This Is *Exactly* the Clever Thing You Should Be Doing with Leftover Tiles

Have you ever wondered what happens to excess unused materials during a home project? Are the extras sent to the dump or pushed away in a cabinet to collect dust? Well, not in Oyin Antwi’s West African-inspired Brooklyn condo that she shares with her husband, Jeffrey. 

When the couple moved into their 640-square-foot home, the kitchen was one of the first rooms they wanted to reimagine. In addition to adding custom millwork cabinets for extra storage and a moveable island for more seating, “terrazzo backsplash was added underneath to add character to the original all-white kitchen,” Oyin said at the time of the home tour.

But Oyin, the cofounder of interior design firm Via Asha Design and Digital Park, a Brooklyn-based creative design studio, didn’t want the unused terrazzo backsplash tiles to go to waste. 

“My proudest DIY is taking the leftover terrazzo tiles from our kitchen backsplash to a local waterjet cutter to make home accents, including cutting them into tray stands and the drink coasters that you see in our home,” Oyin revealed at the time of the tour.

The custom coasters are such a gorgeous detail and hold sentimental value, too. “Not only was it a sustainable reuse of materials (the industrial engineer in me lives for recycling!), but it’s also a conversation starter for when guests notice their drink coasters match the kitchen, and they’re perfect for gifting friends and family,” Oyin wrote. 

With the custom coasters, the kitchen — arguably the focal point of the communal area — blends throughout the rest of the home. Whether a coaster is resting on their dining table, kitchen counter, or coffee table, the backsplash is embedded throughout the space. 

Reusing backsplash isn’t the only wise decision in the Antwi home. The couple has also replaced a traditional inward swinging door with a sliding pocket solution. But if you want to see the home as a whole, visit the full tour.