19 May 2009

Here's a great new series from Hakatai



My great pals at Hakatai are rolling out a new glass mosaic series called Bohemia. Bohemia features a semi-transparent glass tile mini brick set in a traditional offset pattern. The individual mosaic pieces are a half-inch thick and due to their near transparency, these mosaics will have a depth and sparkle that won't quit once they're installed.

In looking over these new patterns, they remind me of an old art class technique. Under the tutelage of the great man who taught me most of what I know about art, we used to mix oil- and water-based paints together on a heavy sheet of paper and let them interact. The result was a randomness that bordered on the impressionist and it was a terrific lesson in standing back and letting art happen.

Hakatai has captured that inadvertent, random impressionism and preserved it forever in glass. Beautiful!

Nutmeg

Chanterelle

Mallard

Mirage

Azul

Sargasso Sea

Loam

13 comments:

  1. Oh you have me sold on this one Paul. They are beautiful!!!

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  2. They sure are Brenda and at $26 per sheet they are also really reasonable.

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  3. Very tempting, even based on today's exchange rate which wud equal $30.57 Cdn. plus taxeS and shipping. (Have the site bookmarked.)
    Thanks Paul.

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  4. My pleasure Brenda. How's your quest for mixing metals coming?

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  5. Found your post and it was extremely informative. Printed it off for reference.
    Merci! -Brenda-

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  6. These tiles are beautiful... how am I going to choose my new kitchen backsplash if you keep tempting me with so many great tiles?!?

    I was at another tile store today where they had no clue what I was talking about when I said I was looking for mother of pearl tiles. Are they that rare, or are the tile store people in Ottawa just out to lunch??

    Kelly

    Kelly

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  7. I wouldn't call them rare, just unusual. They are kind of a designer-y thing and it's not real surprising that a tile store wouldn't know what you're talking about. This kind of stuff usually shows up in pretty high-end show rooms. When you see what it normally retails for you'll be really, really glad you're a member of the trade now!

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  8. These are really pretty. I do have a question, though, based on a project last year using a similar product. Because those, too, were staggered, there was no straight side on the L or R to end a row on an open wall. I asked if they had a glass mosaic straight-edged "bullnose" and was told no. The installer had to detach the end pieces, trim, flip and reattach. It was quite the process!

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  9. I don't know of any sheeted mosaic that doesn't end in a stagger come to think of it. I run into a similar problem because I like to have that brick pattern set vertically instead of horizontally. Typically, I have the installer cut the ends and then run them into a metal Schluter edge instead of ending in a bullnose. Pencil tile in a coordinated material will work too, but I like the seamless look of a metal edge. Here's Schluter's website: http://www.schluter.com/index.aspx

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  10. Paul, keeping in mind I am a blonde I have two questions for you:
    1)Is there a reason you prefer vertical installation for a brick pattern?
    2) Am I correct in comprehending that Schluter edges are visible when installation of the tiles are completed?

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  11. Yes, I like vertical installations because they're unexpected and interesting. And yes, a Schluter edge is intended to remain visible. I'll post some photos later today Brenda.

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