Inspiration: Mosaic Tiles

I've always loved glass mosaic tiles!  Their glossy and almost ethereal look always mesmerizes me!  I cannot wait to visit Italy this summer to see some gorgeous mosaics that are hundreds, if not thousands, of years old.  One particular example is from the Florence Baptistery:

This is the ceiling.  No, it's not painted, it's glass mosaics, many of the pieces are the size of your pinkie finger nail.  So tiny but so effective as a whole!  (Click on the photo to take you to the source.)

This is a close up...still looks a lot like a painting, but it's mosaics!  Amazing!  (Click on the photo for source.)

I ran across this more modern company, New Ravenna Mosaics, and absolutely fell in love with their product!  Here are a few of my favorites from their gallery:

P.S. I've got a pretty good list of things to see and do in Florence and Rome but  if anyone has a favorite store, restaurant, or overlooked site that I must visit please let me know!

Architectural Glass

I've always loved looking at glass!  I even took a class on stained glass to see how it was done!  Architectural glass is a great feature to add to your home!  The architectural glass will withstand lots of abuse and is usually tempered, so that if it were to break, it would be in lots of small pieces, instead of lots of dangerous shards.  Try using architectural glass as a divider wall, inset into office door, for a counter top, shower door, above your fireplace mantle, or any number of other uses!  These are a few of my favorite glass patterns:

1. Countertop from Hirsch Glass Corporation

2. Divider Wall from Nathan Allan Glass Studio

3. Door Insert from UltraGlas

4. Partition from Galaxy Glass and Stone

Collections-How to Display Them

Many of us have small collections of items that we'd like to display but just don't know how.  I've found a few good photos  recently of different, unique ways to display your collections.  Just click on the picture to be taken directly to the source.

Collections of Globes.  love the red one!

Collections of Vases

Collections of Letters

Collections of Plates.

Do you have objects you collect?  How do you display them?

Beautiful Dairy House

This beautiful extension was added on to an existing dairy house and houses 2 bathrooms.  The reflection of light is accomplished by alternating oak and glass.  There is also a sitting pool off the back.  Doesn't this just make you want to take a retreat here?  It's a perfect combination of rustic and serene.

{As seen via Arch Daily}