[kerlowyn]

We are planning the final details now for our Varde kitchen. The plaster guys will behere next week, then after that I paint the walls. Two walls will be cobalt blue, the other two will be a lighter blue.

We are installing the Varde corner unit with a gas cooktop in it. The corner will be both the colors of blue (one wall each color).

I was thinking of making a back splash that was removable. Maybe a frame, with glass tiles set in, one for each wall. Then I could take them down to clean, maybe even make a few and change them with the seasons....LOL...

I could make some using different things, tile, stone, maybe even something totally crafty like broken china.



Anyone tried this? Any suggestions?

[GardenOfDarwin]

Yeah, a Varde kitchen!

Great idea! I know I've seen commercially available changeable backsplashes, and I know of one person on THS who was doing one, but I never got complete details or pictures. I think eva's pebbled backsplash may be done in sections in frames. It's really cool!

A piece of 1/4" cementuous backerboard with a thin aluminum edge/frame? Are you thinking small mosaic type glass tiles, or larger standard sizes (4x4, 3x6)?

Susan

[TheRedOne]

I have seen something like that done with table tops... a small on for everyday and a big one for when you're really hungry

The tops were glass tiles mounted on plywood with a thin wood frame around.

I don't know why you couldn't do something like that and just hang it on a cleat (is that spelled right?) that's attached to the wall.

[stacylu]

Isn't Eva's removable? You should check out her backsplash....

[DesignDiva]

Mine can be removed, because I mounted the pebbles on a backerboard and framed it out in aluminum. You could use sawtooth picture hangers or even the slide-on type of hanger and do something similar. You might want to do a google search for "fireback" which is an oldfashioned take on this idea. They are basically decorative iron plates that you would hang behind the range to catch splatters and deflect heat from the wall.

[kerlowyn]

Yes, I was thinking of something hung on the sawtooth picture hangers or the like. I would like to use small glass tiles to start with, in some type of frame. I have never worked with tile before, I am thinking this small scale project can help me to prepare for a larger scale tile project, namely the bathroom floor.

Plus, if I mess it up it's not on the actual wall and I can have as many 'do-overs' as I need...



Eva, where canI see yours???

[DesignDiva]

The full height backsplash at the coffee bar




Closeup of the shorter splash with aluminum trim

below: Closeup of the outlet switchplate I covered to match

[laurie]

kerlowyn: I, too, was thinking of how I could just paint the wall behind the cabs., and add some decorative touch on the wall since we might go with no wall cabs. (depends what doorstyle we pick). One alternative I was thinking of was using clear plastic frames, and putting either pictures or fabric (perhaps some of the fun fabrics in the new 2007 IKEA catalog) in there. Maybe use an extremely large frame and do four different, but coordinating, fabrics in the same frame. Could even use canvas framesand wrap them with the fabric.

[kerlowyn]

Fabric! I had not thought of that, what a good idea! I'm a fabric junky, and a costume designer by trade. I love to shop for funky and unusual fabrics.

Thanks!

[DesignDiva]

Well, hey...if you want to use fabric, just cut it slightly oversize, soak it in liquid starch and apply like wallpaper. When it dries, it's hard and will stick. To remove, just peel it off the wall and run it through the wash to remove the starch, and its good as new!