Question: I don’t like the pattern on the tiles above my kitchen counter. Can I cover the design with ceramic paint?

Answer: It takes a skilled artisan to use ceramic paint properly, or you may end up hating the patchy results. It would be simpler to just cover up the offending tiles.

Ask your contractor to mount a stainless steel sheet or spray-painted glass panel over the tiles. You will need moulding trim to bridge the gap between the counter top and edge of the new steel or glass backsplash. Your kitchen will immediately look sleeker.

This option may be more expensive than painting the tiles, but you won’t have to spring for hacking out the tiles later if it’s done properly. Hacking the tiles is an even more expensive and messy renovation that will also involve moving your kitchen cabinets out.