"Passion Vine Medallion," an original
design fabricated of unglazed porcelains with vitreous-lgass
accents, was installed in a simple tile field. The pictorial
element is surrounded by concentric border motifs, which could
be repeated at the floor perimeter.
|
Stock vs. Custom
Besides their catalog or sample-board display of border motifs,
some showrooms even offer ready-made or made-to-order pictorial
panels or medallions. Generally speaking, "What you see
is what you 'll get." For better and for worse, the need
to invent the mosaic component is thus reduced in the design
process. Showroom professionals can coordinate mosaic colors,
patterns, and sizes with other surfacing elements that they sell
and may recommend qualified installers. Expediency may recommend
this approach over an "a la carte" specification process.
However, an entirely unique and personal result awaits the
client or design professional who is ready for deeper involvement.
By engaging a mosaic artist 's talent, a design can be developed
collaboratively -- one that might hearken to historical antecedents,
yet incorporate the imaginative abilities of both artist and
client. The process may be more complex than buying "off
the shelf," but as with other kinds of custom services,
the greater investment can produce a greater reward. |
Applications
Mosaic floor treatments can be as simple as a narrow repeat border
motif outlining a stone-tile layout; a herringbone, checkerboard,
or other overall design gives a livelier effect. Repeat patterns
needn 't be confined to grids; curvilinear or floral motifs feel
more fluid. A scattering of flat, irregularly contoured colorful
stones within a field of smaller black or white "squarish"
tesserae is a beautiful and informal treatment -- and dates to
antiquity. In Greco-Roman times, it was commonplace to design
a large floor made up of numerous detailed figurative panels outlined
and connected by lavish border elements. Today 's tastes and budgets
favor simpler designs, and our figurative imagery is displayed
mostly on walls, although a dramatically placed pictorial floor
medallion can still "make" a room. Unless the client
wants a highly ornamented effect, it 's best to pair a "busy"
floor layout with a simpler wall treatment or vice versa. A bordered
mosaic composition of grape vines and birds on a wall, for example,
may be best complemented by a relatively subdued floor design.
Location, Location, Location
Some exceptional homes are surfaced throughout with stone or tile;
often, however, these surfaces are relegated to bath, kitchen,
pool, and other "wet" areas. As a mosaic artist, I often
campaign to "liberate" mosaics from their confinement
in the bathroom. Beyond their function as a durable surfacing
material, mosaics are dramatic design statements in any part of
the house, and I urge clients and design professionals to broaden
their imaginative horizons.
Budget concerns often restrict the scale of mosaic installations
specified in a home 's design. Achieving "the most bang for
the buck" is a frequent goal. I favor quality over quantity
and would prefer one lovely 5-x-3-ft. image instead of a 12-in.-wide
chain border running for miles throughout the home.
Examples
A fine mosaic "Oriental rug" can be installed in front
of the fireplace; it won 't be damaged by hot embers. A fireplace
facade is another confined, focused space where mosaics can work
within a restricted budget. Swimming pools and fountains, of course,
are obvious sites for mosaics. A traditional waterline border
in a wave motif will complement fanciful sea creatures. The new
or remodeled swimming pool doesn 't have to be entirely surfaced
in tile to incorporate mosaic inserts. Stock or custom mosaic
elements can be installed after the pool has been thoroughly cleaned
and/or repaired and prior to final plastering. Alternatively,
custom-made mosaic inserts can be merged into grid-mounted sheet
material for an all-tile pool.
A well-lit niche that will naturally be a focus of attention
in the client 's "traffic pattern" makes a good choice
for a custom pictorial panel. Whether this spot is located near
a pool or bar, where a water feature might be combined, or in
a living room alcove, it should be placed where it will be enjoyed
at leisure.
"Slippery when wet" considerations caution against
using vitreous glass on a bathroom, kitchen or entryway floor.
Even polished stone presents a hazard in these locations, although
the myriad grout lines provide some anti-skid traction. Smalti
are usually too sharp for "barefoot" locations and are
best used on walls.