Mosaic has been one of the principal and most ancient solutions for wet areas since the earliest times. In today’s homes, a new generation of tiles reflecting the beauty of mosaic is becoming increasingly popular.
Mosaic is a versatile application that brings movement to the simple appearance of kitchens and bathrooms, signalling a particular theme through different patterns. An ancient decorative art with a history stretching back 4,000 years, mosaic is believed to have originated in Mesopotamia. Artists of that era used a range of materials, including glass, seashells, ivory and pebbles.
Often depicting the household’s emblem, its owners, domestic scenes, gods, animals and geometric shapes, mosaic became an art that conferred status on its surroundings. In this practice, which extended from ancient Rome to Syria, large floors such as courtyards, halls and the centres of bathhouses were favoured, while mosaics were sometimes used to create detailed wall pictures.
Maintaining its prestigious position among preferred finishes to this day, mosaic still features on many people’s kitchen and bathroom mood boards. Made from a wealth of materials ranging from travertine and marble to pebbles, glass, metal and porcelain, mosaics create a focal point by bringing different colours together, adding both style and the value of craftsmanship to a space.
Today’s brands apply mosaic effects to larger tiles, bringing movement to small spaces in particular. These tiles can be used as a decorative border to complement large tiles and create unique combinations.
Mosaics are especially recommended for areas such as showers and worktops that need to be distinguished from the rest of the room and given clear boundaries. They can create splashbacks and add depth between surfaces. Glass-mosaic-effect tiles also make it easy to amplify light by reflecting it to different points in the room. Their non-porous nature makes these tiles resistant to mould, while they also resist chemicals and are easy to clean.
Another advantage of mosaic-effect tiles is their ease of installation. Mosaics are pre-bonded to mesh sheets that can be cut to fit the area being tiled. Their individual lines allow them to take shape more easily than standard tiles. This brings us to sustainability. Glass mosaic tiles are an environmentally sustainable material because their production requires far less energy than other traditional wall and floor materials. If one piece is damaged, only that section needs to be removed and replaced with a matching piece, eliminating unnecessary consumption.
Let us begin with Atria from the Formart collection, part of the Çanakkale Seramik family, one of the leading names in ceramics. Inspired by colours drawn from traditional Turkish tiles, this series’ pentagonal tiles not only create an accent but also offer the design flexibility of mosaic. The brand’s Alegra series also offers two pentagonal colour options: white-grey mix and beige-brown mix decorative tiles, both with a mosaic effect.
The Piano decorative tiles in the brand’s Senfoni collection create a mosaic effect with segmented patterns in grey, white and anthracite. Those seeking a mosaic effect in black and white can explore the geometric decorations in Çanakkale Seramik’s Natte series, or the matt and gloss decorative tiles in its Millenium series. Blending classic and modern styles, the cream and bronze tiles in the İpek series offer a mosaic interpretation of traditional tiles, while its quilted cream and bronze decorations provide a simple yet lustrous mosaic effect.
