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More Tile!

Yes! Vince decided he loved the subway tile. For those who were reading back when we did the granite and tile in Texas, there was a rather heated debate about the tile. I wanted a tan colored subway tile and Vince picked out shades of brown tile. I didn’t like them at all.

They really didn’t look terrible with just a little of them done but when they were all up . . I just didn’t like them.

I guess the power in the kitchen was off while they were working aorund the outlets.

While looking for a picture, I found a picture of the countertop at the house in Texas before we changed it.

It was rough slate. It was uneven – terribly uneven. I always worried that while canning, I was going to pull a hot jar out of the canner and it would topple over on the countertop, even with a towel between the jar and the counter. The grout was cement – just plain driveway type cement. I was pretty happy when Vince agreed to replace that countertop.

Anyway, I had wanted the subway tile and he didn’t so when we had to make a decision about tile here, I said . . we’re not debating it this time. I don’t usually say “my way or the highway” . . in fact, I never say it but I think Vince knew I was pretty set on getting the subway tile this time.

After he started putting them up, I wasn’t sure how he was going to like them. I didn’t want him to dislike them like I had disliked the tile in Texas . . even though he spends way less time in the kitchen than I do but apparently he loves the subway tile. Before he ever started putting the area behind the stove up, I said “I’d like to do all the backsplash with subway tile and he said “let’s see how it goes” . . which meant if he didn’t like the tile or didn’t like installing it . . no . . not happening.

This morning he got up and said “Let’s go find enough tile to do the rest of the backsplash.” Yes!

He wanted me to go with him so I said ok. How could I say no when he’s putting up the tile I want? According to the internet, there were 40 sheets of tile in Neosho, 13 in Carthage and 4 in Joplin. We needed 22 sheets. Even if the numbers were right and we got all there were in Carthage and Joplin, we’d still have to go to Neosho so he said “Let’s just go to Neosho and get them there.” That’s about 30 miles from here so that’s where we were headed. Then he said “Let’s run by Carthage and get what they have just in case the numbers are wrong for Neosho.” OK . . I was along for the ride so I didn’t care. We got to Carthage and they had probably 30 or more sheets so we got what we needed and were on our way home.

We didn’t want to start the grout til we had an entire section ready to be grouted, so if he puts them up today, lets them sit for 24 hours, grouts them tomorrow, lets that sit for 24 hours, we can seal the grout on Wednesday, which is the day the stove arrives. If we get the area behind the stove sealed before it gets here, I’ll be happy. We can seal the rest of it Thursday or Friday.

That just leaves one small area to have to add the tile and Vince will be done.

I’m so happy he’s doing the tile job and so happy he liked it enough to tile all the backsplash.

Reader Interactions

Comments

  2. Nice job Vince, they look great! Judy, could I borrow Vince, I would like those tiles in my kitchen!

    • He has done such a great job. I’m so glad he’s willing and able to do that kind of project, especially now since it’s so hard to get people to come in and do things.

  5. I like this a lot better than the one in Texas! It makes under the counter seem more light or to have more light. I know it is just my imagination, but that is what I think.

    • I agree. I think the one in Texas looked cluttered and busy and not bright and happy.

  6. Looks great!

    Just curious, did you get extra tile packs to finish the wall in case you ever change the counter top and remove that little bit that goes up the wall? I’m looking at how the tiles/counter was finished in Texas.

    • No. I wouldn’t put tile all the way down to the countertop again. It was too hard to keep the grout clean, even with it sealed.

  8. Looks great. Have had the same tile in my kitchen for several years. Really like it. Mine does go down to the counter top but have not had a problem with staining. But I do not do as much cooking as you.

    • I had problems when I was canning or processing peaches and tomatoes in Texas. No amount of towels or wiping stops all the juice and the tomatoes and peaches would discolor the grout near the granite and I didn’t use bleach near the granite. I think there are a lot of things that work great in kitchens that aren’t used a lot (and there are plenty of those), and there are things that work great in kitchens that are used a lot but the cook is tidy . . and then there’s me. I need something that’s pretty ruin-proof!

  9. Judy, your new tile looks great! We are in the process of renovating ourselves. and I am wondering when you say sheets of subway tile, are they in sheets or individual tiles? Can you share where you bought them?

  12. What a difference in your kitchen – and Vince is doing a terrific job of installing it! I’d like subway tile in our kitchen, too – but have to replace the countertops in the main part of the kitchen first (after painting or having the cabinets refaced & new drawer & cabinet doors put in). There’s always something to be done first. Your kitchen really brightened up with the new tiles put in! Tomorrow is THE day for you – the new stove goes in! So happy for you.

  15. Funny how a little of something looks good but a lot doesn’t. I agree with you on the tile in Texas. I love the way the subway tile looks! At some point we will be redoing the tile in our kitchen. I had to laugh at my husband, in my head not to his face, this weekend. He spent the weekend getting the windows ready for replacement and it took the whole weekend. He did a great job and then said, “This is what it will be like when I retire! I will get so much done when I don’t have to do it only on the weekends!” I think I might need to remind him of that. 😀

    • Yes! Write that down. It’s so nice having Vince around every day to do things. I’m not sure he likes it as much as I do. 🙂 Some days I say “Vince?” and I must say it in a different way when I have some crazy idea because before I ever finish, he says “NO! I’m not doing any chores for you today!” 🙂

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