Zellige Tile Knockoff Kitchen Backsplash
Progress in the kitchen at the Dogwood Cottage has continued and we now have the backsplash and hardware! Abby and I decided to go with a Zellige style tile because we love the look of it. In case you’re not familiar, Zellige tiles are handmade, irregular tiles that originate in Morocco, usually glazed with a ripple look that replicates water. These are super popular amongst top designers right now but they have been around in Morocco for centuries. Here are a few examples of some inspiration we love!
(via Riad Tile)
(via Tays & Co)
(via Zio and Sons)
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One thing about genuine Zellige tile is that it’s pretty expensive due to the labor involved in making it. And since we are doing pretty much everything in this reno on a budget, we decided to go with a much more affordable replica version and we were very happy with it! You can find this tile in a few color options HERE. This one is the white, and it does have a creamy tone to it, which was exactly what we wanted.
With Zellige tiles, it’s common to go with a non-grouted process. The nature of these tiles is irregular anyway, often varying in thickness, so using them without grout just lends more to the artisan style. Plus– these were so easy to put up! The only challenges were the cuts we had to make around the windows and outlet boxes.
We started by dry-fitting the first few to see where our first cuts would be, then we cut with a wet saw based on the measurements.
When tiling around electrical boxes, be sure the breaker is turned off for safety, then make your cuts fit around the inset electrical box so the outlet covers will be able to fit properly. Also note, you may need to buy extra long screws for your outlet covers as well.
Adhering the tiles to the wall is very simple! We used this Omni Grip and it works like a dream. Find it HERE.
We also used a tile trowel (with the teeth on the edge) to apply the adhesive to the wall, scraping it off at a 45º angle to get the grooves needed to allow for a good adhesion. I also used a putty knife to apply in some of the small spaces. The main things to remember are to get enough of the adhesive on to get it to hold, but not too much that is squishes out and makes a mess! You don’t want the adhesive to seep out and be visible between the tiles, so this may require a little scraping with a small putty knife in between them if that happens. It doesn’t take long to get the hang of it. Concentrating on keeping the vertical lines straight is also key, but the irregular edges of this tile is also very forgiving, so its easy to compensate for areas of imperfection.
My mom even stopped by to apply a piece!
We got this done in maybe 5 or 6 hours over the course of a couple of afternoons, including a few delays and many cuts! Not a difficult project at all.
We are really excited about it! Also excited about the cabinet hardware which you can find here…
The pendants are also a favorite part, and you can shop those here…
Getting very close to finishing the French doors off with hardware and a coat of poly as well.
Does anyone remember how this kitchen looked before?? Here’s a little flashback. Can’t wait to share more before and afters of this journey as we finish up! So exciting! As always, thanks for coming along with us!
Becky
September 17, 2021 @ 12:44 pm
I’m not normally a fan of that type of tile, but this is lovely! Well done!
Julie
May 6, 2022 @ 7:23 am
Thank you so much!
Peggy Pasicznyk
September 22, 2021 @ 8:01 am
Am I the only one?? Pictures were great in the beginning and I was excited to see finished look! However, the rest of my pictures were a blur.
Gabrielle
January 16, 2022 @ 7:34 pm
Browsing today, I discovered Zellige tile on a French Country blog. It is beautiful, but oh, so pricey. Then I found you and your “take” on Zellige. What an inspiration! Your work is gorgeous! Thanks for all the pictures.
Julie
May 6, 2022 @ 7:23 am
So glad you like it!
Linda
May 6, 2022 @ 7:09 am
Really love your tile look! Just curious did you use grout at all? Did you have any issues with tile movement after you were finished? I’m getting ready for my own project and considering the zellige look.
Julie
May 6, 2022 @ 7:25 am
Hi, Linda! No, we did not use grout at all. Just went with this adhesive and it worked really easily and well. We have not had any trouble with movement. These tiles are pretty light weight and the adhesive holds easily while you’re applying. Doesn’t take too long to set either! Best of luck to you on your project!
julia
May 16, 2022 @ 11:06 pm
Hi,
What a great idea for a more budget friendly approach. Thanks for sharing. Could you pretty please share the source of those gorgeous wooden/glass doors in the kitchen towards the end of the post. They’re just what I’m looking for. Thank you!
Julie
May 17, 2022 @ 6:52 am
Aww I wish I could! That was actually a vintage wood door we found that we split in two because we could not find exactly what we were looking for either! Maybe you will get lucky & find one that will work for you like that!
Larry
November 9, 2022 @ 7:30 pm
Hi, I too am interested in installing Zellige look tile as a backsplash. Regarding the no grout install, do having any cleaning issues? Are you able to clean off grease and sauces from cooking? Did you have to seal the tile?
Julie
November 9, 2022 @ 8:04 pm
We’ve had no cleaning issues so far! The tile has a strong glaze applied so I don’t feel the need to seal. As long as there isn’t a large volume splatter you should be fine. And if there were need to get in between tiles, a small brush should work well.