-to-door delivery to the United States typically adds 5 to 10 business days, including customs clearance, which we handle for you.
Minimum order requirements vary by product, so we can take on both small accent projects and large-scale installations. You can also adapt an existing Balian pattern by adjusting its colors or scale to suit your space. Email us at any stage for a quote, a sample or advice.
Testing ceramic colors for a made-to-order pattern
Screen printing custom designs by hand
Applying a digital ceramic Transfer on the surface of a custom tile
Test firing a ceramic bespoke custom tile
Types of Custom Ceramic Tiles
Custom ceramic tiles come in several forms, each with distinct advantages. Glazed ceramic is the most versatile, available across a full spectrum of colors and in gloss, satin or matte finishes. Custom porcelain tiles are denser and more fade-resistant, which makes them the right choice for exterior floors, freeze-thaw climates in northern states and heavy commercial traffic. Both bodies are cut and fired to order in a wide range of sizes, from small mosaic pieces to large-format panels, and for a genuinely one-off result custom ceramic mosaics combine several glazes, shapes and sizes into art pieces that cannot be repeated.
Custom ceramic tile is closely associated with high-end renovation for a simple reason: the design belongs only to you. A hand-painted tile panel or a made-to-order geometric floor signals a level of craftsmanship that mass-produced collections cannot imitate, and a striking installation can lift a property's market value.
Custom work does carry a higher upfront cost and a longer lead time than stock tile. That is the trade-off for exclusivity, since a tailored collection has to be drawn, glazed, fired and finished. Most clients find it worth the wait, because a well-made ceramic tile lasts for decades and never dates.
What you gain is complete control over dimensions, color, texture and pattern. Custom ceramic tiles can be made in tailored shapes such as hexagons, scales, arabesques, elongated planks, rounded mosaic forms or precise circles, and they can be matched to architectural elements like stair treads and thresholds so transitions between rooms need no rigid trim piece.
Custom Ceramic Tiles for Kitchens, Bathrooms and Backsplashes
A custom backsplash is the most common residential project we take on. Because you control the pattern, palette and layout, the result can range from a quiet tonal texture behind a stove to a full painted panel that anchors the whole room. In bathrooms we make accent walls, niche surrounds, vanity splashbacks and complete shower installations, and every glaze we use is bleach-safe and washable. Fireplace surrounds and hearths are a particular specialism, and our kiln-fired tiles withstand the heat cycling that defeats printed substitutes.
Custom ceramic tiles also give a hygienic, water-resistant surface, which is why they work as well in a busy commercial kitchen as in a family bathroom. Popular styles include geometric repeats, mosaics and nature-inspired patterns, and we can scale any of them to the room.
Custom ceramic tile sizes, shapes and color matching
Standard sizes run from 4 x 4 in. (10 x 10 cm) up to 12 x 12 in. (30 x 30 cm), and we cut to order beyond that. Large-format tiles reduce grout lines and make small rooms read bigger, while smaller mosaic pieces give more grip underfoot and are the right choice for shower floors. Finishes are available in gloss, satin and matte, which affects both slip resistance and how the color reads under light.
One detail matters more than most people expect: we can match field tile, trim, moldings, bullnose and thresholds from the same glaze batch, so the color stays consistent across every profile and transitions between rooms need no off-the-shelf trim piece. If you are matching an existing installation, send us a physical sample and we will mix to it.
Custom ceramic tiles for commercial and hospitality projects
We supply hotels, restaurants, retail interiors, spas and public art commissions, and we can carry a single design across an entire property. Commercial work is fired at the higher end of our temperature range for UV stability and resistance to heavy traffic and cleaning chemicals. Logos and brand palettes are reproduced exactly, and for large architectural installations we make and number panel sets so the pieces go up in the right order on site. For photographic and large-scale artwork, see our ceramic tile murals.
Custom Ceramic Tile Printing and Hand-Painting Techniques
We use three techniques in our studio, and we often combine them on a single project. Hand-painting gives the softest line and the most life, and because each tile varies slightly, no two pieces are ever identical. Screen printing suits repeating geometric patterns and border runs where consistency across a large batch matters. Digital ceramic printing handles photographic imagery, fine gradients and complex logos with a precision no brush can match. You can see the process in more detail on our digital ceramic printing page.
All three are fired into the glaze rather than printed on top of it, so the image cannot scratch, fade or peel. Every finish is non-toxic and UV-stable, and rated for wet areas including shower walls, backsplashes, pool waterlines and outdoor installations.
Our commitment to precision means each pattern is reproduced with real accuracy. We like difficult jobs, and when the original technique is unclear we test-fire until we have matched it.
Tiles can also be made entirely by hand, which produces organic variation in texture and shade that gives every piece its own character. Many clients come to us precisely for that artisanal quality. The subtle variation is a feature rather than a flaw, and it is impossible to fake with machine-made stock.
Custom ceramic tile printing color chart - digital tile design options
Our Products
Find the perfect color to complete your dream interior
A sample color chart for hand painted and screen printed custom ceramic tiles
A sample color chart for hand painted and screen printed custom ceramic tiles. When matching custom colors, especially against white or off-white bodies, we test and confirm the fired result first to guarantee color fidelity and durability.
Custom Ceramic and Porcelain Tile Options: Bodies, Finishes and Sizes
Ceramic and porcelain are the only two bodies we make, and choosing between them matters as much for performance as it does for looks. Glazed ceramic offers the widest palette of colors, patterns and finishes and is the right answer for most interior walls and backsplashes. Custom porcelain tiles are denser and more resistant to fading and frost, which makes them the better choice for exterior floors, freeze-thaw climates and high-traffic commercial areas. Both bodies are available in gloss, satin and matte finishes and in a full range of sizes, from small mosaic pieces through standard 4 x 4 in. and 6 x 6 in. field tiles up to 12 x 12 in. and larger cut-to-order formats.
Everything we quote is kiln-fired ceramic or porcelain made in our own Jerusalem studio, so for a genuinely singular result we combine sizes, shapes, glazes and techniques rather than materials: small ceramic mosaic pieces set against large-format porcelain, or a hand-painted border framing a digitally printed panel. Tell us where the custom ceramic tiles are going and how the space is used, and we will recommend the body, size and finish rather than simply quoting the one you asked for.
Custom Ceramic Tile Reproduction and Pattern Matching
If you have a wallpaper, a length of textile, a photograph of a Victorian floor or a single broken tile, we will reproduce it as a custom ceramic tile. This is the work we are best known for. We can rescale a pattern to fit a different room, adjust the palette while keeping the original drawing, or replicate a discontinued line so you can complete a partial installation. For the full process, see our discontinued tile reproduction service, or browse our vintage tile reproductions for period patterns we already make.
Each piece is built specifically for your space, so it fits precisely and integrates without visible compromise. We take on projects of any size, from a small accent run to a large-scale architectural installation. Custom mosaic tiles work particularly well in kitchens, bathrooms and commercial interiors where you want a surface with real character. Have a look at the images to see samples of our reproduction work, which we can make in a wide range of sizes.
Our Kilns and Firing Techniques
Our workshop runs everything from a small test kiln for one-off samples through to large production kilns for full-scale orders, so we can take on a single replacement tile or a several-thousand-piece commercial run with the same care. Firing temperatures range from roughly 1,290 F to 2,010 F (700 C to 1,100 C), and the exact schedule depends on the clay body, the glaze chemistry, and whether the tile is destined for a wall, a floor, a pool, or an exterior facade.
Every firing curve is matched to the specific tiles being produced, because temperature is what locks the color permanently into the glaze. That is why our tiles keep their color in full sun, resist moisture, and stand up to daily wear for decades rather than fading the way a printed surface coating would.
Custom Ceramic Tile Design and Color Options
How the custom ceramic tile process starts, and what it costs
Find the perfect tile to complete your design project
To begin your tile reproduction project, send us the item you would like us to replicate. High-quality photographs are usually enough to get started, but the actual tile, plate, or fabric swatch is better still, because it lets our painters color match against the original under the same light they work in. We also produce custom floor tiles, including logos, photographs, and original artwork printed onto hard-wearing bodies rated for indoor and outdoor use, and our fabrication methods let us cut custom shapes such as true circles, hexagons, arabesques, and bullnose trim to match your drawings.
When we specify materials, function matters as much as appearance. Moisture resistance and slip resistance come first in bathrooms, entryways, and high-traffic commercial floors. Mosaic and small-format tiles give the highest traction and are the safest choice for a shower pan, while larger formats suit backsplashes and feature walls because fewer grout lines make a small room read as bigger.
You can choose between ceramic and porcelain. Ceramic comes in gloss, satin, and matte finishes and offers the widest decorative range, which is why most of our hand-painted work is ceramic. Porcelain is denser, tougher, and more resistant to fading and freeze-thaw damage, which makes it the right call for exterior walls, patios, pool surrounds, and hotel corridors. The finish affects both looks and safety: a matte or textured glaze grips underfoot, while a gloss glaze reflects light and reads as more formal.
The result is a hygienic, water-resistant surface that suits kitchens, bathrooms, fireplace surrounds, and busy entry halls. Popular directions include Armenian and Ottoman florals, geometric repeats, Iznik palettes, mosaics, and nature-inspired panels, and we are equally happy working from a modern architectural drawing.
Pricing and minimum order
Pricing has two parts. A one-time design fee covers artwork preparation, color matching, and the production of a first sample tile that you approve before we go to production. Per-tile pricing then depends on size, technique, and quantity, and the cost per tile falls as the order grows, so a full backsplash or a commercial run works out considerably cheaper per piece than a handful of accent tiles.
There is no minimum order. We will make a single replacement tile to match a damaged original, and we do it often. Every quote for a US customer is given in US dollars and includes a door-to-door shipping estimate to your address, with no fees added later. Send us your dimensions, your design, and your ZIP code, and we will come back with a full written quote.
Working With Architects, Designers and Specifiers
A large share of our work comes through US architects, interior designers, and specifiers who need something that is not in a catalogue: a mural for a hotel lobby, a hand-painted border that matches a historic building, a pool waterline in one exact shade, or replacement tiles for a restoration where the original production run stopped fifty years ago. We are set up to work from your drawings and specifications rather than asking you to work from ours.
For specification work we supply dimensioned drawings you can drop into CAD, physical sample tiles for client presentations and sign-off, written technical data on the clay body and glaze, and quantities calculated with a sensible allowance for cuts and breakage. Because every tile is made to order, sizes, shapes, thicknesses, and colors are adjusted to fit the drawing instead of the drawing being adjusted to fit the tile. Lead times are confirmed in writing at the quote stage so they can be built into a construction schedule.
Large-scale work is often best handled as a ceramic tile mural, engineered as an architectural tile system built for long-term durability indoors or outdoors in high-traffic areas. Murals can carry imagery, logos, and graphics, which lets a business reinforce its identity on a signature wall and lets a homeowner see a cherished photograph reimagined in fired ceramic. For exterior and wet applications, our custom pool tiles are made to resist moisture, chlorine, UV exposure, and freeze-thaw cycling without fading.
A very custom tile mural for a discerning client in the North of Spain
Custom Ceramic Tiles: Frequently Asked Questions for US Orders
Do you ship custom ceramic tiles to the United States?
Yes. We ship hand-painted and digitally printed custom ceramic tiles to all 50 US states, plus Alaska, Hawaii, and Puerto Rico. Whether the address is in New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, Miami, Dallas, or a small town in between, we use insured door-to-door courier delivery and handle the export paperwork at our end.
Can you match trim, molding, bullnose and other special pieces?
Yes. Because every piece is made to order rather than pulled from stock, we produce matching bullnose, quarter-round, pencil liners, chair rail, corner pieces, and cut-to-size infills in the same clay body and glaze as the field tile. This is one of the main reasons designers come to us: the trim actually matches the tile instead of being a near miss from another range.
Is there a minimum order for custom ceramic tiles?
No. We will make one tile if that is what you need, and single replacement tiles for repairs are a regular part of our work. That said, the per-tile price improves as the quantity rises, so a full backsplash, floor, or commercial run is more economical per piece than a few accent tiles.
How much do custom ceramic tiles cost?
There is a one-time design fee covering artwork preparation, color matching, and a first sample tile for your approval. Per-tile pricing then depends on the tile size, the quantity, how complex the design is, and the technique used, whether hand-painted, screen-printed, or digitally printed. Every US quote is issued in US dollars with a shipping estimate included, so the figure you see is the figure you pay.
How long does a custom ceramic tile order take?
Most orders are produced within two to four weeks of design approval, and delivery to a US address usually adds five to ten business days including customs clearance. Very large murals and multi-thousand-piece commercial runs take longer, and we confirm the lead time in writing at the quote stage so it can be built into a construction schedule.
Can you reproduce a discontinued or hard-to-find tile pattern?
This is one of our specialties. Send us a surviving tile, or good photographs with something for scale, and we will reproduce the pattern, the dimensions, and the glaze colors as closely as the original allows. We regularly make replacements for historic homes, churches, hotels, and restoration projects where the original production stopped decades ago.
Can you match an exact color?
Yes. We mix glazes to match a physical sample, a paint chip, a fabric swatch, or a Pantone reference, and we fire a test tile first so you can see the fired result rather than the raw glaze. Colors change in the kiln, so the sample tile is the only honest way to approve a shade, and we would rather send one than guess.
Can you supply porcelain tiles in bulk for a hotel or restaurant?
Yes. For hospitality and commercial projects we produce custom porcelain in volume, which is denser and harder-wearing than ceramic and better suited to corridors, lobbies, guest bathrooms, and outdoor terraces. We can also hold the design on file so that later phases or replacements match the original installation exactly.
Will custom ceramic tiles survive freezing winters and full sun?
Specified correctly, yes. For exterior use in climates with hard winters we recommend a frost-resistant porcelain body, which handles freeze-thaw cycling without spalling. Because our colors are fired into the glaze rather than printed on top, they do not fade in direct sun, which is why our tiles are used on facades, patios, and pool surrounds.
Can I see a sample before committing to the full order?
Always. We produce a sample tile after the design is agreed, and nothing goes into production until you have seen it and approved it. Designers and architects can request presentation samples for client sign-off, and we can supply several color variations of the same pattern if you need to choose between options.
Ordering Custom Ceramic Tiles From Us Is Simple
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Our design team will help you settle on a design, confirm sizing in inches, and get samples in your hands before you commit to anything.
A set of hand-painted tiles also makes a memorable gift for a friend building a new house, finishing a patio, or refreshing an outdoor space. From your first message to the final delivery at your door, we keep you informed at every stage.
Clients across the United States and around the world choose our tiles to turn everyday rooms into one-of-a-kind spaces that reflect their personality, taste, and vision.
