Last updated on January 3rd, 2021 at 01:28 pm
Producing large custom concrete tiles can be very rewarding. These tiles can be assembled indoors or out, and have an infinite range of color-matching possibilities. Creative possibilities for incorporating custom relief molds of Leafs, Wood, etc can yield amazing results, especially when downlit with our simple lighting system described at the end of this blog.
Large format concrete tiles as thin as 1/4” can be fabricated in any shape desired. They are excellent for bathrooms, living rooms, and outdoor walls and can be waterproofed. Several examples below show the versatility and creativity possible with concrete wall tiles.
Concrete Wall Tile Leaf Mold
Large format Leaf castings of Palm leafs, made at Downing Designs shows how beautiful these castings can become. This mold is 9 feet tall and 5 feet wide and ¾” inch deep. It only weighs 450lbs…pretty light vs the HUGE concrete countertops and concrete sinks we make that are often 800lbs+.
Notice how acute spot lighting from above really highlights the rib structure…closer examination of the overlapping areas shows us that both leafs’ ribs transmit through onto the concrete and are revealed in great detail this is a beautiful calm piece.
Concrete Wall Tile leaf casting
Concrete Wall Tile leaf casting dramatic lighting
Mondrian Wall Tile Mosaics
Taking inspiration from the artist Piet Mondrian we produced a series of residential installations one in the living room, one in the bathroom. By using different thickness concrete wall tile with varying colors mixed and matched it produced a Mondrian like Mosaic in very large format. Installation is simple and could have been done by any competent wall tile installer. Once again, down lighting from the ceiling dramatized the differences in wall tile thicknesses and really makes an artistic statement in both rooms.
Concrete Wall Tile Large Custom: Mondrian
Bath with concrete Wall tile shower ala Mondrian
Bath with concrete Wall tile with 10 degree spotlights
Contemporary Bath with concrete Wall tile shower
Custom Concrete Wall Tile
We can piece together a mosaic plan scale model for you that sketches out the possibilities and shows you what the final product would look like.
Any color is possible with concrete wall tiles. We can match any color you desire from a Benjamin Moore color deck or color swatch you send to us.
Concrete is an excellent material to use Outdoors since it is immune to UV light and harsh hot/cold weather. Concrete roofing tiles will last 100’s of years. Take a look at the structure of the Sunshine Skyway Bridge and you will note that it’s caissons are concrete. The pigments we use are battle-tested from decades of concrete roof tiles where they have survived UV light, hard freezing conditions, and acidic droppings from animals.
Our favorite wall washing Spotlight combination is described below it is very inexpensive to achieve an amazing effect and we strongly recommend you look at these materials
3” Recessed Ceiling mount gimble light
Ceiling Lighting
Its $11.00 Its wet rated. Its well-made (I have 5 of these in my home). Makes positioning of the light wash easy.
The bulbs we recommend for dramatic lighting are SORAA…either 10degree tight spotlights or 25 degree narrow spotlights. These are less than $30.
Each fixture costs you ~$40…and they are simple to wire in concert to achieve the desired effect. Not sure where to place these??? Duct tape one of these fixtures properly wired to an extension cord to an 8’ 2”x2” wood stick and hold it close to the ceiling and watch the effect. Mark the spot and cut your ceiling. Simple.