how to paint stone tile...

I loved our kitchen tile - the diamond shape with beveled edges but the tan

 color was feeling a little dated and I wanted a fresh white update. When we

 originally remodeled our kitchen I chose to have it extend from the counter to the

 ceiling, an expensive proposition to replace all of it. I'd heard you could paint tile and

 thought I'd give it a try and I LOVE IT!! 

It looks like a totally new space for the cost of paint.

And, it wasn't hard at all!

BEFORE

You can see the full kitchen reveal here on May 7th, when my One Room Challenge

is complete. But I had many questions about painting tile after this post on Week 3 

and Week 4 where I gave progress reports, and thought I'd go ahead and give you the

 details now.

My tile is travertine, but different tile and paint will may give different results,

 you should test in an inconspicuous area first. 

I sanded, filled holes, applied two coats of primer, then two coats of paint.

After testing and talking to sales associates, I decided on using the same primer and paint

that I used on my kitchen cabinets:

 Sherwin Williams - Premium Wall and Wood Primer - Latex - White 

Sherwin Williams - Pro Classic Waterbased Acrylic Alkyd - Semi Gloss - Extra White  

1) Sand your tile to create a rough surface for the paint to grab.

2) Clean with a scrub brush and dry.

3) Apply two coats of primer, sanding between coats using 220 grit paper to

 smooth over any imperfections. My tile was so porous and dried quickly so I was able to

apply a second coat sooner than the manufacturer recommendation.

3) Fill holes and sand smooth with a light touch.

It was easier to see where holes needed filling after we had the primer on. 

4) Apply two coats of paint, again sanding lightly between coats to remove

imperfections. A high density foam roller gave the most efficient coverage, was

quicker and easier than a brush.

5) The tip of the roller worked perfectly for getting into the grout lines.

That's it! 

The power of paint...a fresh new look for a little time invested and the cost of paint!

Let me know if you try it, I'd love to see your transformation!