apartment therapy changing the world, one room at a time

I would love to do a back splash like this... but what precisely is a "silicon bikini strap"? I don't necessarily recommend googling the term, unless you have your "safe search" feature turned on to filter out the naughty results. :)

Are we just talking about simple silicon strips of some kind? And where would one get such an item?

Gorgeous design!

great backsplash...ditch the rug! You have beautiful floors and it completely clashes and draws the eye away from your backsplash, cabinets, and cool blue wall color. Why would you put a huge rug in the middle of your kitchen anyway?

I love the backsplash...
...and I think the rug is a great addition to the kitchen - gives the room real character.

Sorry, being figurative with the bikini straps. It means "very thin clear silicon caulking around the edges"

Rug in the kitchen. . .why not? (It's art on a horizontal surface.)
I agree with Clogan's comment on the Kitchn site. If you have something nice, why not use and see it regularly. Our house isn't a museum.

Reb...

thank you for clarifying! I thought that was what you likely meant but never hurts to check. By the way, I love the rug... in both design AND location!

:)

After I just made a mess on my floor this AM with the egg batter for French toast, and spending about 30 min cleaning up the floor, I'm leaving rugs OUT of my kitchen. Usually, I am very neat when cooking, but the container slipped off the counter as I was flipping the toast to cover the other side....at least my floor is super clean now.

Love the rug....I've got a persian in mine. Never made a mess after many many years...

reb: Love that backsplash, I think I am going to steal it (well, the idea anyway)!!. My kitchen is being demo'd the day after Labor Day (yay!) but I have a couple of questions:

1) what kind of glass did you use?

2) Did you just have a hole cut out for the electrical outlet, then papered over the outlet cover, then screwed it in?

3) Is the "noodle" and/or "bikini strap" (love your metaphors) of silicon caulk strong enough to hold the glass in place? I do on asking the carpenters to cut a groove in the back of the uppers (brilliant!) but if they can't (I don't know if they can do that with the Ikea cabs we are using), is just the caulk enough?

Thanks for sharing your beautiful home! I guess I'll go wallpaper shopping now!

outonalimb_2008,

1) 1/4" Tempered regular (green) glass. I liked the green tint over the blue grey wallpaper. worked better with my wall color. Use Starfire glass if you want it completely clear.

2) Yes, had the hole cut out to be just big enough to accommodate the screws. (long story short, don't use Occasional Glass in SF. screwed up measurements twice that took them 2 hours to take! 4 pieces @ 6 wks for a "3-4 day" job). Use Paige or Theissen Glass, more expensive but more competent.

3) So far so good with the caulk. The glass was wedged in fairly tight to begin with. Our cabs are Ikea! You wouldn't be notching the back of the cabs. You'd be adding a customized notched deco strip below the cabs, all around, to line up with the deco strip on the front (that is, if you plan on having deco strips at all). If you want a picture of what I mean, email me at rebecca@rebeccaszeto.com. Though your carpenter might have a better idea.

good luck on your remodel.

I love the wall paper but i don't think it is durable as tiles or stone. I would prefer to use tiles that are glazed and easy to clean.
I came across this website that has this gorgeous tiles, check them out here:

http://www.sainttropezboutique.us/products/tiles/mediterranean-tiles.aspx