“The meaning of insanity or dedication?”
Nicole could not wait 10 weeks for Daltile to deliver the custom color mosaic tile that she designed using their Mosaic Tile Designer. So she took matters into her own hands — literally. She bought the pieces and made her own mosaic tile floor.
Sure, it’s what we call “some therapy” to piece together a mosaic floor like this. But, the spaces that Nicole was having tiled were relatively small, so we surmise that the job was not … too mind boggling.
Nicole writes:
The meaning of insanity or dedication? I’m creating my own custom “random” pattern mosaic 12″ x 12″s because Daltile’s custom option takes 10 weeks. We’re redoing our family room. We wanted tile at the exterior door entry (3′ x 3′) and under the wood stove (4′ x 4′). Our contractor will be setting the tile into the floor and carpeting around it.
Basically the process to make each tile mosaic sheet is: Break apart the tiles; cut all the glue nubs off each tile; place and space (<<Amazonaffiliate link – I make a small commission if ya click and buy anything – Pam) the design; criss-cross tape over the top of the tiles; remove spacers; repeat.
Our contractor has been sooo great. I’m impressed that he’s willing to let me do this experiment in custom tile, and he and his employee have given support and ideas along the way. Thanks for the interest in my project. 🙂
A few days after our initial emails with Nicole, the project was done and she sent us a few photos of the finished floor. Kate tried to just count how many tiles were in each 12″ square of the pattern and her eyes crossed after counting to 60. Our hats are off to you, Nicole. For sure: We call it “dedication”!
Link: Daltile’s Mosaic Designer
More stories about designs using Daltile’s Mosaic Designer:
- Lookie the floor that Lauren created for her bathroom.
- Natalie and Graham use the Designer to create a floor for their doggie shower.
- Pam designs a pink-gray-cream mosaic tile floor using the Mosaic Designer, when we first discovered it.
chad sullivan says
LOVE IT….. gonna do the same thing for a shower wall mosaic i,m installing…. thats for all the info…
question for you… what was the tape you used? do you think that your technique would work on a wall application and not just on the floor?
thanks again and keep up the great tips…
sam says
Wow, this looks exactly like my 1970 bathroom floor! I’m renovating my bathroom and plan on keeping it, looking at doing a niche in the same colour / pattern to tie the new look of the bathroom with the old floor
carrie fradkin says
One of these days I’ll send more info on how to make this process easier. (making a template) But I think your readers are doing a fabulous job. There is a product “SimpleMat Adhesive Tile Setting Mat.” It eliminates having to put thinset on the wall or counter top. I believe the tile has to be at least 1 inch square but it might work on smaller tile if you are leaving it on the mesh.
Anne says
Hi –
So I might be doing something like this – breaking up sheets of hex tile to make my own pattern – I will not be showing the talent Nicole displayed – I’m not getting down to single tile, more strips of tile (doing a modified grey and white hex pattern in a large scale in a bathroom). Doing that, can I leave it on the back mesh in those strips?
I would use spacers between the separate strips.
Help!
Thanks,
Anne
pam kueber says
I don’t know the answer to this one
carrie fradkin says
Yes you can leave it on the mesh strips. Trim the mesh to the tile edge so the mesh won’t interfere with the spacers and stick out.
Scott says
I can’t even imagine attempting this but then to have it come out so perfectly too! The doggie shower (and photo of) are just priceless.
Somehow I missed the Daltile Mosiac Tile Designer before so I can’t wait to play around with that.