February 27, 2023
Two Wall Panel Collections Experimenting with Surfaces and Textures
Pattern Play
The conventional stone mosaic gets a refreshing update in Sfera, a collection by New York–based designer Alison Rose, which can be specified for walls and floors including wet zones such as showers. Circular waterjet-cut quartz layered with disks of Carrara, Calacatta, and Nero marble seems arranged randomly, but actually forms repeating triplets of stone in mixed finishes—a hallmark of Rose’s previous Bauhaus-inspired mosaic for Artistic Tile. This time, her geometric pattern play (available in Grafite, Lilac, and Verde colorways) was inspired by biological cell movement. Perhaps that’s one reason why visually the orbs appear to bounce across the surface with a life of their own.
Wood Wins
Geometry enlivens traditional wood paneling in new mosaic-style versions from one family-owned U.S. manufacturer. Hex Wood Mosaic wall panels are among the latest styles The Wood Veneer Hub has engineered to lend interest to both exterior and interior walls. Available in boxes of ten tile-like units, the panels measure roughly 12.5 by 11 inches, are made from hemlock and Douglas fir, and are thermally modified at a super-high kiln temperature instead of being chemically treated to resist insects, moisture, and rot. The manufacturer also recycles its sawdust and wood scraps from the production process.
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