A Practical Kitchen Helper- The Tile Trivet.
This month’s project is a recipe for fun. With a few common ingredients, you can whip up a practical and pretty kitchen helper—the tile trivet.
First, choose your tile. You can use any kind--ceramic, glass, metal or stone—and best of all, you may already have it. Leftover pieces from a backsplash, counter or floor project will make your trivet a perfect match to the existing kitchen.
Next, buy a small piece of ¼” thick Masonite or hardboard, a container of premixed adhesive and grout available at your local home center.
Now, arrange your tiles for a pleasing design and trivet size, then cut your hardboard to match and adhere your tiles to the board following the manufacturer’s directions. Finish by grouting according to directions.
You’re ready to frame! Measure your tiles and hardboard for the finished size, then select your frame. Make sure the rabbet of the frame is deep enough to accommodate the thickness of the tiles and board combined.
We recommend metal if you plan to use the trivet for very hot items, such as pots or tea kettles. For our project we used Standard Plus 3 Brushed Aluminum Satin. Wood framed trivets can be sized down and used as drink coasters or sized up and hung on the wall with standard tooth hangers as decorative pieces.
When ordering your frame, make sure you request two extra corner protectors for the underside of your trivet.
Materials for our project: (Order sizes based on your items’ measurements.
- Ceramic, quarry or glass tiles
- 8 ¾” x 8 ¾” Hardboard
- Premixed Adhesive & Grout
- Adhesive applicator
- Grout applicator
- 8 ¾” x 8 ¾” Standard Plus 3 Brushed Aluminum Satin frame
- Two (2) extra corner protectors
You will also need a regular screwdriver
Lets Get Started
Step 1- Assembling Your Frame
Assemble three sides of the metal frame. Insert the tiles attached to the hardboard into the metal frame. Attach the 4th side of the frame.
Step 2 - Finishing touches
Tighten the corner brackets and insert the spring clips between the frame and hardboard, if needed, to secure the tiles.
Affix the corner protectors and you’re all set.
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