the backsplash redux

Math is not my favorite thing. But I know a bad subway tile layout when I see one. And I saw one. And it was in my kitchen. This subway tile hot mess led to a weekend of calculations, layouts, fractions and obsessions.


As well as some construction paper subway tile fun. Mmm. Crafts.


And finally, a real pro, who was bemused by my calculations, came to save our backsplash. I've been obsessing over these layouts and calculations, I said to him. I can see that, he said. After about a half hour of discussions and measurements and lasers and shiftings, we had lift off.


Above the range! Soon to be partially covered by a hood.


And around the corner and down the wall. I think this is my new favorite nook.


Corners! Without slivers.


And even more corners that are sliver-free.


One place where slivers were most welcome was between the cabinets and door trim. Love it.


Can't wait to throw sauce all over it.

the install

After a week's delay, the cabinets are finally getting installed! And it's a glorious site. I can't believe they are actually in the kitchen and it makes me feel like things are moving along...that we're not just living with a newly installed floor as our only accomplishment after practically a month.

There was much banging and drilling and other crazy machine like noises that I could not bring myself to look into. As well as some curses of "Oh sh-t! Oh sh-t!" Great. The cabinet installer is cursing over what a masterpiece he has created, right? Right?! When I inquired, he said there were no problems, everything's going well.

And as far as I can see, things seem in order.


Hello, bases. You please me, yes you do.


And hello, uppers. How nice you look up close to the ceiling.


The left side of the kitchen. Sitting pretty.


And the right side of the the kitchen. Hello, lover.

the delay

Doh! Our first real delay. And it involves the cabinets!! Nooooo....Here I was, for the last three months, living with the deadline of August 23rd in mind. That was the day the cabinets were to arrive. That was the day I kept anxiously telling every worker: Will this be done by then? This has to be done by then! The cabinets are coming, people! THE CABINETS ARE COMING! (Clap your hands for emphasis here.) I mean, I was seriously the Paul Revere of kitchen cabinetry. Until I wasn't.

I found out today that, due to delays because of another job, our cabinets will in fact, NOT be coming on Monday. They will be delivered next Thursday, sit God knows where in our apartment, and be installed next Friday and the following Monday. What?! Horrors. I'll have an entire weekend to freak out with my half installed cabinets.