Tiling on the short sides in the kitchen?

[snowjim]

Hello,

We are tiling the kitchen and wondering how to handle the end edges in the best way. This is how it looks right now:


http://i.imgur.com/qHe4QAn.jpg


http://i.imgur.com/eZEKQSv.jpg

Before you say anything about the small pieces at the end, I can tell you that the idea was for them to continue onto the end edge and that the measurements ended up this way when we did the calculations. What we missed was that the whole thing could have been adjusted to get larger pieces on the sides, but now it is done and can't be undone.

So now the question is how to handle the end edges; we don't want cut tiles extending beyond the wall cabinets.

From the wall to the end of the countertop/stone is 63 cm, subtracting the thickness of the tiles and adhesive on the long side, leaves about 61.5 cm. We also want the tiles to stop a bit before the stone ends.

The tiles are 10 x 30, and one idea is to buy smaller tiles, i.e., 10 x 20, but I'm not sure if that solves the problem?

The top narrow row must either end at the edge of the wall cabinets or wrap around the corner and continue to full height after the base cabinets. The latter would mean the tiles continue a bit above the wall cabinets, which I don't think will look nice.

Suggestions?

 

[Stefan N]

Would probably not have put tiles on the short sides at all.

 

[Jonatan79]

I had set it all the way out to the edge of the countertop.

 

[hempularen]

I see no major problem with tiling the short side as well; it's a matter of taste whether you go all the way to the edge of the counter or just under the cabinet.

You can get a decent visible edge by either simply applying grout at a 45-degree angle against the wall or by using a corner trim in aluminum or stainless steel. The trims are also available in white lacquer.

 

[hempularen]

Those rectangular holes for electrical boxes (?). Have you checked that they actually work with the outlets you planned? I think it looks like too much has been cut.

 

[snowjim]

I probably wouldn't have put tiles on the short sides at all.

Hmm, don't those small pieces look even more wrong then? If you put them on the side as well, there's a good chance that those on the short side will cover most of it, making it look as if they transition to the short side.

 

[snowjim]

I would have set it all the way out to the edge of the countertop.

Yes, that is a thought, but since we have a switch quite close by on the other wall, I think I'll extend it as far as the base cabinets, but probably not even that far.

 

[snowjim]

I don't see any major problem with tiling the short side as well, it's a matter of taste if you go all the way to the edge of the counter, or just under the cabinet.

You get a pretty good visible edge by either just grouting at a 45-degree angle against the wall. Or by using a corner strip in aluminum or stainless steel. The strips are also available in white lacquer.

What you mean is that even the narrow pieces at the top should extend outside the wall cabinets? Since they are cut, it means an abrupt end upwards and here you mean that you fill up with grout? I wonder how neat it really becomes?

My other thought was that the narrow piece would stop at the wall cabinets while the rest below continued a bit outward. The problem with that is that it also has to end perfectly where the wall cabinets end. This can be achieved by cutting the row in the corner, but the problem is that if new 30 cm tiles are to continue outside the wall cabinets, they even go beyond the countertop. The wall cabinets extend about 38-39 cm and the countertop extends about 62 cm so it becomes about 23 cm. It would probably have been better to buy 20 cm tiles that then extend to 61 cm and leave about 1 cm from the edge of the countertop.

 

[snowjim]

Those rectangular holes for electrical boxes (?). Have you checked that they really work with the outlets you have planned? I think it looks like too much has been cut out.

Here is a close-up of them:


http://i.imgur.com/RytMCnG.jpg


http://i.imgur.com/PbaG2yw.jpg

And after holding the outlets against them, they cover everything that needs to be covered. I'll have to check it again, but I hope I'm right!

You can see that the outlet in the middle is positioned slightly higher than the others, unfortunate of course but not the end of the world. It would have been worse if the left or right outlet was positioned higher, the middle or the two on the outside still form some type of symmetry.

 

[Anna_H]

There is a particular type of wood trim called "kakellist," which is grooved on the back for tiles. Google "kakellist trä" to see examples.

Remove the uppermost spacer and install such a kakellist that extends out to the sides. You can choose whether to have a cut piece and a kakellist at the front edge or to start with a whole tile at the front edge. We chose the latter.

As a bonus, you can easily attach hooks or a bar to hang things on the wooden kakellist.

 

[snowjim]

There is a special wooden strip called a 'kakellist', which is grooved on the back for the tile. Google "kakellist trä" to see examples.

Remove the top filler piece and place such a kakellist, allowing it to extend outwards on the sides. You can choose whether to have a cut piece and a kakellist at the front edge or start with a whole tile at the front. We chose the latter.

As a bonus, you can easily attach hooks or a rod to hang things on the wooden strip.

Aha, it looks like you set the strip at the same time as you set the tiles, at least if you're using one made of metal:


https://www.golvpoolen.se/media/cat...3525d08d6e5fb8d27136e95/a/8/a83___01___12.jpg

White-painted wood would also work but the problem is of course how far it sticks out; you want a fairly discreet strip.

 

[snowjim]

You can do it like this as I described above:


https://www.byggahus.se/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=141121&d=1431876467

However, I don't think it's very nice.

 

[snowjim]

Have now gone and bought 10x20 tiles, but with some calculations, it will be better to run 3 rows with 20 cm tiles on the sides and ensure that it fits exactly 2 tiles up to the wall cabinets, and then after that, one more row but without the narrow piece at the top.

 

[snowjim]

I have now added a little more, this is how it turned out with shorter pieces on the short side.


http://i.imgur.com/EPYSFRi.jpg


http://i.imgur.com/T82V5xY.jpg


http://i.imgur.com/I3F0G95.jpg

I don't like the small piece at the very end at all, hopefully it will look better once silicone/latex is applied. I'm also not completely satisfied with the shorter pieces on the side, but it should be no problem to live with

 

[nino]

I think it looks good, except for the small one, but if you have silver-grey or white grout, you probably won't notice it.