Brick Backsplash Variations

What's the saying? One step forward, two steps back? Well, at least I've had an opportunity to learn a couple of things about our brick backsplash. The first thing I've learned is that if you paint it, distressing it isn't as easy as just using a handsander. You need a lot more umph than that. The sander really only sanded the edges of the brick, not the brick faces, and that's not the look I'm going for.

What is the look I'm trying to achieve? Well, do your remember the other day when I mentioned that I need to go through and wipe off the excess grout from the brick ( I had purposely applied a thin layer of grout to the entire surface of the bricks). I did that and LOVED the look! (see photos)






However, the grout color is a little too white for my creamy white kitchen. So I thought that I could completely paint the brick and then distress them by sanding. Here is what the brick looks like completely painted with no distressing. Both looks are nice and I guess it just depends on your style as to whether or not to distress. I was really leaning towards just leaving them like this since the handsander isn't distressing the way I like. I'm going to have to use paint remover here and there to get the look I want - and I wasn't sure that I wanted to go through that much trouble, lol. But I probably will. Which look do you prefer?

So, if you are considering a brick backsplash and your finishing options, here is what I've learned (and don't consider this expert advice because that, I am not, hehe):

The easiest way to get the distressed look (as pictured in the first three photos above) is to pick a grout color that looks great in your kitchen, apply it not only in the grout lines but thin it down and apply it also to the entire surface of your bricks (I used rubber gloves and just spread on a thin coat), let it dry completely, then wipe with a wet cloth any grout that will come off. Of course, you would want to seal your backsplash for easy cleaning, too.

I haven't yet tried using paint remover here and there for already painted bricks to distress them, but I'll let you know how that works.

Another option is to simply paint the bricks (as in the photo above) for a crisp and clean, freshly painted look. And some would leave the brick untouched entirely, and that would be an option for me if my cabinets weren't already red:)

Remember when I had the idea to add brick to the weird wall beside the fridge? I still really, really want to do that - and distress it like I'm going to do to our brick backsplash, but (*sniff*) hubs.says.no. He loves the backsplash, but can't see creating a whole brick wall - says he doesn't think it would look good. We have completely different opinions on that, but I guess this is one area where I have to compromise and bow out. It will beadboarded halfway up like we're going to do in the rest of the kitchen/dining area.

I have so, so, so much work to do! Our little cottage is upside down from my pulling out loads of "stuff" in preparation for an upcoming yardsale. I have to iron I-can't-tell-you-how-much clothing and I haven't even started on the other things. Plus, the dishwasher repairman is *suppose* to come at some point today. I've cleaned my house twice, lol, in preparation for his arrival (that sounds odd, I know, but when you're remodeling, "cleaning" takes on a whole new defintion), and this time, he's just going to have see a mess:( I'm sorry "Mr. I-Might-Show-Up-But-I-Might-Not-Dishwashwer-Repairman". Today you'll have to crawl over mountains of clothing like the rest of us:)