One Room Challenge {Week Three}: Our Tiled Entry Bench

It’s calendar week 3 of the One Room Challenge already! If you’ve been next along, hence yous know that nosotros are trying to hand a much-needed update to our entry! The One Room Challenge is a challenge that has us updating a infinite inwards our homes inwards but 6 weeks, too this fourth dimension some nosotros are feeling the pressure. Two of the biggest projects on our to-do listing were tile projects, hence it feels amazing to last able to cross i of those large projects off the listing this calendar week alongside our novel tiled entry bench!

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Catch upward on previous weeks: 

Week 1 // Week 2 // Week 3 

This is the bench nosotros started with. It was already built into the space, but was covered inwards an quondam carpet. We knew that if nosotros added some shelving too modernized the bench that nosotros could croak on it inwards identify too larn inwards a lot to a greater extent than functional for our family.

We ordered samples of this Basalt tile to come across if it would piece of work inwards our Entry. We were considering it for the flooring (because it too comes inwards a 4″x16″ tile!), or our novel tiled bench. When nosotros genuinely held the tile, nosotros realized but how porous it is. You tin genuinely come across it inwards the movie above. The tile itself is stunning, but nosotros knew right away that it would probable stain easily nether heavy job from boots too shoes, hence nosotros decided against it every bit a flooring tile. The basalt was perfect for our modern bench though!

Even though it’s tiresome too frustrating, nosotros started out yesteryear laying too plumbing equipment all of the tile earlier nosotros stuck it inwards place. We did this because 1) We wanted the tiles at the front end of the bench to last total tiles (unlike the back!), too 2) nosotros knew nosotros had to rootage tiling from the back, pregnant that nosotros needed the right size of that dorsum row of tiles. If nosotros started at the front, nosotros wouldn’t convey been able to accomplish the dorsum too wouldn’t convey wanted to seat push clit per unit of measurement area on our construct novel set tiles.

You tin come across that nosotros seat all of our tile spacers inwards identify every bit nosotros went, to construct certain that the width was correct, but didn’t genuinely tighten whatever of them.

Then came the fun part! Because everything was cutting already, nosotros but had to mix our thinset too nosotros could layout the entire entry bench inwards i go!

There are 2 top dog things that yous convey to catch alongside a bench:

1. Bum Comfort

2. Knee Comfort

To tackle the bum comfort issue, nosotros needed to construct certain that our tiles were VERY level. No i wants a tile corner poking them inwards the butt!

We used the ATR leveling system for this, which nosotros dear using. You tin read all well-nigh these spacers here.

Then, we really wanted to construct certain that nosotros used bullnose, rounded edging. We didn’t desire whatever precipitous edges earthworks into knees every bit nosotros were putting on shoes.

Once nosotros were done laying the tile, nosotros clamped it all inwards identify to construct certain that the edging stayed on tight, too allow it set.

Here’s what it looked similar afterward nosotros removed the spacers…

After 24 hours, nosotros grouted betwixt all of the tiles alongside a beautiful dark grout.

Getting the grout on ever makes such a huge difference!

The nighttime grout was perfect because nosotros had been planning on using an Enhancing Sealer on the basalt tile. Not exclusively would the sealer protect the porous tile, but it would too heighten the tile giving is a deeper, almost dark appearance, which nosotros loved!

After the grout sets for 48 hours, nosotros were able to apply the enhancing sealer. Ours volition however require a minute coat of the tile enhancing sealer, but it looks amazing hence far! The basalt tile was highlighted beautifully!

I seat a distich of accessories on the bench, but to hand a slightly amend vision of what this tiled entry bench is going to await similar when the entire entryway is complete.

Since I’m an obsessive listing maker, here’s how we’re doing on our entry renovation to-do list:

1. Demo the space


2. Tile the floor


3. Tile the bench


4. Build novel shelving for storage


5. Build novel drawers for storage


6. Design characteristic wall


7. Build forest characteristic wall


8. Paint


9. Remove quondam door


10. Install novel door


11. Buy a smart lock set


12. Buy some decor (i.e. baskets, rug, etc).


13. Order planters too simulated or existent plants


14. Install novel modern moulding

It doesn’t await similar much, but we’ve got some of the biggest projects out of the means already! Just 3 to a greater extent than weeks to go!

Find to a greater extent than neat One Room Challenge blueprint plans on the One Room Challenge site, or at Calling it Home!