Nawal Motawi, Tile Designer

When Nawal Motawi is designing tile at her computer, she puts a sign on the outside of her door that says “Cave.” It means she doesn’t want to be interrupted. “I can sit there for hours without realizing it, just refining and refining a drawing that’s going to become a tile,” she says.

Nawal started Motawi Tileworks in 1992 straight out of art school, and says inspiration can come from anywhere, whether it’s a tissue box or a travel book. “When I find something that I connect with visually, viscerally, then I can see a tile in it, and I’ll try to make that happen. But I’m also a perfectionist,” she says, “so it can be tough.”

What constitutes successful design in an art tile? “I’m looking for a strong sense of movement, that your eye doesn’t get sort of stuck up in a corner. There’s got to be a dramatic visual hook, but not an explosion in the middle of every tile. And whenever I do a border, something’s going over it or under it or pushing it out.” With all of that going on, she also insists that each tile must be “confident and unified.”

Motawi’s high standards aren’t just the perfectionism of an artist; they’re also good business. “The company will live or die on the merits of the work. I can only make a living if people want to own our designs and pay their good money to have them.”

Fine Homebuilding Recommended Products

Fine Homebuilding receives a commission for items purchased through links on this site, including Amazon Associates and other affiliate advertising programs.

The New Carbon Architecture: Building to Cool the Climate

With this book, architect Bruce King changes the conversation around what it means to build a green home. Take everything you thought you knew about the topic, and just set it aside and let Bruce explain why embodied carbon trumps the rest of what is undoubtedly important.

Buy at Amazon

Graphic Guide to Frame Construction

Now in it’s 5th edition, Rob Thallon’s book for builders has been a go-to resource for decades. This book features clear graphics that will help you understand how nearly all American houses are — or should be — built.

Buy at Amazon

All New Bathroom Ideas that Work

Everyone wants their bathrooms to be beautiful, but few know the challenge of arranging all the fixtures, storage, and convenience of a great bathroom into one of the smallest space in our homes. This book has hundreds of ideas to inspire you.

Buy at Amazon