Tile Counter and Splash

[Tom R]

Here's a small kitchen job I just about finished today, - - Cabs came from Lowe's (Yuck, sorry), - - I installed the countertop from scratch, - - plywood substrate, - - she actually picked out a pretty sharp tile (6 X 6), - - much better than the choice of hardware, - - I went red and off-white two-tone on the splash, - - and just the off-whites on the counter, - - I pre-cut the outlets in the off-white tile centers, - - installed the tiles, - - then cut out the drywall and did the electric, - - kind of backwards, - - but I wanted to make sure the outlets were centered and on the white tiles only, - - if they fell on the red it would have muted the whole look.

All that's left is to put the trim-kits on the high-hats, rub off some more 'haze, caulk, and re-do the outside siding around the window.

[Tom R]

In case you're wondering, - - those top cabs are only 24" high, - - the ceiling height is only <81", - - it's an old, old house. I left about a 20" splash height instead of 18" to get the cabs at the ceiling and to leave a little more room for the microwave.

[Rich]

Looks good Tom - It's the small details at the end that really defines the visual quality. Nice work on the centered outlets.

[Tom R]

Thanks, Rich, - - now if I could just get my camera to understand me. :lol:

[giddonah]

Again, I'm not sure I like the tiles, but those cabinets are beautiful.

yes, I'm a man, and I use the word beautiful when describing woodwork.

[Tom R]

The cabinets may 'look' alright in these bad pictures, - - but let me tell you, - - they're the epitome of mass production, - - most of them are built 'racked', - - sides aren't even perfect rectangles, - - makes it pretty tough too make them look good. They're from Lowe's, - - some 'Shenandoah' line or something, - - I guess that's why their measurements were 'doomed to wander'!! :lol:

[Tom R]

I guess I really 'dated' myself with that joke! :D

[VALENT]

TomR those tiles definitely look good. How did you do that wiring? It is definitely the way to go as your end result is right on but I dont understand how you accomplished it.

[Tom R]

Thanks, Valent, - - first of course I had already precut the centers out of the off-white tiles, - - then before I started tiling I laid out and drew my tile locations on the plywood countertop and 'carried' the matching lines right up the walls, - - then I was able to make sure any locations would fall on 'even' numbered rows, - - and move their locations if any were to fall on a stud, - - then I laid in all the tiles, - - including the 'cut-out' ones in their locations, - - then the next day, when the thinset was dry, - - but before I grouted, - - I made the cut-outs through the drywall, - - simply using the installed pre-cut tiles as my guide, - - then I went ahead and grouted, - - then anytime after that I was able to fish my wires from the basement up and through the holes, - - then with the wires sticking about 10" out of the holes, - - I wired then into my 'old work' boxes, - - then pushed the boxes, - - wires and all, - - back on in and I tightened up the 'screw-wings', - - then I cut and spliced and installed the receptacles, - - and then I went back on down to the basement and completed the two circuit-runs to the panel.

[VALENT]

Man no wonder you'll swear by basements. You make it sound easy. Anyhow, that extra work really shows. Good Job.

[Tom R]

Thanks again, Valent, - - and you're right, - - I do swear by basements, - - because you see, on this job, - - they didn't want to 'gut' the walls, just go over them, - - but if there was no basement, - - I would still have accomplished the same thing by removing a path of drywall at the 2' level, - - and run the wires before I put the cabs in, - -and have them just laying in 'wait' in the proper bays until I cut the holes out, - - it just would have taken even a little 'more' pre-planning.

[Cole]

Looks Great, Tom!!!!

[Tom R]

Thanks, OS, err, I mean Cole!! :D