Blue Zellige Backsplash in an Old Torrance Bungalow Kitchen
About This Project
This kitchen in an Old Torrance Craftsman bungalow got a new backsplash using handmade light-blue zellige square tiles. The warm natural wood cabinets and the soft glaze variation in the zellige tiles work particularly well together — the tile's irregular surface catches light differently throughout the day. Zellige requires a slightly different installation approach than factory-pressed tile: the face irregularity means we cannot rely on tile spacers alone, and each tile is set by eye to keep the grout joint visually consistent despite the dimensional variation. We used white polymer-modified thinset so it would not shadow through the lighter glaze areas. The open shelving on both sides of the cooktop was left clear during install and staged back after grouting.
