the right corner up there with the mixer is where I do half the kitchen work, in the evening it was DARK as night
This is the second nicest kitchen I’ve ever had. But it’s not mine. It’s not mine because we rent, but it’s also not mine because it is simply not what I would choose for a kitchen. Although some of the materials are lovely, they aren’t my taste. I’d almost rather have a kitchen with old stuff so I can fix it up and not feel bad about it. Almost.
Some people won’t see a difference, some people will think I”m crazy for covering up “perfectly good tile”, some people will think it looks much worse. I think it looks more like mine. This was an easy way to claim a kitchen that we are going to be living and cooking in for the next few years.
a new box of frosted flakes on the floor doesn’t even phase him
Our kitchen doesn’t have a window but, the adjoining breakfast area is all windows. However, because of the black {and pink} granite, when you get to the far corner of the kitchen where I actually work and roll out pizza dough and measure ingredients, it was really dark. Plus, everything in the kitchen has a pink undertone, the wood cabinets, the floor, the granite and the backsplash.
We decided to put up some white beadboard to break up and neutralize the pink. Beadboard is inexpensive and we had all the measurements cut at Lowes/Depot, I can’t remember which. We came home and took off the outlet covers.
My husband used a dremmel or something to cut the holes for the outlets.
Perfect fit. The beadboard was such a good fit that it almost stayed in place by itself. However we did need to secure it. This is the part where some of you will file a lawsuit against me. Because we are renting, and because this is just to be a very temporary cosmetic change, and because in a few years when we move out, I will want to re-expose the tile again because I think the owners would prefer that look, I needed to put the beadboard up in a way that it could VERY easily be removed. Most of you can guess what I did.
Or actually, what I had him do. We hot glued it. Once again, hot glue serves as a perfect temporary holder of things. It will stick as long as you want, but, when you are done, it peels right off.
You will want to do what I did and test an area first. A few weeks earlier, I globbed on some hot glue on a hidden part of my tile and let it sit for a week or so. Then, I went an peeled it off. I used the end of a metal spatula.
The glue came off all in one piece, and it was really easy once I got a little edge up. Don’t underestimate the qualities of hot glue.
Here’s another example of my hot gluing ways. Three years ago I hot glued some scrapbook paper to the back of my hutch. Last month I tore it all off so I could paint it. The scrapbook paper stayed on through two moves. See all the places where the glue was?
Here’s the same hutch 5 minutes later. I used a spatula to help pry up the dried glue. It just popped right off and didn’t damage the wood at all–so it for sure will not damage the hard tile in my kitchen. Hot glue is a good friend, it is very forgiving.
When you are working with hot glue and something you think you might want to remove later, make sure you apply the glue in a few large globs. It’s much easier to remove an inch circle of hot glue than a million tiny little dots and lots of thin lines of glue. For each of the pieces you see here, we did a glob on each corner, that’s it.
The beadboard is more calming and just white as opposed to the light sucking, diagonal multi-toned tile. We did put a coat of paint on it to help protect it and make it easier to wipe down, especially over by the sink.
We also put up these little lights from IKEA. They were less than $30 for a set of 3. And they make a world of difference in my dungeon corner.
edited to add:: the cords for the lights are up in the cabinets–we {he} just drilled a hole and pulled all the wires through to the cabinet above the microwave–go check, most people have a hidden outlet in that cabinet above the microwave.
Ahhh, much better.
And for the record I don’t always have a large, overly ripe watermelon setting out on my counter.
I think the kitchen feels a little more like the rest of our house now.
I had to force my husband to allow the beadboard to be imperfect. See that place up there where it ends at the end of the counter? We could put some molding or trim there but, I’m ok with it how it is. If it drives you crazy and it’s worth it to you, by all means, finish it off. You can also see where I have yet to finish painting the wall of the kitchen {just a little whiter shade than before}. I’ll get to that very soon. For now, I’m enjoying a kitchen that is more me, for less than $100 that can easily be changed back when we move out.
For those of you who want to put your beadboard up permanantly and correctly, Thrifty Decor Chick can coach you much better than I can.
Not my exact taste, but it’s not my house. And now it looks more like you want your house to look. Perfect! I need to find a solution to my awful white-tile-with-nasty-black-grout-always-looks-and-feels-dirty-and-is-stupid-and-bumpy countertop in my renter kitchen. You’ve inspired me that maybe it’s possible (I have doubts, because, well, it’s a counter top, but still…it never even occurred to me to think about trying).
Amanda, have you seen tile grout paint pens?
http://www.amazon.com/Grout-Aide-Grout-Tile-Marker-White/dp/B000RY4ZX2
has anyone tried these?
Huh…interesting. I’ll have to look into that. Thanks! I’ve been known to paint over permanently stained grout in especially gross apartment bathrooms :)
Love the beadboard! We RENT as well and are stuck here for a few more years until we are out of debt. I was wondering how hot glue would work on plain ol painted walls? Our renters kitchen doesn’t even have a backsplash and I would soooo love to throw some beadboard up but I don’t want to damage the walls. Any ideas?
hmmm, in that case, I think I might do it right and “gift” the owners with a nice beadboard backslplash?
Nice job.. for those scared of hot glue (you know who you are,lol) there is something museums use called “Earthquake Wax” and you can find it at the hardware store in a tub. Could also be an option.
oh. my . word.
earthquake wax? I want some. NOW.
Yes, yes you do!! You will looooove it and use it on everything!! promise
we beadboarded over tile in our kitchen too! i’m glad we’re not the only ones ‘mistreating’ our backsplash hahaha!
Thanks for the inspiration! I’ve been thinking of doing the same thing. Our house also came with a perfectly fine, but not quite my taste kitchen. I like the cabinetry, (although it’s sort of too nice to paint and I’d kinda like to paint) but I’m not wild about the counters and I hate the tile backsplash. If I had a clear idea in mind of exactly what my dream kitchen looked like, I’d probably just go for it!
Second comment. My husband told me recently that he wants to go to Charlotte for a conference and my first thought was how cool it would be to meet you. My daughter is the one that gave you that wool wreath and Amber Herlocker’s mother is my hairdresser. What a small world.
Nester. This is brilliant. Honestly, the beadboard look really is so much more you. And it’s so much lighter! Thanks for the hot glue tip. I’ve never thought about using hot glue as a temporary fix, but you’re right–it does remove easily. I just never would have thought about it. Thank you for always thinking of things I never would have thought of!
Ok, after thoroughly searching your comments (or at least skimming through most of them!), I feel I need to add my 2 bits about hot glue:
If your wood is older, it can peel the wood off. I’ve had it happen. But don’t worry, there’s a help!
Get your blow dryer out and heat the glue back up with it! You won’t get it to an actual liquid state, just nice and warm so it releases easier.
It’s saved me on many a craft!
Although I think you’re a little crazy to cover up that perfectly good tile, I think your idea is amazing!! What great inspiration for renters everywhere who don’t have a kitchen as nice as yours!! I’m sharing this on my blog sometime soon. :)
Nester, you are a genius. I am now planning to rip out my hideous, 4 inch tall, white plastic backsplash and replace it with hot-glued beadboard immediately. One question–did your husband have to add extenders to your outlets to make this work? If he did, would he mind giving a quick tutorial for the backsplash-impaired population so we can learn to do it, too?
I think he thought he would but somehow didn’t need to. Just pulled the plug out through the hole and reattached?
does that sound right? I am not the source for that, google it?
I will check it out. I have already ripped off the plastic backsplash (what a satisfying moment–I think it was attached with Elmer’s glue). I will be making a trip to Lowes tonight for beadboard. If I get stuck on the outlets, I will ask the clerk in the electrical aisle. It can’t be that hard, right? Thank you again for the inspiration. Kristin
Looks like there has been a run on beadboard at my local Lowes! Nester, they ought to be paying you royalties. Kris
Looks great Nester! I love how all of your ideas are reversible. I own my home, but I become bored with the decor quickly and am always wanting to change things up, so I rarely do something that is permanent (except molding and trimwork stuff). I currently don’t have a backsplash at all and was considering beadboard, but I’m not quite sure it is my style. I’m thinking tile – any ideas on how to put up tile temporarily??
I love that you called it “reversible” I am so using that.
Attach the tile to a board, then put the board up temporarily…
Ohhh, good idea Terri!
I think it’s brilliant. If the hot glue works, and it clearly does, then go for it! Just b/c you are renting your home doesn’t mean you shouldn’t be able to enjoy it. I bet that bead board makes you smile every time you walk in the kitchen now. :)
Awesome job girlie!!! And noone would ever guess that it was all from a glue gun :) Kudos to your hubby for not telling you that you were crazy…..If I told my hubby that I wanted to hot glue a backsplash he would laugh like a hyena at me!! XOX
As we say at our house, “awesome – ‘possum”! Love it! You spend too much time in the kitchen to have it working against you.
Brilliant brilliant brilliant. I love how you both inspired each other in your posts today. Great minds. . . :-)
Kate
Don’t ever underestimate the power of white in a kitchen! It looks great! We just recently put in white subway tile in our kitchen. Also a super easy and inexpensive splash of white. The whole project was around 150.00.
Proud of you for going with your heart on this one!
PS: Love your curtains in the family room!
I like it SO much better….Great job!
Sherry
that looks great. and also i am as in love with hot glue as you are. :)
wonderful post! our rental backsplash is horrific… copper toned tin bricks, and it’s falling about and rusting no less. this beadboard should do this trick!
FANTASTIC! It is much more you than the tile. Have you thought of putting it over the faces of your cabinets? I’ll bet you could hot glue some inside the trim and it would look awesome. I loves me some bead board! My mom and stepdad are in the middle of a kitchen overhaul (my stepdad built all the cabinets in his wood shop!) and I showed them several photos around the interwebs of bead board cabinets and they decided to go with it! Haha! Now if only *I* could have them.
This is just beyond fantastic and hopefully the answer to my renter kitchen dilemma. any thoughts on just one row of tile then painted walls as the “back splash”? I so want to copy the bead board idea but the one row of tile on the bottom makes it so there is not a flat surface to glue it on. I suggested large chewed pieces of hubba bubba to fill in the gaps… but the ol’ hubs is not too keen on that idea ;)
So brilliant! I wonder how many contractors you are putting out of business with your hot-glue-gun-wielding ways??? I have done the under-counter light thing numerous times… moving them along from house to house. I use my handy-dandy command adhesive hooks to tuck the cords up under the cabinet. Later, no one ever knows they were there! Being a renter, heading into year three of our lease… do you have a temporary fix for the fruit & veggie wallpaper in my kitchen? Blessings!!!
I’d do a really great job removing it and paint it a neutral color.
the owners probably won’t even remember it.
That is way cool…
What an inspiration.
You have inspired me!!! Your kitchen looks EXACTLY like the kitchen where we are renting right now, and I haven’t had a clue what to do with it. It’s the only area in the house that I don’t feel like reflects “me” at all! This is exactly what I’m going to do!!! Now I just need my husband to jump on board and get all the supplies! :)
I love that you’re not afraid to make a place your own. Renters everywhere will unite, rise up, and call you blessed. : ) And for what it’s worth, I’m one of the ones who likes it better. It’s light and cottagey and lovely!
Thank you so much for the tip about the hidden outlet above the microwave! I’ve been trying to figure out a way to get rope lights up above my cabinets but didn’t want to drill a million holes through them. As soon as I read that sentence I got up and went to the kitchen to check, and when I saw the outlet I literally squealed and clapped my hands with glee! Now I only have to drill one hole and I can have my lights. Hooray!
I absolutely love the kitchen makeover. The beadboard looks great! And I love that the frosted flakes only made it to the floor. At least the countertop stayed clean. ;o)
Really looks much better!! I think many people who are building houses do not stop to think how ALL the finishes must work together. My Brother in law just took out a floor tile border that he liked but it just did not match the rest of his kitchen. Takes courage to deal with something that bothers you but others think looks ok.
I have the same issue in our kitchen! No windows and dark with the light coming in from the dining room huge window and french doors. But its still dark, I have those little lights in the ceiling pot lots? gosh I don’t know they are cute and romantic but not bright at all!
But I do not have tile as the back splash its just the wall. I keep wanting to do something there but have no clue what!
This is a beautiful upgrade. Your landlords are lucky to have you. And you are quite lucky to have trusting landlords! (I’m assuming that’s how all these fantastic projects are seeing the light of day.)
I have been lurking for a few months and this post made me actually sit still and comment. But seriously, I’m also a little mad. WHAT A NICE KITCHEN YOU HAVE TO BEGIN WITH!!!
I am a fellow renter, and a ton of money in rent every month doesn’t get you a kitchen like that around here! I grabbed my camera after reading this post, and am sending you photos of my kitchen. I seriously want to know what you would do with it. What you would do with NO landlord cooperation… any suggestions at all would be so great. I only have another year to live with it (ahhh… military life) but I can’t even stand to clean it as it is. I mean, who wants to work so hard to make their kitchen just as ugly as it was when they started?
Thanks as always for your inspiration and fab ideas.
I can totally relate to wanting to cover your tiles, even if they are what some would consider gorgeous. Life is too short to be the caretaker of the wrong details. I have lived in 5 different homes and have done similar decorative “fixes” just to make the houses seem like mine. I think your kitchen looks 150% better and brighter – and a little bit more YOURS. The beadboard in my kitchen has a few joints that are not perfect – no one ever notices. I say – it adds character. As far as using hot glue on just about everything -you can – from high end furnishing fixes to plugging a leaking pipe to the horror of others. I did that 16 years ago. Pipe hasn’t leaked since.
My best- Diane
Oooh, I have a dungeon corner. I need some of those Ikea lights! I just put beadboard up on my backsplash … only I had tile that was heinous, Nester. I hate to sound ungrateful, but it was *textured* fruit tile. I sure do wish I’d have known that you could hot glue that up there….I took a hammer to my tile while Mike was at work one day – whoopsie! Hot-gluing would have been SO much easier than my route. Gosh, if you ever figure a way to hot glue something to or spraypaint countertops….. HAHAHAHAHA!
Thank you so much for the info on the hot glue. I’ve been wanting to do some things in our rented apartment but not wanting to destroy the place. Using hot glue just might do the trick.
I was so excited to learn this that right in the middle of reading this post I got up and put some hot glue on two different surfaces to test it like you said and then came back to read the rest of the post. I’ll check on them in a week or so and pull them off to see if the surface stood the test.
Thank you so much.
Are there any gaps by the countertop? did you seal it with anything?or is it just tucked in there?
LOVE IT! I also love the soap dispenser from Target. I bought one about a month ago. Where did you find your cake stand [and dome]? Together or separate? Thanks bunches ~ always lovin’ your blog.
Looks really good!
Refreshing.
I love your “it doesn’t have to be perfect
attitude.” Sooo many times everyone gets sooo
wrapped up in being perfect.
Melinda
I love how you have the option to reply under each comment…..how did you get that? Just curious…..
Cindy
Hmmmm that post just gave me lots of ideas to do in my own house. I’m thinking I should do it in my kitchen or maybe my bathroom… Thanks for the quick tips!
WoW! That made a huge difference and it looks so GREAt!!! Once more the Nester has done it agaiN!!!
Hugs, Cindy S
I love, love, love it! I’ll take cottagey beadboard over fancy schmancy tile any day. I am a renter, and there is a mosaic on my bathroom floor. Seriously? Can I beadboard over that?
And I’ve been wondering about your fantastic khaki and white striped curtains. I’ve never heard where you got them. Any hints??
I think it look better. And I love your hot gluing ways! Gave me a good laugh before bed just now. I hot glue everything as well.
I was just at IKEA today with all three of my boys buying shelves for our homeschool room but stopped to look at those very lights for my kitchen. I have some dark spots that need some brightening up. Thanks for the inspiration and now I can show my husband how they will look mounted:)
You have the best renter-friendly ideas. But I’m still thinking about the dapper young man in the jammies and robe–that is so cute! Like out of Polar Express or something.
yes, it’s 99 degrees out when he wakes up and he still puts a robe on. My boys are beyond modest.
I’m not even a renter and I want to use this idea. Mainly because the thought of removing a formica backsplash is giving my husband hives. I was looking at the stainless steel panels, but they are so expensive. And I’ve looked at little lights everywhere and have never picked them up. Why? I’m going shopping. Thanks.
Hot glue! BRILLIANT! We are renting and there is an ugly mauve tile backsplash. I have considered begging the landlord to let me paint it, but I think this might be just what I needed!!!
Thanks!!
We had those same pink cabinets – and I painted them a couple months ago. Installed Bead Board, too – and I love love love it. I like yours so much better than that tile! It’s more YOU! ;)
Looks so much brighter and cozier!
I LOVE it! I’m totally doing this in the fall! One question though….. what about water-buildup behind the faucets? Is that an issue for you? Is there anything sealing the beadboard to the counter to prevent water from seeping under? That’s my only fear right now…. Since I’m not renting, I suppose I could just add a piece of trim and a healthy bead of silicone to keep the water issues away? Why am I typing my sentences with question marks? I don’t know?
:)
You have a beautiful home.
It’s those little touches that make it “ours”. I think it looks great!
What a big difference that made! Love it. The peeling glob of hot glue can evidently be a good thing. Sometimes it’s not. Thanks for showing me the “up” side.
Wonderful! You have such a way of freeing others to enjoy things that are not perfect. Thanks for that!