Design Trend

Italian Glass Tiles

One of the most sought after looks on the market today are glass tiles. They have been introduced to the public in kitchen backsplashes and bathroom showers but have found their place in almost every home application you can imagine. Now you can find them on floors, walls, partitions, windows, countertops, the list goes on.

The tile companies are becoming more versatile as well. The original designs were square glass tiles in beautiful shades. Now, the offering is much wider including mosaics, patterns, oval shaped tile, and different levels of opacity.

The newest offering from Sicis is their Basic Collection, which offers a mixture of glass tiles with ceramic tiles and wood tiles. This company even offers preplanned mosaic tile “rugs” which can be inlaid amongst other tiling to give your bath area a more custom and warm appearance.

The most creative look is achieved using the Glimmer Mosaic Collection. These tiles have varying levels of opacity and can be somewhat translucent. By using them on partitions such as folding screens, a plain piece of furniture is reinvented into a work of art. These tiles are best utilized where you can play up their translucency with light—Next to a window (on the window?) or a light fixture.

Many of the pre-made mosaics can be applied onto windows or glass partitions and have Glimmer tiles in the patterns. The colors change as the lighting changes achieving a rotating look that emphasizes each color in the mosaics. They can be installed onto glass using a clear grouting agent such as silicone and usually come in 12”x12” sheets. Read all installation instructions.

There are many appealing designs in bright beautiful colors, however, do not overlook the beauty and simplicity of having a one color tile mosaic applied to an accent wall or backsplash. These products tend to be pricey and, if budget is an issue, should be used sparsely where they will make the most impact.

Check out the site at www.sicis.it for installation photos and let your imagination take over. Another site to search is www.bisazza.it

An island can be the cook’s best friend and the heart of the kitchen. You have a lot of options and decisions to make, but at the end of the day, make your island work for your needs and be unique! Happy Designing!