apartment therapy changing the world, one room at a time

hey, i have some of those interlocking branchlike things... i got them as a gift and i'm still trying to figure out what to do with them. do you have any other photos of how you've used them?

also, i love the tile as coaster dealie because i'd more likely have tiles laying around than actual coasters!

After seeing slate coasters at Crate and Barrel a while back (for an outrageous price) I thought why not use tile samples as well. We only had two, so we each use one in our office. I only have 8 regular coasters and always have more than 8 guests. One of these days I'll get more!

Warning: cute but not functional. Water and condensate simply rolls off the tile and onto your furniture. Coasters made of tile, glass, and other nonabsorbent material are not a good idea unless they have a lip. Sorry to negative, but thought you might want to think about that...

I tend to agree with quiltmaster, having this tried this before unintentionally. Also, as condensation builds, the glasses are likely to slip off the coaster.

I've never had water or condensation "roll off" my coasters... People spill stuff on the table at times, sure, but any moisture from the glassware has always stayed on the coasters, which are tile by the way. I'm curious where you get free sample tiles, I'd love some more coasters I don't have to purchase....?

I agree condensation may be an issue. Anything in a rocks glass is going to sweat, and the water will roll off a nonporous coaster and onto the furniture. Of course, not as big of an issue in the winter when it's not as hot and humid.

That plastic seaweed stuff is still lame, until someone releases a version that's not $30 for plastic.

I've done this for years with old marble and granite sample tiles. They can be improved immensely with little stick-on felt dots that are available at hardware stores -- they protect the furniture from the sometimes rough edges of the tile backs.

I agree about the condensation. Unless it has a lip, as quiltmaster said, the POOL of water that gets left behind will eventually spill off the tile. For drinks that are not filled with ice, or for hot drinks, the tile coaster idea works. But icy drinks, forget about it. Maybe my glasses sweat more than most, but I doubt it.

Lately, I've been interested in making my own fabric coasters. I absolutely hate the noise that a coaster makes when it sticks to the bottom of a glass when you pick it up, only to come crashing down onto the table with a loud *clank*. (The ones I have that do this are wooden.) It always startles my guests and they think they've done something wrong. I think a fabric coaster would be much quieter (and prettier to leave on the table all the time).

I used to have a glass tile that I used as a coaster, but it wasn't really effective. I had also bought iridescent mosaic glass coasters from Pier 1... they have little sticker rubber things for not scratching the table, that don't stay on, but they're useless as coasters too. It is a cute idea that ultimately fails the function test.

I love this idea but agree about the condensation problem. How about pipping a thin border of clear or white caulk around the borders?

A girl in town makes coasters out of cheap white tiles by covering them with fabric and then coating them with something like Mod Podge. She glues a square of felt over the whole bottom. They're pretty and they work. And she sells them at a library fundraiser, so I get to help out a little, too.

You spelled "our" wrong. In the very same sentence where you also managed to spell it right. Unless maybe you meant to say "for _what_ are otherwise."

???

"We really like our newest use for _are_ otherwise 'get back in that box and stay there until I need to source you' tiles."

I've been using a zen weave pattern tile from Ann Sacks as a coaster in my den for over 2 years-setting both hot and icy drinks on it-and I haven't has an issue w/condinsation. It may be because there is a decent amount of grout on the tile itself.

Anywho, maybe it is best to use these on a glass table top vs. wood.

Holland America Line has given away blue & white delft tiles backed with cork to their passengers for years - You can get them on eBay for $3-5 each - They're perfect for coasters.

even better, i made my own a long time ago and we always loved them and used them as coasters or even trivets (using a few in a row). we made them by hand out of clay and then painted and fired them. we had etched in cool designs, and because of the texture on them, we never had a problem with condensation (or the glass slipping off them). they were really cool and unique and special because we made them ourselves. i would definitely recommend either the felt or rubber dots on the bottom so you don't scratch your table.

of course if making your own tiles out of clay by hand isn't an option, you can always go to color me mine (or something like it... a place where they have unfired pottery that you paint and they glaze and fire for you). it's not entirely as cool as making your own by hand, but it works :)