The new generation of mosaic

Forget your basic, run-of-the-mill tile. An increasing number of creative and adventurous renovators are exploring the beauty of the ancient mosaic tile, and giving it new life in a contemporary environment – their homes.

Dating back to ancient Greece, mosaic tiles were originally used for practical purposes; mainly to pave floors and footpaths. Later mosaics evolved into a more decorative medium for creating beautiful design, with artisans fitting together like a jigsaw, pebbles and fragments of mirror, stone and glass to form beautiful artworks. Today, we use mosaic tiles for both practical and decorative purposes, in both commercial and residential areas, with increasing creativity and daring.

Photo: Mosaico Digitale

When selecting mosaic tiles, consider that your choice of tiles and design will be the main feature of your room. “Most mosaics command instant wow factor!” agrees Damian Corney, Managing Director of Melbourne design company Grafico, and exclusive Australian stockist of innovative Italian mosaic design firm Mosaico Digitale. Unlike tiles of old, these new generation mosaics are high-tech and lightweight than their predecessors, making them more versatile and user-friendly. “Don’t fret too much about the image or pattern choice,” he says. “Remember, these days although the bathroom is an expensive room to renovate, using light-weight mosaics will mean should you decide to change your mind years down the track, you won’t need to get the jack hammer out and ruin the rest of the room.”

Photo: Mosaico Digitale

Although mosaic tiles are traditionally used in wet areas, such as bathrooms, Corney says no space or room is off-limits, when it comes to designing tiled spaces. “If you look at Europe or the Middle East, tiles especially mosaics, are used throughout the home to create texture and interest, almost as an alternative to an artwork,” he says. Consider using mosaics to create and define specific areas in an open-plan home, or form the focal point of a room. “We have installed (mosaic tiled installations) in all sorts of areas, from living rooms, kitchens, bars and even swimming pools and water features!” he says. “Australians are starting to ‘think outside the box’ in terms of tiling, especially mosaics, so the old adage that mosaics are daggy is certainly not the case.”

Photo: Mosaico Digitale

The colour grout you choose will make a strong impact on your end result. Try offsetting your tile with a contrasting colour, or match the grout to your tile for a minimal look. “Grout colour can transform the look and feel of a mosaic,” says Damian. “We have installed the same image in different spaces using different coloured grouts and the look can totally change.” Although Corney says that charcoal grey grout is one of the most popular choices, white should also be considered. “Many Australians consider white-grouted mosaics to be a potential cleaning and maintenance issue. These days, the technology with grout is excellent and various Italian companies have impermeable grouts which are very simple to clean, and additionally there are some great grout sealers available now.”

Photo: Mosaico Digitale