A Beautiful Backsplash for $10 and a Little Elbow Grease

Cheryl @ Artzzle
by Cheryl @ Artzzle
Hubs and I are still saving for a glass tile backsplash. But for now, we bought a $10 roll of DUCK Brand adhesive vinyl paper, and went to work in our builder basic kitchen.
This is an AFTER picture. We also recently re-did our upper cabinets. The final kitchen project will be the lower cabinets that are still the basic orange oak with flat doors.
This is a BEFORE shot of the wooden/formica backsplash. I don't have a good shot from the kitchen, but this same technique is in our bathroom shown here.
When we removed the old wood strip, we discovered it hid a few builder's mistakes. This ugly nearly 3/4" bowed, gap between the wall and the countertop, under the window. The gross, dirty middle area is the gap.
We used LOTS of Goo Gone to loosen up the remaining adhesive on the counter top, and gently scraped it, then wiped up with clean cloth.
We sanded off built up paint layers, patched any bad areas in the wall, and then painted the white area (that had been behind the wooden strip. If we had left it white, that would have been noticeable through the contact paper.
Here's another final result photo. To remedy the gap problem, we painted and applied quarter round cove strips. See full details and more pictures over at our website. Thanks for looking.
Cheryl @ Artzzle
Want more details about this and other DIY projects? Check out my blog post!
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  • Debbie Debbie on Mar 20, 2017

    Hi Cheryl, What brand is your small sander? Are you happy with the job it does? If you had to buy another, would you buy the same one? I have been looking at them for a while but since I know absolutely nothing about any kind of power tool, I need to ask for opinions. Also, I'd like to ask if your Duck brand paper was actually labeled a shelf liner? Thanks!


  • Cheryl Cheryl on Jul 11, 2017

    I been looking into this for some time now. Since I live in an apartment any changes I make our temporary & I can't afford to damage the wall. Does contract paper come off cleanly or does it take paint and/or gyprock paper with it?

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  • Suzanne Suzanne on Jan 17, 2017
    Love it and the color of upper cabinets; the darker shade to come should be great. The brass canisters introduce another color that somehow just doesn't do your work justice. What would you think of black accessories? I know the work in this. My base cabinets are done but upper ones still waiting. I appreciate your great idea for backsplash. and the cove strips perfect solution.
    • Cheryl @ Artzzle Cheryl @ Artzzle on Jan 17, 2017
      Thanks, Suzanne. I've included 3 Afters pics below, with all done. Also is a B4 pic of the old kitchen.
  • Suzanne Suzanne on Jan 18, 2017
    Now is see how the two accent colors connect. It all looks so lovely. The color you used on the base cabinets is practical but still lovely and the darker shade anchoriing as they say. I sure wish I had an island. I have a corridor kitchen and hate it. I like your white appliances with the taupe base cabinets for contrast.
    • Cheryl @ Artzzle Cheryl @ Artzzle on Jan 18, 2017
      Thanks, Suzanne. BTW those copper canisters were my mom's so don't want to change them, but your black accents suggestion would look great too. Also, we lived in another rambler years ago and it was a corridor kitchen. I'll see if I can find some pictures. Why don't you visit my website, too? www.Artzzle.com I will start following you here on hometalk too & vice versa if you want. So fun to talk with you. Later - Cheryl B
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