Tile-Top Coffee Table

Flex your tiling skills with a mixed-material project that brings a pop of color to your home

- CARMEN DE LA PAZ

I've been making tiles for years, literally crafting thousands for all kinds of projects. This time, I wanted to showcase them on a colorful coffee tabletop.

From the start, I knew the challenge would be working with the organic imperfections that come with handmade tile. If you've made clay tiles before (see page 14 for the full process), you know there are bound to be few surprises when they come out of the kiln.

Rather than fight these variations, I decided to let them shine, embracing the artisanal, rustic feel of handmade work. I am happy to share the steps for this versatile table, and I hope it inspires you to celebrate the little imperfections that make every project unique.

1 CALCULATE TABLETOP DIMENSIONS

To get started, lay out your tiles with ¼-in. tile spacers to determine the size of your tabletop understructure. Your calculations will work from the tile layer in: The size of your tile layout determines the size of the backer board layer, which in turn determines the size of the wood frame to which the backer board is adhered.

NOTE: Handmade tiles won't all be exactly the same size or shape, so be prepared to accommodate some variation. If perfect grout lines and uniform tiles are a priority, consider purchasing premade tiles (find shopping suggestions on page 19).

2 CUT THE BACKER BOARD