We’re looking forward to introducing you to Angelica Gonzalez. Check out our conversation below.
Good morning Angelica, it’s such a great way to kick off the day – I think our readers will love hearing your stories, experiences and about how you think about life and work. Let’s jump right in? What do the first 90 minutes of your day look like?
he first 90 minutes of my day are basically a chaotic rom-com with me as the star. It usually kicks off around 5:00 a.m., when I pretend I’m going to be “that girl” and hit the gym for a hot girl walk. In reality? I end up half-speed-walking while scrolling emails in one hand and balancing a coffee in the other, because priorities.
Then it’s game time at home: I pull myself together, rally the kids out of bed, pack lunches like I’m auditioning for a Food Network speed challenge, and whip up breakfast in between hair brushing negotiations and “where are my shoes?” interrogations.
By the time we’re out the door, it’s onto my famous 30-minute commute—which is never just a commute. It’s a rolling jobsite command center at 7:30 a.m., when clients and subcontractors suddenly remember all the burning questions of the universe. My phone buzzes nonstop, I’m talking through a dozen mini-fires, and yet somehow still jamming out to my TikTok-inspired Spotify playlist.
So yeah, glamorous? Not exactly. Fun? Always. Productive? Against all odds—yes.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
Hi, I’m Angelica Gonzalez, and if you know me, you know I live and breathe tile and design. I founded Nico Tati Designs out of a passion for creating beautiful spaces and an even bigger passion for supporting the people behind those spaces—the installers. I’m a self-proclaimed advocate for tile setters everywhere, because I believe every installer deserves access to the best knowledge, training, and resources our industry has to offer.
One of my proudest projects is the Texas Tile Posse (TTP)—a community of tile setters and stone workers across Texas. It’s become a family where we can share technical knowledge, troubleshoot challenges, celebrate wins, or just have a little fun. Whether someone is looking for support, networking, or a place to sharpen their craft, TTP is here for them.
Alongside running Nico Tati Designs, I’m also leading the design department at Clark Custom Homes, where I get to merge creativity with craftsmanship every single day. At the heart of everything I do—whether it’s design, advocacy, or community-building—is the belief that tile isn’t just a trade, it’s an art, and the people behind it deserve to be seen, celebrated, and supported
Okay, so here’s a deep one: Who saw you clearly before you could see yourself?
Two people come to mind immediately: Ken Ballin and Michelle Winters.
Ken has been a friend and mentor to me for several years. He saw me as a rockstar long before I believed it myself. He always let me be a cry baby when I needed to let it out, but he never let me stay there—he reminded me that my brand and my future are in my own hands. There’s nothing wrong with a good cry, but at some point you have to get up, woman up, and change the issue. That tough love paired with his belief in me helped fuel a fire to reach for more than I ever thought I was capable of.
Michelle has also always been in my corner. I’ll never forget telling her once that I just wanted to “be someone” in this industry, and without hesitation she said, “You ARE someone!” She fed every unreasonable delusion until it became a reality—because really, what’s the worst that can happen? Someone says no? Best case, you ask to lead the first-ever all-Spanish discussion panel at Coverings—the largest tile and stone show in North America—and they say YES. And that’s exactly what happened.
When did you stop hiding your pain and start using it as power?
I stopped hiding my pain when I realized that silence was heavier than honesty. Leaving a 13-year relationship and stepping into single parenthood was the hardest and most overwhelming decision of my life, but also the most important one I’ve ever made for myself and my children.
At first, I felt like I had failed twice—once in my marriage and now again as a parent. But with the love and support of my family and close friends, I was able to take that pain, face it head-on, and reclaim my power. I started talking about my reality openly, not as something to be ashamed of, but simply as a fact of life.
This past year, we’ve had moments where groceries came from food pantries, and my children’s clothes were donated or from Goodwill. And yet, I refuse to see that as failure. I am proud that I’ve been able to provide an emotionally and physically safe home for my kids. Who cares if dinner is instant mashed potatoes or if the jeans are gently used? What matters is love, stability, and safety—and we have that in abundance.
So many women and men suffer in silence, but I was tired of being silent. Owning my truth, even the messy and imperfect parts, has been the most empowering choice I’ve ever made.
Next, maybe we can discuss some of your foundational philosophies and views? What’s a cultural value you protect at all costs?
A cultural value I protect at all costs is family. My parents, both immigrants, taught us early on that family isn’t just important—it’s everything. We were raised to love each other deeply, to show up for one another, and to stand up for ourselves and for those who can’t.
My mom, Tati, is Cuban. And if you know anything about Cubans—not the Hollywood Scarface version, but the real culture—you know we are loud, we love hard, and we don’t back down easily. My mom embodies that strength, but in her own way: calm, collected, and always ready to go toe-to-toe in a debate with logic and reason on her side.
My dad, Nico, is Mexican, and from him I get the fire. That spicy blood runs deep in me—the act-first, think-later mentality, the passion that refuses to be ignored. Between the two of them, I learned that protecting family means balancing fire with reason, love with accountability, and never shying away from being bold when it matters.
We come together for Sunday dinner, celebrations, losses, and honoring those no longer with us—and occasionally all at the same time. It’s the way we bring color, music, and laughter to life, and a little homegrown tequila helps balance the joy and grief of the world. These moments remind me why family is my compass, my anchor, and the reason I keep going strong.
Okay, we’ve made it essentially to the end. One last question before you go. Have you ever gotten what you wanted, and found it did not satisfy you?
Absolutely. And for me, it feels like something straight out of Wicked. Like so many others, that movie has consumed my existence (and yes, probably become my entire personality).
In the beginning, Elphaba is sold a lie: that if she can just make good, prove her worth, then she’ll get everything she’s ever wanted—even an audience with the Wizard himself. She says, “Once I prove my worth…” and that line cuts deep, because I’ve lived it. I spent years trying to prove my worth to others. Trying to make them see the good in me. Molding myself into the wife, the woman, the designer they wanted me to be.
But then comes the turning point: when Elphaba realizes that “making good” comes at the cost of her morals, her friendships, and her true inner power. She’s offered everything she thought she wanted, and she responds, “I don’t want it—I can’t want it anymore.” That line still brings tears to my eyes because it mirrored my own truth.
I had everything I thought I wanted—the big house, the coveted job, the picture-perfect life. But if that’s love, if that’s success, and it comes at the cost of who you really are? “That’s much too high a cost”.
So I walked away. I left the marriage, I left the job, and in doing so I found myself again. I rediscovered my passion for this industry, my creativity, and most importantly, my children. What I learned is that sometimes getting what you want only teaches you what you truly need—and that’s freedom, authenticity, and love that doesn’t demand you shrink yourself to fit it.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nicotatidesigns/
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/angelica-angie-gonzalez-weber-2717b274
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/nicotatidesigns
