When we made our wormy chestnut countertops last summer, I fell in love with the perfect mixed mosaic glass and stone tiles for the backsplash at Lowes.
The only problem was, they were on clearance at about $3 per sf, and there were only two 12″ x 12″ tiles anywhere. in. the. U.S.
I searched online, I called every Lowes around and searched everywhere just to find there were no more. There were similar ones, but not this particular one. Since I already had the ceramic tiles above the stove, my plan was to mix the two together to make them go farther.
I removed the ceramic tiles above the sink and added the mosaic tiles.
I had planned to chisel out random tiles from behind the stove and replace with the mosaic, but obviously, I never got around to it. I did attempt to take one out, but found out it was going to be harder than I thought, so I pushed the stove back in and forgot about it. I mean, we have a life, family, ministry, etc., and we had already spent a couple weeks getting the countertops going.
But because I lie awake at night thinking of projects to do, and because I am stressed looking forward to the photographers being here in May, I thought I would try to figure out a solution to finish it up.
I have envisioned adding a 3″ border connecting everything, because I have just enough tile to do that. Then I had the outlet issue. I thought I would have to get the outlet extender boxes, then, because I am not doing tile over the whole backsplash, only the bottom would need to be extended more, so what would I do about the rest of it? Install tile just around the outlets? Well, I thought that would look even more strange, so I realized I could just move the outlets up an inch, then they can remain flush with the wall. So that might work.
And I like the way it would add to the wormy chestnut trim, which is still not actually installed on this side. Really. Doesn’t everyone have projects that are never completely done? Please tell me it’s not just me.
But I’m still not sure I like how it all ties together — or doesn’t tie together.
In all honesty, if I could, I would be on the phone with tile installers, and then I would chose one of these options and let them at it. I would love to have the whole backsplash in a glass or mixed mosaic tile, maybe like this one:
Elida Ceramica Glass Mosaic Tile
I even like this white one:
Elida Ceramica Glass Mosaic Pearl
And this one on ebay looks like the same one I have, but much more expensive than my $3 clearance ones were at $14.90 a SF, which to most people is not big deal, but for us it adds up.
Brown/white stone glass mosaic tile
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So what’s a girl to do?
Think about it some more and help my husband take out a bathtub in the meantime. Yes, you read that right. We decided since this is not a house we will ever sell and we have a shower in here and another bathtub, we would take out the corner bathtub and build in a closet. The only one who uses this bathtub ever is our 7 year old, who likes to “swim” in it in the summer.
The reason behind this craziness is we decided to expand our large walk-in master closet in order for Luis to have private work space and are adding closets here and to a large alcove in the master bedroom to replace the one we I am losing.
Sometimes you have to do what you can with what you have available, and we are getting really good at it. Sometimes it wears on my brain, though, trying to figure out how to do something either for free or for minimal expense.
But on the bright side, besides a much-needed work space for Luis, I am really excited that we will be using five of these gorgeous doors from the old house on this project.
So I really won’t miss the bathtub. I just hope we can get it all done before May. I’ll also finally get to paint our bedroom which has been green for the last five years.
I am planning on a lighter grey-ish blue I picked out several years ago. But we have to get the bathtub out first. And three closets installed. And a wall moved:-)
I’ll be joining:
Love those tiles. Pretty bathroom and bedroom too.
You're not the only one who draws out projects. I just posted about one of mine that stretched out for months, so I can relate. Sometimes real life just gets in the way of the things we want to do. I can tell you though, that it is such a good feeling to put the final touches on a long drawn out project, to know the last detail is finished.
Cindy
Oh, Anita. Believe me you're not alone in having unfinished projects. I think we have the record on that dubiious honor. Either need molding, paint, cabinet pulls, bottom cabinets to match the new uppers, on and on and on. Could you cut or chip the top of the tile under the outlet cover? I love your choice BTW.
Janet
Anita you do have some BIG project planned to accomplish in just a few weeks. If you're like me, a lot can be accomplished with a deadline looming in the near future. Enjoy the process and have fun with it.
p.s. I love everything you do….but the tile…even though it is beautiful….doesn't feel right to me. Maybe too contemporary for a vintage kitchen? But, having said that….it has to be what makes you smile in the morning and put on the coffee. đŸ˜‰
Blessings!!
I am the queen of projects that need to be either started or completed. I know the feeling of being a little and sometimes, a lot, overwhelmed. I cringe at the thought of having to pay hundreds or even thousands of dollars to someone else to do something when I know we can probably do it ourselves. Being retired now(and older) things are not as easy or as fast for us to do as it once was.
Wishing you the best and hoping that you do not become too stressed out about it! Have a blessed weekend!
Sounds like you're going to have a busy April. Whatever you end up doing in the kitchen I'm sure it will look beautiful. You have a great eye for putting stuff together.
My husband doesn't do diy. Instead he hires my brother who is an exemplary carpenter…but I am family and can wait even if I am a paying customer. So we make plans, we wait months for a quote and then months to get the work done. My back porch was a in limbo from Feb to Aug (waiting on the quote) and then from September until March getting built. We too want to remove a corner tub in our bathroom and replace with a large walk in shower. I want to remove the small step up shower and either expand my laundry area (which I haven't told husband about that yet, lol) or put in a stacked washer dryer in the shower alcove and then redo the laundry closet as a walk in pantry (even better idea I think!). In the meantime my husband is looking at replacing windows, underpinning the house in a different way, redoing the front porch, pouring a concrete pad under the carport…Yes, we got plans! I might be 89 before they all get done…Good thing my brother is younger than me, huh? lol
Oh what a lovely visual treat you have blessed me with. It is looking fantastic.
Have a wonderful weekend.
Its so beautiful over here, and I can see your vision.
Xx
Doré