Lazy Man's Subway Tile

Over the past year I've been working on updating our old outdated kitchen on a shoe string budget. I'd been holding out on installing a new backsplash after I ripped out the old floral one because I wanted to install some sort of solid surface countertop. However, now that we're moving we've decided to keep the existing countertops and install a new backsplash. I was originally planning to install a subway tile backsplash, but with just over a week until our closing date, the thought of my first tiling job including lining up tons of little white tiles was unappealing.

Hence, what I like to call Lazy Man's Subway Tile, aka smaller subway tiles that come in 12"x12" sheets. And for a bargain. I found these babies at Home Depot for a little over $2.50 a sheet.

And I have to say they definitely made laying the new backsplash MUCH easier... not that I have any other tiling experience to compare it to, but lining up one sheet was so much easier than having to line up small individual tiles. Here's how much I was able to get done in three hours. Note: Our backsplash is a little under 25 sq ft.

Please pardon the mess - and the dark pictures.... it's almost midnight.

But, what a difference! I'm already loving the transformation. I am definitely using white grout given that my lines are not perfect (hey it's my first tile job). The only thing that has been a real pain is cutting the tiles. I bought a hand tile cutter because Home Depot blocked off the area with all of the tile tools - including tile cutters. They were moving some inventory or something and wouldn't let me past the barrier. So I was left with whatever the guy behind the barrier was willing to give me.

So, the spots where I need to cut tiles are mostly empty. However, I think I can have the backsplash complete by the weekend. Keep posted for the final reveal later this week!