Episode 177

177: Handmade, Heart-Led, and Carbon Neutral: Fireclay’s Commitment to Conscious Craft

Published on: 27th May, 2025

What happens when a love for art, sustainability, and soulful living collide? You get Caitlyn Child—and her work with Fireclay Tile is proof that design can be radically beautiful and rooted in deep intention.

Today’s guest is Caitlyn Child, the Vice President of Sales at Fireclay Tile, a certified B-Corp and pioneer in handmade, sustainability-focused tile. But Caitlyn isn’t just in sales—she’s in the business of storytelling through space. And she’s here to show us how thoughtful materials, slow design, and a passion for people can transform more than just a home… they can shift the way we live and connect.

How Caitlyn Turned Her Creative Roots Into a Purpose-Led Career

From antique-hunting childhoods to art history studies to a decade in social work (!), Caitlyn’s journey wasn’t linear—but it was aligned. She eventually found her way to Fireclay after studying architecture and falling in love with the tactile, earthy nature of clay.

Now, she’s helping lead a company that’s redefining what it means to build sustainably in a waste-heavy industry.

Why Fireclay Isn’t Just Another Tile Company

When we say Fireclay is doing things differently, we mean it. This isn’t just another trendy brand trying to ride the green wave. They were the first tile company to use lead-free glazes back in 1986, and they’ve stayed true to their roots ever since. Every single tile is handmade to order in California and Washington, using domestically sourced minerals, recycled water, and reclaimed materials.

They’re not just carbon-neutral—they’re designing beauty from the ground up with intention, artistry, and innovation.

What Makes Handmade Tile So Magical

Caitlyn walked me through all the nuances that make handmade tile special—from natural variation in oxides to the way light hits a glaze. You can literally feel the difference. Their tiles tell a story: of mineral-rich soil, of skilled hands, of conscious choices.

We talk about the emotional, artistic, and even spiritual connection people have with materials that come from the Earth. And how Fireclay partners with designers to translate that energy into custom, intentional work.

When Design Becomes a Healing Practice

This episode isn’t just about tile—it’s about the people behind the spaces. Caitlyn shares how Fireclay is empowering its reps and collaborators to create community-led events that are as soulful as they are strategic. And it’s why I’m SO thrilled to be part of their upcoming Summer Solstice Gathering at their Costa Mesa showroom.

This isn’t another salesy mixer. It’s a nourishing, heart-centered celebration of creativity, connection, and ritual. Expect astrology, tarot, design inspiration, and real talk about how to support your clients not just aesthetically—but energetically.

Why This Conversation Matters

In a time where the building industry often prioritizes speed and scale, this episode is a grounding reminder that slowness, integrity, and beauty still matter. Fireclay is proof that innovation doesn’t have to mean cutting corners—it can mean digging deeper.

Whether you’re a designer, a homeowner, or just someone who wants to bring more intention into your spaces, this episode will inspire you to think about materials—and relationships—in a whole new way.

Highlights We Cover:

  • Caitlyn’s path from social work to sustainable tile
  • Why Fireclay puts people and planet over profit (and still thrives)
  • How handmade tile becomes a tool for storytelling and legacy
  • Why community and creativity are at the heart of their business model
  • What to expect from the Summer Solstice Gathering in Costa Mesa

Come Join Us!

Summer Solstice Event

Fireclay Showroom, Costa Mesa, CA

Thursday, June 13 | 4–7pm

Astrology, tarot, sacred intention setting, community connection, and so much more.

RSVP Here

Connect with Caitlyn + Fireclay

👉 fireclaytile.com

👉 @fireclaytile on Instagram, TikTok, Pinterest, YouTube, and Facebook

One Last Thing…

At the very end of our chat, I asked Caitlyn what she does to stay grounded—and her answer gave me chills. From daily meditation to sending one heartfelt message to someone every day, her practice is a beautiful reminder that presence is power.

Whether it’s a tile, a text, or a ritual, we all have the ability to infuse our lives with more meaning. I hope this conversation inspires you to do just that.

My Best,

Rachel

All Episodes Previous Episode
Show artwork for Holistic Interior Design Podcast

About the Podcast

Holistic Interior Design Podcast
Designing with Intention promoting health and well-being.
Welcome to The Holistic Interior Design Podcast — where your space becomes a tool for healing, alignment, and beauty.

I’m Rachel Larraine Crawford, your host, guide and interior designer. I work with conscious homeowners, wellness practitioners, and boutique hospitality brands to create intentional spaces that feel as good as they look.

This podcast is an invitation to get to know me, my process, and what it really means to design from a place of energy, emotion, and soul. Whether you’re redesigning your home, refreshing your business, or just craving more clarity and connection in your environment, you’re in the right place.

Each week, I share raw, unedited episodes full of:
Energy-shifting design tips rooted in Feng Shui and intuition
Rituals and seasonal inspiration for your home or business
Real-life design audits and answers to your questions
Behind-the-scenes insights into my holistic design work

This podcast is interactive — I want to hear from you. Submit your design dilemma or question, and it might be featured on the show at speakpipe.com/hid

Whether you're holding space for yourself or for your guests, this is where beauty, purpose, and energy meet.
Ready to design a space that reflects who you truly are — and supports who you’re becoming? Let’s begin.
Support This Show

About your host

Profile picture for Rachel Crawford

Rachel Crawford

Rachel is a Mystic, Reiki Master, Tarot Reader, Feng Shui Practitioner, Energy Healer, and Holistic Interior Designer, whose intimate connection to her intuition and ancestral roots enabled her to rise above a challenging childhood and blossom into the powerful and impassioned healer she is today.

Committed to empowering others by teaching modalities that support connection to intuition, Rachel hosts workshops and retreats focused on the ancient practices of Feng Shui, Tarot, crystals, herbs and oils, ritual and ceremony, astrology and metaphysics — in addition to live and virtual new moon and full moon circles.

Rachel also lends her harmonious and balancing acumen to the creation of energetically aligned spaces through Holistic Interior Design. Since earning her Associates Degree and Certificate in Interior Design 2005, she has created and collaborated on a multitude of award-winning residential and commercial spaces, including Realm of the 52 Remedies (with Onairos Design), all while becoming certified in Classical Flying Stars Feng Shui through the International School of Feng Shui (2015), studying the practices of Land Healing, Ritual, and Ceremony under Amanda Sophia & Alex Stark in Ireland, and with "House Whisperer," Christian Kyriacou.
Rachel's work has been featured in several exhibitions, including KAABOO, a music, comedy, culinary and art festival held in Del Mar, CA, where as part of an experiential art installation by Carly Ealey and Madeleine Tonzi, she created a crystal grid below the piece, clearing the participating auras before entering the installation. Her designs have been published in San Diego Home/Garden Lifestyles, Modern Luxury Magazine, San Diego Magazine, Exquisite Weddings, Style & Decor and Serendipity Magazine.

You may also connect with Rachel on a regular basis through Patreon, where she is is creating Mystical Rituals and Sacred Spaces, providing Tarot Readings, and nurturing spiritual connections.

Her Interior Design Projects can be found here Tigerveil.com