Before you begin adhering tile to the now prepared surface it is recommended that you lay out your tile first. At this time you can move tile around to create a pleasing arrangement. If you have variation in your tile colors then this is an opportunity to balance the placement of the various shades. You don't want all the darker tiles clustered together for instance. Favorite or unusual tiles can get a more central placement.

Now we are ready to install the first tile. I recommend that you start in the upper corner of the firebox opening. These corners can be your referrence points to aid in getting the proper spacing. Begin by selecting your first tile and apply adhesive thoroughly to the back side. With a custom job like this I usually 'back butter' each individual tile rather than troweling the adhesive onto the prepared surface. This ensures that each tile is completely bonded by adhesive. It also allows you plenty of time to get the placement right without feeling rushed to get a group of tiles up before the adhesive begins to set. In this way you can take as many hours, days or even weeks to be sure your tile are where you want them. I recommend using a powder mixed thinset adhesive. They come in big bags at home depot. The more expensive ones have modifiers in them to make them more flexible when set. I recommend these. They often come in white or grey. If you are using a light or white grout later then I recommend the white adhesive. Mix according to instructions.

Below from left to right the tile is buttered with adhesive.Next it is pressed into place making sure adhesive squeezes out around the edges. you can wipe off the excess if need be. I then use painters 'blue tape' to hold the tile in place until they are set. This usually doesn't take too long when adhering to backer board. Maybe fifteen minutes or so. Leave the tape up as long as possible. If you remove it early take care not to break the bond between tile and backer board or you will have to remove the tile and reapply the adhesive.

Use a square to pencil in reference lines to keep your tile straight.

Work in sections so that you can control your grout lines.

Working in one section at a time you work your way around the fireplace.

Continue around the face of the fireplace.

The hearth area is done in much the same manner although here you don't need to use the blue tape.

Except for a few pieces headed back to the kiln for refiring the glueing up part is finished.