Tiling a backsplash. For the first time.

Actually, it is the first time I have tiled anything at all! Let me tell you...it was sure a learning experience. Any professional tile setter would just shake their head at me but I don't mind. I am the one who has to live with the imperfections.

Here is the master bathroom before the backsplash went in:

Here it is with the tile set, before grout.

Here is the kids bath before tile:

Again, after thin set but before grout. The tile came with plastic protective film so if it looks funny it is because I hadn't removed it yet. I left it on there while I stuck the tiles on.


More on the bathroom in a later post. I have an issue to deal with in there before I can reveal the final results.

Here are some kitchen photos. This is after the thin set had dried and I took off all the plastic film from the tiles. Ready for grout.


During grouting. See the haze? That is normal.

Here is what it looks like after you buff off the haze with a clean dry cloth.

Outlet covers back on...

Yesterday I worked on caulking. I caulked where the tiles meet the counter, all the edges and corners. So here it is today!








Technically, the tiles are "beige" but clearly they lean green. Though I didn't intend it, I don't hate it and it is growing on me. It is kind of nice to have a suggestion of color while everything else is pretty neutral.

There is a 3/4 inch area under the window sill that I didn't tile. When I realized cutting the tiles was causing chipping on the edges, I put off cutting those itty bitty skinny tiles until the end. Good thing too because when I was done I only had 3 tiles left. So I didn't have enough to do it anyway. I have decided I am going to add a piece of trim under the sill. It will still look great and is way less of a headache!

I love how reflective it is. It bounces light around like crazy. I took these last photos this morning at about 9:30 am and there was quite a bit of light coming in the window over the sink. It really brightened up the working area! Overall I am happy with it. I LEARNED A LOT in the process. A LOT!

You might like to check out this post to see what my kitchen looked like just 4 short months ago!

Linking on Remodelaholic:

The journey of the Master Bath thus far

When we bought the house, the master bath looked like this: It had dark red-brown paint, oak medicine cabinets, peach counter...


By the way, when you looked up to look at yourself in the mirror, you had to lean right or left to actually see yourself in the mirror. Right in the middle was the mirror frame and handles. Real functional, people.


Right off the bat we painted the walls (Gobi Desert by Behr) and replaced the medicine cabinets.

Here is a close-up of the cabinets and peach countertop. Oh, and brass handles. The hinges were also probably brass at one time, but they apparently aged to a bronze color.

Then I had granite put in back in February. I did replace the faucets although I sort of regret it. The old ones were cuter. Whatever.

I got sick of looking at this every time I sat down on the potty. Plastic side. Oak t.p. holder. ARG! I just hated it. I had to do something about it.
So I took off the holder...

Then I used liquid nails to put up some beadboard on the side.

It sat like that for a few weeks. Finally I just had to bite the bullet. So I pulled off all the doors, washed them, liquid sanded them, caulked the panels, filled any holes that were getting a change in hardware...
And then painted them. 2 coats of Kilz2 latex (no fumes for me this time around). Then 2-3 coats of topcoat. It's an off white. Custom mix to match my doors and trim.
Same for the boxes. Wash, liquid sand...
...2 coats of primer...

...and 2-3 coats of topcoat.
Put all the hardware on and hang everything back up. The dummy panels in the middle of the drawers got turned into tilt-outs so they got new handles too.

Yeah...I need to touch up the wall paint. Oh, and the light fixture. I need to do something about that. Today I did finally order tile for the backsplashes in the kitchen and both bathrooms! It is a glass 3x6 subway tile. That will be a big project for me and my first tiling experience! I think I will leave the flooring for 2012!!

Kitchen-before and after

While not 100% done, I am at a good stopping point. I need to look long and hard for a great deal on some tile for a backsplash. Plus I want to get a new window covering for over the sink and do something special with my pantry door.....and on and on. But here are the before and "after" photos.

Kitchen Remodel: Peninsula Update

I intended to put beadboard all around the peninsula. But then I realized I would end up cleaning some sort of spilled something-or-other out of the little grooves. No thanks. So I had to come up with some other decorative element that would be easier to clean.

Here is a cascade of befores:



During: I decided how big the trim rectangles would be and pre-cut them out in the garage. When I came inside, all I had to do was tape them up and then nail them in place with my nail gun. Notice: I had beat up the top part of the cabinet when I was getting the old countertops out. So I used some trim to cover that as well.

Here is the trim I used to cover my mistakes.

Filled the nail holes...

Primed (2 coats):

And painted 2 coats. Here is the finished product complete with new hardware on the far cabinet and drawer.

I am really happy with it! The next post will be before and afters of the kitchen. I still need to get a backsplash going but that is for another day......in like 2 months. I need to recover!