Brief:

Dear Gerrit

I have been looking for a perfect backsplash for the cooking area for over 2 years now until I came across your work by sheer luck!

I have a country kitchen from Slavin with cream/yellow toned cupboards and black tops. The stove area has cream/yellow cupboard at the top and bottom is grey. The oven below is silver. Backsplash area is approximately: 990x660. Opposite the stove area is a window with a very colourful roman blind (colour mix is yellow, pink, green, brown). Please see pictures.

The idea that I have is to have words that our kitchen invoke: Passion, Gratitude, Love, Joy, Good Health, Happiness, Family. I also like the drawings of herbs / farm animals. I don't know how we can combine all this in the space??? I've seen the brilliant work you have done for your clients on your website and was hoping you can assist me with the design.

I have attached the photographs of my kitchen.

I look forward to your response.

Kind regards
Gugu Dingaan

Gerrit: Good morning Gugu
Thank you for the enquiry - and yes we could most definitely provide you with options.
May I ask, how did you find our websites?

The first idea that came to mind is to combine the word with an image – and  to apply it on custom shaped tiles, not necessarily a square tile, but different sized “ovalish” tiles that are set into a field of rectangle metro shaped tiles – are you open to explore a môre progressive concept – never done before. Your kitchen will definitely take on a character of its own and define your attitude towards family and friends.  I attach an image of a recently completed kitchen with a circular tile, but yours could be several smaller and different sized and shaped inserts. I see that you like yellow – and will consider that as well. This kitchen used a off-white handmade tile but I shall suggest a warmer bone to a very light tone of a French yellow as background. The images could be an apple with health and an angel for love, nothing to over the top. This is not the cheapest option, but we could tone it down by using less words and images, but the layouts will make it easier and guide you with your final decision. Gillian will add her input as well.

The above option will cost a slight bid more than the normal metro tiles with words, but will surely be unique. A standard word, like the herb names on the site will cost approximately 4000 – 6000 Rand by estimation with the idea mentioned at the top from 6000 – 10 000, these are a rough estimate and once we do the layouts will I be able to accurately quote you. It will help if you will be so kind to confirm in what budget range we could design the back splash for you.

Let me know what budget range we could work with and I shall ask Gillian, my designer, to draw up an initial concept-layouts with options and with a quote for each.

Gugu: Thank you so much for your prompt response to my enquiry! I am interested in your initial idea of pairing the words with images. I want to work with a budget that does not exceed R5000.

You asked where I came across your work - it was in one of the home decor magazines, I think it was Conde nast?

I look forward to Gillian's initial concept layouts.

Gerrit: Hallo Gugu

I apologize for the late response – but we all had to jump Friday – a big opportunity for a new restaurant opening on the 10th of April in Jhb. – a BIG project with a lot of work!

Gillian provided these ideas in the meantime for you to comment on or choose. Please see her notes on Gugu Panel Options.

• Option 1 = R4250
• Option 2 = R6275
• Option 3 = R4950

Gugu: Thank you for the layouts from Gillian. I liked option 1 but with bright herbs as per option 3. I would like the background to be cream/ yellowish. I will send you a picture in a separate email from your website.

The words that I'd like to have are: Life, Family, Friends, Laughter, Joy, Gratitude. Please advise if there is a maximum number of words we can use so that I can think of more names"

Please see photo below. I would like the background tiles to be along these lines.

Gerrit: Thank you for the feedback.

Tile Format:

• These are hand pressed tiles in 100mm x 100mm format.
• The 150 x 75 can be done as well to have this textured effect.
• The question is: Do you refer to the 100 x 100mm square tiles and/or the textured effect?

Lay-outs:

• Do you fancy any of the lay-out options, and if so, which option or even parts of the options?
• The image with the textured tiles is from the Dollmann Kitchen for future reference.
• If you like the Dollmann lay-out we could replace two tiles with one 200 x 100mm tile for the words.
• Another option is to hand paint the words underneath the herbs – interesting to know is that some herbs actually relate to for example courage, passion, etc.

Gerrit: Gillian provided me with some new lay-outs.

• Be so kind to provide us with the three measurements and may be the horizontal bottom and top measurements as well.
• This lay-out is decoratively rich compared to the previous layouts, and will cost more than R6000, but for a delivery from mid April a price of R4950 will do.
• Please provide me with a physical delivery address for an express FedEx delivery or a postal address for a budget delivery via the post office.
• The tiles will be similar in colour and texture as seën in the Dolman kitchen.

Let me know if you want to change something.

Gerrit: Gillian reworked a calmer version by deleting a word. It is a complicated juggle to harmonize the images and words so that the letters fit the tiles properly and it takes a lot of time to find the best option, especially if many words and images come to play. I think the calmer version will be best?

The changes does not effect the price as it still comes in above R6000, but we are happy to go with any of these options at the price discussed. 

The tiles will be delivered with an installation brief and a numbered diagram which will correspond with the numbered tiles.

We shall produce the tiles to dry slowly once we receive the payment – during this drying time we could still adjust the lay-out if necessary.

Let us know in case we need to change anything else.

Gugu: It looks very nice now in terms of symmetry. I would just like to add two herbs in the middle column - below "family" and below "laughter". The herb I'd like added is the one with the orange flowers (it's the one below Passion in the previous layout) and thyme / lavender (it's the one below Health in the previous layout). I don't think we should add the name of herb on each tile.

Just to confirm, the width if the panel is 990cm.

Gerrit: Just a quick follow-up. Be so kind to note that payment confirms the order. At present your delivery will be approximately first or second week of May as we are now fully booked for April. Please confirm as May & June are filling up fast!

Gugu: I made the payment yesterday and bank should have sent you proof of payment (via email and fax).
Please recommend an installer from Johannesburg that I can use to put up the backsplash.

Gerrit: Your panel will leave with FedEx on Monday and will reach you by the end of next week. Please confirm contact tel. Nu. At this address.

I could source the following number for a contractot that could install your tiles and whom you can try to contact - Rade Jovic 0824125828. 

The tiles will be delivered numbered and corresponding with a diagram as well as a installation manual to guide the installer. As long as you use a reputable tiler, who will follow the manual – the process will be quick and easy with results that will flabbergast you and your guests!

Gugu: Hi Gerrit

The tiles are installed and they look absolutely lovely! See attached photos.

Thanks for everything!

Gugu means "treasure" or something you value. My full name is Gugulethu meaning "our treasure".

Gerrit: Thank you for the compliments Gugu!

If you have time – please send u's images with big file sizes 2mb. I could then improve on the quality of the images for our website, but with the small files it is very difficult. An image from far away will also be appreciated.

Enjoy your kitchen.