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Here you will learn about mosaic tiles for kitchen aprons, its general properties, and color palette. And also about possible combinations and materials for manufacturing.
Glass aprons
Glass mosaics are traditional and have a centuries-old history. Finds of glass mosaics are known in Ancient Egypt, Mesopotamia and Mesopotamia.
Glass plays with bright colors in natural and electric light. The smooth surface is simply wiped with a cloth. The color spectrum is wide and allows you to create various designs and ornaments.
Glass can be simple, smalt, with the addition of minerals, or mother-of-pearl.
- The homogeneous looks like smooth, even fragments, polished by sea waves.
- Smalt is fired glass with the addition of metal oxides, which give different shades to the material. The endurance of materials with metal additives increases significantly.
- The minerals aragonite and calcium carbonate create a dense material that is stronger than simple glass.
- Mother-of-pearl can be natural river or sea mother-of-pearl, coated with aventurine of different colors. The peculiarity of mother-of-pearl is its iridescence and versatility of shades from different viewing angles.
Ceramic elements
Ceramic tiles imitating a mosaic pattern are one of the most common and practical options for wall decoration in the kitchen. The surface of ceramic tiles can be matte, glossy, smooth, or rough.
Ceramics are durable and can withstand changes in temperature and humidity. She is not demanding in care. Easily wiped with a damp cloth.
Who is for aesthetics and practicality?
Aesthetics:
- The panel will give the work area expressiveness, originality, and zest.
- Mosaic decor sometimes becomes the main accent in design.
- Perfectly complements a single color palette.
- Fantasy, imagination, creativity will make up the picture.
Abstract panel - original, a highlight in the decor
Practicality:
- Easy to install even on uneven walls.
- Does not fade over time and does not lose its elegant appearance.
The perfect harmony of the entire room is felt in a single color tone
Advantages:
- Uniqueness. It is possible to create pictures from fragments that cannot be repeated.
- Range. Choice of colors, shapes, textures to suit every taste.
- Covering any surface – even uneven ones.
- Resistant to moisture, dirt, grease, ultraviolet radiation, and temperature changes.
- Ease of maintenance. The tiles wash wonderfully.
Tip There are ready-made sets available for sale that form a variety of images that are in harmony with the design of the room.
You can use a mosaic to lay out an exclusive picture based on your own individual project
Stone mosaic
Stone mosaic is an expensive type of decoration. Especially when using marble, travertine, topaz. However, plain stone veneer or individual stones are affordable. The stones have a porous texture, so they require a special coating that prevents the destruction of the material.
The stones are glued entirely onto the base, creating plates with a unique pattern. Natural stones are usually cut into identical fragments and glued onto a flat surface, filling the voids with grout.
Porcelain stoneware options
Porcelain stoneware is a modern material that is inferior to natural coatings in color saturation and glossiness. However, it clearly surpasses other natural decors in terms of durability and technological capabilities.
A huge number of designs, colors, and configurations of individual elements are produced. Porcelain tiles are more expensive than ceramic tiles, but cheaper than mosaics made from natural stones.
Color solutions
There are really many options regarding the choice of mosaic color. The color range is almost unlimited. Most often, monochromatic or mixed colors are chosen from various shades of the same color.
The design can be either bright or classic, restrained. Any color, even gray, takes on a new look thanks to the glow and reflection of light. Therefore, you need to choose a color depending on the overall style of the room.
Metal as a coating for mosaics
Metal mosaic is less common than other options. With the modern interest of designers in kitchens with metal finishes, metal splashbacks have also appeared. The mosaic on them is either glued together from pieces, or simply a pattern imitating a mosaic pattern. The front surface is covered with a steel brass or bronze thin sheet.
Metallic shine and shimmer are especially interesting in loft and techno styles. And the golden color is good even for a classic interior.
How to avoid mistakes? Recommendations for style and design
- The size of the mosaic, like any pattern, can visually change the dimensions of the kitchen - large elements will reduce the space, and small ones will increase it.
- If your kitchen is small, then do not use elements with a diamond pattern, such a pattern will reduce the size of the room.
- The combination of several colors on a matte or glossy surface looks very impressive; this is a classic way of decorating a room, which is most widely used. Installation is simple, no need to waste time on selecting elements or creating any patterns.
- Gold and silver colors create a taste of sophistication, wealth, and independence in the room. There is no drawing on them, only a single game with notes of each of the elements is noted. These types of fittings are used in interior design.
- The difficulty of laying tiles with a pattern lies in the correct selection of elements in order to obtain the correct pattern as a result. This finish is distinguished by high levels of aesthetics and enlivens the kitchen space.
- It is impossible not to mention the mirror options. They act not only as decor, but also create many visual effects: expanding space, changing boundaries, emphasizing. Glass mosaics will give the style a creative mood, mystery, dreaminess, and will clearly highlight the artistic nature of the designer.
A second, beautiful life for broken shards of dishes, sets and tiles
Options that are popular are glass mosaic and ceramics . With the help of these textures you can decorate the surface perfectly and not expensively. If desired, it is possible to create exclusive expensive paintings. A quite affordable kitchen apron can be made from pieces of metal. Other combinations of components have a high price.
The mosaic easily fits over uneven surfaces and hides them perfectly.
The more vibrant and sophisticated the color palette, the higher its price. Monocolors, mixes of light, gray, beige, brown, white shades without any decorative additives are an inexpensive combination. If bright, flashy colors predominate, with shimmering effects, such combinations are expensive.
Custom apron decor for the kitchen is a great way to express your individuality.
Mosaic is a decorative element that is currently experiencing a rebirth, and it’s not bad at all! Varieties of matrices have taken their rightful place in the kitchen interior. The variety of colors, textures, shapes, and materials used surprises the taste of even experienced designers.
Mirror mosaics
Mirror mosaic mesh can be classified as a separate type. Silver or bronze colors shimmer when light hits and expand the kitchen space.
It is not advisable to wipe a mirror, like glass, with abrasive materials and chemicals. Otherwise, the surface of the mosaic will darken and lose its attractiveness.
Important. When purchasing mosaic tiles individually or by quadrature, you must correctly calculate the quantity required for gluing. Each manufacturer has its own matrix sizes: from 120x120mm, and 300x300mm and 315x315mm. Rectangular tiles also vary in size.
Types of mosaics according to the method of application to the wall
Self-adhesive films in the form of a mosaic pattern are sold in sheets. Any unprepared person can apply it to the wall. The surface must be smooth.
The paper base is applied to the front part of the mosaic elements. After gluing the blocks to the wall, the paper is removed.
- Mosaic fragments applied to a matrix mesh of polyurethane foam are considered especially durable.
- The mesh serves as a frame, and with it the process of gluing to the wall becomes easier and more reliable.
Mosaic does not have to be monochromatic. There are Byzantine, Florentine, and other types of mosaics, in which plain fragments are combined with patterned inserts. They convey national flavor and look amazingly stylish.
Flaws
The first thing everyone talks about when they talk about the disadvantages of mosaics is the seams. Yes, this is really a big problem, since there are a lot of seams, germs , dust and other dirt love them, which can interfere with presentability.
But for this, as mentioned above, there is an expensive medicine - epoxy grout. By itself, it doesn’t cost much more than usual, but don’t forget about paying the technician who will work with this grout. A beginner cannot handle it with his own hands, since such grout dries very quickly. There is one more minus.
Need for careful care. Even though epoxy does not absorb water and grease, dust settles on it, which means it will have to be wiped frequently. After all, when there are a lot of seams, they become more noticeable, and with them, dirt.
In addition, it is worth periodically treating the seams and tiles with antifungal agents. The difficulty of care also depends on the material from which the mosaic is made - glass is much easier to care for than natural stone.
If the price, complexity of installation and maintenance do not scare you, then you can safely choose mosaic for the kitchen, because it looks very original, stylish and expensive. And advice on choosing and design options for an apron will help you decide on the final design.
Wall application
The wall for mosaic matrices must first be leveled, cleaned, and prepared for applying glue. A flat, smooth wall will guarantee a tight fit of the mosaic to the wall, without differences or protrusions.
- Carefully mark all areas of the wall to which the coating will be applied. Visually check if the number of tiles matches.
- Do not apply glue to the entire wall at once. Gluing should be done in separate sections.
- Press the matrix firmly against the wall for several minutes to ensure strong adhesion.
- Let the glue dry and rub the seams.
Mosaic grout is either cement-based or epoxy resin. The advantage of resin is that it can be white. It can be used for light-colored coatings.
It doesn't darken over time. This grout is more expensive than cement, but benefits in appearance and durability.
Color
The right color for a kitchen apron can decorate any interior. If the decoration and furniture are in bright, saturated colors, then it is advisable to choose a plain texture for the mosaic apron. Pearlescent and soft shades can be safely chosen for a kitchen with a calm interior and decorated with bright accents.
Mosaics in the form of panels, with ornaments, mirrored or in bright bold colors are suitable in design for kitchens with calm soft colors in the decoration of the room and in the furniture.
It is desirable that the colors of the apron match the color of the facade, countertop or floor covering. Or it is permissible to make the wall covering contrasting.
Collections of mosaic tiles are varied in materials, prices and colors. They may vary in size. You need to choose a mosaic based on the kitchen design, color scheme, as well as the budget and taste of its owner.
General properties
An excellent decoration option would be a mosaic for the kitchen apron. The mosaic canvas consists of individual bright fragments, which is a significant advantage over ordinary tiles.
Various materials are used in production, from mother-of-pearl to natural stone. Therefore, mosaics are easy to match to any style of kitchen - from country to high-tech.
All kinds of shades, interspersed in abundance in the mosaic, allow you to combine together all the colors present in the kitchen. At the same time, it produces a hard and fire-resistant fabric, as a result the kitchen apron area is completely protected. There are no abrasions or minor scratches on it.
