An Ikat-Inspired Mosaic For a London Apartment

For this London-based project, we turned the bright, woven patterns of a South Asian Ikat rug into a hand-cut glass tile wall.

“The contrast between the traditional, colorful Ikat pattern and a modern black centerpiece sounded like such a cool match.”

— Design Team

Project Type Feature Wall
LOCATION London, UK
DesignerMEC Artworks Design Studio
Duration 6 Weeks (Concept to Fabrication)
Year 2025
Materials Hand-Cut Vitreous Glass Mosaic Tiles in Emerald Green, Jade, Vibrant Turquoise, Opaque White, and Jet Black Tones, Fine Non-Sanded Bright White Grout

We designed this colorful mosaic to sit right behind a smooth, sculptural black sink, making the entire room pop.

How It All Started

This project marked the continuation of a creative relationship that began years ago.

Our first collaboration with Saskia was for her tea room in Nassau, Bahamas, she asked us to help her create something truly special: a large, hand-cut floral mosaic wall that felt fresh, colorful, and inviting.

This time, instead of floral artwork, Saskia wanted to recreate the look and feel of an Ikat pattern rug as a large-scale mosaic feature wall measuring 258 × 105 cm.  

Translating this bohemian pattern into mosaic was a fun challenge for our design team.

Getting the Color Right

The design took shape through a series of email exchanges, where Saskia shared reference images, pattern details, and colour notes.

The first mosaic layout captured the pattern, but Saskia wanted to push the darker areas further. 

I wanted to include some black glass bits in the darker parts of the design, including in the outlines of the patterns.” 

She sent another email reinforcing her desire for dark yet subtle tones.

“I am not looking for solid black, but a melange of dark tones with some black included to capture the rich variations of color in the design.”

Design Development

Initial Sketches

The first digital mock-ups established the overall composition, scale, and relationship between the mosaic and the surrounding interior.

Revisions

We went through a round of revisions to ensure that the mosaic was exactly what our client wanted. 

Color Palette & Materials

Working closely with Saskia, our designers softened these areas by introducing warm brown marble alongside charcoal tesserae, creating subtle ombré transitions instead of solid outlines.

Fabrication Photos

Behind the scenes of artisan craftsmanship:

““I love the colors, details, and movement in the mosaic!”

— Saskia

During the review process, Saskia pointed out that certain motifs appeared too frequently, making parts of the mosaic feel predictable.

Together, we adjusted the composition by removing, rebuilding, and repositioning several sections of the pattern. These changes were subtle, but they transformed the finished artwork. The design retained the essence of the original textile while feeling more relaxed, handcrafted, and interesting.  

Production, International Shipping & Installation Support

“It looks absolutely amazing.”

— Saskia

Once the design was approved, our artisans carefully assembled the mosaic by hand, following every revision developed during the consultancy phase. After production, the artwork was prepared for secure international shipping from our studio to London.

To make installation straightforward, each section of the mosaic was mounted, numbered, and packed alongside a detailed installation guide showing exactly where every sheet belonged.

Even after delivery, our team remained available to answer installation questions and provide after-sales support, ensuring the completed feature wall reflected the approved design.

Want to imagine how a mosaic could look in your space? Our AI Mosaic Tool lets you visualise bespoke designs within your chosen interior, helping you explore ideas before moving into the design stage.

FAQs

Our design consultancy is a collaborative process where we work closely with clients, architects, and interior designers to develop a mosaic that feels connected to the overall interior.

The process typically includes concept development, digital design revisions, colour exploration, and material selection.

Colour selection is one of the most important stages of our design process.

We consider the inspiration behind the design, the surrounding architecture, lighting conditions, and the atmosphere the client wants to create. 

Yes. We regularly collaborate with interior designers and architects who are looking for a unique artistic element for residential and commercial spaces.

Our team can support projects from the early creative stage, helping develop concepts and material directions, through to production, shipping, and installation guidance.

uilt around collaboration, allowing ideas to develop through conversations, feedback, and careful refinement.

During the consultation stage, clients can share their inspiration, reference images, preferred colours, architectural details, and the feeling they want the finished mosaic to create within the space. Our designers then translate these ideas into initial concepts, exploring composition, scale, pattern direction, and material options.

As the design develops, clients have the opportunity to review digital mock-ups and provide feedback on key elements such as colour balance, pattern movement, level of contrast, and overall atmosphere. These discussions are especially valuable when working with complex inspirations, such as textiles, artwork, or historical motifs, where capturing the character of the original reference requires thoughtful interpretation rather than simple reproduction.

Verified Client Reviews & Experiences

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