Ta da! Backspash finished

While for most installing a kitchen backsplash can be a weekend project, for us it took a few months. However we can say it was well worth and we are quite proud of ourselves.  Our goal was to have the kitchen not inspire comments like "Oh, did you do it yourself?" and instead give a professional look.  With some diligence we wiped the grout to ensure it wasn't in all the nooks and crannies and that the glass shined - mission accomplished!

To truly appreciate the "after" you have to see the complete "before". This would be when we bought our home 7 years ago with the ugliest wall paper imaginable, white appliances and the dreaded backsplash.  While we still hope to stain the cabinets (ourselves or hire? hmmm) and replace the equally dreaded white floor, we are quite pleased with the transformation thus far.

The kitchen in all its white and floral glory at purchase in 2005

The after shot - okay we update appliances a while ago too

The tile is done! 2012

Grout Day - 99% done!

Our new surge of energy and determination to finish has continued.  We finished the tile - cutting many meticulous cuts to get everything fit around windows and an outlet. Today we began (and finished) grouting.

While doing this process we determined a few things

• You get faster and better at it as you go
• Getting into a rhythm helps
• With two people you can grout and wipe more efficiently
• Wiping off grout from the tiles is TEDIOUS
• Even though you wait 20 minutes before wiping grout you never rest!
• Giant yellow sponges work better if you cut them in half - less rinsing because you have more available that are clean
• It is a lot more tedious to wipe off grout when you have a lot of little tiles
• Just when you think you're done you spot a new tile that needs to be wiped or an area the grout missed
• You realize you might have some perfectionist tendancies

Tomorrow is caulking and then our kitchen can be put back together for the first time since July.  I'd send a picture now, but the kitchen is a wreck and we don't want to do anything about it....at least right now.

And we push on

While Sunday is traditionally a day of rest, for us it was also "we're EXHAUSTED what were we thinking". Who knew standing on your feet and pressing in tiles could take so much out of you.

We are now determined to get it done with.  We used our last bits of mortar to place tiles that didn't need cutting Monday night.  Another trip to Lowes (who knows what number it is by now).  The gaps needing special cutting seem to be mocking us.  In one moment of clarity we knew what peice would go where and how it needed to be cut and/or replaced with a different tile.  Unfortunately that clarity faded to a mental fog as now all pieces look alike and my helpful notes now seem like jibberish. Next time I think I will video our epiphanies!