Our Story: From a Crumbling Mill to a Handmade Tile Legacy

Inglenook Tile Design was born not in a factory, but in a forgotten piece of Pennsylvania history — a centuries-old woolen mill nestled in the heart of Lancaster County. When founder Julie Good-Kruger first discovered the mill, it was condemned and collapsing, with the front wall crumbling and windows shattered. But behind the ruin, she saw potential: a historic home full of stories, waiting to be restored.

Originally built in 1777 as a hemp mill and later converted to a woolen mill in the late 1790s, the building once played a vital role in early American industry — producing fabric for sails (for the Philadelphia ship-building industry) and Conestoga wagons for settlers heading west. Inspired by that deep sense of history, Julie set out to preserve the spirit of the space while transforming it into her family’s home.

During the renovation, she searched for brick flooring that would match the home’s 18th-century charm. But everything on the market fell short — concrete imitations looked cheap, and salvaged bricks were too thick, fragile, uneven, and dirty for indoor use, especially with utilities under the floor.

With a background in ceramics and a desire for something authentic, Julie took matters into her own hands. She created molds from antique bricks and began crafting her own thin brick tiles — first for the front hall, then for the fireplace, the mudroom, the outdoor terrace, and beyond. The tiles quickly became more than a personal project.

Friends and neighbors began to ask about them, drawn to their character, strength, and historical look. Julie’s artisan approach, rooted in heritage and hands-on craftsmanship, formed the foundation of what is now Inglenook Tile Design.

Today, our tiles are still made by hand in Pennsylvania. Each batch begins with raw clay and ends with a piece of timeless beauty — finished with care, and shipped across the country. From our family home to yours, every tile tells a story.