I took the easy way out, (and cheap). The funny thing is I decided on board and batten last Thursday while I was looking at some magazines. I found a really pretty bathroom and I thought to myself, I could do this for my backsplash. I did a google image search and look what I found:
![IMG_0916[1]](https://lh4.ggpht.com/_TrDKdmiRg0Q/TTURQuLAZmI/AAAAAAAAMQY/KWuctQC78L8/IMG_0916%5B1%5D%5B6%5D.jpg?imgmax=800 "IMG_0916[1]")
Click the picture, I’ll wait while you check it out. Did you see whose blog it is from? Did you check out how many followers there were? I was so shocked when I saw that it was Donna’s original blog. Isn’t that funny! And, Donna is doing a series on “copy me”.
I did some dry fitting and a lot of measuring with a couple of scrap pieces of 1x4 before I made my list of what to buy. This is under the kitchen window. I can see that the trim is going to be a problem.
The trim was very easily removed. That’s a lot better.
*this post contains affiliate links*
I went to Home Depot and purchased my 1x4’s. I used my small compound miter saw
because it was easier to get out of the garage. Because this length of lumber was 12 ft, I cut it on the driveway. (yep, that’s snow in the background)
I brought the length in to check it out. See the level. The board is level, but there is a huge gap under the board right behind the faucet.
See it? Not good!
note: old ugly faucet!
You can see here that there is also a gap on the right side. This is all just a dry fit here. I used my rasp to scrape off some of the wood between the two outlets to try to get the board to lay flat. It helped some.
I pre-painted my boards with my Purdy Paint Brush.
I used these little triangles to hold the boards off the counter.
I’m sure these home made pieces have a real name. They are great for holding boards for painting. I gathered some old drawer pieces and used my nailer
to shoot some nails through the board.
I made my vertical boards fit very tight to try to help hold the horizontal board down.
This is still the dry fit stage. I spaced my boards about 16 inches apart. I really liked the way that spaced them under the window.
I used Liquid Nails to hold my horizontal board in place.
When I use liquid nails, I apply it to the board, stick the board to the wall briefly, then pull the board away from the wall, and then smash it back on for good.
Working very quickly, I started putting in my vertical pieces. Because of the tight fit, sometimes I had to pull the horizontal board away from the wall slightly. If my board was not quite level, I tapped the level with my hammer to get it straight. You can also use a scrap piece of wood. Do NOT hammer on your painted board.
As soon as I got the vertical boards in the right place, I started nailing the horizontal board into place. Those lines behind the sink are not really there, they are an optical illusion, possibly some kind of reflection from the shiny sink.
This is before I caulked. Painter's caulk
really is one of my best secrets! It gives your work a real finished appearance.
You can see here that I have caulked on top of the horizontal board, but not where it meets the counter.
I used the hair dryer set on cool to help set the caulk. Because there was such a huge gap, I had to use several applications of Kitchen and bath caulk.
Voila! It’s finished. (note to self, get a new paper towel holder)
Do you see that Ipod? A gift from jamie! See the Ipod dock? A gift from Uprinting.com. I won a $100.00 gift card for my Thanksgiving post. I got the Ipod dock and some new flatware.
See that new faucet? Love it with the new back splash!
This board and batten may be a temporary fix, but I really do love how it looks.
Do you have board and batten in your home? I’m thinking about doing it in the bathroom, not chair rail height. You know the board and batten that is a little higher with a ledge? That’s what I originally saw in a magazine last week that inspired me to do this back splash. Any thoughts?
Related content : How to prepare for a new back splash
gail
Gail Wilson is the author and mastermind behind My Repurposed Life. She is obsessed with finding potential in unexpected places and believes that with a little hard work and imagination, any old thing can be made useful again, including herself!
Gail reinvented herself during a midlife crisis and has found purpose again. She hopes you will find new ideas for old things and pick up a few tools along the way.
Christi
WOW... so much better!!!! I have to admit that upon opening my emailed post update I saw the before and thought that was your finished, thinking that you were CRAZY to paint your backsplash pink! But alas, THE REAL FINISHED PROJECT IS B E A U T I F U L !!!!!!! I will be doing this with my never ending coat rack project that just never seems to look right, even though I've painted it three different colors and keep adding to it. I'm sure creating this effect will be just as beautiful as yours is!!
Michelle@ A Full Cottage
Looks great! Thanks so much for the link to Donna's old blog....I guess everyone has to start someplace! This really makes your kitchen have a custom look, and for such little $.
Please stop by my blog for a visit I am having a big giveaway.
š Michelle
Funky Junk Interiors
Gorgeous! I like your beefier trim for your larger area as well. What a difference it makes and so price efficient as well!
Nicely done Gail!
Donna
http://funkyjunkinteriors.blogspot.com/
Bonita
Wow! That's quite a project and it looks great!
Rachel {BubblyNatureCreations.com}
This is so nice!!! It really looks great! Thanks for sharing!
Stephanie Lynn @Under the Table and Dreaming
Gail - What a fabulsou idea to use the B&B as a backsplash - brillant! Looks wonderful - fantastic job! Thanks so much for linking to the Sunday Showcase - I greatly appreciate it. I'll be featuring this today. Hope you have a wonderful week ~ Stephanie Lynn
Michelle@Somedaycrafts
Gail, I LOVE the board and batten there! So classy! Great job! I'm a little jealous!
Holly
I know everyone is telling you how great this looks but come on!!! This is amazing! My style! I love it!! This is a lot of exclamation points!! I'm going to totally copy you. (By the way, did I tell you I love it?) !!!!!!!!!!
Jenni
Oh, you did such a beautiful job on it. š This is actually the first time I have seen board and batten used for a back splash and I love it!!! I would have never thought of this. Great job!
I hope you have a wonderful weekend!
Blessings,
Jenni
belle & sparrow/{Beautiful Nest}
Becky@Beyond The Picket Fence
Beautiful Gail, must be so satisfying to know you have done it yourself! Thanks for sharing at Beyond the Picket Fence.
Kathie
oh my goodness! You just solved a 10 year old question: "what can I do with that blah backsplash?" I live in an 1870's gothic victorian house that I've been pulling back from the brink of disaster since 2000. The outside of the house is entirely board and batten! The backsplash hasn't risen to anywhere near the top of "the list"... but I am almost ready to replace the tired countertops and now I know what to do with the backsplash... Thank you!
Rachael
LOVE IT! I'm about to do some b&b in my dining room. Such a classic look.
Melanie Beth
Wow, this looks really great! Love it!
Bonnie@Creative Decorating
Love how it turned out and it complements everything you have done in the kitchen. Great job!
junkgarden
Great job! Looks fabulous!
Angie
{Bellamere Cottage}
Sooooo clever! I love the crisp, cottage-y look of it... You did a great.....no GREAT job!
Warm blessings,
Spencer
sweet european dreams
That was a lot of work, but absolutely worth the finished product. Clean & crisp! Love it. -diane
Nana's Fun Stuff
Looks fabulous!! Nope, I don't have any in my house but you make it look so simple š
Benn's Wife
I don't think I have ever seen board and batten used on a backsplash, but I really like it! You did a great job!
Sharon @ Elizabeth & Co.
What a great look!
Sharon @ Elizabeth & Co.
What a great look!
Tammy
Looks great - we are in the process of doing that in the mud room.
Can't wait to do mine.
tammy
Pam
I have been seeing this method all over blog world and really trying to decide where I would want to do it.....back splash looks like a great place.
Home Made Quilts By Granny
Girl that is sharp! Trish
Baye
Great job!
Heidi@TheCraftMonkey
looks fantastic!
Maryann @ Domestically-Speaking
What a brilliant idea Gail! I adore board & batten, but never thought of adding it to the kitchen... just brilliant!
Shannon
I love it! It looks great!
The day we discovered painter's caulk, we were in heaven! We smoothed over every project we've ever done š
Suzanne@Meridian Road
I love how this looks! It's such a good idea~I think it's better than what you would have used originally.
I also like your home made painting thingys. Those would be handy as heck.
SANDI
Great idea...This looks easy enough that I may give it a try...LOL Thanks for the tutorial.
sandraallen260@centurytel.net
Corn in my Coffee-Pot
Very Nice!
We recently did board and batten in my living room... I love it!
Yours turned out great. Thanks for showing a wonderful tutorial.
Pat
corninmycoffee-pot.blogspot.com
Debilou~Mississippi Mama
looking good,,your kitchen is gonna be BEAUTIFUL when you're through.
Anita
Oh I love it!! You did such a great job and I love seeing it step by step!! I have some old beadboard from an old house I'd love to try on my backsplash. You have inspired me!!
Cassie @ Primitive & Proper
that was a GREAT idea, gail!!!! it looks wonderful and was totally affordable!
Cassie @ Primitive & Proper
that was a GREAT idea, gail!!!! it looks wonderful and was totally affordable!
SherriBenson1
Found your website and so enjoying it. I'm a girl who loves all the power tools and love doing stuff like this. Thanks for inspiration.
Suzanne
It's beautiful. I think I have decided to board and batten my bedroom and bathroom when we start the overhaul next month! Love it!
Dawn
My favorite part of this post.... "easy peasy board and batten"..... hahaha woah! Your idea of easy peasy and mine are soooo different! š
You did an amazing job Gail, it is just gorgeous, I love the clean lines, the symmetry - very, very nice!
I Play Outside The Box
Wow...I really like this!! Had to be a lot cheaper than those tiles too....I always love that too.
freckled laundry
I really like it a lot too, Gail! Bravo my dear! I like how the vertical line of the base of the batten compliments the vertical strip on the edge of the counter top. Looks very polished. (Isn't painter's caulk great?) Can't wait to see it all finished up!
Hugs,
Jami