Copper Mosaic

Copper as a decorative material has been popular with designers and homeowners for a number of years now, and has become essential to modern living. It’s a great way to add instant warmth, industrial sophistication, and rustic glam to your interior. The latest idea is to mix the rose-tinted copper with other materials to create a more diversified and unique look.

Copper is one of only a few metallic elements with a natural colour other than grey or silver. It’s also one of the few metals that occur in nature in a directly usable metallic form. A freshly exposed surface of pure copper has a reddish-orange colour, but this changes when exposed to the air.

The metal’s distinctive, natural patina has long been coveted by architects and designers, and a green layer of verdigris (copper carbonate) can often be seen on old copper structures, such as the roofing of many older buildings. This final patina is a particularly durable layer that is highly resistant to corrosion, thereby protecting the underlying metal from further weathering.

Exposure to salt, moisture and sunlight in the form of natural weathering also lead to a gradual change in the surface colour of the copper mosaic tiles produced by the Australian company ALLOY. The final patina therefore depends on the environment in which the tiles have been installed. In general, copper changes in hue from a natural salmon through a progression of iridescent pinks, oranges and reds interspersed with brassy yellows, blues, greens and purples, russet browns, greys and finally to a blue-green or grey-green.

Copper mosaic tiles work just as well on the exterior as they do on the interior and are perfect for water features. If you prefer the original copper colour for the lifetime of the tile, we suggest using the ALLOY Titanium Amber tile, which isn’t susceptible to oxidisation. Whichever type you choose, ‘real’ copper or its titanium lookalike, you’ll have an exquisite decorative material, giving a contemporary twist to a very traditional look.