Up in Michigan, Down to Earth: A Nature-Inspired Fireplace
A Garden In Glaze: The decorative tile panel is the 6x6 Flora series in the Ivy colorway, and main body of the fireplace is glazed in coordinating Ivy 5213. In the hearth, a classic clipped corners pattern creates a “hearth rug” in Bone 5000 and Ink 5157.
When Judy Parrott began designing her English-style cottage in Boyne City, Michigan, she already knew one thing for certain: her fireplace would be adorned with Motawi tile. “I knew about Motawi from my time working at the University of Michigan,” she says. “When it came time to build the house, I went straight to the Gallery to look.”
But her first encounter with Motawi came years earlier, in a friend’s historic home in Rosedale Park, a historic district in Detroit. “They had renovated the kitchen and used the tiles to compliment the Arts and Crafts interior, and I remember thinking, ‘These tiles are different. They have soul,’” Judy recalls. “It stuck with me.”
Now, nestled in a one-story home with sprawling windows and an open-concept layout, Judy’s fireplace sits at the heart of it all. “It’s really the center of the house,” she explains. “Everything flows around it—the kitchen, the great room—and that’s where people naturally gather.”
But this fireplace is more than just a visual centerpiece. It’s a labor of love, crafted by Judy and her son, who also served as the builder. “He helped me design the whole wall,” Judy says. “The fireplace, the mantle, and the built-in bookshelves—it’s all one unit, and it fits perfectly.” The oak mantle is seamlessly tied into the tile design. “We made sure it felt unified—like it belonged together.”
Why Motawi Was the Perfect Fit
Judy’s love of handcrafted tile goes beyond aesthetics. “There’s something about handmade,” she says. “The texture, the detail—and the fact that it’s local? That sealed it.” And Motawi’s use of color played a huge role in her decision. “I don’t like gray,” she says. “I like a little color—green, especially. Green is nature’s neutral. That richness, that warmth—Motawi gets that.”
“Green is nature’s neutral. That richness, that warmth—Motawi gets that.”
To bring her vision to life, Judy worked closely with Motawi designer Jessica Pruss. “Jessica was wonderful,” she says. “She sent me several design concepts, and we ended up combining a few to get just the right balance.” Judy’s initial idea was for a floral motif that trailed across the top and down the sides. “But once I saw it mocked up, it felt a little busy,” she recalls. “So we adjusted the design—a more detailed band across the top and a simpler threshold. It turned out exactly right.”
Design with Meaning
Judy describes her aesthetic as a kind of elevated Arts and Crafts—rooted in nature, full of history, but never too heavy. A longtime admirer of William Morris, one of the founders of the Arts and Crafts movement in England, Judy surrounds herself with pieces that echo his philosophy of beauty and function. “I’m even working on a needlepoint piece in a William Morris pattern to cover a chair in my library,” she says. “That kind of timeless design—Motawi fits right into that world.”
Living with the fireplace now, she finds that it brings warmth year-round—figuratively and literally. “Even in summer, it adds something special to the room,” Judy says. “And in winter? My cat sits in front of it every morning until someone turns it on.”
Guests can’t help but notice it either. Whether entering through the front door or the sun-drenched veranda, their eyes are immediately drawn to the tilework. “Everyone comments on it,” she says. “It’s the first thing people see. And it sets the tone—it tells you something about this home.”
Judy’s space is a blend of Arts and Crafts elegance and personal history. The room houses not just her treasured fireplace but also Audubon prints, heirlooms like her grandfather’s Stickley rocking chair, and subtle nods to her last name—Parrott—which often leads to gifted bird-themed décor. “It’s all part of the story,” she says. “This home is about nature, family, and craftsmanship.”
A Family Effort, Built to Last
For Judy, Motawi was more than just a tile company—it was a perfect fit. “From beginning to end, the experience was a joy,” she reflects. “Jessica really got what I was trying to do.”
As for her son’s involvement? That made it all the more meaningful. “He knew me well enough to say, ‘You’re going to want this detail, trust me,’” she says. “He helped make the space not just beautiful, but thoughtful.”
Now, when she looks at the fireplace, it’s not just tile and wood. It’s a memory. A collaboration. A celebration of place and artistry. And yes, a very happy cat.
