Need input: gap at end of counter before adding backsplash

12 years ago

Hi, I'd like some input on options for how to make this look good (well, at least better than it does).

Here's the situation:

We have a bi-level penninsula.

The countertop is full bullnose.

The knee wall for the upper level runs 3/4 inches past the lower level cabinet run so that the bullnose edge of the lower counter top ends right where the edge of the knee wall ends.

Picture of that end:

We're planning on adding a backsplash, and have held off deciding what tiles, etc as we got used to the color scheme and light in our new kitchen.

My dilemna has multiple parts:

A: I'm not sure where to end the backsplash (the curved end piece of the backsplash). Should it end at the lower counter edge where the bullnose curve just starts to curve downward? That would be a half inch inward from the edge of the knee wall (right side):

B: The countertop guys left a quarter inch gap between the lower counter and the knee wall. (This should have been tight and perfect, as it was a brand new wall. Don't get me started about the counter guys. They were the worst part of my reno experience, and I'll share it in a separate thread.)

See:

and

What's the best way to make that end look better?

I did not freak out about the gap along the whole length of that piece, as the backsplash tile will cover most of it. But it won't cover that bullnose end, or underneath.

(Replacing the countertop piece is not viable for me at this time, for a variety of reasons.)

Thanks!

Lee

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Comments (10)

badgergal
12 years ago
First, I would run your backsplash to the end of the knee wall.
Second, I don't know how thick your tile is but perhaps where the bull nose edge is, the caulking could be removed and you backsplash tile could fit in the gap and then continue down to the floor for that bit of of wall space next to the cabinet. It may not work but I would certainly see if it might. That gap is not so nice.
la_koala
Original Author
12 years ago
Oooo, badgergal, your suggestion to fit the tile into the gap and continue down to the floor sounds awesome! That never even occurred to me. I have been so focused on how awful the countertop guys were to have left the gap in the first place. :-)

We haven't chosen a tile yet, so I'll definitely keep your suggestion in mind as we're looking at tiles.

Thanks!
--Lee
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dowlinggram
12 years ago
I would bring the back splash out to the end of the wall. First fill in that end piece. They do make a resin for filling in chips in granite countertops. Ask at any place they sell granite. If your countertop is stone of any kind it should work and they'd be able to tell you how to apply it
la_koala
Original Author
12 years ago
Hi dowlinggram, thanks for the tip about the resin. The countertop is engineered quartz (Cambria), so I'll have to check whether they have a compatible sort of resin.

Thanks!
Lee
a2gemini
12 years ago
That is too bad - ours was very tight and was very impressed with the installation of the counter top.
The good news - once you add your backsplash, it will disappear except for the end and others gave some ideas for this area...
la_koala
Original Author
12 years ago
Hi a2gemini, thanks for the sympathy! What the countertop guys did on that part of the kitchen was a saga. It's really too bad how this part turned out because another notched area (which I thought was more complicated), they did do tight to the wall. (Proving that they were capable of it--they just made a huge mistake in this other area.)

And Glenn Murray, the sales rep, was completely unhelpful about admitting it after the fact. The whole experience left such a bad taste in my mouth.
a2gemini
12 years ago
La koala - Bummer - we have been fortunate - only major problem was my indecision and the first counter avalanching on the way to our house - but they did a great job one week later.
Where do you live?
la_koala
Original Author
12 years ago
Hi a2gemini,

Holy cow--your first counter actually avalanched on the way to your house?! Egads, that must have been an awful feeling. I'm glad that you had a great job after that!

I live in northern Massachusetts. From all of my reading of GW, I should have known better than to go with the stone guys that we ended up with. It was one of the areas of the project where I got too tired of wrangling with other members of the family and took the path of least resistance. (And while I don't normally take that path, at the time, I was too exhausted to argue that we should look for another estimate/opinion on which stone contractor to go with. As my brother says "sometimes my life is just a lesson to others of what *not* to do!")

--Lee
angie_diy
12 years ago
If you change your mind and DON'T want to run the tile all the way down, you could just have the last piece cut on a curve to match the bullnose. That is what I would do.
cakelly1226
12 years ago
Ok- just looked at mine since I have a similiar area. Our countertop ends past our wall(like it should so I understand why you are upset) but our bullnose could could all the way past the countertop if need by like in your case. So it will look fine depending on the bull nose used. Here is a pic of ours.
width="500" height="333" alt="DSC_0771">

Our bullnose is actually a very expensive extra piece- the manufacturer is Grazia.