The client featured in this project got new granite counter-tops for her kitchen. In an attempt to jazz up the kitchen, the area between the top of the old counter and the bottom of the kitchen 
cabinets was painted blue. The old rolled form laminate counters had an integrated backsplash. As part of the kitchen transformation, the client did a terrific job of painting the light oak cabinets with a semi-gloss in ultra white. The installation of the new counters revealed two problems with the previous painted backsplash. The first was the white band that the rolled backsplash from the old counter had covered. More glaring was the two voids where the sheetrock walls had been cut to enable a tight fit in the corner.
The client decided a new backsplash
was in order. She selected a tumbled travertine stone available in a subway tile configuration. Two different varieties were chosen for added interest. A listello mosaic of 1 inch squares with different slates was chosen to complement the travertine.
Prior to installation, the voids in the sheetrock were repaired. The travertine was coated with an application of stone sealer help to keep mastic and grout from sticking to the stone. Mastic, rather than thin-set, was used to secure the stone to the walls. The travertine was placed in a running bond configuration, with
the listello placed in the upper half of the backsplash area. The grout lines were limited to 1/16 of an inch. A day after the tile was installed, a non-sanded grout was used to fill in the voids between the stones and to fill voids that naturally occur in travertine.
After the grout had cured for 72 hours, the backsplash was coated with an application of sealer/enhancer. An enhancer product helps to accentuate the colors and leaves a slight sheen on the surface, adding to the reflections off the mirror-like granite counter, while the sealer helps to protect the grout and stone from staining.
cabinets was painted blue. The old rolled form laminate counters had an integrated backsplash. As part of the kitchen transformation, the client did a terrific job of painting the light oak cabinets with a semi-gloss in ultra white. The installation of the new counters revealed two problems with the previous painted backsplash. The first was the white band that the rolled backsplash from the old counter had covered. More glaring was the two voids where the sheetrock walls had been cut to enable a tight fit in the corner.The client decided a new backsplash
was in order. She selected a tumbled travertine stone available in a subway tile configuration. Two different varieties were chosen for added interest. A listello mosaic of 1 inch squares with different slates was chosen to complement the travertine.Prior to installation, the voids in the sheetrock were repaired. The travertine was coated with an application of stone sealer help to keep mastic and grout from sticking to the stone. Mastic, rather than thin-set, was used to secure the stone to the walls. The travertine was placed in a running bond configuration, with
the listello placed in the upper half of the backsplash area. The grout lines were limited to 1/16 of an inch. A day after the tile was installed, a non-sanded grout was used to fill in the voids between the stones and to fill voids that naturally occur in travertine.After the grout had cured for 72 hours, the backsplash was coated with an application of sealer/enhancer. An enhancer product helps to accentuate the colors and leaves a slight sheen on the surface, adding to the reflections off the mirror-like granite counter, while the sealer helps to protect the grout and stone from staining.
Since this project was completed, the client has repainted the walls, introduced new lighting, and replaced the major appliances, yielding a bright, new modern kitchen.
