The Magic of Mosaic Tiles

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Each week Mansion Global tackles a topic with an elite group of designers from around the world who work on luxury properties. This week we look at how to create impact with mosaic tiles.

Mosaic tiles have an exotic feel that takes you on a faraway journey. Colors and patterns come together in kaleidoscopic effect, bringing dimension anywhere you put them. "Mosaic tiling can have a huge impact on a room's overall look or mood, whether it's used as an accent or a statement piece," said Elissa Morgante, co-principal of Morgante Wilson Architects, a residential architecture and interior design firm based in Evanston, Illinois.

"Just as a piece of jewelry can transform an outfit, tile is a finishing touch that can complete the design aesthetic and character by adding just the right amount of texture, color, movement and pattern," Ms. Morgante said.

The look and feel is only a matter of imagination. "Available in a range of colors and textures, and easily manipulated to create larger panoramas, mosaics infuse personality into interiors," said Katie Michael-Battaglia, design director, Nemo Tile + Stone with showrooms in New York, New Jersey and Pennsylvania. "Their smaller scale makes mosaics a particularly effective design tool; they can be utilized minimally as trim in a bathroom or kitchen space or as a large-scale art piece," Ms. Michael-Battaglia said.

To apply the art of mosaics throughout your interiors, follow these tips from the design pros.

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Get Creative

"While mosaic tile can be used in a larger format, it works especially well on an element you want to showcase, such as a fireplace surround or a backsplash.

"A bar backsplash is a great place to have fun with mosaic tile. It's a space where unique patterns can create a customized look. Mosaic tile can also add interest in a more utilitarian setting, too. We recently added a small-scale herringbone mosaic tile inlay to a mudroom floor. By using a contrasting grout color to set it off, the end result looked like a gorgeous fabric draped across the floor.

"When you’re doing an entire field of larger tile, whether on walls or floors, mosaic tile is a fantastic tool to add a pattern or incorporate different materials, colors and finishes. Oversized tile is having a moment right now due to its clean lines. As part of that look, we like to use mosaic tiles to break up expanses and introduce movement, texture and color.

"Another way to enhance the look is to play with grout choice. In addition to different colors that can either contrast or blend with the mosaic itself, grout is now available with some shimmer and sparkle for a bit of drama.

"Mosaic tiles are available in a range of sizes, from half-inch tiles to larger formats, and in a massive variety of stones, shapes and colors—plus with different accents like metal inserts. With so many options, it's never been easier to use tile to turn a simple space or surface into a ‘wow’ factor of a project."

— Elissa Morgante, co-principal of Morgante Wilson Architects, a residential architecture and interior design firm based in Evanston, Illinois

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Consider the Space

"Mosaics create texture that adds depth and dimension to a space. Overall, the material challenges the eye and provides a method for elevating a design scheme.

"Mosaics can find a home in just about any space. However, the style performs best when applied to the walls of bathrooms, kitchens and mudrooms. The tiles offer durability with an elevated aesthetic that's ideal for high-traffic spaces. Many like using mosaics in the shower for the extra grip and traction. That said, smaller tiles require more grout and are harder to clean, which makes the tiles better suited for wall applications.

"In the bathroom, an art wall can be created based on the theme of the space. Outside of the bathroom, artistic displays work as well. In a library, a tiled map or relevant scene is a great option. Using the material on a ceiling is also a fun way to think about mosaics differently and add visual interest to an often-forgotten part of a design scheme.

"Type and size of the tiles is most relevant, as it relates to cleanability. The same goes for how the tiles are set. The more grout shown, the harder the tile installation is to clean and maintain."

— Katie Michael-Battaglia, design director, Nemo Tile + Stone with showrooms in New York, New Jersey and Pennsylvania

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Tell a Story

"It's a wonderful surprise when you come across something historically rooted–like a mosaic—in contemporary interiors. I like to use mosaics where they have an interesting and often indirect relationship with light. I love the way light and shadow is cast across each tile, and the way the light cascades out, skipping across them. They’re beautiful placed near a skylight in a spa bathroom or a feature wall, or at the bottom of a sun-drenched pool.

"For a recent project at Residence 950, a residential building in San Francisco, we used metallic mosaics to lend an artful touch to the powder room. Our original inspiration was the moody elegance of a Parisian subway. High-gloss panels with exaggerated brush strokes line the walls of the space, and the backlit design adds to the hide-away feeling of an underground experience. Artful Parisian touches include high-gloss crown moldings, custom antiqued mirrored tiles, metallic rosettes at mirror seams and platinum glass mosaic tiles.

"Glass mosaic tiles are typically used for walls only, but since the powder room is a light-traffic area in the home, we used them for flooring. The tiles pull indirect light across the room and abstractly reflect through the antiqued mirror.

"The powder room isn't particularly large, so we opted for very small tiles to make it look as artful as possible. We used 9/16" x 9/16" Colibri Platinum Glass Mosaic Tiles by Sicis. By sticking with a single color, it allows the eye to move across the floor without distraction, making the room feel as expansive as possible."

— Gregory Malin, CEO and founder of Troon Pacific, a real estate development and investment management company based in San Francisco

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Consider the Type of Tile

"Mosaics are an ancient art form that enhance interiors and add a sprinkle of luxury. "For high traffic areas, we recommend using flat-grip glazed porcelain, a special matte finish applied to add extra slip resistance, which is also a necessity for pool areas. "Some creative surfaces include furniture and countertops—although the most popular applications we've seen are feature walls within the shower area and pool scapes. "

— Ashley Trap, Lead Surface Designer at Artaic, a company that designs and fabricates custom mosaic tile installations, based in Boston, Massachusetts

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