One Amber Pearl customer created a crisp, bright, colorful kitchen scheme by using “Foxtail” from the Terra Bella glass tile collection. The collection was recently featured in the May 2011 edition of Better Homes & Gardens!

I have been working on some really fun glass tile mixes that incorporate black glass – all kinds, including glossy, matte + iridescent finishes, irregular edges; AND black + charcoal mirror as well as matte + textured mirror.

Patterns: an important consideration for your glass tile installation

In terms of TILE — size, color, shape and finish are primary considerations for any interior design project. Something that is thought of, perhaps, less often is the tile PATTERN. However subtle or dramatic it is — the tile pattern you choose for your installation will impact the overall look and feel of your design. For example, a running brick pattern typically has a more traditional feel, while a stacked, “row and column” pattern tends to feel more clean and modern, especially with a smooth edged tile. Here’s your basic SUBWAY tile – could be 1 X 2-inch; 1 X 3-inch, 1 X 6-inch or 3 X 6-inch (you get the idea…)

These patterns can also be installed on the vertical, which gives another entire look and feel. At Amber Pearl customization is our mantra. Take a look at the types of patterns we can achieve with various sizes of subway tile. (Not to confuse the issue, but the possibilities are truly endless — you can also insert 1 X 1-inch tiles in various places. They can break up a traditional running brick pattern. 3- 1X 1 tiles can be used in place of any of the 1 X 3 tiles below…)

For square tiles, the most common pattern is a grid. Staggering the grid is a great way to create interest and movement.

Patterns can also be created through the use of borders or inserted bands. Patterns can be random or engineered to repeat! Lots of ideas to consider….

]]> http://amberpearl.com/blog/design-materials/glass-tile/patterns-for-glass-tile/feed 0 http://amberpearl.com/blog/design-materials/glass-tile/10-glass-tile-installation-essentials http://amberpearl.com/blog/design-materials/glass-tile/10-glass-tile-installation-essentials#comments Thu, 12 Aug 2010 03:20:47 +0000 admin http://amberpearl.com/blog/?p=176

I know, I know — the technical, nitty-gritty part of glass tile installation isn’t the fun and sexy part of the job. We all LOVE the colors, textures, and design aspect, but it is important to heed the following 10 TILE INSTALLATION guidelines in order to achieve the gorgeous overall result we all want for our glass tile installations.

1) <This may sound obvious, but…> Always confirm that the person doing the installing has very solid knowledge of GLASS TILE installation.

2) Glass tile has a very high rate of expansion and contraction, so expansion or movement joints are required in most installations.

3) The following substrates are recommended for glass tile: concrete backer board “wonderboard” ; well cured mortar (generally 7 days curing) ; concrete slabs cured 28 days; gypsum board (sheetrock) in dry areas only. **we all know that often times projects get behind schedule and installations are rushed due to deadlines and openings….please, please be sure that substrates are cured — if not, the result can be tiles popping up and cracking.

4) Thinsets, or adhesives, can be epoxy, silicone, or polymer modified, but MUST be compatible with the substrate. ** White thinset recommended, and remember to butter back for translucent tiles.

5) Joint widths can vary and depend on product, location and application. Generally 1/8 – 1/4″.

6) For cutting, a Diamond glass cutting blade is recommended, in a narrow gauge.

7) Grout: unsanded is generally recommended for 1/8″ grout lines. If over 1/8″, then sanded is recommended. An epoxy grout is trickier than water based grouts, but gives a beautiful finish. ** If your tile blend included stainless steel tiles, always use unsanded grout.

8.) For joint movement, sealants can be silicone, urethane or polysulfides. Urethanes for outside areas, and silicones for wet areas.

9) Maintenance: Sealing should be done with a penetrating sealer for the grout joints. Be sure to get the residue off the tile surface.

10) Cleaning: Can be done with a neutral pH cleaner; periodic deep cleaning with an alkali cleaner, like Windex.

Viola!

Mirror and glass tile designs

Whether its small mosaic or larger sheets, mirrors are a great, glamorous (and inexpensive) way to expand and bring light into a space. A mirrored backsplash, for example,  can give a small kitchen a larger, lighter feeling. A mirrored wall can double the size of a room. A mirrored ceiling paired with a crystal chandelier, can turn a powder room into a jewelry box.

Amber Pearl glass mosaics incorporate mirror tiles in many sizes and shapes, from 1 X 1-inch, to 2 X 2 or longer 1 X 6-inch subway pieces.Here is an example of mirror incorporated into an art-deco inspired powder room.

This floor to ceiling glass backsplash incorporates matte and shiny glass; clear glass and mirror pieces. For an unusual twist, try colored mirror in cool amber, charcoal, or blue.

Mixed-Up Mosaics makes hand-cut glass and mirror mosaics in almost any shape and size. They offer many mirror finishes, including matte mirror, rippled mirror and antique mirror. Here is a feature wall of matte and shiny mirror in a long vertical stick pattern, resulting in an almost transparent effect.

A glass tile alternative

Decorative glass panels are a beautiful alternative to glass tile in many kitchen and bath design schemes. The green leaf pattern here creates a soft, dreamy, yet sophisticated mood in this modern bathroom design. These panels, created by Livinglass are also “green.” Made from 100% recycled glass and resin, they are strong, durable and easy to care for.  Think shower surrounds, doors, partitions, furniture…

Proprietary lamination techniques allows for preserving the 3-dimensional form, color and texture of even the most delicate natural materials and sculpted fabrics. Botanicals, woods, fabrics and more are available. This gorgeous table top was made from “Lavawood” a natural cork with metallic accents.

Everything is custom. Be inspired.

I have noticed an uptick in interest in my subway glass tiles. Though generally I work in smaller formats such as 1 X 2, 1 X 3, or 1 X 6-inch tiles, which allow for creating patterns of mixed colors and finishes, recently I have been working with my clients on solid concepts utilizing both glossy and matte finishes in 3 X 6-inch tiles.

Though the “brick” pattern is as traditional as you can get, consider installing it on the vertical as seen here in this great bathroom design mixed with satin nickel hardware and a great concrete slab vanity.

Another fresh way of utilizing this tile is to “stack” it instead of stagger it. This can give a more clean, modern look and again looks great both installed on the vertical or horizontal.

Another local client of mine is considering this same tile for their kitchen remodel. While loving glass, they don’t want a busy look. Their gorgeous kitchen cabinetry highlights the wood grain and we have mutually decided to keep the back splash a simple one color running brick style which compliments an adjacent brick wall. Their color of choice: ocean gray.

All of Amber Pearl’s tile are rated for residential and commercial projects. And our 3 X 6-inch tile is always comprised of 11% recycled glass!

Color + Tile = A vibrant design

I love it when my clients have the opportunity to use colorful, vibrant glass tile in their design. It’s a natural, lasting , dramatic way to incorporate color into a project. Take a look at this colorful column. Faced with the unexpected placement of 2 large columns in a hotel lobby, this designer decided to (instead of trying to minimize them) make a dramatic statement utilizing bright glossy colorful glass and stainless steel and mirror tiles in a random vertical mix.

How do we achieve this? With the client’s color palette in mind, we choose 1 X 6-inch and 1 X 3-inch tiles in complimentary hues. We may also choose to add 1 X 1-inch tile inserts for added interest. We create a totally unique pattern by the random placement of these elements. The first step is to create digital imaging which we often email clients for their approval prior to sampling. Here are 2 color mixes using 1 X 6-inch tiles in a running brick pattern.

After our client’s approval of digital artwork, we create samples. Once we get our client’s approval we go into production and these beautiful 100% custom glass tile creations are delivered in 3-4 weeks time!

From brown thumb gardener to drama-creating garden diva (with succulents!)

Last year my friend and garden enthusiast Anne (Flora Shanti Gardens) introduced me to succulents. I learned that not only are these plants shaply and beautiful, they are hardy, drought resistant and easy to care for (as she put it, virtually impossible to kill)….now that’s MY kind of plant. The pots I started last year (note the glass tile mosaic table and pot) have survived the long winter and look better than ever. So last weekend, with the help of my 6-year old daughter, we planted a few more pots. Whether its putting together an outfit, designing a custom back splash, or arranging plants, I like to mix and match color, texture and proportion. In this case, I mixed a curly grass with a variety of succulent cuttings. Take a look:

Get creative with succulents in interior and exterior spaces. Use interesting vessels and mix them with other plants and /or artistic pieces. Last fall, I was so taken by a centerpiece at the Icons of Design event in San Francisco.  Martin Richards Interiors created a dramatic centerpiece in their dining room with the use of succulents and crystals in a giant clam shell! Stunning.

Now I find myself on the look out for them where ever I go, and if the situation allows, I ” snip snap” and bring home new starters. Best of all, you don’t need to wait for roots, simply stick the starters in the dirt.

What’s the “rub?” (Wyzenbeek vs Martindale)

Aesthetics, comfort, durability – a needed balance when choosing an upholstery fabric!

A typical question that I am asked when showing designers my textile line — “what are the double rubs?” A double rub test is a durability test meant to simulate a person getting into and out of a chair and assessing how the upholstered fabric holds up to wearing against another fabric. In the US, the most commonly used method of testing is known as the Wynenbeek test, according to the Association for Contract Textiles (ACT).

Here are some guidelines:

• 6,000 rubs (OD) Occasional Domestic
• 15,000 rubs (LD) Light Domestic
• 20,000 rubs (GD) General Domestic
• 25,000 rubs (HD) Heavy Domestic
• 30,000 rubs (SD) General Contract/ Severe Domestic
• 40,000 rubs (SC) Severe Contract ** though many of my clients working on commercial projects prefer 50-60+ rubs.

The European counterpart is called the Martindale test, which is an oscillating test in which fabrics are rubbed with an abrasive material in a circular motion. The number of cycles that the fabric can endure before showing a notable change in appearance is counted as its abrasion rating. The above gorgeous Belgium velvets, from Appian Textiles, for example, rate 25K Martindale. Whereas, these solid textures rate 36K – 45K Wyzenbeek.