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Over the past month, Jeph cut and hung the cement board for the back splash, we picked out some tile (as luck would have it, the tile store sent us a $200 coupon so we only spent $46 for tile and grout), Jeph hung the tile, and I grouted it. Jeph’s way better at stuff like that because he actually laid it all out on cardboard on the floor first, to make sure it would fit precisely. Since we don’t have a tile saw, he had to get creative with cutting the edges. The bottom edges are OK uneven because they’ll be below the top of the range. The sides were already level because we ran them vertically and they are narrow strips of slate on a mesh backing. For the top edge, he used channel lock pliers for snipping. I did the grout the same way I did the extra tile in the bathroom; like the floor/tile guys taught me: put on plastic gloves and smoosh it in to the cracks. It is messy and tiring and my hand was locked into a hook shape by the end, but it’s the best way to really pack the grout in. Oh ya, first the tiles had to be washed and sealed. The sealer is really gross and toxic so that involved having windows open on another balmy 30 degree (or less) day. (In the future, I will seek non toxic ways to secure and seal tile.) After the grout dried for about 30 minutes it was 5 or 6 buckets full of clear water and washing all the excess off the tiles. The next day that was repeated. Then a final sealing. It looks really nice! The organic earth tones of the slate really complement the redwood of the walls.

We had a carpenter look at the stuff we need help with: framing out the 2 walls in the kitchen (which are made out of zinc board only) so we can attach the cabinets, plus covering the breaker box in bedroom 2. His name is Jim Hotvedt and my sister suggested him way back when we bought the place. He used to live down the street from them, remodeled and added on to his house and did some renovations for them. Nice guy. He can do the work and will send a quote.