I started in the tile industry 8 + years ago, before then I had worked in countertops and before that it was culinary school and event planning… I know a very random mix! I can honestly say I love what I do everyday. I get to be creative, I get to be social and I get to work with beautiful materials.
I always hate seeing beautiful tile samples thrown out- what a waste. I try to save as many samples as possible to either donate or use on a rainy day…
I was lucky enough to get a larger office a few months ago…I had a huge wall that I needed to fill and artwork is expensive so I took it in to my own hands….
All in all the project cost less than $15. The only thing I purchased was some mastic. I had scrap wood that I traced basic letters on and they were about 16” in height. I painted the edges and backs of each letter with some grey paint I had left from another project. David cut the letters for me as well as routed out the picture hangers in the back. Routing out the hangers was key so the letters hung completely flush on the wall.
I traced each letter on construction paper and cut out a template. Once I figured out what tiles I was going to put where- I then transferred them to the construction paper so I could apply the mastic with a trowel and then set the tiles in place.
PRO TIP: the construction paper templates also came in handy when I was ready to hang the finished product. I marked where the hangers were and taped them to the wall, put a level and then drilled holes through the paper.
I let the tiles set for a day and then I grouted with Mapei’s Flexcolor CQ. The grout was perfect for this project as it was premixed and I didn’t have to do anything except pop open the lid, stir and just start spreading. Because I used such a mix of tiles, there were different heights to contend with but I was able to really shape the grout once it set a bit more and then I just took a dry sponge and brushed the excess off.
I love the way it turned out!
And because I had more tiles to use up I made a “W-I-N-E” version for some friends in CA
Tile On!
-Meaghan
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