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My backsplash is finally installed!

13 years ago

After several months of trying to decide on a backsplash, I went with my first choice which is the creamy crackle tile by sonoma. Can't really see the crackle in the pics that I took. The only updates in my kitchen are the soapstone, backsplash, sink and faucet. Thanks to all of you who shared your advice and pictures with me.{{!gwi}}{{!gwi}}{{!gwi}}{{!gwi}}{{!gwi}}{{!gwi}}{{!gwi}}{{!gwi}}

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Comments (18)

dianalo
13 years ago
That came out so pretty and you'd think it was designed all that way. They fit right in....
rj56
13 years ago
What a lovely kitchen! Are those pine floors? And the window above the sink is awesome!
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Finally, my Pratt & Larson backsplash is in
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Hey Fly. Glad you found this...being a fan of P&L. Actually, they did not come through on the color issue. The replacement tiles had a heavier layer of glaze, resulting in a more saturated color and less texture (because more of the little indentations were filled) and a heavier crackle. Quite disappointing, but I suppose this is the nature of handmade tile. What made it all work was the incredible team of tile guys I hired. One guy was the big, quiet artisan installer. The other guy was the small, friendly Make-the-Customer-Happy guy. We talked about the color issues, the flaws in the glazing and some of the warped tiles. (I had sorted and graded every tile twice!) They were patient enough to listen and understand and were very accommodating whenever I would cruise by and say, "Oh, please pull that tile...it looks horrible!" We worked together, strategizing on how to work around the glaze differences. We placed tiles with color issues in obscured places, or up under the cabinets and sills where the natural shadows would grace the problems. They chose specific tiles for the outlet cuts based on the location of goobitzes in the glaze. A lot of installers would have rolled their eyes and just proceeded without consulting me. I feel incredibly grateful to have been referred to this company. It was actually an amazingly positive experience.....a real blessing in light of how difficult the build was. Oh, and Brooke, I just wanted to say...you make me smile! Always. :-) I know you get the context of the spaces...red bookcases, etc. There is so much going on visually in such a small space, it was essential to me to have a calm intersection between breakfast room and LR. As for the paint, I am feeling more like the LR will stay as is. (EK Amy's Sarasota Sand...my builder beige!) I was afraid it would clash with the tile in the sightlines. But, I think it will be okay. I hear what you're saying Fly about taking a break. I am going on vacation soon, so it won't happen immediately, but the Sarasota Sand is painful to look at with the tile. It is a classic pink-ish beige with yellow-ish beige. Bleargh...
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Which White Grout and Which Sealer?
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Comments (14)
In my "old" :*( kitchen I had those white arabesque tiles. And the grout was very important to the design to give it the right look. I really needed a true white grout. What I learned from Bill V was that a lot (if not all) of the grouts have a caramel coloring in their "bright white" mixture. If there is caramel in the mixture it's in the finished product. There is a product from Latricrete that is called Permacolor. The white was very bright white. Didn't stain, didn't need to be sealed. I suppose you could seal it, but we didn't. If I splashed sauce on it, I could wipe it off, or at least make up a mixture of oxyclean and water and get it off. We are going to use the Permacolor grout in our bathroom. They have made more advances with it as far as the colors and other things the tile guy told me. good luck!
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Tile guy refused to install my arabesque backsplash"
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Comments (54)
I just finished my first backsplash tiling install and it is an arabesque. Installation was a royal PITA, but NOTHING compared to the GROUTING !!! I did try to use the "Icing Piping" method to prefill the spaces, but it wouldn't flow well and I think being closed up may have contributed to it hardening up too quickly. Plus, having to use sanded grout (1/4" spacing) made it a mess as it started to lose plasticity and flow. We did 3 walls, 5', 7' & 9', with stepped heights (different height top cabinets) and lots of outlets and switches. I can totally understand if the tiler quoted a price without Arabesque being specified. People will spring this kind of thing on a subcontractor unexpectedly and be upset that they can't get a 4 day job done for the one day quote. I don't know if that is the case here, but I saw it when I worked in finish carpentry, and also in my current occupation as a toolmaker.
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How to make your own tile and back-splash (pic heavy)
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Comments (25)
I'm not sure how I came across this post, I think it was displayed on the right side and I clicked on it being intrigued by the tile making. I was at one time interested in working with papercrete and hypertufa. But after enlisting my brother, who wasn't as enthusiastic, and my niece, who poured cement down my laundry room sink, which original to the house had lasted 70 years, and ruining three blenders, my interest waned. True to form, if I come upon difficulty in a project, I think of it as a sign for me not to continue. And really, after all these years of trying various crafts that result in crap, I should know better. I also should have known better than to ask my brother, who always says it can't be done to any of my unique design ideas. And I should have known better than to ask my niece, who once stayed up all night before having to drive to LA for an art show, cutting mat after mat after measuring once, twice, sometimes ten times, but always coming out with the wrong size. I think we both have math dyslexia. I should video us trying anything crafty to see where we go wrong. I think both of us having ADHD might have something to do with it. Sorry for the backstory and run on sentences. So, I just wanted to see if you continued with your venture. And to say sorry for whatever tragedy occurred to cause you to have to move to Florida. Not that there is anything wrong with Florida, but it isn't Panama. Which is one of my favorite places in the western hemisphere. I hope no one is upset that I brought up a seven year old post.
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jterrilynn
13 years ago
Very nice space!
sparklekitty
13 years ago
Your additions really sharpen the kitchen. Just love the soapstone with the dark lower and white back splash.
vampiressrn
13 years ago
It turned out really great...love the soapstone. :-)
francoise47
13 years ago
Beautiful, warm, and inviting kitchen! I love your tiles, soapstone, and rustic work table. Congrats on being done!
sis2two
Original Author
13 years ago
Thank you for your sweet comments.
Jilljohn- My floors are reclaimed heart pine and we really love them! They are very soft so they take on "character" very quickly.
chinchette
13 years ago
Thats a very interesting and refreshing kitchen. I love all the color, the tile, the shape of the uppers with the glass. Not a cookie cutter thats for sure. I has a lot of nice unexpected.
marcy96
13 years ago
I think the tiles are a perfect choice! Your kitchen is beautiful!
kitchenaddict
13 years ago
Hi sis...

I find your kitchen to be warm and inviting. I like the way all of your choices came together. So Nice!

KA:)
oldhouse1
13 years ago
I love your kitchen! Your soapstone is just beautiful. Almost missed the rest of the kitchen as the pictures run horizontally. Your eat in area is bright, warm and charming. Finally, someone else with an unconventional island. I too am using an old pine work table. You don't often see them used. What a wonderful job you've done.
Gena Hooper
13 years ago
Everything came together so beautifully! Your kitchen just exudes warmth and character. I absolutely love your work table and the soapstone.
fran1523
13 years ago
Very cozy looking space and wonderful colors. I have beadboard cabinets too and really like them.
rhome410
13 years ago
Have you shown your kitchen before? I love it!! The dark lowers and wood uppers are wonderful... And the backsplash seems the perfect choice.

Is it just on my screen or did the pictures show up horizontally/all side-by-side in a row instead of one over the other? How did that happen? It's really hard to look at them and read the text.
desertsteph
13 years ago
no rhome, it isn't just your screen. don't know how that happened tho...

LOVE your kitchen! that's a kitchen I could live in!

I also think the BS is just the perfect one for your kitchen. it just melts in, doesn't detract attention from anything else. it just seems to 'fit' with everything else.

what color are the lower cabs? I love that color in painted furniture.
bayareafrancy
13 years ago
Gorgeous floors!!!

I love how you did the microwave!

:-)

francy
flwrs_n_co
13 years ago
Your kitchen is so beautiful and cohesive! Your floors go so well with your cabs--highlighting your upper cabs perfectly. The dark cabs grounding the whole scene with your calm, beautiful backsplash bouncing light over your stunning soapstone. And your working table island has me drooling! It all works together so well; thank you for sharing!
sis2two
Original Author
13 years ago
Guys, you are the greatest. Sometimes I think I have too much going on but I like an eclectic look.
I am not sure how my pics ended up horizontically.It's the strangest thing.
Desertsteph- my lower cabinets are a distressed dark green. Some people have told me to paint them white but I really love the color. My work tablle is an old butcher block that was used in a meat shop and it's indestructable! Thanks again for the nice feedback.

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