Monday, October 22, 2012

Kitchen Backsplash: Subway Tile Edition

Our backsplash is done! Our backsplash is done!

Imperial bone gloss tile The Tile Shop 

Imperial Bone Gloss The Tile Shop

We had intended on installing a backsplash soon after we moved in…almost four years ago. I’m glad we waited because we had originally planned for a mosaic tile backsplash. Sometimes laziness patience pays off and you end up finding a perfect fit for your kitchen.  I like mosaic backsplashes but I think the subway tile ended up being a better fit for our overall design style.  (I act like I know what I’m talking about because I write a blog with the word “Décor” in the title.)

Our ivory cabinets made finding the perfect tile a challenge.  We ended up choosing the Imperial Bone Gloss subway tile from The Tile Shop.  The employees in the Des Moines store were awesome to work with.  (Not a sponsored post, just the facts.) We used Delorian Grey Premixed Grout. Contrasting grout is a love it or hate it type of thing. We both loved the look of it so we went for it. Good choice.

Imperial Bone Gloss The Tile Shop

Installing the tile was fairly easy.  We used the Tile Setting Mat from the Simple Mat in place of mortar. Cleaning the dark grout off of the ivory tiles was less easy.  We’ll share our thoughts on the Tile Setting Mat tomorrow. I think I will also share some things to think about when installing a backsplash in a later post. 

This project wasn’t the cheapest.  The tile for the entire kitchen cost us ~$280.  We also had $100 in supplies.  (Luckily we had a $100 gift card to the Home Depot from a previous blog thing.  We paid the Home Depot $0.11.  It was pretty awesome.)  The cost was worth it to class the joint up.

Imperial Bone Gloss The Tile Shop

It kind of looks like grown ups live here.  Weird.

Imperial Bone Gloss The Tile Shop

Did you think we would ever finish this project (darn old age!)?  What are your thoughts on contrasting grout?  Do you prefer subway or mosaic tile or do you have a love for both?

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45 comments:

  1. Tracy @ Honey and NutmegOctober 22, 2012 at 6:31 AM

    I LOVE your dark wood floors! The kitchen looks fantastic!

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  2. Katie @ Paisley Print ShoesOctober 22, 2012 at 7:17 AM

    Wow. I seriously LOVE it! The contrasting grout looks awesome.

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  3. Cindy @The Flipping CoupleOctober 22, 2012 at 7:53 AM

    Um, love. LOVE. I didn't think I liked contrasting grout but I think you and Kim have converted me. I also like your decision on how to tile around the hood. I realize my approval means a lot so I thought I'd throw that out there.

    Also? It's done! Reason for celebration right there.

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  4. Chelsea @ two twenty oneOctober 22, 2012 at 8:00 AM

    Looks awesome. I like how shiny it is. Gives the kitchen a little sparkle, and we all know how much Nate likes sparkly things. I'd love to tile our backsplash... one day... after we finally paint our cabinets...

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  5. Formerly known as FrauOctober 22, 2012 at 8:04 AM

    Love it!

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  6. AnonymousOctober 22, 2012 at 8:05 AM

    love it love it love it and i love the hole kitchen. ang

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  7. Kelly @ Corner of MainOctober 22, 2012 at 8:14 AM

    Beautiful! Your kitchen looks great!

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  8. Kristen | Popcorn on the StoveOctober 22, 2012 at 8:22 AM

    LOVE!

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  9. Cassie BustamanteOctober 22, 2012 at 8:35 AM

    WAHOO! it looks beautiful! bet you are THRILLED.

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  10. AshleyOctober 22, 2012 at 8:43 AM

    Looks great.... I love it!

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  11. Cait @ Hernando HouseOctober 22, 2012 at 9:24 AM

    The backsplash turned out great! You guys did an awesome job! Can't wait to hear more about Simple Mat and tiling a backsplash!

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  12. Amy@BuffaloRoamOctober 22, 2012 at 9:26 AM

    It is beeeeeautiful! So perfect in that space. Also, your house always looks so shiny and gleamy!

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  13. ournextgreatadventureOctober 22, 2012 at 9:28 AM

    LOVE it! I'm not usually for the contrasting grout, but it looks good.
    Also, I'm probably just really behind the times since I usually read in Google Reader, but is that a new header? I like it.
    Sarah

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  14. Maury @ Life on MarsOctober 22, 2012 at 9:29 AM

    Love the contrasting grout! It's not so in your face, but really makes the tiles noticeable. It looks so great!!!

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  15. Kelly @ View Along the WayOctober 22, 2012 at 9:33 AM

    I honestly didn't expect it to make such a HUUUGE difference. Totally classed up, I am in LUUUUUUUV.

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  16. MartinaOctober 22, 2012 at 9:41 AM

    The wait was worth it ;) looks great and makes a huge difference in the overall appearance of your kitchen (which was awesome to begin with).

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  17. Carol@TheDesignPagesOctober 22, 2012 at 10:42 AM

    Good choice!! You can never go wrong with subway and it won't date as fast as mosaic. I love it.

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  18. UnknownOctober 22, 2012 at 11:07 AM

    I love it!! I would definitely go with subway tile for a backsplash too- looks so nice and classy!

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  19. CourtneyOctober 22, 2012 at 11:10 AM

    Beautiful! Love it!

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  20. reilly @ JourneyNorthOctober 22, 2012 at 12:22 PM

    Looks great! And a little familiar!

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  21. Erika @ Our Cozy CubbyholeOctober 22, 2012 at 12:37 PM

    That looks awesome! Great job! :)

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  22. Turners in the CountryOctober 22, 2012 at 12:38 PM

    Love it! Y'all did a good job!

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  23. HannahOctober 22, 2012 at 12:55 PM

    LOVE LOVE LOVE! Haha, I love how you say it kind of looks like grown ups live here. Growing up is so, so, weird. I imagine my first house will freak me out.

    ReplyDelete
  24. Jeanette @ This Dusty HouseOctober 22, 2012 at 2:14 PM

    Oh my goodness, I love your kitchen. Like, so much. Like, it might be on the level of dream kitchen. Honestly. It's perfect.

    And yes, subway tile is a total win, (and so is contrasting grout) though I have a soft spot for a little mosaic too. But not too much. Just enough.

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  25. Lyndsay MOctober 22, 2012 at 3:53 PM

    AHHHHHHH. It's perfection. And almost worth the blurry-instagram-photo-wait...okay, it WAS worth the wait. I am so glad that you went with the classic subway tile look instead of a mosaic. Even though we did mosaic in our first kitchen, I do like this look better. It's clean and eye-catching. And the dark grout? LOOOOOOOVVVVEEEE. I am pro-dark-grout and this seriously looks awesome!

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  26. Carrie @ Hazardous DesignOctober 22, 2012 at 8:09 PM

    Gorgeous!!! I'm so impressed! It isn't just grown ups who now live in your house, but fancy grown ups.

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  27. Ashley@AttemptsAtDomesticationOctober 22, 2012 at 9:17 PM

    Mmmm.... GORGEOUS!!! I absolutely LOVE it! Sorry, let me mop up my drool...

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  28. BrookeOctober 22, 2012 at 9:44 PM

    I love the contrasting grout and think the whole thing looks great. Well done.

    ReplyDelete
  29. MelodyOctober 22, 2012 at 9:49 PM

    Subway-tile envy... I wonder if that's a treatable condition?
    Your kitchen looks awesome! (and that grey grout just hits it in the right spot.)

    ReplyDelete
  30. NicoleOctober 22, 2012 at 10:37 PM

    Love it! And I adore the contrasting grout.

    ReplyDelete
  31. John @ Our Home from ScratchOctober 23, 2012 at 8:03 AM

    It looks great! Your kitchen was amazing before this, but this is a nice improvement none the less. Plus, you used my favorite word... Delorean.

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  32. NancyOctober 23, 2012 at 11:50 AM

    Looks great! We are doing nearly the same thing right now. What is the green paint color -- like it very much! thanks!

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  33. Collin OllafOctober 23, 2012 at 1:09 PM

    What a great project! It really turned out beautifully. I've got a couple of clients that have been thinking about doing something similar. I'm definitely sending them here to check out your pictures!

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  34. BrittaneyOctober 23, 2012 at 2:13 PM

    The backsplash looks amazing! It makes me like the bar stools even more! Great choice. :)

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  35. ErinOctober 23, 2012 at 5:57 PM

    Dear grown up:

    Your backsplash looks lovely. Like everything a mature adult should have. Nice work!

    Love,
    Immature baby adult whose backsplash features a gross magnetic spice thing. (It's okay if you don't know what that is.)

    ReplyDelete
  36. FaithOctober 23, 2012 at 6:11 PM

    Like your kitchen needed anything more to make it gorg...but seriously, that backsplash looks amazing. And I, for one, love the contrasting grout too.

    ReplyDelete
  37. Lucky GirlOctober 23, 2012 at 8:03 PM

    You guys did a phenomenal job! Such a nice job to have packed up and over... :-)

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  38. KristelOctober 23, 2012 at 9:21 PM

    Wow, your backsplash looks amazing! It goes to show you, things turn out great when you take the time to plan them out. How was the cutting of the tiles? I would love to change my backsplash, but just the thought of removing the current one gives me chills. I cannot wait to hear your tips, by the way, I LOVE the contrast between tile and grout.

    ReplyDelete
  39. UnknownOctober 24, 2012 at 11:43 AM

    I love the completed look. Subway tile always looks so crisp and clean and the contrasting tile makes that even better. I know you are iffy about those stools but I love them and how they look against the white beadboard. Great Job!

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  40. Gabbi @ Retro Ranch RenoOctober 24, 2012 at 1:22 PM

    It looks gorgeousssssss! I love the contrasting grout. Way to go guys! :)

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  41. Our Little BeehiveOctober 24, 2012 at 2:25 PM

    I LOVE the way it looks. LOVE! We had a heck of a time because of the ivory-ish cabinets too. I wish they were a pure white. Oh well.

    Not to add another project to your list, but how cool would it look for the tile to go all the way to the ceiling next to the vent hood?

    ReplyDelete
  42. Tool ventureOctober 25, 2012 at 12:48 AM

    Love the black shelves and wooden floor tile in the kitchen...I am seeing more and more brick accent walls!
    Thanks for the tour!

    ReplyDelete
  43. JamieOctober 28, 2012 at 5:23 AM

    Stunning! I loved your kitchen before - but now it blows me away.

    ReplyDelete
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