Stacked Subway Tile

Day 1 - Set the Tile

Day 2 - Grouted and Beautiful!

Tales from the Tub

Here's a stock image of my bath vanity. I chose a different sink. Mine is white and modern. I like the combination of a stark white modern sink and the traditional, yet clean lines of the vanity.

Each day, I find myself learning more and more. The guys at the office laugh because I have added so many new words to my vocabulary. Some new things I've learned include:

1. Vinyl grout doesn't have to be sealed. Sanded grout does.
2. For a natural stone floor (marble), at a minimum you want your floor joists 16" O.C. and 3/4" plywood backing. Don't forget the backer board.
3. If you can't get all of your tile from the same lot, lay it out first.
4. Staggering is good.
5. Shop during the week and be patient. Activity at the stores are slower, so it is easier to find a manager. While waiting at the Expo Design Center, I read O at Home, Dwell and Domino. I didn't have to buy the magazines (saving $15) and got a 10% discount on my bath vanity.

Update

One of my work projects is dying a slow painful death. If you asked me two weeks ago, I would have told you that it was dead. It gained some legs and a new spin last week. When I completed my thesis defense, I remember being glad that I would never have to do that again. Yet today's meeting was eerily reminiscent of that day, with one exception - two more people on the jury. But I digress, ....

The paint is on order and the tile is going up as we speak. It looks fabulous. I'm sure there is more stuff going on, but I was already emotionally spent for the day and didn't look for more. Pictures to follow.

Le Tour de Grandes Box

I picked out the tile for the bathroom shower and agonized over the grout color. I decided to use 3x6 white subway tile, stacked in columns, and 1/16 inch grout lines with light-grey acid resistant non-sanded grout. Yes, I had help figuring that out.

Choosing the flooring was a little different. I went to the Orange Big Box to check out light fixtures and found some marble tile on clearance for $2.99/SF. Considering that the only other floor tile I like is $9.89/SF, I was ecstatic. Now the bad part - since it is on clearance, I had to go to FOUR Big Box stores to try to find enough. I'll measure in the morning and confirm.

The good news is that I picked out most of the light fixtures and kept within my budget! The Blue Big Box has nice light fixtures at a great price. This galvanized outdoor light fixture will go outside the french doors and is less than $20.