#36: Tile Kitchen Backsplash

We've had this one done for a long time and I kept forgetting about it!   I think we actually started this one over last Christmas and worked on it some into February.  It took awhile until we got everything grouted and the paint retouched, but I think that was done by at least summer.  I can't remember.  We're kind of slow remodelers around here! 

Then I kept forgetting to take a picture.  Or let's be real....I'd keep forgetting to take a picture when the kitchen was actually clean!

BEFORE:

This is how the kitchen looked in the realtor's pictures when we bought the house:

Take special note of the horrid countertops and the single sink.  That is, if you can take your eyes off of the lovely curtains and flower sticker things they put on the walls (which were a bear to get off!).

One of the first things we did when we moved in was to demo the backsplash and the countertops. 

We then replaced the countertops almost immediately and while we were at it we changed to a double stainless steel sink.  We also changed out all the hardware on the cupboards.

Then we got new appliances...We had also painted the kitchen red and all the trim white in the meantime, as you can see above.  Until last Christmas though, we lived with the attractive yellow "backsplash" that was left when we tore down the tile.   It was during this time that I made this 101 in 1001 list and decided it needed to be a priority to get it done!

Here's how it all looked just before we started...

And here it is in process:

I even helped do one wall as well.  Ok...so the real story is, I actually made requested Trevor re-do this wall because it was crooked.  So I felt guilty and told him I would do it.   Then I showed him how it was done. :)

The "re-do" might be what caused me to get this look:

Here it is ready to be grouted:  (For the life of me I can't figure out what is on that plate in the picture above....yuck.  I think it is some kind of meat thawing.  I should be more aware of  what is in my pictures!) 

AFTER:

Here's what the kitchen looks like now!

I really like it!  It's simple and not that amazing (sometimes I wish we'd done something more fun like glass tiles), but we did it ourselves and we did it cheap!  What could be better?!

So the kitchen is pretty much complete now, except for the curtains I am "working" on (for the past year!) for the breakfast area (see #38) and the crown molding we plan to put up in the whole house.  We are contemplating doing something with the kitchen cabinets.  They are old and dated, but we definitely don't want to lay down the money to replace them.  I've thought of painting them white or a really dark brown, but I just can't decide.  Does anyone have any advice or opinions on painting your cabinets?  I've heard good and bad things.