So...FINALLY! The project we've had on our list since, well, we moved in! We were really hoping we could do it this past October but obviously that did not happen! It was a very long process, if you ask me, and this is why: decisions have to be made. What?!? Picture Dan and me with our hands on our cheeks screaming like Kevin in Home Alone after he put on the after shave! Let me provide you with a visual:
It's hard for us to pull the trigger on things that are: a.) Expensive and b.) Permanent. It's just the way we're wired I guess. So after months of research, Pinterest scouring, going to all the home improvement and tile stores around, and laying out 5 samples on our floor for weeks, we finally bit the bullet. It was hard to compare the $25 per square foot tiles to the $4.98 per square foot tiles....ya know? :) True to our track record, we chose right in the middle at $10.97 per square foot from Home Depot. "French Palace" it's called! And so the process began...
The above photo is a before shot for your viewing pleasure! The project took 3 weekends. The first weekend was cutting and measuring. We spent a Friday night measuring, marking, and laying everything out and then all day Saturday cutting the tiles. I had to run to Ace Hardware to get Dan some goggles to protect his cute little eyes! :)
Yes, an alcoholic beverage is necessary for any house project. McShane rules.
There were pieces of glass EVERYWHERE!!!!!!!!!! The wet saw definitely took some getting used to! Thank you to my sister's friend, Jill, for letting us borrow her saw and all of her supplies! And also teaching us how to do this!
After cutting all the tiles, we started sticking them all on the wall the NEXT weekend! Again, Friday/Saturday night routine! We had a few panic moments where we thought we measured wrong but it all turned out ok. There's a lot of "Ok, Dan, these 3 need to be cut down 1/2 inch!" or "Tiny babies needed for this corner!" After getting over the fact that we wanted to kill each other, we decided it'd be best if we worked as a team :) For a moment on the first weekend, we paused and asked ourselves if we should hire someone...hahaha!
In order to keep it all straight, we had to label all the piles of tiles by number so we knew where each of them went on the wall. We had 25 numbers, or 25 square feet. And, more importantly, 5 outlets, one window sill, and inconsistent cabinet levels. BOO!!! It's never as easy as you think it's going to be!
By the third weekend of this, I wanted to put this project to bed! Good grief! We had grouting left to do though. We headed to Home Depot and picked out some grout. We decided on an off white...I think it was called Bone? Since our tile is half glass/half ceramic, we had to get unsanded grout, which is not sold pre-mixed. We picked up a few buckets and sponges and went to work again!
Do you like how I wore the same outfit for 3 weekends in a row? :) After the grouting and wiping down, we decided to call it a day! But we do still have to finish caulking it and then seal it with some special spray. So, here is a reminder of the "before". It wasn't bad at all, I just felt like it said to me every day, "You guys! PLEASE dress me up!"
And here's the AFTER!
We love it!
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