Everything You Ever Wanted to Know About Hard Core Remodeling but Were Afraid to Ask Part 43!

A moment of silence for the dearly departed...

R.I.P., Hideous Guest Bathroom.

 We knew you ever so briefly, and we're still sorry we did.
But here at
 Everything You Ever Wanted to Know About Hard Core Remodeling but Were Afraid to Ask!
we try not to dwell on the past.

Especially when the future's so bright, we gotta wear shades.

We taped off that bold, uninhibited stripe and slapped it on.

It was a two tone treat.

We decided we needed a 1" border to really accent it.

Do we like?

Well, we did too, but it was missing that special Life in Rehab touch.

You know...

Overkill.

Take a stencil...you know, those90's things no one goes near anymore.

Level it.

Prepare to like them again.

Pour some of your accent wall paint on a plate.

This brush is just for stenciling.

The bristles are a column, and the end is flat.

Dip it in the paint and brush off the excess.

When you're done, brush it off again.

The word we're looking for here is DRY, Peeps.

POUNCE the paint on.

That's an up and down motion that doesn't give the paint a snowball's chance in hell 

of bleeding under the edges.

See?

No, seriously, LOOK.

Use the design on your stencil to reposition the next set.

Just like that.

Then peel it off.

Is this hard to master?

I was yelling instructions to Savannah from the grouting process.

It's her first time working with a stencil.

Perfect.

And free.

You CAN do this.

It adds a custom look that's not over the top.

Are you going to try it?
Do it.
The Life in Rehab gang
DARES
you to!
Don't make us D-Double Dog Dare.

Everything You Ever Wanted to Know About Hard Core Remodeling but Were Afraid to Ask Part 42!

Okay, the tile is up!

And how could you not love the look?

Glittering glass flanked with natural, tumbled marble that picks up the blue to perfection.

We have these pretty Victorian gingerbread brackets that will nestle

under the cabinets over the sink to give it a little finishing touch.

But before we can add those, we need to add one little detail...
Grout.
 Everything You Ever Wanted to Know About Hard Core Remodeling but Were Afraid to Ask!
is going to show you how to do just that!

We'll just put the leftover tile away for a little surprise in the master bath.

The first thing you'll need is...well...grout.

Since we're working with glass tiles, we're using a non-sanded grout

so we don't scratch the surface.

This is a dry mix, so you're going to need...

...a bucket

You'll need a couple of new toys too.
You're already aware that square sponges exist.
The other thing is called a float.

A float is a handy little device with an ergonomic handle.

This flexible rubber surface is ideal for forcing grout between the tiles
without gouging, scratching, maiming, perfoating, breaking, spindling, crumpling,
or neutering them.
Yeah, I just wanted to see if you were paying attention.

So, we take our tiles, which are conveniently already on the wall
through the miracle of adhesive...

We keep a container of water at the ready.
No, I'm not really using spring water for this.
I drank that.

Empty your grout-y powder into your bukkit...er, bucket...and add water as required.

Using a trowel, mix it up.

When it's a nice stiff slurry, you're ready
to let 'er rip!

Ew.

Anyway....

Scoop up some grout mess with your float.

Slather the wall with that stuff.

Holding the float at a 45 degree angle, force the grout into the cracks.
Go back and forth, did to side, up, down, whatever.

FORCE.

Like this.

After 20 minutes or so, go over the whole area with a very dry damp sponge.
Wring that sucker out.
Remove all excess grout from the surface.

It will still have some residue.

Redo anything that didn't take.

Get ready to empty, clean, and refill the bucket a lot.
Not even kidding.
Like every ten minutes.

Do not leave your camera on the windowsill with a precocious 18 year old in the house.

Now go over those tiles with a clean sponge again.

And again.

And there you have it!
A perfectly tiled backsplash!

Now all we need are countertops, huh?