About 15 years ago we moved in to a ranch and noticed the brick masonry fireplace had been converted to gas. We used it for a year and decided we just really didn't like it. So we capped the gas and donated the ceramic logs and fake "coals" underneath and made it into a wood burner again, though we kept the glass doors. We used them a ton and really liked how it kept down (reduced, definitely did not eliminate) the cold air coming down into the house when we weren't using the fire. We had an energy person come in and assess the fireplace, and he said it was so bad to have the glass doors there but nothing else that he recommended putting some sort of insulator over the fireplace when it wasn't in use. Haven't seen any of that but it got me thinking and now I'll have to look for something more efficient. Now we bought an old tri level that had a big fireplace in the lower level. We took it out but saved the insert. Now we realize we really want a wood-burning fireplace again, for all the reasons listed by jujubean, so we'll likely sell the insert on Craigslist. I thought we'd just have someone come in and build one adjacent to our living room on the main level (the other side of that wall is the garage) and now that I see the FMI Georgian I'm thinking that maybe we can just buy one of those and have the fireplace folks put in the rest. We also have a tile roof and aren't sure how to get an opening through that puppy. Finally, the wood burning fireplace is only allowed as a grandfathered one in this city. One can only put a gas fireplace in now, so there is that as well.

And I will agree with jrueter and kristine2009- I have Delta and love it. I replaced my kitchen faucet with the Delta Saxony which I feel like I get a commission from recommending it so much but really its a good one and might even satisfy your style requirements. The faucets we are replacing all happen to be low grade builders models from when we built the house 20 years ago and I think only one was replaced due to a leak (and we have 4 bathrooms, kitchen sink, laundry sink you get the idea)- all the others are still functioning fine - just time to update. I would most definitely buy Delta again and I hear comparable things about Moen which is what the bathroom contractor seems to prefer. Here is a link that might be useful: delta saxony

If you are selling I think a border has a lot more chance of feedback than no border. Meaning, if the bs was just subway, then there probably won't be comments like "I wish there was a border" because they don't know what they are missing, but if there is a border and potential buyers might say " I don't like the border". Buyers are quite picky and insane these days. Been there, done that. If you think you aren't selling, then by all means do what you like. Life is too short to just be designing your home for a potential possibility you might sell it. No matter what, it will look clean, current, and fresh. And those are always good.

Many blues..couldn't find 2 by 8 though..they do have 4 by 8.. https://www.daltile.com/product/Festiva?shape=Rectangle&size=4-1/4%20X%208-1/2&color=Sea-Mist another collection of theirs..only two "true" blues, but cominfg in 2 by 8 https://www.daltile.com/product/Color-Wheel-Collection-Linear that's sadly too long..otherwise I love the color, and can come lower than listed if you can give a name of a pro working with you https://www.annsacks.com/products/tile-stone-mosaic/context-field-tile#/context-rectangle-field%2Fgloss-jasper 2 by 8..but only one is somewhat-light-icy-blue.. https://www.annsacks.com/products/tile-stone-mosaic/davenport-field-tile now these are ribbed which I've no idea whether you'd want..only two of them, again, are very subdued blues-one is very light, one is pretty dark. The price though is doable https://www.annsacks.com/products/tile-stone-mosaic/savoy-field-tile