Various, colorful and always interesting small squares used to decorate floor and wall surfaces - material No. 1 in popularity among buyers of materials for repairs. This is ideal for mounting a mosaic apron in the kitchen.
About this material, today produced not only from ceramics or glass, but also other progressive materials, people have known since ancient Greece. The Romans and Greeks loved working with him and appreciated him for his unconventionality.
Having collected a whole set of small multi-colored particles, it was possible to put together a full-fledged colorful picture to complement the interior. What can we say about the kitchen apron, which after finishing with mosaic acquires new properties. This masterpiece - an apron of glass mosaic for the kitchen - can be created with your own hands, because the mosaic is unpretentious in maintenance and does not require special skills for installing the coating. On the contrary, this process is interesting and fascinating.
There is not one type of mosaic, but each of the types has its own characteristics. There are little tricks and secrets. Which ones - read on.
Types of mosaics and texture of the material
A distinctive feature of the mosaic is the variety of options available for making a kitchen apron. On sale at least a dozen species that differ in design and composition. Out of all the abundance, there are several basic categories that are most often used when working with an apron.
Varieties of mosaics
Here, firstly, the materials used directly for the manufacture of mosaics in the kitchen for an apron are considered. Some of them are even combined among themselves, and such combinations look more than successful. Check out the main categories of materials used to make mosaics in the kitchen for an apron. The photo below shows an example of the design of the wall at the work surface.
Ceramics
Classic is one of the most affordable options. The surface of the mosaic can be glazed and matte. This type of decor has one secret. Small squares can be made not only in the form of tiny tiles, the installation of which is time-consuming, but also in the form of unique “mosaic” modules.
Such models can reach several meters in length. On the basis of the products, small pieces of tile are attached, separated by slots or special lines. This block is no different from ordinary mosaics, but it is mounted on the wall up to 5 times faster.
Porcelain Tiles
Material characterized by:
- strength;
- moisture resistant;
- lack of sensitivity to temperature extremes.
A rock
In this embodiment, both natural rock and artificial stone are used, which is advantageous in choosing and creates the effect of a rough surface.
Glass
A translucent finish looks spectacular, especially if the structure contains small bright inclusions or shiny particles.
These are all the same tiny tiles made of real glass. The particles are connected together by a mesh base, so that even uneven surfaces can be tiled with such a mosaic.
The main advantage of the material is its wide possibilities. Glass visually expands the space, giving the interior a touch of festivity.
Make a glass mosaic for the kitchen on an apron in St. Petersburg is not a problem. Due to its popularity, the service is custom-made in almost every major city in Russia.
Mirror surface
This option should be considered last as an interior solution for the kitchen, since for a room where something is constantly boiling and bubbling, a mirror is a soiled version, although it looks very beautiful and contributes to extravagant visual effects.
For some, the mirror apron is too pretentious, because it's still a kitchen! Naturally, a completely mirrored surface in such a room can be ridiculous, but individual inclusion of elements in a mosaic canvas does not look so bad. The squares blend perfectly with glass or ceramic. The interior is immediately transformed: the decor becomes more voluminous, and the texture is more saturated.
The main feature of the material is its reflective property, which gives the kitchen additional shine and saturation with light.
Metal mosaic
A kind of mosaic in which metal plates in the form of squares are superimposed on a ceramic base. In 90% of cases it is made of stainless steel and is used mainly in the design of a mosaic apron in the kitchen in the style of hi-tech, loft, postmodern.
This type of cladding is not so common in everyday life and is often used for decorating surfaces in boutiques and salons, less often in the interior of residential premises.
The combination of ceramic and metal brings a sense of scale to the interior.
Smalt
This is a new type of material based on the strong connection of glass and metal oxides. It is becoming more common.
Polymers
This category includes acrylic and epoxy products. The group of polymeric materials includes PVC tiles used for mosaics.
Species diversity of modules
These are mainly paper or mesh substrates. These materials help to keep particles on a single matrix, which greatly simplifies the process of lining an apron from a mosaic for the kitchen. Although the piece items are not so difficult to find, and with their help you can combine a unique picture, trying on the role of designer.
Important! Purchased mosaic for the kitchen is used much more often than laying individual particles with your own hands, as this takes a lot of time.
Features of paper substrates
Separate pieces of the mosaic are glued to the paper, because the facing is performed "face down." After the surface dries, the layer of paper remaining on the outside is easily removed, revealing an interesting pattern and texture of the mosaic.
Polyvinyl chloride bases
In this embodiment, all the details are glued back to the mesh, providing perfect adhesion to the wall when using adhesive solution. The better the adhesive, the better its adhesive performance.
Mosaic shape and size
There are various mosaic release configurations for a kitchen apron. Modules can consist of particles of the same type or can be folded into a web of tiles that are combined with each other. Regardless of the form of release of the product, they differ in such parameters:
- The shape and can be: standard - square and rectangular. Triangular, round, hexagonal honeycombs, irregularly shaped elements and others are less common.
- The dimensions. This parameter varies within 20x20 mm - 50-70 mm. In rectangular mosaic paintings, elements with different shapes and parameters are usually combined. Wall varieties are 3-5 mm thick.
Important! The matrices themselves, for the most part, are produced in the form of squares of the format 15x15 cm - 30x30 cm.
Design Features: Variations on a Theme
An invaluable advantage of this type of lining is the variety of design solutions for mosaic design in the kitchen. An apron, as in the photo below, can turn out to be a bright point, an accent in the interior of a progressive kitchen.
Monotonous finish
Not everyone likes bright colors. Then you should pay attention to this option. The coating is one-color, the texture is slightly expressed, low-key.
Combinations of colorful elements
Multi-colored elements are successfully combined with each other. It can be monophonic shades from one palette or contrasting colors. A variegated coating can be created using even single bright inclusions of the mosaic, repeated according to the pattern.
Mosaic is used to recreate uniform or chaotic ornaments and even whole paintings. This technique is considered the most difficult in interior design.
Mosaic successfully combines with other finishing materials and surfaces of the interior of the kitchen.
Advantages and disadvantages
In Leroy, mosaic tiles for apron kitchens are one of the best solutions. And all thanks to an uncountable number of advantages and a limited number of disadvantages. Of the positive characteristics distinguish:
- Appearance: esthetic and effective. The surface looks stylish and modern, successfully complements the interior.
- A variety of design solutions. Using a mosaic, you can recreate any pattern or combination using small particles of different shapes, colors and sizes.
- Strength and wear resistance properties. The mosaic is perfectly cleaned without damage to the coating, does not fade after 3-5 years.
- Hygiene material. The surface finished with mosaic is reliably protected from water and moisture, grease and dirt. Fungi do not breed under the apron, and its surface is rarely covered with mold.
- Easy installation using modular mosaic tiles.
- Possibility to clad smooth and deformed surfaces;
- Easy to clean, wet cleaning.
Some of the disadvantages are:
- The high cost of the material. The price range is from 50 to 3000 rubles. This is one of the most expensive materials for finishing a kitchen apron.
- High demands on the surface: it must be perfectly even, without differences in height, so that the tile lies perfectly even.
Some rules for installing mosaic
First, prepare the area for the mosaic for the kitchen on the apron (in Leroy Merlin there is a large selection for every taste). Processing requires:
- eliminate irregularities by carefully plastering the walls;
- primer and treat the surface with an antiseptic;
- install strips or metal strips at the level of the lower edge, which will help to avoid sliding the modules down the wet adhesive solution;
- marking the area for laying mesh blocks.
Experts advise further work according to the algorithm:
- Apply mortar to the wall, leveling with a notched trowel. For glass mosaics, white glue is recommended.
- Attach the module to the wall and press it lightly. Wipe the top with a soft cloth or cloth to finally smooth the surface.
- Having laid the apron completely, fill the seams with trowel mastic (fugue), after drying it, thoroughly rinse the surface of the finished apron.
Important! For an apron laid out from transparent materials, special epoxy fillers are used. Relief and rough surfaces are treated using a syringe to avoid contamination of the tile and unwanted traces of glue on it.
What tools and materials to prepare for working with mosaic
Useful in work:
- adhesive mixture, matched to the color and for a specific type of decor;
- set of spatulas;
- sponge;
- grout for joints;
- fiberglass mesh.
Mosaic in the kitchen on the apron: how to stack the modules
To equip the apron in the working area of the kitchen on the wall, there are a number of tasks to be performed:
- At the beginning of work, the surface must be prepared by cleaning from dust and mud deposits.
- Draft the primer by brushing.
- Unscrew the surface using plaster or finishing putty, repairing small cracks, and get rid of irregularities.
- Apply a coat of topcoat.
- After the primer dries, you can begin to finish the surface of the apron for the kitchen with mosaics (from Leroy, for example).
Tiling
In order to explain in detail the installation process of the mosaic, check out an example of the most complex process - decorating walls with small tiles. Contrasting with such a task, facing with modules seems like child's play. Follow the steps in accordance with the instructions:
- Lay out a fiberglass mesh with 2 mm mesh on paper.
- Scrupulously lay the glass mosaic for the apron on the surface of the base, creating your own unique pattern.
- Lightly fix the tiles on the base, using universal glue in a small amount for this (1 drop will be enough).
- Having laid the apron under the mosaic in the kitchen on the “draft”, take up moving it to the wall.
- Dissolve the glue according to the instructions and apply to the wall using a serrated middle spatula. Immediately do not cover the entire wall area, confine yourself to small sections - up to four blocks.
- Plastic crosses will help fix the tiles on the draft.
- It turns out that styling is not such a difficult matter. The installation of ceramic or glass mosaics for the kitchen on the apron can be considered complete. It remains only to process the seams, rubbing them with a special paste a day after finishing.
In the photo below you can see what a white kitchen looks like with a mosaic apron.
It is clear that the installation of large tiles, where the particles are arranged in the correct order and combined from several colors, takes less time and effort. The complexity of this process is compared with the gluing of traditional ceramic tiles.
Mosaic is an ideal solution for decorating a kitchen apron, and any skilled craftsman can cope with the task of laying mosaic tiles.