WHO IS MR SPLASHBACK?
Nathan McLeod, founder of Mr Splashback, is a qualified joiner with over 30 years of experience and a Licensed Building Practitioner (LBP). He previously owned and operated his own joinery business, and has spent his career working at the intersection of design, craftsmanship, and construction.
He originally moved into tiling more than 20 years ago after becoming frustrated by the lack of reliable tradespeople who took real pride in the finishing details.
That search for better standards led him into an area of work where precision and care actually defined the result.
With a long background in the kitchen industry, Nathan saw a shift toward increasingly standardised, CNC-produced cabinetry. While efficient, it left little room for individuality.
Splashbacks became a way to bring back personality, texture, and craftsmanship into kitchen design. What drew him in wasn’t just the technical side, but the creativity. Tiles offered something different every time: different layouts, materials, and problem-solving on site. No two projects were ever the same, and that variation became the appeal.
Alongside his tiling work, Nathan is known in New Plymouth for delivering distinctive building projects that have stood the test of time, including the Topec Eco Lodge, built from repurposed shipping containers, and the Gusto bar, which remains a well-known local space nearly 20 years on. These projects reflect a consistent approach, practical, thoughtful design built to last.
Today, Mr Splashback reflects that same approach: focused craftsmanship, attention to detail, and work that lifts the character of a space rather than simply finishing it.
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