DIY Network

La Cucina Traditionale: The Walls Bland kitchen walls take on a traditional Italian look with maize paint and a faux tile backsplash. From "Fresh Coat" episode DFCT-311

Figure A

Figure B

To start making Carla Wytmar's bland kitchen more vibrant, the Fresh Coat team paints the boring walls a soft maize (figure A).

Next, they create the look of classic tiles (figure B) on the backsplash with a base coat of soft gray, taping off the tile pattern and filling in the squares with shiny colors of off-white, tan, and sage green. The tape will reveal the "grout lines," upgrading this area into a beautiful focal point of color and pattern.

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	Figure C
	Figure D

Materials:

rosin paper
painters tape
box brushes
screwdrivers
Benjamin Moore 221 Golden Garden in Matte Finish
paint mugs
angled brushes
fluffy rollers
large trays
roller extenders

1. Tape counter space along the walls and floors (figure C).
2. Remove all switch and outlet plates.
3. Cut and roll walls tinted primer in 221 Golden Garden in matte finish (figure D). Let dry. Recoat if necessary.

	Figure E
	Figure F
	Figure G

For the faux tile backsplash:

Materials:

Benjamin Moore 513 Limestone in Semi-gloss
Benjamin Moore 272 Avant Garde in Semi-gloss
Benjamin Moore 500 Maidenhair Fern in Semi-gloss
Benjamin Moore 2140-40 Storm Cloud Gray in Matte
angle brushes
2" rollers
6" rollers
small trays
auto detailing tape
straight edge
level
pencil

1. Tape underneath cabinets and along counter.
2. Cut and roll 2140-40 Storm Cloud Gray (figure E). Let dry.
3. Mark off tile pattern with pencil and tape using auto detailing tape (figure F). You can determine the size of your tiles by measuring the space and dividing it in half.
4. Paint tile pattern with 513 Limestone, 272 Avant Garde and 500 Maidenhair Fern (figure G). Let dry thoroughly and recoat if necessary.