The Road to a Backsplash
We began a complete kitchen renovation back in June of 2021. As winter came, it wasn’t as easy to use the unheated wood shop as it was in the warmer seasons, so we took a break from the big projects. Honestly, it was a very welcomed break, as we had been going full-speed for months.
Getting back to DIY
After the holidays, the winter blues began to set in, and I was itching to be busy again. We still had a few odds and ends to finish up in the kitchen, and one was the backsplash. So on a random Saturday in February, I woke up and decided it was time. We were going to tile today.
Off to Lowe’s we went, a welcomed trip out of the house. We picked up our tile and materials, came home, and I began the project. I’ll admit I was nervous! I had never tiled before, but I have to say, with this project under my belt, I feel extremely confident to complete future tiling projects. (You can do it!)
Round One: Mega Fail
Originally, I had found this beautiful tile from TileBar and we decided to splurge. When it came in, I was so excited. I called around, but there wasn’t anyone available in the foreseeable future to install our tile. So, I decided to try my hand at it. I bought a wet saw, did some measuring, and no. There was no way that I was going to be able to install this tile. It was gorgeous, but you need a real artist to be able to finagle all the angles on those “sheets.” I still think she is beautiful, as she sits unused in my garage. Yes, she was expensive, and no, I will not give up on her. I’ll find a use for this tile somewhere whenever I can get someone else to do the install.
Round two: Classic Subway Tile
So, I needed to move on. The options for backsplashes are endless, and I love how custom you can make them. However, I went a more classic route, following my original plan before I met Duchess Lena, and chose white subway tiles. I liked the clean look and how it would brighten up the walls. I’m actually extremely glad the simple look is what we went with. It’s a perfect match for the space, and doesn’t take the spotlight away from everything else.
I chose a small, white subway tile and also chose a bullnose type from the same family as a border to sit about an inch underneath our open shelving. It added a little more character and we wouldn’t have to cut little grooves in the tile to fit directly underneath our shelf brackets (win-win!).
Must-Use Products
While I do not have experience with other brands, I thought the Mapei brand mastic and grout were wonderful products. The mastic spread evenly on the walls and it did a great job of holding the tiles right where I wanted them to be. As for the grout, it was also easy to work with. It was forgiving, the white color was pure, and it cleaned up easy. I believe these products being so nice to work with made the entire backsplash job enjoyable.
Believe in Yourself
With a few YouTube tutorials, the right materials, and the willpower, you will always surprise yourself with your capabilities. If you’re thinking about tiling something in your home, I say, stick to a simple design and go for it!
