Arabesque Blue Tile Backsplash Using an Adhesive Mat

My husband and I tiled our kitchen backsplash recently -- our first tiling job ever! We used Mussel Bound Adhesive Tile Mat instead of thin set. With the mat, you grout within 24 hours instead of waiting 24-72 hours as you would with thin set.

Originally posted in 2015. In 2017 I've added more photos and information since I've taken down the blog that I referred you to for more information in 2015.

arabesque blue tile backsplash using an adhesive mat, how to, kitchen backsplash, kitchen design, Mussel Bound is sold at Lowe s

The adhesive mat made it fairly easy to position the tiles. Mussel Bound is sold at Lowe's, but Home Depot has their own brand of a similar product. I'm not sure we could have done this without the mat!

Mussel Bound is a Lowes product. See MusselBound.com for any questions you have about the product. Their site even has a video showing how to use the tile mat.

The tile (Casablanca Orion porcelain tile) was purchased from Overstock.com, and was still available as of April 2017. For other sources, do a Google search for the specific name or search Arabesque Blue Tile to find similar tile.

arabesque blue tile backsplash using an adhesive mat, how to, kitchen backsplash, kitchen design

We had to tear off the old backsplash first and prepare the walls. The sheet rock was damaged in a few places when we removed the old tiles, so it had to be patched and dry a day before we could start tiling.

arabesque blue tile backsplash using an adhesive mat

We used an aluminum border piece (schluter tile edging) as it would look good with our stainless steel appliances and with the silver grout (grout info later in post)

FYI URL https://www.schluter.com/schluter-us/en_US/Profiles/For-Walls/c/P-FW

Mussel Bound looks like a big roll of paper towels. It consists of a double-sided sticky "paper" with a peel off paper on both sides.

Cut the adhesive mat to whatever size you want, remove the backing and stick it on the wall. Remove the front "backing" when you have your tile ready to apply.

Then position and press the tile onto the wall. Press lightly to begin with in case to need to move it a bit, then press it firmly in place. You can grout immediately. You do not have to wait. When Craig finished a section, I came behind him with the pre-mixed grout (product info follows).

This photo shows how we finished the wall behind the stove and added the Schluter tile edging. We had to buy a wet saw to cut the tiles. Craig was able to cut the tile to fit around the outlets and under the window. We could not have done that without a wet saw.

We used premixed, unsanded grout -- Design FX® grout in silver. It is stain proof, so no sealer is needed. It's difficult to see in the photo, but it has a bit of a sparkle to it. http://www.tecspecialty.com/products/grouts/advance-performance-grout/Design-FX-grout.html?lang=English#.WPfAmKK1u70

I think we purchased it at Lowe's as well. As I mentioned above, I was able to come right behind my husband and grout right after he finished a section of the wall. The products we used did not require us to wait until the next day to grout.

Before...

and After. We later painted the window facing (see photo below). Craig also installed under-counter LED lights and replaced the florescent light over the sink with a LED.

This is a view up under the upper cabinets showing one of the LED lights.

This is the view of the light above the sink. Originally there was a florescent light above the sink but no under-cabinet lights. We bought three - 24" LED low profile light fixtures from a big box store -- one for over the sink and the other two for under the cabinets.

Craig ran power from the over-sink light to the other two lights and they are all on the one wall switch there by the sink. The LED lights won't burn out and don't generate any heat, so are perfect for this location.

Above you see the aluminum schluter tile edging we added at the end of the counter. We also used aluminum outlet covers to match the edging.

We repainted the cabinets a couple of weeks later and painted the window facing as well -- as many of you suggested. I even bought a blue Kitchen Aid mixer.

My little accent valance/curtain is made from a vintage blue and white table cloth.

We repainted the cabinets a couple of weeks later and painted the window facing as well -- as many of you suggested. I even bought a blue Kitchen Aid mixer.

My little accent valance/curtain is made from a vintage blue and white table cloth.

We use gray comfort mats in front of the sink and stove and have stainless appliances, so the colors and finishes all look nice together. We get many compliments on it -- mainly because they can't believe we did it ourselves!

3 of 28 questions

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Lois Stewart
on Oct 5, 2017
Does the adhesive mat hold the tile to the wall as well as thin set? Looks much easier to use.
5
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- Michael Groomer
  on Jul 19, 2018
  I did my backsplash in 2011 with the adhesive mat and it still looks great. Using thin set was a challenge for me because the tiles (I was using heavier travertine) would shift. The adhesive mat made it a breeze. I was initially worried that the mat wouldn’t do well but after I put it up and started using it I thought it was brilliant.
  1
Julia
on Feb 12, 2018
Did you have to replace any gypboard? I just removed the laminate backsplash and my wall looks the same as yours. I wasn’t sure what to do to it.
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- Lisa Bingham
  on Jun 18, 2018
  The Mussel bound mat says you can put it right over existing tile.
Rhonda Freshwater
on Jul 19, 2018
Hi I realize I am a little late to the party but I was researching using the Schluter tile edging along with the MusselBound mat and came upon your post. Your backsplash looks great!!! How did you adhere the metal edging to the wall, though (before you put the mat edge on top of it)? Sorry if this has already been asked / answered.
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- Rhonda Freshwater
  on Sep 4, 2018
  Thanks Vivian. That is what I did and it looks really nice. I will have to upload a photo. Turned out great!

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Lori Sheward
on Jun 15, 2018
I love the look! I saw stones at Lowes so I will use them.Thanks!
Jewell Martin
33 minutes ago
Another product I had never heard of before. That mat must have many other uses! Thanks for the update on this post! ☺️