Tiling of the Kitchen backsplash has begun.
First we had to plan. We had done a layout to scale, but it’s not until you get the product on site and do a hard layout that you know. Those of you who read regularly know that I often proclaim that scale and real life are two things.
Joe Ferrante sketched out the design above the cook top.
You can click on any of the pictures for a larger view.
Maddy and I agreed that we liked the look of it.
But there was still work to be planned. Which tiles would go where in the tableau design above the cooktop?
If you click on the images, you’ll notice on the design we wrote R and S. “R” for rosette and “S” for star.
That’s because there are 2 different 6 x 6 tile patterns in the tableau. On the border of the tableau tiles will be cut in halves — making a triangle shape. Mark Ferrante took over the project after his brother’s passing. He suggested we consider which of the two tiles will look better as cut in half and build from there out from the edges. I wouldn’t have thought of this, but it was the way to go. I love when I learn a new trick. One tile worked well cut on the diagonal so we used that along the edges and developed the pattern off of that.
Another tip? start the tableau higher than you think you might like it. Why hide a tableau with pots and pans.
Once we decided what we wanted. Mark and his son got to work. Here’s Eric as he started tiling and it’s all about the details.
See all the little pieces? The tile comes mesh mounted on a sheet, but to end the run, each little tile must be pulled off the backing and cut by hand. That’s a lot of work.
It’s coming along and lookin’ good.
