“It looks like a cable-knit sweater on the wall!” That’s how I described the marble herringbone backsplash after we installed it behind the washer and dryer. The tile we’d been saving for this spot finally got its moment, and the result instantly made the laundry room feel warmer and more finished. We used 13 sheets of tile to cover the back wall, and the transformation was dramatic.
Ignore the half-finished shelf in some photos — it still needs staining, sealing, and final installation. The shelf will sit on removable L-brackets so we can access plumbing or reach between the appliances if needed. Once installed, it will stop socks from falling behind the machines and add a bit of warmth and texture above the tile.
We built the shelf before tiling only to mark how low the tile should go and to avoid tiling where the brackets would attach — hanging the brackets first and tiling around them would have been harder. The shelf will be stained a bit darker than the raw wood in the photos; the mood board includes the finish we’re aiming for and shows the Hampton Carrara marble tile we used.
Two things were new for us on this job: these marble mosaic sheets and using premixed mastic so we could adhere tile directly over painted drywall (we sanded the wall first to give it some tooth). The mosaic sheets allowed a tight, small-scale herringbone pattern that reads like texture from a distance but still shows the beautiful veins up close.
The mastic we used has a spackle-like consistency and was applied with a 3/16″ v-notch trowel for these smaller mosaics. The process felt similar to applying thinset on the floor, but mastic set faster, so we worked in small sections — two sheets at a time — to keep everything workable.
Cutting mosaic sheets had us worried because the tile was on back-order and we didn’t want to waste pieces. In the past we’d had trouble with the wet saw shredding mesh-backed mosaics, but after reading tips on marble mosaics we tried the wet saw again and it worked beautifully. Two scrap tiles placed on either side of the blade gave the sheet steady support and kept cuts clean, provided we fed the sheet through slowly and kept the blade wet.
The rolling tray and laser guide on our newer saw made straight angled cuts much easier, and we were mostly trimming the tops of tiles to sit flush against side walls or the underside of cabinets. The saw handled those trims without popping the little corners out when used carefully.
After spreading the mastic with the flat side of the trowel and notching it, Sherry pressed each sheet into place and gave it a slight twist to improve the bond. Aligning the pattern between sheets required patience: some sheets weren’t perfectly spaced on the mesh, so we nudged and shifted them, sometimes trimming a bit of mesh along the edge so the tiles could nest without a gap.
To avoid a continuous horizontal seam across the whole backsplash, we staggered the sheets vertically. For the sections above the appliances we used one-and-a-half sheets vertically, and for the tall sections above the counter we used two-and-a-half. Staggering the joints and using half sheets in alternating rows helped the pattern read as one continuous field rather than segmented panels.
We hung all the sheets in about two hours while the kids were occupied. The mastic was likely dry enough to grout that evening, but we waited until the next morning to be safe. Because the gaps between the tiles are larger than 1/8″, we used sanded grout in a standard white color, which requires a bit more grout volume than tightly spaced tile like our floor.
I mixed enough grout to do about half the wall at a time to prevent it drying out mid-job. I placed a scrap piece of wood where the shelf will sit to catch drips so I wouldn’t grout the floor behind the machines by accident. After packing grout into all the gaps, I wiped the surfaces with a lightly damp sponge to remove excess.
As the grout dried it left a light haze, which used to make us panic. With polished marble you shouldn’t use chemical haze removers, so I removed most of it by buffing with a microfiber cloth. It took patience, but two passes cleared the worst of the haze and made the marble start to shine; Sherry plans one more pass to reach full gleam.
The uneven bottom edge where the tile stops is fine because the shelf and countertop will cover it once stained and sealed. We saved extra tile and grout in case a future washer/dryer has a different height and we need to add tile later. Width-wise, standard spacing means a new set should fit without changing the side cabinet or counter; if the height differs, we can remake the removable shelf.
We’ve started testing stain and sealer combinations on scrap wood for the shelf and countertop. We hope to install the finished pieces in a few days and will follow up with details about reinstalling the washer and dryer and hooking up the overflow drain.
Update: A few readers asked what happens if we replace the washer and dryer and need a different shelf height. The shelf is removable, so we can remake or adjust it if necessary. We couldn’t tile lower where the brackets sit, but we saved extra tile and grout to add more later if needed.
Here’s our updated to-do list as we wrap up the laundry room:
Move washer & dryer and remove cabinetryDemo cased opening, side wall, back wall, part of the floor and the attic stepFrame new walls & doorwaysMove laundry plumbing hook-ups & drainsMove laundry electrical plus other outlets/lightsMove dryer vent & HVAC ductHang drywallAdd insulationMud, tape, and sand all the drywall seams in the new roomPrime & paint laundry room and hallway wallsTile & grout new laundry floorHang upper cabinets and install lower cabinetReinstall washer & dryer- Stain, seal, and install the wood counter & shelf
- Rehang the laundry door & add the new glass door to the future bunk-room
- Add cabinet fillers, crown molding, baseboard, & door casings
- Install cabinet hardware & soft-close drawer upgrades
- Add a ceiling light fixture & under cabinet lighting
- Hang art, ironing board, and bring in other laundry room items
- Finishing touches and repairs (fix the drywall in the garage, add the attic step, etc.)
We have seven items left on the list, but with the washer and dryer back in service it already feels like the finish line is close. Also, there’s a good chance Sherry is still stroking the tile as I type — an intervention may be required.