Whipping Up A Backsplash
I thought phase one of tiling was difficult, but phase 2 (grouting) isn't exactly a walk in the park. My fingers are raw and blistered. I didn't think to put on rubber gloves until I was almost finished sponging off the grout, so I've got some seriously wrinkled fingertips, too.
That's a picture of my pale grey grout up top. Mixing it up with my drill and a special grout paddle reminded me of making cake batter. The $12 paddle was worth every penny. It's exhausting enough to do these DIY projects, so power mixing, as opposed to hand mixing, is definitely the way to go.
This is just a little peek. I tiled a heck of a lot more than what you see here. Now I just have to seal the grout and caulk around the bottom where the tile meets the countertop. I skipped a 4" granite backsplash and tiled from the base of the countertop on up, which is turning out nicely.
The tile is looking great, but I can't fully appreciate it until I paint the walls. The old yellowy white paint is totally clashing with my crisp white tiles and pale grey grout. I finally decided on Benjamin Moore Gray Owl for the walls, which almost matches the grout and for the trim and window, Sherwin Williams Pure White.
No painting today, though. Tiling has wiped me out!
That's a picture of my pale grey grout up top. Mixing it up with my drill and a special grout paddle reminded me of making cake batter. The $12 paddle was worth every penny. It's exhausting enough to do these DIY projects, so power mixing, as opposed to hand mixing, is definitely the way to go.
The tile is looking great, but I can't fully appreciate it until I paint the walls. The old yellowy white paint is totally clashing with my crisp white tiles and pale grey grout. I finally decided on Benjamin Moore Gray Owl for the walls, which almost matches the grout and for the trim and window, Sherwin Williams Pure White.
No painting today, though. Tiling has wiped me out!
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If you are having trouble with your kitchen outlets, plastic box extenders are very DIY-friendly and they will make everything look a lot better. There are some great tutorials on youtube and anyone can do it. The important thing is to be safe - always make sure you turn off the power before touching the outlet! And pick up some extra-long screws for the plate if they don't come with the extender.