Category: Lifestyle

5 Steps to Your Dream Kitchen and Bath

Renovations are a major undertaking, but there’s no need for them to be all-consuming. Designing your dream kitchen and bath is easier than you might think. 

It all comes down to finding the right inspiration, being mindful of your design choices, and calling in the experts when needed. Follow these five steps to ensure your kitchen and bath remodel is as seamless and stress-free as possible. 

1. Choose Materials Wisely

Consider opting for materials that will stand the test of time. While they may be more expensive up front, you won’t have to worry about replacing items every five to ten years or having something break and require repairs. Quality wood flooring, concrete structures, and steel windows and doors are some of the most durable options out there. 

When it comes to tile, backsplashes, and other accents, natural stones such as marble and granite are a worthy investment. Not only do they look beautiful, but they are water, stain, and scratch resistant, meaning–with proper maintenance–they can last a lifetime.

A mosaic made with natural stone is a durable accent piece that provides beauty and functionality to your dream kitchen.

2. Don’t Act on Impulse

Take your time and find inspiration that resonates with you. Building your dream kitchen or bath is a process and you don’t want to end up making design decisions you’ll regret. 

Start by exploring different design styles and discover what kind of looks resonate with you. From there, you can search for inspiration for that type of interior design and piece together a kitchen or bath that you’ll love.

Before you make a final decision, a good rule of thumb is to sleep on it for at least a night or two. This is especially important for design decisions that will affect the outline and functionality of the space, or those that are difficult to change once installed.

3. Don’t Just Focus on Looks

Speaking of functionality, it’s a good idea to spend some time in your space and imagine how different design ideas may improve or impact how you’ll be able to move about the kitchen or bath. For example, out of convenience, you probably won’t want your kitchen sink and dishwasher on opposite ends of the room. Something to consider in your bathroom is where you’ll place fixtures, such as towel bars, hooks, and lighting.

Consider how you will use your space before committing to a floor plan and design.

4. Work with a Design Professional

To really bring your dream kitchen and bath to life, it’s not a bad idea to leave the interior design to the professionals. That way, you won’t have to second guess whether your flooring will match your cabinets or if your vanity has the storage solutions you really need. Plus, they can help you narrow down a design style and commit to a cohesive look and feel to your space. 

Nautical Design
Art Deco Design
Traditional Design
Bohemian Design
Farmhouse Design
Minimalist Design

5. Tie Your Dream Kitchen and Bath Together with Art

Your dream kitchen and bath likely don’t include bare walls. Fine art can help to put the finishing touch on your space after a remodel; you can even create your entire dream kitchen or bath around one piece of art that gives you a stroke of inspiration. Either way, you’ll want to add a personal touch with artwork that is meaningful to you.

For a versatile option, a mosaic piece can come in many shapes and forms. Place one in your floor, use it as a backsplash, include a tile border, or choose bold mosaic artwork to make a statement.

This bathroom would feel incomplete without this butterfly mosaic as a finishing touch.

Don’t put too much pressure on perfection

Stressing too much about designing your dream kitchen or bath will take all the fun out of it. Remember, don’t rush. Invest your time, not just your money. It will be worth the wait.

In need of inspiration? Browse hundreds of mosaic designs from Mosaic Natural or reach out to design your own custom piece to complete your dream kitchen and bath.

Decor Ideas for a Minimalist Studio Apartment

When it comes to styling a studio apartment, opting for a minimalist interior design has its benefits. But just because it’s minimalist doesn’t mean it has to be uninspired. If you’re in need of decor ideas for a minimalist studio apartment, you’ve come to the right place. 

Even with a minimalist approach, designing a studio apartment is all about maximizing space. All it takes is a little bit of creativity, including using wall space to your advantage. One of the easiest ways to do this is with art that evokes the minimalist aesthetic while adding a touch of personality to your space.

Artwork with a monochromatic color scheme

A monochromatic palette is one of the tenets of minimalist design. Lean into this design trend by choosing one color with a range of hues you can incorporate into your space. These varying hues will help give your studio apartment dimension without appearing bland.

This color palette should carry over to your decor as well, including wall art. The right piece will draw the eye through the room without overpowering the elements around it. Even if it’s meant to be a centerpiece, it shouldn’t be distracting or feel out of place.

Earth tones are some of the most popular colors chosen for minimalist spaces due to their versatility. These mosaics are the perfect example of how a monochromatic color scheme can create dynamic works of art. Choose from Green Leaves, Mixed Flowers, Oasis Palm, or a Brown Flower mosaic.

Brown Flower Petals Mosaic Tile
Mixed White Flowers with Green Accents Mosaic Wall Art
Large Oasis Palm Mural Mosaic Wall Art
Bordered Green Leaves Pattern Mosaic Wall Art

Designs with subtle patterns

For folks who are willing to go beyond the monochromatic, there are plenty of ways to style an apartment that’s still very minimalist at its core. Decor with subtle patterns and repeating imagery can help to keep things simple while adding some much-needed contrast to the room.

With a little creative license, you can add a conversation-starting piece to your minimalist studio apartment without detracting too much from the simplicity you seek. Opt for a more understated piece like this Sunflower Trio or incorporate a pop of color with something like these Two Colorful Birds.

Sunflower Trio Mosaic Wall Art
Two Small Colorful Birds Meeting Atop Flowers Mosaic Wall Art

Simple imagery

With minimalism, less is more. You don’t want artwork that is going to make your apartment feel crowded or busy. A minimalist space is elegant in its simplicity.

This mosaic embodies this principle of minimalism; its name says it all. A Single Daisy on a Stone Background is a mosaic that will breathe life into a room without taking away from its fundamental design.

Pieces featuring clean lines

Nothing complements a minimalist design more than accents with effortlessly clean lines. Choose a piece that stands out or one that blends into the fold; either way, you can’t go wrong with this look for your studio apartment.

If you’re leaning toward a sharp, contrasting design, this Black Compass Mosaic hits all the right notes. For a more subtle play on clean lines, this Thoughtful Woman Mosaic is the epitome of the minimalist aesthetic.

The perfect addition to a minimalist studio apartment

Whether you’re looking to make a statement or to find the piece that will tie your space together, it’s important to be intentional with your design choices. Nothing will make your studio apartment feel more like home than curating it with artwork you’ve hand-selected for your space. 

For a piece of art that will stand the test of time, consider adding a handcrafted mosaic to your home’s minimalist decor. Browse designs or customize your own at www.mosaicnatural.com.

8 Celebrity Homes in Need of Mosaics

What is it about celebrity homes that is so entrancing? For many, it’s the feeling of being able to peek into a world far from our own—one where indoor pools, custom chandeliers, and sprawling gardens are commonplace. Seeing how celebrities bring their personal style to their spaces allows us to get a rare glimpse into their lives outside of the spotlight, as we notice what colors, textures, lighting, and art they choose to incorporate into their homes. 

Customization is a common theme of these houses. Each tour shows how the actors, musicians, or tastemakers brought in their personal style. Today, we’re thinking like designers and have matched eight of our favorite celebrity homes, taken from the Architectural Digest home tours, with a mosaic from our catalog, building upon their personal style with our own. Our mosaics help to bring a higher sense of elegance and artistic flair to any space, and we’d love to see them in any of these homes:

Jessica Alba

For businesswoman and actor Jessica Alba, her home is a clean and classic sanctuary for the family. The palette is primarily created from neutrals, with soft tans and creams paired with dusky and patinated grays. It exudes quiet elegance, with gentle light pouring in from the ample windows and an emphasis on creating a space that is all about family. For Jessica’s home, we’d recommend our Cream Rug Mosaic. This piece fits nicely in a variety of layouts and features scratch-resistant tiles, making it a great choice for a busy family.

Devin Booker

NBA start Devin Booker’s Arizona home is elegant and masculine, where mid-century touches are blended with contemporary textiles and textures. Amber and chocolate shades dominate the space, giving it a homey and timeless look. We love the idea of continuing the home’s modern sensibility with a modern mosaic—for his space, we’d pick the Rectangular Pattern Mosaic. This piece combines the old-world aesthetic of mosaics with a contemporary, abstract pattern that fits quite nicely with the many textures present in Devin’s home.

Maggie Gyllenhaal and Peter Saarsgaard

It’s always interesting to see how creative people bring the feeling of their city into their homes, and Maggie Gyllenhaal and Peter Saarsgaard have done so beautifully in their Brooklyn brownstone. From the marble sink to the old-world fireplace to the brick wall, their apartment feels particularly Brooklyn-ish. It even has a mosaic already—a lovely rendering of a bear, which would pair perfectly with our Tree Marble Mosaic. We think Maggie and Peter would appreciate the aged, organic feel of this piece and find the perfect place in their cozy space.

Hilary Duff

Much like herself, actor Hilary Duff’s home is fun, energetic, and full of life. A space for her family to live with joy and enthusiasm, the Los Angeles home is filled with dynamic patterns and playful shapes. And nothing says fun and sunshine like a pineapple, which is why we think this Pineapple Motif Mosaic is a great choice for Hilary and her family.

Alicia Keys and Swizz Beats

Bold personality and elegant statement pieces are at the forefront of musician power couple Alicia Keys and Swizz Beats’s oceanfront home: abstract, futuristic sofas sit next to sculptural side tables, under an undulating ceiling. Unique and colorful art objects and wall works punctuate various aspects of the space, nodding to the couple’s creative energies. For a place like theirs, we’d recommend this Flower Mosaic, which features a large, detailed blossom and would look fantastic next to their art collection.

Dakota Johnson

Nature is the focus for actor Dakota Johnson—her home features warm, sunny greens and plenty of raw and natural materials. The antique-leaning furniture, like her velvet sofa in a dusty caramel tone or the well-loved living room rug, communicate a sense of comfort and willingness to open up her home to guests—it has a real California energy. For this home, we’d recommend our White Wildflowers in a Green Vase Mosaic. The natural, hand-crafted beauty of this mosaic goes well with both the tones and feeling of Dakota’s space and would look beautiful dappled in the afternoon sunlight.

Kendall Jenner

Model Kendall Jenner may be relatively young, but her taste in interior design bridges old and new in a manner that demonstrates her appreciation for the range of design history. While antique wood comes into play throughout much of the house, arches are the predominant decorative motif—an ancient and familiar shape that endows her space with a royal, Mediterranean atmosphere. We’d suggest matching those arches with one of our own: the Woman in Archway Mosaic complements the architecture of the house, as well as the antiques in Kendall’s collection.

Michael Kors

With a view of Manhattan, it doesn’t take much to create the perfect apartment. Such is the case for designer Michael Kors’s relatively quiet and minimalist New York space, where dark wood and subdued colors allow impactful wall art and the stunning view to take center stage. To match the view and Michael’s art selections, we’d recommend our Woman Comforts Herself Mosaic, which offers a striking addition to his walls.