Goldie’s Guide to Creating a Custom Mosaic With AquaBlu
Hi, I'm Goldie, Sales Account Managers here at AquaBlu. If you decide to build a custom mosaic with us, I'll be the one helping along the way; from your very first idea, to the day your finished piece arrives.
I get asked a lot of questions from homeowners, pool builders, contractors, and designers, like: How does this actually work? How long does it take? What do I need to have ready before I reach out? So, I put together this walkthrough. It’s the exact process I guide every custom project through, start to finish.
Step 1: Get Inspired
Every project starts with a feeling, not a spec sheet. Are you dreaming of something serene, like tropical flowers or leaves artfully strewn across the pool floor? Or something bolder, like a family crest on an entry wall, a sports team's logo at the clubhouse, a company emblem in a lobby fountain? You name it, we can make it happen.
I've seen this stage go in every direction imaginable. Simple initials, depth and safety markers in a custom color and font, a business or sports team logo, an underwater reef scene with coral, fish, and a large octopus centerpiece. One of my favorite projects to date started as a child's school art project: her grandfather sent in a photo, and we recreated it in pool-rated porcelain for their new pool. There's something special about turning a memory like that into something permanent. A piece the whole family gets to swim next to and enjoy for years to come.
Also, almost anything from our existing mosaic collection can be reproduced in a custom size or custom color palette. So if you've seen a design you love but it's not quite the right dimensions or shade for your space, we can make any adjustments you’d like!
Custom mosaics aren't limited to just pools, either. I regularly help clients with shower walls, kitchen backsplashes, exterior facades, and interior feature walls.
Step 2: Send Me a Reference Image
Once you've got a direction in mind, send it my way! Customers send me all kinds of source material. Personal photos, Pinterest boards, hand sketches, stock images from sites like Shutterstock, even AI generated images.
The higher the resolution, the better your rendering and final mosaic will look. A pixelated or low-res image makes it harder for the factory capture fine detail, so if you have a choice between a few images, send me the sharpest one.
Step 3: Choose Your Material and Style
This is where I walk you through the options and help you land on what fits your project, timeline, and budget. Depending on the look you're after, we could choose between:
Artistic Glass: vibrant colors and iridescent finishes; especially striking in outdoor spaces
Waterjet-Cut Porcelain: crisp, precise lines for logos, crests, and geometric designs
Premium Hand-Cut Venetian Glass: an elevated, artisan finish for standout focal points
Traditional Hand-Painted Porcelain: warm, classic character
Screen-Printed Porcelain or Glass: photorealistic detail that brings any image to life
If you're not sure which is right for your application, that's exactly what I'm here for! Tell me where the piece is going, and I'll recommend what I think would be best to showcase your design.
Step 4: Submit Your Project
Ready to move forward? Head to our Create a Mosaic page and fill out the short form (your name, email, and phone number). Include a few basics, like the approximate size, colors, and any details about the space it's going into. The more context you give me, the quicker I can provide your quote.
If you'd rather skip the form and just talk it through, call me directly at 800-971-1442 or email custom@aquablumosaics.com, and I'm happy to take it from there.
Step 5: Get Your Quote and Rendering
I'll typically get back to you with a lead time and cost estimate within 2 to 3 business days.
Working within a price range or time frame? Let me know, so I can build you the best possible version of your project within your budget or project schedule.
Step 6: Refine Until It's Right
Nobody signs off on a design until it's exactly what they pictured. If you want to shift a color, adjust proportions, or tweak the composition, we'll revise it together. My goal is for you to be genuinely excited when you see the final product, not just satisfied.
Step 7: Receive and Install
Once your design is approved, production begins. Most mosaics ship directly to your door in approximately 3 to 8 weeks, depending on the material, size, and complexity. I'll keep you posted along the way, especially if you're coordinating installation around a broader build or renovation timeline.
Most mosaics arrive mounted either on mesh backing or with clear film on the front, ready for your installer. Larger murals come with numbered sections and a schematic for your installers to easily follow, so the pieces go together exactly as designed.
A Note for Builders, Contractors, and Designers
If you're managing this project on behalf of a client or coordinating it into a larger project timeline, I work the same way I would with any trade partner: clear timelines, proactive updates, and a single point of contact so nothing falls through the cracks. If you're not already part of our AquaPro Trade Network, it's worth checking out! It comes with dedicated account support, among other perks that make projects (custom or not) a breeze. Sign up for our AquaPro Trade Network here.
Ready to start? Visit the Create a Mosaic page, or reach out to me directly:
Goldie | Sales Account Manager, AquaBlu
📞 800-971-1442 ✉️ custom@aquablumosaics.com
