backsplash betty

18 years ago

I'm the one doing the backsplash in the 50's ranch total-gut.

It appears that I won't need my backsplash to encroach upon the countertop now, although I'm kind of sorry it won't. I had some pretty nice pictures in my head.

My kitchen was gutted down to the studs this week, they insulated it (for the first time in 50 years), and my contractor agreed to use greenboard all over, so I can mosaic at will.

My fiberglass mesh arrived, and my new (first!) nippers, the kind with the little wheels that youall have had for years, and last night I nipped almost all of my smalti in little strips. Wow, if I knew how well these things worked I'd have had them years ago. It was all I could do to clean our flowerbeds today instead of taking the nippers to the bucket of seashells.

I decided last night to do a practice piece and donate it to the Tulsa Artist Coalition "5 x 5" fundraiser, which I was going to make something for anyway. I already have a 5 x 5 cradled panel, so it is good and solid. As soon as it is finished I will post a picture.

I'm pretty darn excited. The remodel is going well. After a month, I couldn't be happier with my contractor, my electrician, my plumber, and a drywaller who just came back to town after working 26 years in California showed up looking for work this week, and my contractor (who dislikes drywall) subbed out to him, and when I met him, it was an old schoolmate from over 30 years ago, and he's doing a bang-up job.

I'll keep yoall posted, since that is more fun that randomly asking advice.

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Comments (9)

bamasusanna
18 years ago
PICTURES???????
cait1
18 years ago
ME TOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!
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Calamity_J
18 years ago
WOW!!! Thanks for the update! We do Love pics!!!heh heh!
ladyronnie
18 years ago
Hey, Betty, sounds like fun! One suggestion though, being in the middle of a drywall job myself (NOT subcontracted, just little ole me and a bucket o'mud!) You gotta be easy on that sheetrock, and a "bang-up" job would have me worried! ;)
texaswild
18 years ago
Sounds like fun - P.I.C.T.U.R.E.S.
bettycbowen
Original Author
18 years ago
I started on my 5 x 5 practice box tonight, using some mauve smalti I'm not crazy about so probably won't use in the backsplash, and also lots of darks. I'm incorporating coppers and silver and some tiny bits of very sparkly red and blue "gold". The metallics really don't show that well in the picture. If the kitchen photo manages to appear, that's from a couple of weeks ago, it is a little farther along by now.

Ladyronnie, the sheetrock guy is a third generation sheetrocker in his family drywall business here in my small-ish town. He spent over 20 years working out of state before coming home, much as I did. We couldn't be happier about the quality of his work, and he cleans up after himself. I lucked out, I think.
bettycbowen
Original Author
18 years ago
PS, I sized them to "message board" on photobucket, but they are still big. Good grief I can see the dust on the desk!
texaswild
18 years ago
Hey, don't worry about dust. When you get into this obsession, there'll be a lot more than dust going on. Great start on your practice box. You're gonna LOVE mosaicing, and I'm so anxious to see you begin on your backsplash.
cindiloo
18 years ago
The box looks like it's going to be very pretty!
I LIKE the mauve smalti, and the pink is to die for!
Your kitchen project sounds like fun work....
looking forward seeing all the update pictures!