Chloe's Mom, I was joking about the ugly--the swivel is fine. But, yes, very dangerous. I've been plopped onto the floor by these several times. Swivel pedestal chairs would be cool! Very mid-century. We had them when I was little (Atomic age, but swivel). I thought of orange grout too! And nixed it for the same reasons. But also because I don't want to call attention to the floor. I had a really dynamic floor once and learned my lesson. If you have a really really great floor people will look at it. I want them to look up. :-) Kris, it's the perimeter that will have the pond. I flirted with granite that looks like river rock for the island, but wised up. It would have drawn all the attention, and I really don't like granite for kitchen counters. Hence the tile. :) The inspiration for the pond was really the tiles. The frogs. And waterlilies, vines, bamboo and ginko blossoms. I just loved them. And everyone has been giving me grief because the giant I painted where there are no upper cupboards is going away. This'll give 'em something to look at.

Very nice. Congratulations on being finally done. I am pretty sure, I will never be done. LOL

You did a great job coordinating your shower with the existing bathroom tile.

Grief, still got loads to do cos I have been distracted by kitchen doings. I did plant a heap of hesperis and foxgloves in my local cemetery (easily done on the twice daily dogwalks) but have neglected the garden and allotment. Everything seems a bit stuck in a holding pattern at the moment - no frosts to speak of so the late summer plants are still doing their utmost to bloom, while watering pressure in the greenhouse has subsided, so I have found it appallingly easy to ignore the many, many seedlings in various degrees of disarray. The marmoleum finally arrives on Monday so weeks of prinking, faffing and generally gussying up the kitchen will climax with the horrible tasks of ripping up the old floor. I am dreading this, tbh as I am relying on my boys being obedient and co-ordinated (not their usual states of existence at all). Sweetheart is exempt from this as whenever I give him a resentful sideways glance, the inhalers come out and I am mortified (again). I have not decided whether to apply my maternal power with affability (and humility) or to twist the psychological thumbscrews (usually guarantees speedier, if less perfect results). Either way, they are easily bribed with cake so am going to knock up a lemon drizzle and date and walnut loaf to fortify slackers, whilst I can still use the kitchen. The planting can easily wait for another week or so....or spring.