Hummingbird Mosaic for a Kitchen Backsplash

A client commissioned these custom mosaics to honor a hummingbird-loving family member. They were renovating their kitchen and wanted to include this special memory in the new backsplash.

The client provided imagery of hummingbirds they associated with their family member, as well as fabric and tile samples related to the renovation. We ended up designing two different hummingbirds:

• one hummingbird in darker colors to match the inspiration image

• the other hummingbird in lighter colors to coordinate with the new kitchen.

You can see in the sketch we originally thought we’d create a green border around the hummingbird but ultimately decided to leave it off.

Hummingbird mosaic image inspiration

Hummingbird mosaic sketch

Lighter hummingbird mosaic material selection

Darker hummingbird mosaic material selection

Darker hummingbird mosaic in progress

Once the two mosaics were complete, we installed the darker one in a custom metal frame. We grouted the lighter mosaic, leaving a gap around outside edge to allow it to be installed in the new backsplash.

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You can see the lighter hummingbird installed in the backsplash below. It’s always such an honor to work on projects that are personally meaningful to the client.

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A few custom table bases

Here are a few custom tables Kyle designed and created with his assistant Kallen over the last few months.

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This table was created for a couple that needed a base to go with their existing butcher block top. Kyle created a hefty design to visually and physically support the thick top. The feet rest on casters so it can be easily moved about the kitchen as needed. You can see the finished table with the top installed below.

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Next up are a pair of large coffee tables for a hotel in the Washington, DC area. The client for these tables requested designs inspired by gears. Kyle had a lot of fun creating these two coordinating tables. These are some seriously substantial tables! They weigh in at about 300 lbs each. Good thing the hotel won’t need to move them often once installed.

Below are a few work-in-process shots of each table, as well as photos of the finished tables and detail shots of each table.

If you have a custom table or base idea you’ve been wanting to bring to life, feel free to reach out to us! And if you’re new to custom work, never fear. We’ll walk you through each step of the process.

"Magic Carpet Ride" custom mosaic

This client reached out to us about creating a custom mosaic for a specific location in their kitchen. We used colors and nature themes found throughout their house in the design of this piece.

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A series of process shots from idea sketches to color palette, through the creation of the finished piece. We used Italian smalti, an opaque glass and traditional mosaic material, for the leaf silhouettes and various glass and porcelain tiles for the background.

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The finished piece in our studio...

... and some detail shots plus the piece installed in their kitchen. The rippling background plus the night sky feeling of the gold-sprinkled blue inspired us to call this piece “Magic Carpet Ride.”