The Brief
A full bathroom re-tile in a period property in central Bromley. The client had chosen a Calacatta-effect hexagonal mosaic with gold metallic inlay strips between the hexagons. The tile covered the floor and all walls to full height. The bathroom included a walk-in shower area, a freestanding bath position, and a vanity wall.
The Challenge
Hexagonal mosaic is one of the most alignment-critical tile formats. The hexagons come on mesh-backed sheets, but the sheets need to join seamlessly -- any misalignment between sheets is immediately visible because the hexagonal pattern has no straight lines to hide behind. The gold inlay strips between hexagons must flow continuously from sheet to sheet. Any break in the gold line catches the eye. Additionally, the hexagonal format does not bend around corners the way rectangular tiles do. Internal and external corners require individual hexagons to be cut precisely to maintain the pattern flow.
The Solution
I stripped the walls back and re-boarded with tile backer board throughout to create a consistently flat, stable substrate. The hexagonal sheets were dry-laid on the floor first to plan the layout and identify the starting position that would give balanced cuts at all edges. I started from the most visible wall (the wall facing the door as you enter) and worked outward, checking alignment every three sheets. At internal corners, I cut individual hexagons by hand with a wet cutter to maintain the pattern flow. The gold inlay strips were individually positioned at each corner junction to keep the metallic lines continuous.
The Result
The finished bathroom has the quality of a premium hotel installation. The hexagonal pattern flows unbroken across all walls and the floor. The gold inlay creates a subtle metallic grid that catches the light. No visible sheet joints. Balanced cuts at every edge. The client had the bathroom featured in a local interiors blog.
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