Installing Laminate Countertop Side Splash LowerOhhhhh, the kitchen. The original kitchen was walled off from the living and dining rooms. If the cabinets had been in better shape, we might have tried to work with them but, sadly, they were rotted and the doors drawers didnt open or close properly. The odd layout assigned the refrigerator to a lone corner with no storage or counter space nearby. There was no dishwasher. Kitchen-Countertop-And-Backsplash-Combinations-2017-For-Black-Granite-Countertops-Pictures.jpg' alt='Installing Laminate Countertop Side Splash White' title='Installing Laminate Countertop Side Splash White' />Installing Laminate Countertop Side Splash For WallHGTV has inspirational pictures, ideas and expert tips on kitchen counter backsplashes to help you install an attractive, protective wall covering. Lets compare quartz vs granite to see which countertop is best for your remodeling project. One thing we liked about the kitchen was the window above the sink which looks out onto the backyard. It was one of the few windows that had been replaced by the previous owner. To enlarge the kitchen and create a more functional layout without altering the houses original footprint, we removed walls separating the kitchen, living and dining rooms. We arent formal people so the small dining room was relocated to allow for a large island. The dining room window was replaced with french doors to connect the kitchen to the backyard. A vaulted ceiling and skylights flood the north facing space with natural light. Its a far cry from the dark, soffit heavy room we started with. We had our plumber run new water and gas lines to accommodate the current layout. A counter depth refrigerator stands where the stove once lived. A freestanding range occupies the site where a wall used to separate the kitchen from the original dining room. A new dishwasher is located to the right of the sink. Its hidden behind a cover panel that matches the base cabinetry. When the house came to us, a microwave sat in a corner eating up precious counter space. We added a shelf next to the refrigerator to house the microwave and a few cookbooks which freed up counter space for a coffeemaker, toaster and shelf of drinking glasses. One thing we didnt change was the location of the sink. I like that I am able to look out the window when Im washing dishes to admire the greenery or watch the kids playing. We opted for solid surface countertops around the perimeter of the kitchen for easy maintenance. An extra deep, under mounted, single basin sink makes cleanup a breeze. The nine foot long island is the hub of the house. It sees as much Play doh, crafting and homework as it does meal prep, entertaining and casual dining. We topped it with a walnut slab to give it the feel of a wood table since we eat most of our meals here. Its a warm contrast to the granite in the rest of the room. Guests always comment on the island and wood top saying they feel like theyre at a bar. We take it as a compliment. We suspended a trio of pendants above the island. I wanted something that would punctuate the island but not impede the view of the kitchen from the adjoining living space. Clear globe lights were an ideal choice. I especially like the black cloth cords. The pendants are on a dimmer so we can have bright light for food prep or low light for dining and ambiance. I chose durable metal counter stools to stand up to the kids and their inevitable messes. I wipe them down with a wet cloth and they look brand new. To keep the view from the living room to the kitchen uninterrupted, the stools are backless. This feature also makes it easy to turn around to talk with someone in the living room. Initially, I had some reservations about using backless stool with kids but it hasnt been an issue. We kept the back wall free of upper cabinetry and installed reclaimed wood shelves. A sleek range hood and minimal backsplash add to the open feel. Its nice to look over from the living room and not be bombarded with a slew of wall cabinets or an entire wall of tile. I really wanted the kitchen to feel like an extension of the living space instead of a kitchen thrown into a living room. To achieve this, we continued the engineered hardwood flooring into the kitchen. The wood flooring, walnut island top and reclaimed wood shelving help bring warmth to an innately utilitarian room. The cabinetry is Ikea. From the get go, I had my heart set on a tuxedo kitchen dark lowers, white uppers. I wanted dark base cabinets to ground the kitchen in such an open space. I wanted white wall cabinets to keep things light. A mix of black and white just made sense. We fell hard for the Ramsj black brown base cabinets but were disappointed with the slightly pink tone of the coordinating white wall cabinets. In the end, we used three different door styles. Ramsj black brown, solid front for the bases and Liding white, solid and glass front for the uppers. I was a little worried about the mix on paper but in real life I think it goes a long way in helping the kitchen feel less generic. One end of the kitchen is devoted to paying bills, making grocery lists, creating meal plans and all the other secretarial tasks that go along with running a household. Its also where I do the majority of writing and photo editing for the blog. Essentially, its a home office. Base cabinets hold a printer, office supplies and the kids crafting supplies. Upper, glass front cabinets provide pretty storage. I use an assortment of baskets, bins and boxes to corral vitamins, batteries, camera accessories, receipts, crayons and a bunch of other miscellaneous. The planked backsplash is a repeated element also found on the ceiling and TV wall. To give the kitchen space a cozy vibe, I added greenery, artwork, vintage rugs, an upholstered desk stool and a linen covered lamp. It feels lived. It is lived in. There are a few tweaks yet to be made in the kitchen. We need to add a trim piece next to an upper cabinet in the corner near the microwave and Im brainstorming an interactive side panel for the refrigerator. But Im very lucky to be able to spend the majority of my time in this bright and airy space. In the evening when the kitchen is tidy after dinner and the dishwasher is humming away, I pour myself a glass of wine and golden light glows through the skylights. Its my happy place. UPDATE The trim piece and side panel are done See the trim piece here and the side panel here. Resources of note wall paint Benjamin Moore tapestry beigetrim, ceiling, planked backsplash paint Benjamin Moore white dovefrench door paint Glidden trim door oil paint, extra high gloss in deepest blackflooring Jasper engineered hardwood handscraped birch in Texas brown via Build Directbase cabinets Ikea, Ramsj black brownwall cabinets Ikea, Liding whiteperimeter countertop kashmir white granite via Stone Designwalnut countertop Hardwood Lumber Companyisland corbels The Home Depothardware Ikea Vrde handles sans rosettesrefrigerator, dishwasher, gas range, range hood Ikeamicrowave LGsink Kraus 3. VIGO stainless steel pull outbacksplash tile imperial bianco gloss 2 x 1. The Tile Shopbacksplash grout Laticrete epoxy grout in natural greyglobe pendant lights West Elmcounter stools Overstockwall sconce above sink Barn Light Electrichouse artwork near sink giftspice rack Ikeaglass storage containers Wal martkitchen towels Crate Barrelstep stool Ikea, painted stainedrug near sink ebay seller was manhattanrugsopen shelving DIY using Ikea brackets and reclaimed woodoil vinegar drizzlers Amazon These are the beststainless steel containers Targetantlers etsyblack white planter vintagerug near desk etsydesk stool Blu Dot knicker stoollaptop bag STMblue white planter Jo. How to Install a Tile Backsplash how tos. Watch video of this step. Wall tiles are typically thinner and lighter in weight than floor tiles. Many are made with built in spacer on their edges, also known as lugs image 2. If your tiles dont have lugs, ask your tile dealer for the proper size plastic spacers. Using spacers between the tiles will help maintain the proper gap and prevent the tiles from slipping downward before the adhesive sets up. The mastic will not adhere to the spacers they can easily be removed and discarded before the joints are filled or grouted. The backsplash space between a countertop and wall cabinets usually can be filled with two or three horizontal tile rows, depending on the size of your tiles. Because tiles create a grid like pattern, try to choose tiles that fit this space wall installations look better when they are vertically even and symmetrical from end to end. Bull nose or edge tiles of various sizes are also available to finish edges, fill gaps or to avoid having to cut tiles to fit. Check that the countertop is level. If it is not, stand a tile at the lowest spot and mark a level line on the wall at the tiles top this will be your starting point. Use a standard level or laser level to extend this reference line across the wall and around the entire area that is being tiled image 3. The tops of all tiles in the bottom row must meet this line or be cut from the bottom to line up with the mark. Tiles installed above this line will not require cutting. If you are tiling all the way up to the cabinets, place the cut tiles or uneven gap just below the cabinets where it wont be as noticeable. To ensure a symmetrical layout from end to end, measure and mark the center point of each area being tiled. Before you apply mastic and begin tiling, do a dry run by lining up the edge of one tile with the center mark, then place tiles side by side to determine how many tiles will be needed and the width of the end pieces image 4. Dont forget to include spacers between each tile, if required. If the end pieces will be very small or odd sized, you may be able to adjust the spacing slightly to avoid having to cut the ends. If this does not work, repeat the dry run but place the first tile directly over the center mark, which may enable you to cut equal size end pieces, often from a single tile. Age Of Empires 2 Hd Download Full Version Free more. If one side of your tile work will have exposed edges, use whole tiles near this edge and cut only the tiles that end at the wall. If you are tiling over painted drywall, use course grit sanding sponge to rough up the surface. This will help the mastic adhere better to the wall. Wipe off the dust and debris with a damp rag.