{I've added this post to the Nester's Mr. Linky as well as to Ann Kroeker's. I doubled up. I'm probably a very bad blogger.... but it really did take me 10 minutes to fix devastating tile problem, and it really is a pure make-do :) }
About five years ago, long before we thought we could do the big make-over of our kitchen (which in itself is a make-do project), we had to replace the stove. I was ecstatic: it was that penultimately hideous 70s color, almond (the ultimate being avocado, of course), but worse, the main burner only went on "high" and "off". So, yes, I could use it, but I had to be vigilant lest any overeager helper went near it, all unsuspecting-like. I made do then by moving the pan off and on the hot burner! Ugh.
I needed a new hood, too, almond not being in my plans and the old one not working either. What a revelation to have a light over the stove, especially as it's in a somewhat awkward place!
But the new hood didn't reach down as far as the old one, so there was a gap between the tiles and the bottom of the hood. More tragedy! The Chief had the idea of putting an ordinary piece of molding there, and I painted it. So that worked!
Of course, the kitchen back splash tiles are wicked ugly and should all be ripped out -- they are a sort of gray with speckles...sigh.
But ugliest of all are these three, very special tiles with an herb motif. 
Now, why?
Why?
WHY???I can't even articulate what a crime against aesthetics I think these things are. But there is no way we were re-tiling. We just had to make do! We had all sorts of elaborate ideas on how to cover them up, until I thought of this:
A couple of cup hooks, and we were in business!
I can't stand to look at those tiles even the short amount of time it would take to remove a tray of cookies from the oven, so the potholders on the left there are the ones I really use:
Ann Kroeker has a fun make-do linky going on...do you have a post to add to her ideas? (By the way, note the drying ziploc bag on my utensils -- do you do that too? :)
25 comments:
My mom has drying baggies on her utensils every time I go to her house. I thought she was the only one!
Your make-do is great and inspiring. I've got a lot of ugly to cover up around here too. Thanks!
Yes, the utensil baggie-drying rack! I usually have the larger baggies hanging upside down from clips over the washing machine. I can keep one little box of those 2 gallon ziplocs (great for bread) going for months and months. The potholders were a great idea. There is so much ugly in my kitchen I certainly can sympathize. The food has to be extra good to divert attention.
Great cover-up idea. If you can stand to uncover the tiles for a little while, I have read about painting the tile. It's an economical way to cover the ugly.
Julie
Hmmm, Erika, I think hanging them over the washer would be more pleasing to the eye (speaking of anti-aesthetic!)...Maybe I will have to figure something like that out. I'm so lazy I can hardly feature walking out to the mudroom with my wet bags :)
Maybe I'm dense; I just don't see what's so bad about them.
Does everything have to be magazine-ready or can we just be content with our lot?
I dry my baggies too - but not over my utensils. I use a trick I learned when we were missionaries in Eastern Europe - if you have a tile back splash, just put your hand in the baggie and slap it on the wall, making sure the opening stays open so air can get inside. It will stay there until you pull it down. Cool eh?
Leila,
People will pay lots of money for those tiles. They are "Shabby Chic"
:)
My mother wanted a kitchen makeover about 20 years ago (and actually she just did gut her kitchen and it should be done in a few days) but during those 20 years she painted the baby blue laminate with an enamel paint and also the backsplash tiles. I liked the black countertops with flecks of baby blue showing through lol
I think the potholders are fabulous coverups. Excellent!!
love it... i'm going to start reusing my baggies too!
Your pot holders are adorable! This is a great solution! There are a couple of places in our home that we scratch our head wondering why it was done that way. :o) We'll get to them all eventually. :o)
Sincerely ~ Tricia Anne
Great way to use the molding! I think the tiles are cute, but using the pot holders is a great idea!
I love your temporary fix, but if it were me, I'd grab a bottle of black craft paint and have some fun.
Good, easy fix.
Very creative solution, thanks for sharing!
When I first saw the tile I thought it wasn't that bad. But oh those flowres!
yes, paint? why not just paint it all a color you love? one day when you replace it you'll be ripping it out anyhow!
I actually think they're kind of cute in a nostalgic, throw-back sort of way! I do wash out my baggies, but I actually concocted a baggie drying jar. I took a mason jar, filled it halfway with some clear and blue glass vase gems I had sitting around, and stuck several wooden skewers in them I had stashed in the silverware drawer. It's like a baggie drying "tree"! Easy to hide away, and an interesting conversation piece when it's in use!
BeckyJ
Nester: Then it wouldn't be a 10-minute improvement, would it!! :)
Anon: This is a great idea! You should have a blog and blog about it and show us a picture! Maybe I'll have to do this...although my counters are already kinda crowded :)
great ideas!
That's a great & quick cover-up solution. (Don't hate me, I actually kind of like the tiles... but then I don't live there, so never mind.)
This is a great idea even if you don't have bad 70s herb tiles! Potholders can be so pretty, I've never thought of displaying them on hooks. I think I'll try it. Thanks for the idea!
I'm sorry, but I love those little tiles. Very 70's cheesy chic. They look like the little floral glyphs on the front of 70's (avocado green) appliances -- I think we had an electric can-opener like that.
Okay so they're gross, but in a good way.
I TOTALLY have ziplocs over my utensils (and I only bother with the "good" bags --seriously, where do I get that from???)
I love the use of molding to hide the gap. Great idea!
Has anyone been successful at painting tile without sanding it?? I have a hidious bathroom covered in peach tile that I would LOVE to paint white. I would also consider covering it with wainscoating (spelling?) but the room is already extremely small and that would diminish the dimensions.
Any suggestions?
Gina, do the make-do thing and find a picture of a peach tiled bathroom you like and redo the towels, trim, and shower curtain.
It will be much easier, trust me.
I like the contrasts of random unique tiles being added into the pattern.
Claire
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