My kitchen makeover is dragging on a lot longer than I ever thought it would. I know that it always takes twice as much time and money as originally estimated. As far as the money goes, I’m way under budget. Budget? What budget? Mostly free and very cheap is more like it.
I’ll just be talking about one section of the kitchen today, the area to the right of the sink. I had that horrid counter matching back splash for years.
Removing that piece was one of the first steps I took when I started this makeover. I felt that if I removed it, there was no going back. It had been (liquid) nailed to the drywall.
Suddenly Thanksgiving was approaching and I had no back splash. I had actually won a back splash from a blog, but it was very delayed in shipping, so I declined the prize. To make the kitchen more presentable for the holidays, I quickly slapped some of the wall paint on the backsplash to “make do”. At this point I still needed to swap out that gfi plate cover. (it has been swapped out). Notice the new white blind on the kitchen door that replaced the 30 year old aluminum blind.
I got several Home Depot gift cards for Christmas, so I thought I could splurge on some tile. At the store these colors looked white, gray and taupe.
I bought two sections. When I put it in the kitchen, the gray looked blue, the taupe looked gray and the white looked less white. I took them back to the store.
This is what the liquid nails looked like after I painted it. I tried to scrape off the leftover adhesive.
How do you think I got it to scrape?
I wish I could say I thought of it myself, but I didn’t!
A hairdryer! You would think that after I saw Rose @ Confessions of a Curbshopaholic used her hair dryer to remove her vinyl tile, that I would have known it would work for this adhesive. But alas, no, I googled it. If you have never used a Purdy 6 in 1 tool you should pick one up! It’s such a sturdy scraper!
I used a board to get an idea of how much of the adhesive had to come off.
I drew a line so that I wouldn’t work myself to death removing adhesive that didn’t need to be removed.
I was amazed at how easily it came off when hot. Perhaps it had been loosened slightly by having the latex paint on it for the last two months?
If the back splash was finished, I’d show you. I hope to get it finished today. I’m also working on switching out the faucet. I’ve never done plumbing before! The old one came out pretty easily. I hope the new one goes in quickly. We’ll see!
Check back tomorrow and see if I’ve made any progress. Any thoughts on what the back splash will be? IF you’re a blog friend that I have shared the info with, please don’t spill the beans!
gail
Kim @ Second Time Furniture says
January 18, 2011 at 7:48 amThat tile is going to look fabulous~love all the colors!
Laura at Ms. Smartie Pants says
January 18, 2011 at 5:46 amLove those tiles. I am doing all of this later this year, so I am glad you are paving the way for me! I am guessing bead board.
Suzanne@Meridian Road says
January 18, 2011 at 3:46 amI have no idea what it’s going to be! (except fabulous, most likely)
It’s too bad the tile didn’t work out. It was pretty.
Megandvd@Beauty in the Attempt says
January 18, 2011 at 2:24 amYou always amaze me. I love the tile and that you got it all with GC. 🙂 How fabulous. I am new to this Purdy tool…hmmm…tell me more. As for slow renovating…just did a post all about that.
Cheers~
e
Anita @ GoingALittleCoastal says
January 18, 2011 at 1:41 amWell since tin was already guessed I’ll say subway tile! I love my purdy tool, its how we got the adhesive off to remove the granite top!
Danielle says
January 17, 2011 at 11:18 pmPosted the blog about the island you inspired me to build!! Thought you might want to check it out. 🙂 http://focusdoctor.blogspot.com
Something Nice and Pretty says
January 17, 2011 at 10:45 pmI’ll be stopping back to see what you used for the backsplash, I’m really curious now:)
Becky@Beyond The Picket Fence says
January 17, 2011 at 9:09 pmIt will look awesome! My mom just used this same tile in her bathroom shower, I love it!!
Cassie @ Primitive & Proper says
January 17, 2011 at 8:32 pmwow, i bet you are glad this project is almost done! the light at the end of the tunnel is near!
Cassie @ Primitive & Proper says
January 17, 2011 at 8:32 pmwow, i bet you are glad this project is almost done! the light at the end of the tunnel is near!
Maryann @ Domestically-Speaking says
January 17, 2011 at 7:14 pmI can’t wait to see it!
SandyQuilts says
January 17, 2011 at 4:32 pmI’m sure you know these people who paint backsplashes but just in case
http://www.sawdustandembryos.com/
Pam says
January 17, 2011 at 3:47 pmI SO dislike when things don’t go together or as smooth as I think they should. Can’t wait to see the results.
Cindy @ LeChaiseParfait says
January 17, 2011 at 3:37 pmI know what it is like to want to do your own work. I am scared of electricity and have a few lights that I want to put up. Eeeek!!! I don’t think I will be as brave as you are tackling the plumbing.
My Cottage Charm says
January 17, 2011 at 1:45 pmHey lady…I’m guessing you’re going to use that piece of wood in the photo…to match your island top. 🙂 Total guess…you’re killing me with the teasing!!! roflol 😉
Hugs
Missy
Rose @ Confessions of a Curbshopaholic says
January 17, 2011 at 1:36 pmYou know, I don’t think I would have thought of using the heat on that adhesive, even after I used it on the floor tiles! Funny how we don’t connect things like that.
I won’t spill the beans here…
But totally off topic- I love the clock in the first photo! What did you end up doing with that? I don’t see it in the after photos.
Proper Prim says
January 17, 2011 at 1:31 pmThere you go again Gail teasing us… I really liked that tile… too bad that didn’t work. I am guessing maybe a tin backsplash.
Can’t wait to see the end result