thanks @creativetruth, interesting to hear about your playground fireplace which is certainly a valid way to enjoy that space too! I grew up in a house from the 1720s and there was one of those giant walk-in fireplaces with a bread oven and such. It was big enough to have a fire with a screen AND play in front of it safely.

And to answer your question, yes I often use the raw clay as a design element. For example, the photo above with the 4 white tiles called "4" Landscapes in white" - well the orangish color is raw clay without glaze and the reflection of the minerals during firing makes it amber colored.