Easy Peasy Backsplash

 Friends, we have entered the era of Peel & Stick, and I am fully on board with this.

As much as I love my new digs, there are a few things that fell kind of flat.  The drywall and the paint were disappointing.  I keep finding evidence of sloppy mudding and orange peel-like areas.  There's a softball sized area in the media room that actually looks like a close up of skin pores, and it's smack in the middle of the wall.  The paint they used is simply awful; if you so much as look at it, it will leave a mark.  It was sprayed on in two thin coats, so if you try to remove any blemishes, with a few gentle swipes you're suddenly peeling off the outer part of the drywall.  This has presented a huge issue around the stove and the sink areas in the kitchen, as they are most prone to be splattered or splashed with water, grease, or what have you.  

pre-backsplash

I had been toying with the idea of a four inch butcher block backsplash around the kitchen counters, and in searching for materials I came across peel & stick tiles.  Further investigation into that led me to peel & stick faux tile sheets.  This material is much more budget friendly, so I decided to give it a try.

I measured the area and ordered my sheets.  Originally I had only intended to do the length from the kitchen door to around the corner to behind the stove and end at the refrigerator in one tile height, which was 12".  Once the sheets arrived I started taping the tiles up with painter's tape to see how it looked.  I ran the one tile length, then tried taping up to the bottom of the floating shelf to see how that looked.

I decided that I did prefer the tiles all the way to the underneath of the cabinets, but I didn't relish the thought of all the cutting involved to make it look right if it went to the underside of the floating shelf.  

I cleaned off the counter and began by cutting the first tile so it would line up flush to the trim on the left side, and then started lining up the sheets.  The nice thing about these thick sheets is that they will kind of clip together before you peel off the backing, which makes it much easier to do templates around outlets without committing to sticking the sheet to the wall.  I used the thin cardboard insert that came in the package of sheets to make templates.  By turning it upside down I was able to use it twice and sometimes three times to mark out outlets.

The reviews I read about most peel & stick items almost always suggested using a secondary adhesive to ensure the sheets actually stick to the walls.  Many people finished a job and within 24 hours the tiles began peeling off the walls like crazy.  Whether that was due to not cleaning their walls enough or poor adhesive on the tiles, I can't say, but I used a commercial grade spray adhesive on the backs of my tiles to be safe.  If I worked quickly enough, I was able to peel off tiles that didn't set right and realign them.

When I came to the corner, I thought my best bet would be to score the tile so it would fit neatly into the corner and wrap around to the other wall.  I did that for the bottom tile, but for the top half tile, I put it into place without scoring it, and used a squeegee tool to press it into place.  Both strategies worked, but i think the scoring will probably hold better.

Here to the right you can see how the sheets fit together before you glue them on.

Because I decided to go with one and a half sheets all the way around, I didn't have enough to finish to the refrigerator.  I've ordered two more boxes and will hopefully have this done in a few days.  I still don't have a hood vent, so I'm toying with the idea of just leaving the border or maybe going up the wall with more sheets.  My other thought is to get a washable paint that matches the tile color and paint a section of the wall behind the stove.  Without a hood vent, it's difficult to picture the different options.

For now, I'm very happy with the end result.  It gives the kitchen area a little more oomf with that pop of color.  So far between the 5 packs of tile, the wallpaper kit, and the spray adhesive, I'm at $150.93.  My meager budget thanks me for that!  I didn't track my time, but I would say I probably have five or six hours into the project so far.  Laying out the tiles and making the templates was definitely the most time consuming part, but also the most important.  I only had one section, just after the corner, where my tiles started to become misaligned.  Thankfully the microwave hides that part.  If you look closely, you can see the seams where the tiles don't quite butt together, and I'm not sure if I'll address that or not.  I need to live with it for a while and then I'll decide. 

Occupancy

 In the past month a lot has happened.  The plumbing was finished, touch ups happened, and on June 1st - after 125 days of construction - I was issued an occupancy permit.  I think my mother was the most excited, because that meant she was going to finally get half of her house back, including her fabulous closet!  You would think I'd be set up by now and livin' large, but this hasn't gone without hiccups.

I was not surprised to find my belongings in the storage unit were a little worse for wear.  After nearly three years, the mice had done quite a bit of damage.  They had used nearly every exposed surface as a toilet, and in a few instances had chewed into bags of clothing and bedding and made nests.  Everything was transported to my basement, where it still sits, waiting to be gone over with a fine toothed comb.  Which brings me to the next hiccup.

So, I still don't have propane tanks.  No propane means no hot water.  No dishwasher.  No de-mousing hot water washes in my washing machine.  No soaking in my Pat-Boone-Made-Me-Buy-It tub.  No propane means no clothes dryer.  No propane means no oven or stove-top.  No propane has really stalled my efforts to put some semblance of organization in place with my stuff.  It's coming, I just need to be patient.  Hopefully by July 7th I'll have my tanks in place and be able to start my sanitation process. 

In the meantime I've put the finishing touches on my entry door.

I've started working on my island project.  All that's left is to finish the counter top and attach the legs.

I stained the legs to match my dining room set.

I've moved 85% of my stuff out of Mom's house, but I keep finding more things tucked away in drawers and cabinets.  I've set up a temporary living room upstairs, and a work space in the dining room.

I had to purchase a new futon mattress, as the other one had been defiled by the mice.  For the first few weeks I slept on the futon, but I have since purchased a new bed frame.  Unfortunately, I have not purchased a new mattress for it, so I'm still sleeping on the futon mattress.  Not the most comfortable thing, but it'll do for now.  

What you don't see is the piles of boxes and storage bins and bags everywhere.  I haven't even started on the downstairs rooms.  My refrigerator finally showed up, and I love it.  I'm still looking for a decent hood vent, though.  I've borrowed a knife, fork, and spoon from Mom to use until I can sanitize my own flatware, and I'm eating off of paper plates, but it's all good.

I've also done some outside projects. I finally buckled down and created some holding beds for my shade perennials and got those planted.  They were very happy to be out of pots for the first time in nearly three years.  Unfortunately, there wasn't enough room for the hostas, so they have to wait for another bed to be created.

The veggie garden is coming along nicely.  I've already pulled the radish and have been harvesting lettuce, peas, and strawberries galore.

I had our guy Corey come by with his tractor a couple times so far.  Yesterday he moved the deck frame (which we have the go-ahead to use as a deck off the back of my house) and my soaking tub into my back yard area, then I had him spread some of that massive topsoil mound around to soften the lines of the lower driveway area.  

I also had him pull the tree out that fell in my fence area on the mule track, and cut down the nasty cherry tree out back that had been damaged over the winter.  It was right behind where the tub is now.

I've planted some creeping thyme in the back yard, but I don't want to do any landscaping out there until the deck is on and I have a fence up, which might not be until next year.  

I still have the mule track to work on, and the tiered garden bed project is completely stalled.  I definitely have enough to keep me busy right through until snow flies, that's for sure!

Vanity Blues

 Day 122 had me near tears with the plumbing issues.  When the builder sends me a text that reads, "Hey Jen, do you have a minute?" it usually means I'm about to be disappointed.  Well, it turns out the bathroom vanity I bought on Craigslist to save myself some money is pretty much junk.  Not the vanity itself, but the faucet wouldn't stop running.  A steady thin stream of water kept pouring out no matter what the plumber tried.  Guess what?  New faucet time.  *sigh*  The builder tried to cheer me up by firing up my super duper old lady Pat Boone-made-me-buy-it tub, which promptly began to leak through the floor.  I walked out before I burst into tears.  Ten minutes later I was informed there was something that the factory hadn't tightened, but it was all set now and the tub won't leak again.  Hopefully.  Oh, by the way...did you pick up some hoses for your washing machine?  You know they don't come with them anymore.

No, I was not aware of this.  *tears up*

So I have about ten different parts orders that I'm waiting for now, and I can't get an occupancy permit until all plumbing is finished and working.  Bummer.

BUT...

 The toilets are in, and even Roo is impressed.  The downstairs toilet is a bit of a monster.  It has to pump up to the septic tank, and there's a pump/grinder behind it that ensures only tiny particles are being moved through the dispersal pipe.  When that grinder comes on, it's very loud, and a little frightening.  But hey - I hadn't planned to have a downstairs bathroom, so I'm not going to knock it!  How nice will that be when I'm gross from doing outside chores and don't want to go all the way up to the main bathroom?  Wicked.  Wicked friggin' nice.

I've started pickling the inside of the front door to take some of the yellowy curse off of it.  Hopefully one more coat should do it.

My garage is clean as a whistle!  I actually pulled Clementine, my truck, in there last night.  I didn't think she'd take up as much room as she does, but it'll still be nice to have her high and dry come winter.  There should be room enough for Reputa the tractor and some other equipment in there, too.  

And here's the backyard pièce de résistance.  Remember the ugly sewer vent? 

That horrible pipe I was going to have to live with in my backyard and look at day in and day out?  Well, check this out.  

How cool is that?!?  It's a solar light on an upright vent attachment that allows the pipe to do its job, but in a not-so-ugly way!  Once I get some loam in there and start building my gardens and lawn area, you'll barely know it's a functional ornament.  

It's all about the little victories.

I Blame Pat Boone

 Days 120 and 121 were made up of me listening to the builder and the plumber tell me what a nightmare my super duper old lady Pat Boone-made-me-buy-it tub is.

I should in full disclosure mention that my tub isn't the same brand Mr. Boone hawks, but it's pretty close to the same.  

Anyway, there are all kinds of plumbing related issues with my awesome tub that went over my head, and they had to cut a hole in the media room ceiling to reach the underside of the pipes and whatnots.

Live and learn.

The downstairs bathroom/utility room got a ceiling that brings me back to my elementary school days...

The pain in the butt tub got a surround...

The dryer got a vent and the washing machine was put in place...

And the place had a good vacuuming and tidying up.

The plumber should be back soon to finish hooking up the various things which require water, and the heating guy was here to hook up the things which require propane, and the electrician will be back to do the last few things which require electricity.

In the meantime, I painted my front door...

Unboxed my new microwave...

And liberated a truckload of stuff from my storage unit.

I'm hoping I'll be able to get the rest of my crap moved in before I have to pay another month's rent on the unit...fingers crossed.  And even if I'm moved in, the fridge is still on hold until June 6th, and the propane company won't be out to install my tanks until June 16th.  A minor bump near the end of a very long, winding road. 

Once Again...The Doors

 Days 118 and 119...it's down to the wire!  

The kitchen faucet is now in...I went crazy and bought one of those touch faucets. 

Also note the cabinet hardware is on.  I absolutely love it!  Here's a closeup of the beautiful Celtic knot detail:

The "front" door is now up, but needs to be trimmed.  I'm painting the porch side deep blue and am just going to polyurethane the kitchen side, I think.  I'm on the fence between leaving it natural or pickling it (white, of course).  It feels like a lot of natural wood in this corner.  I need to live with it for a little longer before I decide.

The builder went above and beyond with the downstairs doors.  I'm so in love with these!  I plan to give them a light whitewashing or stain, so you can still see the woodgrain.

bathroom/utility room door

A little bit of trim, the last of the plumbing and electrical, and some paint touch-ups, and it should be ready for the final inspection. 

So close...

 The house progress came to a slight standstill last week, but it's back on track now.  Days 115 through 117 saw my dryer and my kitchen stove arrive, finally!

...and my stair railing went up (so fancy!)...

...and the front door arrived.  

But the best thing was today, because today my countertop finally arrived and was put in and I love it - definitely worth the wait.

The plumber was here and set up the sink and dishwasher, so that part is finally underway, too.

Happy belated birthday to me.  😊