A Home Designed for Gathering and Growing

On craftsmanship, collaboration, and handmade tile with Cooley Construction

A great remodel starts with a clear vision. For Cooley Construction’s clients, it meant opening up the kitchen, welcoming in more natural light, and creating a stronger connection to the garden beyond. With handmade Cotto tile in Umber and floral Primavera tile, Cooley Construction brought that vision to life. We spoke with the team about the process, the materials, and what made this project special.

Photos by Upright Creative LLC

What was the vision for this remodel from the very beginning?

From the very beginning, our clients wanted a larger kitchen that welcomed in natural light and functioned as a true gathering space. But what made this project special was how that vision connected to something deeper. They wanted it to flow into a dedicated space at the back of the home where they could garden, cultivate plants, and really live close to the earth. The two spaces were always meant to feel like one continuous idea.

What drew you to the Cotto tile in Umber for this project?

The color and format of the Cotto tile in Umber struck the right balance between warmth and practicality for the kitchen and mudroom utility floor. It paired beautifully with the limewashed yellow walls our clients had their hearts set on. Everything just melded together naturally from a color palette perspective. It reinforced that earthy, warm, inviting feeling the homeowners were after from day one.

How did the tile influence the overall feel of the home once it was installed?

The tile really anchored the whole space. It solidified that warm, earthy, inviting feeling the homeowners had been describing since our very first conversation. There's something about it that just feels right, like you're exactly where you're supposed to be.
But honestly, the moment it all clicked was when the cabinets went in, and the walls were finished. The tile was already doing its job, and then everything else settled around it. The vision stopped being something we were working toward and started being something you could actually feel.

Handmade terracotta tile requires a bit of special attention during installation. How did it go for you?

It went well overall. Working with handmade tile requires extra time and a careful eye.
Every piece has its own subtle variation, so you're not just laying tile; you're selecting each placement and considering how the small differences add up across the whole pattern. That kind of attention is what gives the finished floor its character.

The Primavera tiles on the stair risers make a statement. What inspired that design choice?

Part of it was about tying back to that floral, plant-inspired feeling we wanted throughout the space. But there was a practical reason too. Using the same material for the stair risers as the treads can cause them to blend together, which becomes a tripping hazard. The Primavera tile gave us a clear visual cue that says “there’s a step here,” while still feeling intentional and beautiful rather than purely functional.

How do handmade materials change the way you approach a renovation?

Handmade materials change the pace and the mindset. You can’t just order a pallet of tile and lay it in a straight, predictable pattern. Every piece has its own subtle variation, so it takes extra time and a careful eye to select each placement and consider how those small differences add up across the whole space. It’s a more hands-on process, but that’s exactly what gives the finished result its character. You end up with something that feels alive in a way uniform materials never could.

If this project taught you one thing about great tile, what would it be?

Great tile is worth the patience and meticulousness it takes to install it. When you give a material like that the time and attention it deserves, the result speaks for itself.

It seems like you developed a great relationship with the homeowners throughout the process. How did that connection evolve from the first meeting to the final walkthrough?

It really did evolve. From the first meeting, there were so many conversations and decisions made together, big and small, that built trust along the way. By the time we reached the final walkthrough, it didn’t feel like a contractor handing off a finished product. It felt like a team stepping back to look at something we’d built together.

Projects like this are a reminder that the best homes come together through collaboration, craftsmanship, and an eye for the details. Thank you to Cooley Construction for sharing the story behind this beautiful remodel. We're honored that Clay Imports' handmade tile could be part of it.