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megan_m_dwyer

Finishing space between backsplash and cabinets

7 years ago
Hi everyone,

I just completed my very first tiling project on our fixer upper home. I did a herringbone subway marble backsplash in our kitchen. I thought that we would just fill in the top with grout (between the tile and our cabinets, but now I'm worried that this will look junky and "unfinished." I don't have enough space between all of the tiles and the bottom of the cabinets to put a marble pencil trim piece, although I'm considering just adhering a pencil over the tile to cover this gap. Know that's not ideal and am kicking myself for not mortaring in the pencil liner piece to begin with. Unfortunately, if you're sitting at our dining room table, you can see this gap. Would be open to any suggestions! Separately, wondered if you think the underside of my cabinets should be painted white like the fronts of the cabinets? Thank you in advance!

Comments (15)

  • 7 years ago
    It's not even so I don't think a pencil trim will fit in all spots. Which will make it look more uneven. I would fill with grout.
  • 7 years ago
    I agree. My thought withyhe pencil liner though was that all of the pencil liners are wide enough that they would cover all of the empty space. I would essentially be filling in all the empty spots with crowd to make it even surface and then just at hearing the pencil trim on top of the crowd to be in the tops of the tiles. Does that make sense?
  • 7 years ago
    last modified: 7 years ago

    The way to do it is with a trim piece. Also, definitely paint the underside of the cabinets so all matches. You won't notice it after a short time. (A better solution for under the cabinets is to have panels cut and painted so it's not all broken up.)

  • 7 years ago

    Thank you for the tip! Are you meaning a wood trim piece?

  • 7 years ago
    Yes -- a thin piece of wood trim. You can pin nail it.
  • 7 years ago
    Or attach with construction adhesive.
  • 7 years ago
    I would do a trim piece on the front, sides, and back, full 3/4 thickness front and sides maybe with detail and square for the back with a lesser thickness, and paint all.
  • 7 years ago
    Like so
  • 7 years ago
    A piece on the back only would look like you were hiding something.
  • 7 years ago
    Thank you, Matt! Would you have a picture of what the back part would look like? I'm having a hard time visualizing how the trim would go over the area where the cabinets and tile meet?
  • 7 years ago
    It would be a price of trim maybe 1/2 ×1/2
  • 7 years ago
    Oh I see! Thank you all. This is tremendously helpful. I'm a newbie to this all.
  • 7 years ago
    piece
  • 7 years ago

    Props to you for doing herringbone on your first tiling project! Fill the gap with sanded caulk that matches your grout color. They sell it in tubes by the tile supplies. Then build out the lower trim around the bottom of the cabinets like the post shows above. Then cover your gap with a small molding piece. I would just hot glue it on. It just needs to stick to the tile/caulk. Paint it all white to match your cabinets, including the underside of cabs.

    Invest in a tile saw, even a cheapy one, and look up "wrapping" tile on inside corners before you do your next project and it will look really professional. Great effort for first time!

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