The best I can do is use the different color pencil they sent me or miter the tile, because I have no useable trim.

Or use the different color bullnose.

It’s all beautiful but boy they don’t seem to be correct.

Wow, nowhere near a match

Wow, what a mess. Could you use the field tiles with a different Schluter type of jolly or rondec trim?

Send it all back and look at Sonoma, crackle field tile..with matching trim. Beautiful, consistent and lots of color.

https://sonomatilemakers.com/stellar/#decorative-field

Schutler is an option but can’t use the metal type in my original 1943 traditional kitchen. It wouldn’t look right. Maybe a colored one similar to my field tile. I’m currently trying to find some field tile that is somewhat close to the pencil, the bullnose is out of the question because the drastic color change will definitely be noticeable.

Mind you this was all supposed to be the same color and were fired together. Hot mess is right.

They will not take the tile back. They stated it’s my order and can’t do anything with it. They attempted to make it right, and it was worse.

Why no get the pencil in another color? You can do something subtle, that looks intentional.

another color I have and it does not look good to me. I have white from the company and a wrong taupe grey color from the tile store. i also do not like the Schutler. I just asked my tile guy what can be done.

They won’t take it back? After seeing the photos? That’s surprising. I get that it’s handmade tile but the ‘natural variation’ should be consistent across boxes and shapes. These look like seconds... each individual box is fine...

I guess if you own it the edge tile is the most off, can you use the field tile and mix it in a way that is pleasing? I would use the smallest white schluter- it really disappears when installed.

No, I don’t have enough of the field tile that matches the trim. The only sent me two boxes that come close. There is no mixing and matching, I tried. It’s just too different from the rest. I’m waiting on my tiler to let me know what he can do with miter cuts. The only other thing is to get the Schutler, which is too modern for my kitchen.

I just got the last order last night at 8pm. They haven’t responded yet, but there isn’t much that can be done since they can’t get it right. They wouldn’t take the last back either, just remade my order, which was worse than the first. I sent them samples from each box of field tile and they still couldn’t match the color that is suppose to be the same.

What about getting a piece of wood trim and painting it close to the color of tile?

I would discard the bullnose as it doesn’t match. Is there enough of the field tile that matches well enough to do the whole project? I would not use the schluter rondex, I would use jolly. I know you feel it is too modern but it will disappear while I fear painted wood will scream ‘oops’.

I would try again on a return though showing them the new photos.

Yes, the original order was fine, except for the trim they sent, so I have enough field tile with that. The only thing wrong was the trim pieces which they consistently produce in a bright off white that’s doest match their magnolia color.

The replacement order includes two boxes of med grey solid tile, that’s even darker than the original and the same bright off white as the original trim. Almost like they sent me the same trim back. Did someone forget to stir the pot before they fired this off?

You need to talk to someone with more authority than the person you talked to....escalate this.

no way I would accept a “no”. I would not use that tile nor would I make do.

Thanks I will escalate the issue Monday. I’ve only talked with a sales associate that promised to make it right. I’ll look at the jolly again, but the straight edge trim for my the top of my low tiles traditional kitchen was not what I was wanting. My timer states he can bevel the tile. I’m not sure what that is going to look like but most likely just a straight edge.

The company responded stated it’s very rare for two orders to be messed up for one customer. They seem to be willing to do something, but for some reason I do not believe they are able to recreate the magnolia color at this time in trim or field tile. Went back and picked up a textured jolly in a similar color. This seems to be the best solution, unless my tiler’s bevel job is more traditional.

Has your tiler seen the tile? It’s easy enough to bevel natural stone but a ceramic tile just exposes the white clay center... have him make one to show you before you go this route.

Glad fireclay is responding on a weekend- that’s promising. Minimally they should credit you the bullnose tiles.

Agreed. I like the roundness of the rodec, but they didn’t have the color I needed in store. I’ll order online I guess.

I was planning to go higher previously but the clean edge of jolly looks better flush with good. I order the rodec as well to see.

I'm so sorry this happened to you, and hope that they make good on your order.

I hope you find a resolution you’re satisfied with. Your kitchen is going to look beautiful. I love your counter choices and your cabinets are a great color.

Wow! I use Fireclay a lot in my projects but I've never seen a variation that dramatically different. Those are definitely two different colors, not "shades" of the same color, IMO.

I would definitely escalate this. Your photos are pretty hard to argue with.

Thanks all. I’ve heard only good things about this company here and that’s why I used them. This might be a recent QA issue from COVID, who knows. Now that I’m looking at the jolly up on the wall, flush with hood, this might actually be better than all my other idea with trim just above it. Hmm

My only concern is the jolly creates a bigger gap than 1/16 spacers I’m going to use. Is this an issue?

I don’t think 1/16” is a big enough space/grout line with handmade tiles. I used 1/8” and honestly it should have been bigger for the best look.

Hi, Steph-- Thank you for bringing this to our attention. We absolutely understand your frustration and are committed to making sure you are happy with your order. A small percentage (~1%) of our customers experience challenges with color variation, which is at the low end for handmade artisan tile. We take all feedback seriously. Our Head of Support reached out to you over the weekend and we look forward to helping you finish your project :-)

Update: Someone at Fireclay reached out explained the current issue with this color. Magnolia is transparent color effected by the type of clay used to produce the tile. The trim on my original order was used from a different lot of clay. The clay they used to fire my field tile no longer exists, so that pretty much changes what is expected or tolerated for this color. They stated that this is not a issue with most colors, just the transparent produced glazed.

From Fire Clay: Magnolia is a transparent glaze applied on top of a white "primer" we call engobe. White, transparent glazes can exhibit more variation not because of the actual glaze but because of the color of the clay. We believe that the glaze is not the issue, it was the color of the clay and the raw materials that fired differently resulting in different "canvases". Unfortunately, sometimes that clay body color is so slight that it isn't obvious from the naked eye until color is applied to it. Your experience helped highlight some critical steps that our team needs to take to ensure customer satisfaction going forward.

Fireclay graciously provided options moving forward, but as it stands, that color is pretty much done. Hopefully they will update the samples going out and promo pics online. Cle tile has the same issue explained with special limited edition firings. That, it really doesn’t explain the QA issue I experienced.

Hi again, Steph - Glad you were able to connect with our Head of Support on the phone today. We stand behind every product and every order with our Maker's Guarantee which promises that if it's not right, we will make it right. We want your tile to be the most beautiful thing in your home and to last forever!

We look forward to hearing back from you on your decision of how you'd like to move forward. We are happy to refund you for your trim if you decide to keep the field tile and use a Schluter trim, or remake your entire order for you in an alternate color of your choice (lead time expedited of course!). And yes - to answer your question, we QA the order as a whole by pulling tile from different boxes. Thank you again for your feedback.

Ah! That would explain it. Good that you got an answer.

I took the liberty of looking up their spec sheet online which indicates their color variation scale. Magnolia (the color you ordered) is a V3, which means it's roughly somewhere in the middle of color variation from least to most. Regardless, they appear to be willing to make this right, so you should take them up on it.

I'm sure these COVID times has put a wrench into the production works--I know I'm having production issues in general with varying manufacturers. Not an excuse, but I've found my clients to be fairly flexible under the circumstances. Good luck!

Wow! Shocking color variation. Glad to hear they're going to help you out. So frustrating to lose time and effort on stuff like this. I've never had a problem with FireClay -- we love and use their tile often. Waterworks, however a different story -- complete nightmare.

I just received my 2nd replacement/third order with Fireclay. I had to pick another color because of the recent color changes with my original choice, which was Magnolia (explanation on the reasons for the change above). After I was having difficulty choosing, a Fireclay Designer helped me pick another color, which was Frost. This is another translucent color which I was worried about.

I was warned that the color varies and might lean more grey than the sample, but it actually leaned away from grey. The sales person I was working with, went out of her way to check the order before shipping it out, and from what I could tell in pics it was good. It’s definitely different from the sample which worked better with my sage green cabinets.

I made a sample board with oyster gray grout. I’m thinking just install it and be done with it. It’s super white and not what I was going for. The sample is creamy off white grey.

On the positive side, this shade works better with my trim color and it’s probably better to go with a light shade for resale value. I will definitely paint my two uppers sage green to

tone all the white down.

Frost left, magnolia right

Here’s a shot on the back wall that gets less light. Magnolia left, frost right.

Throw out the magnolia sample, you are torturing yourself ;) The new tile is very pretty if a bit white. I know you’ve had a long road. As you said it does match the trim. On that, your door casings are crazy- Art Deco? Looks like it is going to be great.

Thank you, built in 1943, in a traditional New Orleans neighborhood. Nothing in this room has been painted yet, but I already started painting three other rooms with a specific trim color. Fireclay did a great job matching the new trim to field tile. I understand there would be variation between the sample and production. So the sample I posted is Frost, not Magnolia and it’s different from its own sample. I have two mock-ups, one magnolia and the other frost.

The sample is actually Frost, which Is supposedly the color that I received. The order was again different than expectations, but this handmade so I should just be happy they were so flexible and produced a good order. It’s still useable and close, but am a bit disappointed because the Frost sample is better than what I got. I do like how it brightens my kitchen. Sorry no electricity currently, post ZETA.

I have tile in my kitchen that had no bullnose option. We used a Schluter that matches the wall paint. Looks fine.

In one bathroom we had the same issue. Didn't bother with Schluter but painted the raw edge with latex satin wall paint. 15 years on, no problem.

Update. I installed the 4x8 tile in frost, which Fireclay sent me. Frost is also crackled, but with little variation and the trim came out perfect this time with this color. Walls have not been painted yet.

Following. Love the 4x8

Thanks, it’s a lot of white I know, but Fireclay didn’t have anything between Frost and magnolia.

Love it. Looks great. My dd is building. plan to share this with her.

Here’s the other side. Trim and walls needs paint. That’s next.

Still deciding on window treatments

The tile looks great! This has been a long process for you, I bet you’re relieved to finally have it done.

Absolutely. Wall and trim color picked as well. Just need to start working on it. It’s not the run of the mill color choices, but I live in New Orleans, so it sort of fits.

It looks good and ties in with the color of the island counter.