The original tiles were made of glazed porcelain. The Riverside Drive Collection rejuvenates the classic by crafting it from world-class European marble, like Thassos, Bianco Carrara, Statuary, Nero Marquina, and Crema Marfil. Hexes made of natural stone elevate the classic aesthetic with a richer visual experience, adding the attractive nuances of striated marble and flecks of crystalline quartz to the pattern. The finish is clearly refined – there’s nothing like the visual appeal of natural stone, and that quality shines through in
these patterns.
modern
Classics
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Pre-War
Hex Mosaic
get inspired
Prior to the 1900s, only the very wealthy had indoor bathrooms. A flourishing economy in the early 20th century made what was once a privilege for the few accessible to the many, allowing the middle class to enjoy this much-needed luxury.
Today, it’s not uncommon to find these early hexagons layers beneath newer installations, or still exposed in older salons and restaurants throughout the city.
Most bathrooms during this era were very small - the size of modern powder rooms, or smaller. Large format floor tiles were difficult to accommodate. But small 1" x 1" hexagons allowed for unique designs within a small space, and even helped make a cramped space seem relatively more spacious.
​The small hexagon mosaic is a true modern classic – an early staple of New York design, resurrected today in an ultra-refined, high quality rendition that feels modern, but hearkens back to the days of flappers, railroad barons, international design movements, and the blossoming of American industry. They’re a romantic choice for many reasons, but also just plain beautiful, and as appropriate in today's modern design as they were one hundred years ago.
​​For a vintage Old New York look, hexagon mosaic tiles are on the mark. You can play them up with mirrored accents like chandeliers, old Parisian art prints, freestanding tubs, and gold fixtures, or let them add character to a sleek modern space. Their application extends well beyond bathrooms – they look amazing in kitchens, on backsplashes, and in living spaces and commercial areas as well.
The Riverside Drive collection, named for the old Brownstone-lined street on the city’s Upper West Side, was created to update and refresh these early bathroom tiles, bringing back the storied small hexagon mosaic in decorative patterns like classic dots and large hexes, as well as in more contemporary variations, like
diamond and swirl.
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Old New York has an unmistakable, trademark allure, captured in the Art Deco, Nouveau and Moderne stylings of its monumental architecture. Peer inside, and there are intricate details that compose the larger picture. Prominent among them (in the world of tile) was the once ubiquitous pre-war mosaic hexagon tile, which to this day lines the interiors of antique spaces remaining from old New York.
Pinterest: Hex Mosaics, Contemporist: Old New York