GLASS TILE STARTER KIT
http://www.mosaicmadness.co.nz/Catalogue%20Folder/bases.htm

try craft store or hobby shops, then hardware store for actual tiles,

in a sense they are the same, but larger tiles are ceramic for bath and wall,

NYC, New York Area,

Little Shop of Crafts
http://www.littleshopny.com/

Mosaic house
http://www.mosaichse.com/mosaic37.html

Sicis > Mosaic Factory > New-York , 470 Broome Street,
http://www.sicis.it/eng/Sicis/Contacts/Sicis-North-America
http://www.sicis.it/eng/Mosaic/Projects/United-States/Hotel-Plaza—New-York

Yahoo Local > New York > Craft Supplies
http://local.yahoo.com/NY/New+York/Retail+Shopping/Arts+Crafts/Art+Craft+Supplies
..
References :

Just a little more info: They can certainly ship you tiles loose, but there’s a chance they’ll break in transit. If they ship you sheets, they can pack them more carefully so they will be safer. Depending on what you get, sheets come one of three ways: on mesh, on paper, or on tape. Mesh is glued to the back of the tile and it can be tough to pick it apart so I wouldn’t recommend that. Paper is mounted on the front of the tile and has a water-based glue so if you soak it in water they come right off. Tape is a sticky tile tape mounted on the front, and you can pick tiles off of it. For mosaic purposes, I’d ask any mesh-mounted tile be remounted onto paper or tape.
References :
http://www.susanjablon.com/shop/glass-tiles-mosaic.html

I like this one best, actually. Although instead of just saying "carnival-like", I’d rather see you describe the walls so I can see what makes it look like a carnival.

Peter’s shoes squeaked on the glittering marble floor as they strode…. ~Okay… this might just be me, but I find it odd in all three of these paragraphs that you start out with Peter and then talk about "they" in the same moment. Peter is the one walking. His shoes are squeaking as HE walks through whatever. If you feel the need to mention that whomever he is with is still with him, it needs to be a separate sentence.

Other than that, I like this one because it is concise and still gives me a good picture of what the room looks like.
References :

I prefer the first, although I do agree with over-descriptive writing. I feel you can take out the ‘glittering’ before the marble floor. I’d make the word ‘suspended’ more simpler.

Other than that, I think it’s great, I especially loved the ‘tinting the room blue as though it were an underwater retreat’ – that’s lovely. You’ve used description and enough adjectives to show how luxurious this place is.

Remember it’s not necessary to always use adverbs or adjectives, sometimes less is more – more can easily become empowering.

Hope that helps
~ JLT
References :

They stepped over the threshold into a domed atrium. Peter’s shoes squeaked on the glittering marble floor as they strode under a beaded chandelier suspended from the top of the stained-glass dome, tinting the room blue as though it were an underwater retreat.

This means Peter’s shoes tinted the room blue as though it were an underwater retreat

They stepped over the threshold into an majestic, carnival-like atrium. Peter’s shoes squeaked on the glittering marble floor as they strode under a stained-glass dome that tinted the room green and blue as though it were an underwater retreat.

A majestic* This was was better than the one before . . .

They stepped over the threshold into a domed atrium. Peter’s shoes squeaked loudly on the polished marble floor as they strode under an enormous glass chandelier suspended from the top of the dome, which was embroidered with dark mahogany paneling and rich mosaic art.

Hate the word "loudly" in that sentence.

I didn’t really get much of an atmosphere from any of them, sorry.
References :

My suggestion is to change the way you describe things.
References :

As for where to shop, we use local stores and their prices are competitive with the Big Box stores. Of course, for us it’s 140 miles round trip to the nearest Lowes or Home Depot which has a lot of influence. Also, most tile stores have installation crews that they favor. Ask them to give you a quote for this project.

That being said, we subcontract our tile installations because the guys we hire have the tile saws and other tools and they are far faster than my own crew. They also charge about 1/2 of what you say you were quoted for 85 SF. I suggest you get a couple more quotes. While you’re at it, ask for references and DO check them out.

Good luck with your project.
References :
Licensed builder and remodeler. Director Member – New Mexico Home Builders Association; Builder Director – Lincoln County NM Home Builders Association