Accent Tiles/Borders

Tuscany Backsplash Scene

The creation of our custom glass works is truly a "process" involving multiple steps (design, sampling, color selection, construction, etc.). In the photos below we will give you a pictorial step by step description of the process.

In August 2008 we were contacted by Alan and Georgia (our clients) with a keen interest in doing something extra special and artistic in the main backsplash section of their newly renovated kitchen. They found us through an extensive search on the internet. It is an important decision for our clients so they decided to travel from Tennessee to Charlotte to meet with us at our design center in Pineville. After a day and a half meeting they placed their order and our game plan was in place. We decided to combine both our mosaic and fused glass skills into the project. The main design elements will be in fused glass to give dimension and texture to the custom glass work. The intricate mosaic work would allow us to tie the fused glass design elements together and to bring in more coloring possibilities.

Georgia and Alan wanted the focal area of the backsplash (the area below the range hood) to have the most detail and then the design to fade back on either side of the chimney.

HERE WE GO!!! Our plan is to take photos along the way and post them so you make track our progress. Let us know how you think we are doing and please feel free to make suggestions. You may contact us here

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During the initial meeting, Georgia, Alan and Saundra zeroing in on a design detail

Saundra and Georgia working on the full scale design. We attached a blank piece of paper to one of our two overhead doors and set it at the height that the backsplash will be mounted to the backsplash so we could all get the proper perspective. The white styrofoam will be where the range hood falls in the backsplash area. This to scale design by Saundra is beign created before our client's eyes.

Close up of the Tuscany scene to fall below the range hood

Sifting through glass samples surrounding piece of client's granite countertop

Starting to put together some of the fused glass design elements. All of the components are glass in that has been cut, stretched, or crushed. The wrought iron railings were pulled and twisted on a torch.

Design pieces awaiting firing to 1370 degrees in one of our kilns.)

Placing some of the fused glass design elements on the master template. We are not real happy with the right side of the house so will show you later our remedy. Alan provided us with templates of his backsplash area. The scene will be created on three panels using tile board cut to fit the space. All of our glass work will be adhered to the panels in our design center for easy installation. We are also discussing our pre-grouting the panels to make it even easier for the homeowner to install.

Here we are starting to bring together the components of the larger house including the bushes behind. The stone bridge is a mosaic of broken pieces of streaky brown/gray colored glass.

Close-up of the larger Tuscany home. The roof has wonderful texture.

Time for the fused glass sailboat to go into our small kiln

Added some trees and hillside sections to the upper panels.

Laying out many of the design elements. There is a surprise design feature on the smaller home which we will leave as a surprise for Georgia and Alan.

Adding the orange sunset section in fused glass with dichroic glass accents and sparkle.

Adding some fused glass water sections (pre-firing). Note the tree added to the right side of the main house.

Adding some texture and irridescence to the water (pre-firing). These textured layers will be fired and melted into the streaky blue water coloring.

Here we have fused the water sections and used iridized herringbone clear, ripple clear and dichroic frits for interest and texture. Skillful glass cutting and modest grinding were required to get all of the water sections to fit together.

Are my eyes deceiving me or did Georgia get her swan afterall?

Here is a close-up of the swan.

Here is a close-up of the smaller house (the house with the surprise)

We are working on the grass sections on the bottom of the main panel. We are adding more cypress trees and bushes. When we are finally happy with the fused glass design elements we will glue them to the tile board. The final steps will involve mosaic work to tie everything together.

Here is some greenery for the lower left hand corner

and some greenery for the lower right hand corner

The right side is starting to look pretty good

and the left side as well

The lower section is really shaping up

It is back in the kiln one last time for the finishing touches on the main design elements. Here we have added some foreground bushes to the small house.

Here we have added a base layer to the tree so it will stand our from its mosaic tile surroundings.

Here we have added some delicate vines to the side of the house and draping from the wrought iron railing.

Here we have glued down the fused glass design elements and getting ready to sculpt in the hand-cut mosaic tiles.

We have started adding the mosaic tiles and you can see how the scene is starting to really pull together.

It's time to add the intricate mosaic work and today was a good day with a lot of progress (see below). We only have to add the mosaic water section and time to start thinking about grout color(s).

Happy to report another good day with the mosaic work and sculpting in some stained glass sections for the water, combining iridescent and textured glass in various shades of blue. The tiles that fall at the seams where the three panels meet have not been glued down. These will be glued once the panels are installed on the backsplash wall with a combination of screws and adhesive. Some touch up grouting will be required around these replaced tiles.

We are now ready to grout the three panels.

Here is a closer view of the water sections added today.

Today is grouting day and Mickey came to the design center to help. We chose a Delorean Gray grout color because we felt this medium gray would complement the glass work and colors and certainly not steal the show.

Here is Mickey grouting

Close up of grouting (nice work Mickey)

Here is the left panel grouted (please pardon my feet)

and the right panel grouted

and the bottom panel

Now all that remains is a little clean-up and signing by the artists (Saundra & Tom)

Here we have digitally installed the custom Tuscany scene panels into our client's backsplash

Additional photos of the backsplash installed