START
BREAK UP OLD DISHWARE AND TILES
TO CREATE A BEAUTIFUL TABLE
Time: 4–5 Days Complexity: Medium
Before you start breakin’ stuff and gluing everything down, it can be helpful to make a plan. This tabletop
is a simple pattern, with the color used sparingly in the design. There’s not much structure — just a bright
border with a few chips of color mixed in with the black and white china. This makes the mosaic a somewhat spontaneous creation. If you have greater ambitions for the mosaic, it’s crucial to draw out your
design in advance. Use colored pencils to map out placement in full color. This step will allow you to work
faster, and with very satisfying results.
1. CHOOSE AND PREP YOUR MOSAIC SURFACE
1a. Mosaics can be created on any surface that you
can glue something to. Be certain that your choice
is sturdy, as tiles, adhesive, and grout can be quite
heavy. For this project, select a wooden table that
has ample weight-bearing tolerance. Then clean
your surface (the tabletop) and make sure it’s dry.
1b. If the tabletop is smooth, it will need some
roughing up. Sanding and gouging will help the
adhesive bond well to the wood. Use 80-grit sandpaper to scuff the wood. Don’t be concerned with
unevenness. With an old saw, score the tabletop.
Drag the saw horizontally across the table to grate
it further.
