Spicing up walls, ceilings, and floors around the world for more than 4,000 years, mosaic art is one of the most ancient forms of interior decoration. Yet somehow, these intricate designs are still being revered as “trendy” and “avant-garde” by many of today’s most respected contemporary designers. So what’s all the fuss?
Virginia Gardner, a mosaic artist in Charlottesville, VA, says mosaics can “animate a surface by creating an energy and flow.” She adds, “The combination of diverse colors or materials can really make a surface move.” Gardner’s main objective with her work is to combine the functional and non-functional aspects of mosaic art by taking a sound object (i.e. a bowl, vase, or piece of furniture) and transforming it into a work of art. “Functional artwork is a trend, not only in mosaics but in many arts,” she says. “Contemporary mosaics are no longer a ‘craft.’ We take materials from outside, bring them inside, and elevate them to fine art.”
Large-scale Mosaics
In addition to two-dimensional art and decorative accents, a growing trend with interior designers is whole-wall mosaic installations. Until recently, such large-scale designs were hard to come by, especially in homes.
“Before the advent of globalization, installing a large mosaic into a personal home was highly costly and inconvenient,” says Betty Sullivan, president and owner of Architectural Ceramics. “Supplies were neither affordable nor easily accessible, and each tile would have to be hand-clipped and set into the pattern on site.” Today, however, it is more common to find entire walls, floors, showers, pools, even whole rooms covered in mosaics.
Another trend Sullivan identifies is the use of monochromatic glass mosaics, including recycled glass and “float glass,” a clear glass tile with a ceramic glaze painted on the back for color. She specifically recommends this design trend for pools and bathrooms, adding, “Using one color creates a sleek look that brings a peaceful, soothing element to a bathing area.”
But glass is by no means the only option. Stone mosaics are also quite popular and come in a variety of finishes, including polished, honed, and tumbled. A particularly versatile material, stone is ideal for both artistic accents and more functional installations such as heavy-traffic floor areas.
Other useful materials include metal, porcelain, clay, and jasper. Gardner, who has traveled extensively in search of new materials for her mosaics, has admitted to using “broken plates, precious stones, and even raccoon teeth” in her recent work. “You’ll find more and more natural materials in contemporary mosaic design,” she says.
Regardless of material, color or size, mosaics offer a unique, exciting way to express literal and abstract images. They bring a textural quality to an installation that uniform tiles cannot. Following are a few tips from prominent mosaic designers on how to use them effectively in your home.
Tips From the Pros
Consider wear and tear. While stone is sturdy enough for a heavily used area of the floor or counter, glass and metal should be reserved for walls and backsplashes.
Allow for movement of glass with fluctuations in temperature. Glass expands and contracts based on heat and cold. When decorating a fireplace or steam shower with a mosaic, make sure to leave two inches for caulk around the perimeter.
Experiment with mixing finishes. “Glass mosaics come in gloss or matte finishes, stone can be polished, honed or tumbled, and most materials can be ordered split-faced or with a variety of textural options,” says Dee Dee Gundberg, senior designer at Ann Sacks.
“Don’t use more than four colors in a blend,” Sullivan says. Too many colors can wash out the whole design, whereas a single color or combination of similar colors makes for a sleeker, more understated effect.
Backsplashes and other accent areas are cost-effective places to incorporate mosaics into your home. Bigger isn’t always better – a mosaic element can liven up a room as easily as a whole wall.
