5 DIY Tips for Your Kitchen + A Marble Accent Wall

 Serene Nordic French kitchen grey and white kitchen with marble statement wall and quartz countertop DIY Kitchen Makeover: Calacatta Marble Accent Wall
DIY Kitchen Tips: Calacatta Marble Accent Wall

So excited to share tips and progress on the

DIY Arizona kitchen project where we recently

tiled an ugly wall in the kitchen with

Calacatta Gold marble hexagon mosaic tiles.

The plan is to take our boring, dated kitchen

from cookie cutter to custom, and I decided

a dramatic *yet natural* accent wall

would turn up the ooh la la.

In the spirit of DIY love,

I am humbly sharing a few tips,

not because we’re experts but because

we’re real life renovators who care.

We opted for natural stone for the project to complement

cabinets we painted grey (Behr: Classic Silver)

and the Viatera quartz (Soprano).

The Calacatta Gold is a bright white marble

with cool grey and caramel veining throughout,

and know what I really dig about the color?

For me, it’s beachy, and I do love me some beach.

DIY Tip No. 1

Don’t be afraid to order tile online from a good source.

Begin by ordering a sample…easy peasy.

If you have only shopped for tile in person

(like at a big box store), online shopping

may seem scary, but the quality

and condition of these mosaic tiles

greatly surpassed what we became

accustomed to seeing on store shelves!

Calacatta Gold Italian Marble 2″ Hexagon Mosaic

Let’s revisit the “before” kitchen images

from the previous owner.

BEFORE: Cookie Cutter Builder’s Special

A builder’s special kitchen for sure, with maple cabinets,

mottled tan laminate counters, and a crazy tomato red

faux backsplash (see the little trim pieces near the

window trying hard to fool us?). Wow.

The next image shows the whole expanse of the wall,

which was destined to lose the TOMATO factor

and become a whole lot prettier and natural.

BEFORE: Busy and Boring

Since it’s an open concept floor plan,

the minute we walked through the front door,

we were confronted with that red faux backsplash.

DIY Tip No. 2

NO backsplash is better than FAUX backsplash.

If your kitchen is backsplash lacking,

there’s no shame in living without a splash

until you have time and budget…a faux

treatment rarely delivers and can drag

the quality of the whole kitchen down.

 

I was determined to lose the TOMATO factor

and take our wall of shame from faux to fabulous

with beautiful honed natural stone.

BEFORE:; a painted ‘faux’ backsplash
BEFORE: Earthy tones
BEFORE: Just gross.

Things got better with paint! Wall Paint Color: Valspar Salute (7006-12).

DURING: My daddy!

We found a wet saw for the project on sale (score!) and

got to work, and by “we” I do mean “he.”
BTW. Not a single broken tile in the whole caboodle,

so every single mosaic was a keeper, leaving
these DIYers feeling #dangstoked.

DIY Tip No. 3
Before paying big bucks to rent a fancy tool, check the shelf.
If you don’t think you’ll ever use the fancy tool
again, you can sell it on Craigslist or OfferUp.

DURING: My hero!
Calacatta Gold Hex Honed Marble Mosaic

The photo below is unedited, and you’ll notice

the mosaic tile is much brighter and whiter
than the quartz…yet, I knew they would work

well together once everything was in place.

Why?



DIY Tip No. 4
Mix whites.

For successful mostly-white decor schemes,
incorporate various shades of white

(a friend recently asked whether

she should paint her kitchen cabinets the same

white as her walls, and I voted NOPE).

No dropcloth? Obviously I wasn’t home supervising.

We chose white grout for the mosaic to achieve a

more unified and subdued look.

Calacatta Gold adds a warmth in here we may have

forfeited had we safely opted for white subway tile.

DIY Tip No. 5
Think beyond white subway tile.
When living in a neighborhood where
homes exist with your exact floorplan and exterior,
it’s sometimes wise to add customization
which won’t match the neighbors’ customization.
(See me boldly channeling Summer Thornton?).

To set your home apart from the pack for
resale and future marketing,
think creatively about how to keep the
makeover timeless yet distinctly
special and memorable.

Ready to see the makeover?

Serene Nordic French kitchen grey and white kitchen with marble statement wall and quartz countertop
DIY Kitchen Makeover: Calacatta  Marble  Accent Wall

It’s a gorgeous result, and we love it!

An unexpected sweet surprise is that from afar,

the marble accent wall reminds me of

the lovely work of one of my favorite artists,

Meredith Pardue,

who paints these magnificent

contemporary abstracts in hues I love.

Abstract painting by Meredith Pardue, Botania III
Botania III
Serene Nordic French kitchen grey and white kitchen with marble statement wall and quartz countertop
DIY Kitchen Makeover Tips
Serene Nordic French kitchen grey and white kitchen with marble statement wall and quartz countertop
DIY Kitchen Makeover: Calacatta Marble Accent Wall
Serene Nordic French kitchen grey and white kitchen with marble statement wall and quartz countertop
DIY Kitchen Makeover: Calacatta Marble Accent Wall
Serene Nordic French kitchen grey and white kitchen with marble statement wall and quartz countertop
DIY Kitchen Makeover: Calacatta Marble Accent Wall

You can see that up close, you’re struck by
the geometry of the hex, which recedes to
become a soft abstraction from a distance.

 Serene Nordic French kitchen grey and white kitchen with marble statement wall and quartz countertop DIY Kitchen Makeover: Calacatta Marble Accent Wall
Calacatta Gold Marble Accent Wall
 Serene Nordic French kitchen grey and white kitchen with marble statement wall and quartz countertop DIY Kitchen Makeover: Calacatta Marble Accent Wall
DIY Kitchen Makeover Tips
Serene Nordic French kitchen grey and white kitchen with marble statement wall and quartz countertop
DIY Kitchen Makeover: Calacatta Marble Accent Wall
 Serene Nordic French kitchen grey and white kitchen with marble statement wall and quartz countertop DIY Kitchen Makeover: Calacatta Marble Accent Wall
Calacatta Gold Marble Hex Mosaic
 Serene Nordic French kitchen grey and white kitchen with marble statement wall and quartz countertop DIY Kitchen Makeover: Calacatta Marble Accent Wall
DIY Kitchen Makeover Tips
 Serene Nordic French kitchen grey and white kitchen with marble statement wall and quartz countertop DIY Kitchen Makeover: Calacatta Marble Accent Wall
DIY Kitchen Makeover
 Serene Nordic French kitchen grey and white kitchen with marble statement wall and quartz countertop DIY Kitchen Makeover: Calacatta Marble Accent Wall
Calacatta Gold Marble and Viatera Minuet Quartz
 Serene Nordic French kitchen grey and white kitchen with marble statement wall and quartz countertop DIY Kitchen Makeover: Calacatta Marble Accent Wall
DIY Kitchen Makeover
 Serene Nordic French kitchen grey and white kitchen with marble statement wall and quartz countertop DIY Kitchen Makeover: Calacatta Marble Accent Wall
Calacatta Gold Marble Accent Wall
 Serene Nordic French kitchen grey and white kitchen with marble statement wall and quartz countertop DIY Kitchen Makeover: Calacatta Marble Accent Wall
DIY Kitchen Makeover
 Serene Nordic French kitchen grey and white kitchen with marble statement wall and quartz countertop DIY Kitchen Makeover: Calacatta Marble Accent Wall
DIY Kitchen Makeover
 Serene Nordic French kitchen grey and white kitchen with marble statement wall and quartz countertop DIY Kitchen Makeover: Calacatta Marble Accent Wall
Calacatta Gold Marble Accent Wall
Serene Nordic French kitchen grey and white kitchen with marble statement wall and quartz countertop

From faux to fabulous, yes?

Still adding finishing touches,
and I joyfully welcome any ideas for
a window treatment and rug.

Discover more stories from our DIY whole house makeover,
and let me know what you think of the accent wall
and whether you have a project of your
own where you may incorporate a mosaic.

Curious about what we did for the countertops? Find that scoop here.

Thank you, kindly, The Builder Depot, for partnering with
us on this project and supplying the most awesome
honed marble a girl with big ideas could ask for.

Hello Lovely added a honed marble accent wall to a boring builder's grade kitchen
Pin me!

I independently selected products in this post—if you buy from one of my links, I may earn a commission.

Peace to you right where you are.

-michele

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White Slipcovered Sofa
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Parisian Style Iron Table Lamp  33.5″
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Tree Mural Wallpaper
Faux Potted French Lavender
Shaw Daybed
Distressed White French Country Chandelier
French Country Headboard
Oval Back Counter Stool, Set of 2
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Cross Back Dining Chair
French Country Candle Holder
French Industrial Metal Chairs (4)
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Holborn Lantern Pendant
French Country 6-Light Chandelier
Tray Side Table
French Country Upholstered Arm Chair
Wicker Trunk Set
French Ticking Stripe Pillow
Jute Area Rug
Mohair Throw
Rustic Industrial Farmhouse Shelves
Belgian Linen Sofa
White Duvet & Bedding
Rustic Wood Candlestick Set
French Market Basket
Linen Modern Wing Chair
French Country Farmhouse Baskets
Concrete Pillar Table Lamp
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Scrubbed Wood 5-Light Chandelier
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Moravian Star 1-Light Pendant
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Fireclay Farm Sink (Reinhard, 30″)
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Boheme Madera Bench
Belgian Linen Duvet Set
Round Marble Side Table
Rustic Pedestal Farm Table
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2 Comments

  1. August 22, 2017 / 12:05 pm

    This turned out great! I think it gives the room a little dimension with the texture and interest yet keeps it all very cool & cohesive. Nice job with this transformation!

    • August 22, 2017 / 11:52 pm

      Thanks so much, Elaine. This was a relatively simple kitchen DIY compared to our other gut jobs. I appreciate the kind words! 🙂

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Let’s SHOP!

White Slipcovered Sofa
SHOP MY HOME!
29″ Whitewashed Table Lamp Set of 2
White Matelasse Quilt on MY BED
SHOP MY BATH!
Trees White Wallpaper Mural
Round Farmhouse Table
Myla Slipcover Sofa
Deconstructed Wingback Bed
French Farmhouse Dining Table
Milagro Heart
Slipcovered Dining Chair
Rustic Farmhouse Stool
Edgecombe End Table
Parisian Style Iron Table Lamp  33.5″
Black or Bronze Accent Table
French Stripe Basket Set
White Cotton Crochet Bed Skirt
French Country Rattan Basket Set
Marble Subway Mosaic Tile
Rattan Basket With Lid
White Ruffle Bedding
Seagrass Basket Set
Schumacher Wild Things Wallpaper
Slipcovered Sofa
Upholstered Dining Arm Chair
Shop My Breakfast Nook
White Matelasse Quilt
Tree Mural Wallpaper
Faux Potted French Lavender
Shaw Daybed
Distressed White French Country Chandelier
French Country Headboard
Oval Back Counter Stool, Set of 2
Antique Brass Pharmacy Floor Lamp
Round French Tufted Ottoman
Kinston Wood Bench
Italian Candelabra Chandelier
Slipcovered Linen Chair
Warner Upholstered Bench
Rustic Country French Dresser
Laurel Wreath Mirror
Round Farmhouse Dining Table
Reclaimed Wood Dresser
Louis Upholstered Bench
Pardon My French Doormat
Stripe Turkish Towel Throw
Pamela Arm Chair
Sweater Weave Basket
French Carved Wood Chandelier
Terracotta Pots & Basket
French Country Wood Chandelier
French Linen Dining Chair
Gustavian Cabinet
French Farmhouse Dining Table
Bar Stool
Beachy White Slipcovered Sofa
Rattan Armchair
Diptyque Oyedo Candle
Cross Back Dining Chair
French Country Candle Holder
French Industrial Metal Chairs (4)
Designer Favorite Wall Mirror
Holborn Lantern Pendant
French Country 6-Light Chandelier
Tray Side Table
French Country Upholstered Arm Chair
Wicker Trunk Set
French Ticking Stripe Pillow
Jute Area Rug
Mohair Throw
Rustic Industrial Farmhouse Shelves
Belgian Linen Sofa
White Duvet & Bedding
Rustic Wood Candlestick Set
French Market Basket
Linen Modern Wing Chair
French Country Farmhouse Baskets
Concrete Pillar Table Lamp
Boheme Madera Bench
Belgian Style Lamp
Kendall Skirted Dining Chair
White Charleston Sofa
Scrubbed Wood 5-Light Chandelier
Arched Champagne Wall Mirror
Moravian Star 1-Light Pendant
Highback Armchair
Mini Pendant Light
White Vase Set
Round Woven Placemat Set
Cashmere Throw With Fringe
Wreath Doormat
Fireclay Farm Sink (Reinhard, 30″)
White Waffle Coverlet
Light Grey Vienna Quilt
Boheme Madera Bench
Belgian Linen Duvet Set
Round Marble Side Table
Rustic Pedestal Farm Table
Rattan Hanging Chair Swing