Installing a subway tile backsplash

In the fantasyland inside my head, elves come into my house while I’m getting my much-needed beauty sleep and finish all the projects I dream of. It’s like my own version of The Elves and the Shoemaker. Only I’m not a shoemaker and the elves need to be skilled carpenters.

When I wake up in the morning, my hair looks perfect and my projects are fully completed and cleaned up.

I’m not sure what’s less likely to happen – waking up with perfect hair or having a fully completely project overnight.

(Psst: Probably the hair.)

All of this build-up is to explain that projects in real life can take time, money and lots of begging. (It can’t just be me who has to beg.)

At the beginning of 2017, I declared that the first project of the year would be a tile backsplash. I was sure it could happen. But I hadn’t actually talked to Ryan about it. Did I mention he HATES tiling? And he wasn’t comfortable with my first tile project being such a large project.

So I waited. Impatiently.

But then, when my birthday approached this spring, I took matters into my own hand. I found myself an elf. His name is DAD. As in, my dad.

So to make a short story long … I asked my dad to tile my backsplash for my birthday. And he agreed. Who needs a magic elf when you can be born into a family like mine?

We had been saving Menards rebates for months and I picked up all the supplies for him. (We were able to use rebates to cover everything.) And then he got to work. And the next day, I woke up with perfect hair to a perfectly tiled kitchen.

Slight exaggeration. It took a few days. And I had to help with cleanup. THE HORROR!

But it looks so pretty – I really feel like it’s a dream come true.

I toyed with different tile options, but ended up back at the classic – standard white 3×6 ceramic subway tile layed out in a brick pattern. It just fits in the style of our kitchen and home. It was also on sale at Menards for about 12 cents a tile which makes it so affordable.

For the grout, I chose a premixed version in Delorean Grey. It’s a great color for a little contrast, but it’s not too dark.

I debated on how high to take the tile on the stove and window side. Originally, I wanted to take it to the ceiling. I love that look.

But then I wasn’t sure how it would look around the sliding door. So, we stopped it right below the trim around the sliding door – which was a nice look all the way around.

On the sink/window side, it just brightens it up and frames the view out the windows! When you install 5 feet of windows, it’s all about the view.

It also meant we could avoid having to drill into the tile for the mug rack, which I was happy about. And it sort of helps to detract from the different heights of the trim on the windows and door. It just seems to pull it all together.

And the view from our living room is truly a transformation. I can’t get over how different it looks. I feel like tile is sort of like jewelry for the kitchen – it just finishes the entire look.

Here’s a photo from the summer, to give you an idea of the difference.

On the opposite side, we added tile below the built-ins to tie it all in.

Gah! I just want to squeal every time I see the pictures.

Want to see some more photos? Of you course you do.

The mug rack looks better than ever! And that vintage metal sign (a housewarming gift from my aunt and uncle) is still perfectly placed.

All my limelight hydrangeas are blooming. So I was able to bring them in the house and enjoy them.

There’s nothing more satisfying than growing your own flowers. Especially when they are as simple to grow as these.
We also recently added this little unit to the cabinets. It’s the perfect way to store onions and potatoes to keep them from going back. It’s also where we can hang kitchen towels and bibs. I like having things very accessible when we use them all the time.

I guess that’s a wrap.

I’m a happy camper (because all my tile dreams came true). Ryan’s a happy camper (because he didn’t have to do it). And my dad’s a happy camper because he loves his daughter so much. (I’m just making that up. He’s probably just happy it’s done and I will stop bothering him. Until the next project.)

Happy birthday to me!

What do you think?