Reality Daydream

The Dream is Free, The Hustle Sold Separately

S/E Backsplash

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We have an exciting announcement to make! Our backsplash painting has become inexplicably successful, and we have requests from all over the country from people begging us to take a trip to their respective city to revive their drab kitchen situations. And while we’ve taken a couple tours mini vacations to St. Louis and Minneapolis (where we painted a few backsplashes), traveling around the country to paint backsplashes is just plain impractical for us, what with our acreage to tend to… not to mention infant twin girls to care for.

We started toying with the idea of training other individuals everything we know about painting backsplashes to represent us in their city and spread the love, if you will! Our backsplash painting was especially popular in Minneapolis, and one of our clients, Chris and Wayde, approached us about learning the trade and taking over business for us in her region! Perfect timing!

Chris and Wayde were willing and excited to be our guinea pigs for this whole endeavor, and made the 5 hour drive to the quaint city of Des Moines where we met up with them and spent the weekend painting backsplashes together! We taught them our measuring, taping and painting techniques as best we could… and then sent them off to their city, equipped with our vast knowledge and skill set. (HA!) And all this happened just in time for me to go on my self-inflicted bedrest!  

Check out my 8 month prego-gut and unfortunate lack’o’makeup!

We had to quickly learn as much as we could about owning a small business and all the legal matters that go along with it, including taxes, insurance, contracts, lawyers and accountants… super confusing stuff! I leave all that to Nick. But one of the first matters of business was picking a name for our “business”. And Sawdust and Embryos didn’t quite seem appropriate. Especially with our new designers having to explain this to their clients “Well the owners of this business were infertile, and they frantically saved money for InVitro (hence the Embryos) and they did so by working a lot of hours being crafty with building/refurbishing furniture (hence the Sawdust) and painting backsplashes.” Just sounds like a conversation that Chris and Wayde NEED NOT have with their clients. So we got creative (not) and abbreviated to S/E Backsplash. Innovative, right!!! jk jk

We launched a website specifically for our backsplash painting business… you HAVE to check it out! I spent a lot of time designing it to be awesome, and as informational as possible with lots of pictures, examples and verbage. Your feedback would be much appreciated! The link is www.SEbacksplash.com And this way, perspective backsplash clients won’t have to come to our personal blog and hear about toilet paper, carpentry, and diaper rashes.

You can check out Chris and Wayde’s portfolio on the website too! They’re one talented couple! And the business has started flowing in! And of course… if you live in Minnesota and want your backsplash painted, you know what to do! I feel like every sentence has to have an exclamation point!!! So sue me!

We’re super excited about this new chapter, if you can’t tell.

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Comments

  1. 11

    I first saw your blog after seeing your post for back splashes on craigslist…i have been a hopeless blogstalker ever since. You’ve inspired me to start multiple new projects around our house (including a backsplash in the kitchen and bathroom). Its probably a little creepy, im aware 🙂 THEN on sunday a friend of mine was over visiting and turns out SHE works with Nicks nephew in muscatine. SMALL world! anyways im super excited to know someone who knows someone who actually knows you guys :). Super excited about your website, and congrats on the twins! I cried at work when you finally posted you were pregnant, again creepy, im aware lol. You’ve also inspired me to start my own blog…but it isnt really anything yet. Anyways, just thought id say THANKS!

    Reply
  2. 12

    Great job! Congratulations on your progress. I checked out the website and I love love love Jane’s backsplash! The site really shows your versatility.

    Reply
  4. 14

    OH! And the reader that asked about our business name… we like to think SE Backsplash as a ‘branch’ of SE Interiors. Because we do furniture, murals, and general interior design, we wanted to have a name that would incorporate all things! Make sense??

    P.S. those of you that comment “anonymously” it makes it really hard to respond to your questions because I can’t identify who I’m responding to. BUT we love comments, so be anonymous if you must. 🙂

    Reply
  5. 15

    Thanks for all the encouragement everybody!! We’ll definitely keep you all informed if/when we start up a new ‘branch’!! Those of you that are interested in painting for us, shoot us an email in the next couple months! We need some time to figure out the ins and outs of our new little business before we get too carried away. 🙂

    Reply
  8. 18

    Is the new business called S/E Backsplash or S/E Interiors? Your website is titled S/E Backsplash but on the Designers tab you’ve stated you are the founders of S/E Interiors. Or are these two things the same? Anyway, I LOVE the new site and I can’t wait to see more photos! (Of backsplashed or your girls!) Someday when I have my own kitchen you will hear from me!! Congrats!

    Reply
  11. 21

    How fun and exciting! I am ready to get started in the Pacific Northwest too!!! Please, oh, please ~ train us too!! 🙂

    Congratulations!

    Carrie

    Reply

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Attention: Almost any do-it-yourself project involves risk of some sort. Your tools, materials, and skills will vary, as will the conditions at your project site. Reality Daydream has made every effort to be complete and accurate in the instructions of the plans on this website. Reality Daydream will not assume any responsibility or liability for damages or losses sustained or incurred in the course of your project or in the use of the item you create. Always follow the manufacturer’s operating instructions in the use of tools, check and follow your local building codes, and observe all commonly accepted safety precautions.