Earp Bros offer a diverse range of tile products from around the globe. Located in Newcastle, Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane (in 2017) we are proud to be a 5th generation, family-owned business with our Head Office in Carrington. Our Newcastle West Showroom loves to work with HDS and the next generation of Design Professionals in Newcastle.

A great deal of consideration, planning and procurement go into creating the Earp Bros range and we are pleased to be an exclusive importer of globally recognised brands such as Porcelanosa and Venis.

We also look to smaller, artisan manufacturers for our Bespoke range of Tile and Stone.

It was with this range of products that we invited students from HDS to develop a unique tile design and the opportunity for outstanding designs to be produced!

Students were introduced to the world of cement tile, commonly known as Encaustics. These beautiful tiles are often inspired by nature, geometry and pattern and used extensively in homes, businesses and public places throughout the world.

Each tile begins with a design – a line drawing and a selection of colours. This design is crafted into a mould by artisan hands and then each tile is poured by hand. Pigments and cement are mixed to create a smooth liquid that fits to the mould and reveals the design. Layers of cement are built up to create a tile that is 16mm thick. It’s then hydraulically pressed and cured in a water bath.

Each piece of tile interacts with the next and allows the pattern to emerge and wander over wall and floor surfaces.

Students were asked to develop a tile for a client brief and the results were diverse, creative and inspired.

From designs featuring stripes and geometry, to organic forms inspired by nature, the tiles are a testament to the knowledge students have gained throughout their course.

Like any design challenge, there were some stand-out designs and two of the students will have their designs produced in 2017.

Congratulations to runner up, Laura Hamill for her design “Cake Anyone”. A simple yet effective triangular design with on-trend terracotta and pop colour highlights – a saleable, fun tile!

And a huge congratulations to Kayla Tesoriero for her design “Mind the Gap” inspired by London’s tube and the colours of Notting Hill and Hampstead. This is a highly original and creative design that will translate well into a repeat pattern tile design – well done!

We look forward to sharing the production journey with you next year!

Check out Earp Bros full range of cement tiles