Mosaics, Medallions & Murals

Long, wave-patterned Prism glass listellos, in seafoam; small, square Water Crystal Mosaics in seafoam; and, white, square Prism glass mosaics, in crystal, all by Crossville and available from Tile Mart. Photo courtesy of Crossville Inc.

Dale Rockwell, the aptly named president of Stoneworld Enterprises, specializes in the importation, fabrication and installation of limestone, granite, marble and travertine. In addition to offering a large local inventory of natural stone slabs, the company carries fossilized coral stone. The coral fossil stone, formed by hundreds of years’ worth of marine minerals and limestone, is the very material used centuries ago by ancient Hawaiians. “What can be more Hawaiiana than bringing the ocean floor into your home?” Rockwell asks.

Because of fossil stone’s neutral color and low cost, many people use it for outdoor applications. But, with the growing trend of bringing the outdoors in, Rockwell also recommends trying out the versatile coral fossil stone indoors, as, for example, an artistic element on a kitchen’s backsplash. And, because the stone’s composition allows large blocks to be chiseled, sculpted and smoothed, Stoneworld also suggests using it for elegant structural columns.

Left: The tulip flower mosaic, from Marblehaus Hawaii, is composed of different natural stones in a tumbled finish. It’s used primarily as an insert, and is excellent with travertine stones or marbles with a matte finish. Primary usages are for front entries and decorative walls or floors. Photo courtesy of Marblehaus Hawaii. Center: Colorful mosaic tile work. photo courtesy of Marmol HI Natural Stones Ltd. Right: Custom travertine mosaic, by Nick Nye, of Custom Marble Designs.

However, one of the most lasting forms of stone and tile design work is mosaic art. Mosaic art consists of small pieces or fragments of colored stone, tile or glass used to create a pattern or picture. According to Mike Ferguson, president of Tile Mart, “A mosaic tile is usually defined by a surface area of three-inch square, or less.”

Porcelanosa’s porcelain Urbatek tile, in Area white and Graphic black. Available exclusively on Oahu from Selective Stone. Photo courtesy of Porcelanosa.

Unlike in Roman times, when each tile was painstakingly set into place, today, there are less labor-intensive options that can make a striking impact on any project. For example, Marblehaus Hawaii carries premade stone mosaics that are attached to mesh mounts. Kevin Nip, of Marblehaus Hawaii, says the mosaic patterns create a template for floor designs, rather than having to lay the stones one by one. “With these, you’re buying the whole mosaic, mesh-mounted and ready to go,” says Nip. “It’s a misperception in the industry that someone’s sitting there putting together a jigsaw puzzle—that would cost a lot,” he continues.

Marblehaus’ manufactured tumbled travertine and marble mosaics are available in a number of geometric and abstract patterns. The company’s Hawaiian-themed mosaics, such as flowers, fish, turtles, whales and dolphins, can be used to accent entryways, lanai and pool decks.

Marblehaus Hawaii also carries an exclusive line of custom mosaics, hand-crafted by local expert Kirk Machado. Machado does not limit himself to certain materials; rather, he chooses stones to match the color palette necessary for his mosaic porpoises, whales, flowers, plumerias, hibiscus, conch shells and wildly popular turtles. “It’s really stunning,” Nip says of Machado’s work. “It grabs you when you see it.”

A favored mosaic material is travertine, which comes in a large variety of colors and finishes. Custom expert Nick Nye, of Custom Marble Design, says tan is the most popular travertine color for Hawaii’s homes, because “It blends in with sand and the outdoors really well, and sets up a great contrast with travertine in other, bolder colors.” Brushed or tumbled finishes add texture to travertine, while lending a rustic appearance.

Handcarved, Gallos Peruvian travertine tiles, from Andean Stone. Photo courtesy of Gallos Marmoleria.

For a more cosmopolitan vibe, Vini Freitas, of Marmol HI Natural Stones, recommends the urbane feel of New York-designed travertine mosaics in styles like Duomo, Manhattan and Skyline. Featuring rows of beige-colored travertine offset by regularly occurring tiles in darker tones, these mosaics make sophisticated flooring accents and jaw-dropping walls.

Small mosaic tiles create a stripe-themed, outdoor bathroom. Photo courtesy of Marmol HI Natural Stones Ltd.

To extend the visual appeal of a mosaic, Freitas also recommends the incorporation of the only manmade material his company uses: glass. “Glass brings glamour and, because of its flexibility in terms of color, size and texture, it creates a wonderful fusion with stone,” he says. Insisting on using the best of materials, Marmol HI Natural Stones is the authorized dealer for the Trend Glass Collection in the state of Hawaii. The company works with Trend glass mosaic tiles from Italy, “because there’s design and art behind it.” Thus, the tiles are emblematic of Freitas’ style mantra: “Don’t ask me for standard things; tell me your dream and we’ll figure it out.” However, Freitas concedes that such trendy glass “can get too futuristic or modern” for some homes, especially if there’s little or no stone to ground the mosaic. “To keep it tropical, use the colors you have around, both in the house and in nature,” Freitas recommends.

Another purveyor of gorgeous glass is Tile Mart. It offers distinctive Water Crystal mosaics from Crossville, in 10 tropical-themed color-ways, with three different finishes—clear, frosted and iridescent. “Uniquely, they come mounted on clear plastic sheets (instead of the opaque paper mounting commonly used), which allow the installer to clearly see and therefore more accurately place the glass,” says Mike Ferguson, of Tile Mart. He points out that “Budget-minded projects can make use of glass and metal tiles for accents on walls, or [be used] along with ceramic tile to create a coordinated look.” And, according to Ferguson, Crossville tiles are durable: “Yes, glass tiles can even be used on floors!”

For floors, many homeowners are opting to place custom mosaics or medallions in their entryways and stairwells, as a finishing touch. For instance, Edward Lewis, multitalented artist and owner of Integrity Tile & Stone, recently set a floral inlay in travertine tile as the coup de grâce for a plumeria-themed house. The medallion’s green leaves were designed from two different stones—quartzite and green slate. Because quartzite and slate are rough stones, Lewis smoothed and honed them to a semi-polished finish before cutting the pieces for the inlay. “When you look at it—because of the two different colors—it kind of glistens in the air, and looks like it’s floating,” Lewis reports. He utilized stained glass and scrap glass pieces, or smalti, to create the delicate plumeria flowers. Then he used a die-cutter with diamond bits to engrave the veining of the leaves. The result is a complete transformation of stone into art: “When you take a rough piece of quartzite and grind it, you end up with a different kind of stone look than when you started.”

Left: Radiance glass tiles in 3”x6” frosted Amber Splash, 6”x6” frosted Seafoam with 3”x3” Prism glass, from Tile Mart. Photo courtesy of Crossville Inc. Right: Canary perched on bamboo, hand painted on porcelain tile by Thomas Dier Studios. Photo courtesy of Thomas Deir Studios.

Painted tiles are another way to add color and theme to a room. “When I see these awesome kitchens, baths, pools and such, I see a blank canvas,” says Thomas Deir, of Thomas Deir Studios. He paints murals of Island scenes, such as seascapes, tropical flora and familiar landscapes. Using a ceramic glaze, Deir custom paints porcelain tile, which is “the ideal medium, because it is the hardest clay body,” he says. “In fact, it is so hard it is nonporous; therefore, water cannot get into it and separate the glaze.” Once the tiles are fired, Deir’s colorful murals are permanent: “The tiles are so durable, they can be installed outdoors in direct sunlight and will last for hundreds of years without fading, scraping off or deteriorating,” says Deir.

Left: Marble medallion. Photo courtesy of the Marble Institute of America. Muses (top) and Faunus (bottom) medallions. Photos courtesy of Marblehaus Hawaii.

Sometimes, rather than an elaborate mosaic, mural or medallion, just an embellishment or accent tile is all that is needed to personalize a space. Andean Stone has hand-carved travertine tiles that are suitable for homes with Hawaiiana appeal, according to Alice Newman, general manager. “The travertine is available with designs, such as hibiscus flowers, fish and tapa-inspired patterns,” she says. The rich, rustic uniqueness of each hand-carved piece is perfect for beautifying bathroom walls, water features and backsplashes.

Photo courtesy of Lokahi Stone Bomanite.

For those who want intricate stone carvings without the irregularities of handmade work, futuristic technology is the answer. Pacific Stone Center’s recent investment in the latest stone-cutting machinery is spawning ever-new decorative capabilities. “We are gearing up for an additional feature to our laser machine,” remarks Cathy Uda, vice president of Pacific Stone Center. “We will be able to carve special designs and logos into slab material,” she says, adding that a laser-carved motif brings “a decorative flair to backsplashes, floors and others areas of our clients’ home renovation projects.”

A material that is frequently unrecognized for its decorative potential is concrete. Have you ever admired the floors of Best Buy, Costco or Sam’s Club? “These beautiful concrete floors are created by using diamond polishing to grind off the top surface of the concrete to lightly expose fine sands and aggregates, or more aggressively to expose large profiles of the aggregate matrix that lies within,” says Jamie McGuire, president of Lokahi Stone Bomanite. For artsy appeal, juxtapose highly polished concrete with unpolished surfaces. “Once a surface is diamond polished to the desired level of aggregate exposure, the concrete can either remain the nice, natural, grey color, or it can be stained to a color suitable to the clients’ wishes,” says McGuire.

Finally, if you want the ornamental appeal of stone where it’s impossible or too costly to install the real thing, Bonnie Cooper, of Big Rock Manufacturing, has a variety of products for you. “We specialize in cast Hawaiian stone, such as moss rock, lava and coral,” she says. Used as a veneer, the company’s Hawaiian stone can create a stone effect on interior and even exterior walls. “You can add a Hawaiian sense of place to your home or garden in a fraction of the time and for less money than real stone.”

From left to right: Lava, moss and coral stone veneers. Photo courtesy of Big Rock Manufacturing.

So the next time you decide to re-tile a wall or install a stone floor, consider adding a bit of color, texture and a personal touch. “I’ve had people do everything from the family crest to something they’ve seen in a photograph,” says Newman, of Andean Stone. “The benefit of custom stone work is that it’s one-of-a-kind art.”