Glass mosaic in the interior of the bathroom

When choosing the design of the bathroom, it is necessary to pay special attention to both the style and beauty in the finished version, and the practical side of the used finishing material. Glass mosaic has all the necessary properties for use in the interior of the bathroom, and through its varieties it is easy to divide a small room into several active zones.

Types of mosaic, their advantages and disadvantages

Mosaic inThey appeared several centuries ago in the form of different size and color of pebbles, had a rather narrow field of application. With the development of society and the development of previously unknown raw materials, new types of mosaic began to be created, expanding the scope of their use. Currently there are 4 types of mosaic:

1. Ceramic mosaic - in structure does not differ from conventional ceramic tiles and is made by firing clay. The only difference is the size. Ceramic mosaic is available in 2 types:

• glazed - has a smooth surface and increased moisture resistance;
• is non-glazed - it is characterized by a relief surface, divorces, the presence of specially created cracks or inclusions of extraneous color, low moisture resistance.

Ceramic mosaic is represented by rectangular, square modules that facilitate the lining of surfaces inside the building, facades of buildings.

Advantages of ceramic mosaic:

• high fire resistance;
• wide range of colors;
• good resistance to point action;
• resistance to most chemical compounds;
• resistance to abrasion;
• low water absorption.

Disadvantages:

• porosity;
• average cost relative to other types of mosaic.

2. Stone mosaic - is made by cutting large size stones to smaller elements, most suitable for creating a certain type of matrix. If necessary, the stones are subject to grinding, polishing or artificial "aging".The mosaic of this species is represented by chips of round or irregular shape. The main purpose - facing the steps, walls inside the building, facades of buildings. For the mosaic use:

• natural stones, including marble, travertine, jasper, lapis lazuli, onyx;
• artificial stones - production is based on the combination of elements of a broken mirror with granite, marble. Advantages of the stone mosaic:
  • high fire resistance;
  • environmentally friendly material;
  • aesthetics;
  • durability;
  • no time deformation;
  • moisture resistance;
  • large variety of color shades;
  • resistance to chemical attack, temperature extremes.

  Disadvantages:

  • susceptibility of artificially produced stones to abrasion;
  • is quite high cost.

  3. Metal mosaic is obtained as a result of gluing stainless metal plates on the front side of a ceramic mosaic, rubber or plastic base. To give a shade, a relatively small layer of bronze, brass is applied to the metal. In this case, the surface can be matte, shiny or relief. Chips for creating a mosaic of metal are distinguished by a wide choice of geometrically correct and irregular shapes.

  
  The advantages of the metal mosaic:

  • high resistance to wear;
  • resistance to mechanical damage;
  • moisture resistance;
  • high strength.

  Cons:

  • is oxidized by chemical attack;
  • limited color palette;
  • the possibility of changing the color shade over time;
  • low cost.

  4. Glass mosaic - made through a melt of Venetian glass or silica sand with the addition of cadmium, aventurine, boron and other elements, based on the need to obtain a particular color shade. The shape of the modules is presented in the form of an oval, a square, a rectangle, but sometimes you can find elements of irregular shape.

  
  Advantages of glass mosaic:

  • variety of different shades;
  • resistance to chemicals;
  • Immunity to sudden temperature fluctuations;
  • high impact resistance;
  • resistance to the appearance of mold, fungus, stains;
  • water resistance;
  • heat resistance;
  • resistance to ultraviolet;
  • high wear resistance;
  • durability;
  • simplicity of care;
  • is a democratic value.

  Disadvantages:

  • installation difficulty;
  • instability to abrasive wear;
  • relative resistance to sharp point impacts;
  • damaged part is difficult to replace.

  Thus, for the interior of the bathroom any kind of mosaic is suitable. However, a special preference, in view of the mass of qualitative characteristics and relatively low cost, is to be given to the glass mosaic and its subspecies, with the help of which truly unique masterpieces are created.

  Glass mosaic

  Mosaic features of various manufacturers

  The main producers of glass mosaic are Italy( Trend, Bisazza), Spain( Ezarri), China( Zaijian, Rose JNJ), Germany( Folia,).Of course, the Chinese mosaic is somewhat inferior to the quality of Italian manufacturers, as evidenced by the cost of 1 m².Another distinctive feature of the mosaic from China is the width of the seam, which is 2 mm. While in the Italian and German mosaic it is 1 mm.
  However, China's glass mosaic is in high demand, rather than Italian, due to minor differences and an acceptable price.

  

  Molds and sizes of the mosaic

  Mosaic glass is produced in various sizes. And, the smaller the size of the module, the more expensive is the cost of the finished matrix. However, it is very convenient to cover small fragments with oval, curved surfaces or shallow niches in the wall.
  The shapes of the glass mosaic are represented by a variety of shapes - ovals, rectangles, squares, circles, chipped shapes with uneven edges, opening up to the designers all the prospects for creating unique interior solutions.

  

  Types of mosaic matrices

  Mosaic goes on sale as separate modules, and ready matrices. The front side of the module has an even surface, and the reverse side - with small grooves for better adhesion of the material to the substrate during laying.
  The matrices are of 2 types:

  1. Glass mosaic on paper is a more common option. In this case, the laying is done by the back surface, since paper is fixed on the front part. After installation, the paper is retracted, and the seams are rubbed.

  

  Pros:

  • impossibility of deformation of the joint width between modules;
  • high adhesion between the material and the substrate;
  • easy installation, especially when facing uneven surfaces;
  • low cost.

  Cons:

  • in the process of purchase there is no way to check the front surface for defects.

  2. Glass mosaic on the grid is produced, mainly, expensive collections, represented by interspersed aventurine, mother-of-pearl, because the production of this type of mosaic is a large percentage of rejection.

  
  Pros:

  • possibility of checking for defectiveness of the front side of the matrix.

  Cons:

  • relative adhesion of the mosaic to the substrate;
  • complexity of installation for an unprepared person;
  • possibility of changing the interplit weld;
  • high cost.

  Based on the destination of the mosaic, the surface to be lined depends on the choice of a particular type of matrix.

  Varieties of glass mosaic

  The popularity of glass mosaic led to the development of new ideas regarding the combination of glass with other elements. Today the following types of glass mosaic are produced:

  • Smalta mosaic - is characterized by the opacity of tiles with the effect of internal glow and a wide range of saturated colors that do not have any white inclusions. The module with the same shade on one sheet is hard to find. Widely used in places of intense patency, for example, for flooring, corridors. The only difference between smalt from glass is its resistance to abrasive damage.

  

  • The monophonic mosaic is represented by a variety of shades and homogeneity of the structure without any divorces, impregnations of extraneous shades. The greatest demand is for creating mosaic mixtures or stretch marks, as well as in making paintings from glass mosaic as the main background.

  

  • Stretching - produced by a smooth flow of dark colors to the lighter or vice versa. All types of glass mosaic are used to create stretch marks.

  

  • Mosaic mixtures - are achieved by a combination of monochrome mosaic modules, using a different percentage of the shades included in the mixture.

  

  • With the addition of aventurine, it is distinguished by flickering point inclusions obtained by mixing a previously prepared aventurine powder in a glass mass. Very original looks with well-placed lighting. Suitable not only for the bathroom, but also for the kitchen, bedroom, living room.

  

  • With the addition of iridium( pearl effect) - with properly arranged lighting, the bathroom will shimmer with all the shades of the rainbow. And, if you look at the laid out mosaic from different angles of the room, the colors will be different. However, more than two shades in one color spectrum for registration, for example, a bath should not be used.

  

  • For gold - is achieved through the addition of metal oxides in any shade of the available color gamut.

  

  • Sparkling mosaic - luxurious shades at a low price can be compared only with a mosaic for gold.

  

  • Gold mosaic - represents a piece of gold rolled up to the foil, which is laid on a small layer of glass with the subsequent pouring in a thicker layer.

  

  • Mirror mosaic - made by dividing the modules of a conventional mirror( silver or gold), followed by a combination of glass mass and mirror. Very good looks when decorating a section of a wall, a column.

  

  Quite often when decorating a bathroom, a combination of different types of glass mosaic is used.

  Options for using glass mosaic in the interior of the bathroom

  The wide variety of shapes, sizes, shapes and shading palette of glass mosaic give designers stunning possibilities to transform the room beyond recognition.

  

  Often, a full bathroom tiling using a mosaic is very expensive.

  

  However, the harmonious combination of glass mosaic with any decorative materials allows to revitalize the bathroom interior even with partial lining of individual elements.

  

  Combination of ceramic tiles with a mosaic

  • Frame for a mirror. Enough spectacularly around the mirror looks a wide frame, made of a contrasting color of the mosaic relative to the wall tiles. However, the color scheme should be in harmony with the shades available in the decor.

  

  • Shelves, niches in the bathroom. The miniature of the mosaic modules with ease makes it possible to cover small, hard-to-reach places. It will cost it inexpensively, but the bathroom will shine, as after repair.

  

  • Screen for the bathroom. By selecting a tile glass mosaic in the tone of the laid tiles and diversifying it with other texture combinations, you can achieve a visual increase in space, albeit insignificant. As a supplement, you can wall around the perimeter of the room at the height of the screen.

  

  • Apron over the sink. It is laid out either to the base of the mirror or to the whole wall, focusing the initial attention on this part of the decor.

  

  • Frame of window, doorway. It is similar to the mirror frame, visually increasing the window or entrance space.

  

  • Boxes, columns. Contrast mosaic significantly revitalizes the design of the bathroom, while hidden in the box plumbing pipes will not be so annoying with their wretchedness and inappropriate location.

  

  Creating special effects

  Using mosaic techniques, it is easy to achieve special effects when:

  • room room merges;

  

  • gives the impression of a seabed;

  

  • bathroom space is visually enlarged;

  

  • the bathroom shines with all the colors of the rainbow.

  

  Additional decoration of the mosaic with ornamental panels

  Quite original, stylish and modern looks the bathroom, decorated with a different kind of glass mosaic in combination with a wall panel made with a set of smalt modules.

  

  Qualitatively executed panels become the main element of the decor, invariably attracting its effect.

  
  In addition to the design of the bathroom, the glass mosaic for the kitchen acquires no small importance.

  

  Quite often mosaic decoration is used to decorate worktops, walls above the table, adding to the interior the freshness of the hue spectrum and the enchantment of desktop or wall paintings from glass mosaic.

  

  Thus, a huge toning range of various types of glass mosaic photos of which are presented in the article, allows you to create unique masterpieces of art, depending largely on the imagination of the designer and his own intentions.