Create a Homey Feel with Beadboard Backsplash

Give yourself flexibility in paint color choices and attractive vertical lines with a beadboard backsplash. It could be just the look you want in your kitchen.

Uses and History

Beadboard is used a lot in cottages and vacation homes. These boards give entry points, halls, kitchens, bathrooms, and other spaces a more casual and warm ambience. Traditional beadboard goes back to England in the 1800's. It was related to styles we now know as Queen Anne, Victorian, cottage, folk or English Country. This kind of board was typically used for less dressy homes and rooms, especially vacation houses.

Benefits of Beadboard

• economical
• can repaint easily to change color
• gives a casual look
• looks good with any countertop
• use to cover up something ugly!

Flea Market Brainstorming

Get an idea of what beadboard looks like at eBay. It's a great place to get ideas about what's available. I'd be surprised if you find a beadboard backsplash, but you can get a sense of some items using beadboard. You could even find something you love!

Is this a DIY Project or by a Professional?

Do you plan to install the backsplash of beadboard yourself or contract with a professional? If you choose to get help with it, look more for a finish carpenter than a framing carpenter. A couple places to find such skilled folks is on Angies List, which offers customer testimonials good and bad, or a place like Contractors.com which also has customer reviews.

Where to Buy

When you start looking for beadboard for your kitchen, know that you can purchase them either as individual boards or panels. Look for this product at your local lumberyard including Lowes and Home Depot. You should be able to find these boards in 3 or 5 inch widths and 1/2 or 3/4 inches thick as well as in paneled versions.

Elite Trim Works has a backsplash kit that may be just the ticket, if you're planning on doing your own project. You'll find a photo gallery to help you envision what beadboard might look like as a backsplash in your kitchen.

Three other sources of varying levels of beadboard information are Antique Woodworks, New England Classic, and Nantucket Beadboard Company.

How to Search for Beadboard Backsplash

Tried some search engines already? Check out these searches by clicking on them:

Google : Yahoo : MSN : Visimo : IxQuick : DogPile

Open Directory : Yahoo Directory : eBay

Choices, Choices, Choices

I love options, and you may too, but sometimes too many can get a bit out of hand. Maybe you narrowed your beadboard backsplash choices to a reasonable number. Want help making the final choice? Try Choose It.