An Artisanal Pool Mosaic for Chauncey Nay

For Chauncey Nay, we transformed a residential pool into a living artwork: an octopus motif curling across a hand-laid, gradient mosaic field.

This custom artwork now shines in our signature pool mosaic collection.

We added a mosaic backdrop that mimicked the natural illuminated night waters in the open sea.

In the past, we had created mosaics featuring seahorses, pufferfish, and crabs, all arranged within a beautiful artisan’s reef mosaic. This time, however, we wanted to push boundaries and try something entirely different. An octopus, caught mid-motion against a moon-lit mosaic backdrop.

Artistic Vision

This client wanted a pool that felt personal and unlike anything they’d seen and so, in true maximalist fashion, every inch of the design was to be packed with detail.

We were on-board with the idea of marine life, the kind of immersive, water-interactive art that pool mosaics are trending toward in 2026.

The mosaic needed to feel powerful, without overpowering the surrounding environment. Every tentacle was shaped tile by tile to mimic natural movement, and colors.

Storytelling Angle

Our design direction leaned into the duality of the underwater world:

Warm, tactile tones for the octopus itself
Cool, expansive blues for the surrounding pool field

The octopus occupies the full space, its form and tentacles conveying movement and life across the pool floor. The palette echoed natural sea glass, sand-washed neutrals, and layered ocean blues that would deepen once submerged.

The Perfect Blues:
Color Selection & Fine-Tuning

Every shade in this mosaic was carefully chosen to bring the underwater scene to life. Layered blues, soft purples, and subtle hints of yellow were blended to create a shimmering effect, ensuring the octopus and surrounding seaforms appear dynamic and fluid beneath the water’s surface.

The Final Reveal
The Mosaic Comes to Life

The octopus was rendered using a blend of warm ivories, soft ambers, sand tones, and muted greys, giving it a sculptural, almost painterly quality. Surrounding it, layered blues and sea-green hues formed the pool field, designed to shimmer and shift with water movement.

Each tessera was hand-cut and placed with intention, allowing anatomy and flow to guide the composition rather than rigid geometry. Once installed, the mosaic became an integral part of the pool, animating the floor with subtle gestures that respond to water, light, and the viewer’s perspective. The octopus is fully realized, its form articulated through precise tile placement.

Unlike standard mosaic floors, which often feel purely decorative, this motif transforms the pool into an experience.