Where the slate tiles weren't at the same level in my kitchen I ended up taking a paint scraper and running it along the edge of the higher one to take off the sharp edge. You may not notice at first but over time they get annoying so make sure you don't bring the grout all the way up to the high edge. I used Laticrete Spectralock and neither of the sealers I applied over the whole floor after it was grouted changed the color. I did it before the final sealing.

#likewhatyoudo I found this post after searching for pics of grout colors to use with our black slate tiles. We are debating delorian grey and pewter but I’m thinking pewter is too blue. This is so helpful! We also have a white shiplap wall and need to paint our vanities. Would you mind telling me what color/sheen you painted the shiplap and color/sheen of your vanity ? Are they the same? Your trim looks a tad brighter than the shiplap but could be lighting. It’s all so great!

picture surfing might be good..not sure how contemporary your space trends. Try Houzz.com and type for a search "island kitchen"-80,000 results..."double island kitchens" has 18,000 entries. I just looked at www.Siematic.com-the "floating".."panels".."modules" concept by these people maximizes efficiency. Not sure about your chimney side wall-I see 2 closets-could they be repurposed with this type of engineered storage-and the "floating" concept applied to that blank wall in between. I have to believe that wall/or a second wall can be utilized in a way to make the island or open kitchen be a gorgeous choice. The second window from patio door-can it be closed and a cook range be placed in that little alcove-whether a range with hood or induction or other cooktop with hood/outside vent/downdraft?? The distribution of Siematic in the USA is unknown to me, but if you contact your better known kitchen design shops and talk with a designer they might have some knowledge/or translate to a UScompany that has worked this engineering into their portfolio.

A PO of our house put in slate floors in the kitchen, pantry, laundry room, powder room, interior hallway and foyer. They are a very dark gray, almost black, with lighter gray grout. They always look dirty, as every piece of lint, dust, etc. shows up against the black. Think about how black audio/video equipment seems to attract and show dust, like the tv screen. The PO also sealed it, but most of the sealant is now washed/worn off, leaving a dull matte finish. I'd reseal them, but dog accidents or wet shoe puddle that are not cleaned up immediately will eat through the sealer and leave a dull blotch. I scrub the grout lines periodically with a small brass brush, but they still look dirty. Unfortunately, they run under my cabinets and cover a large expanse of the first floor, or they would have been gone long ago. I'm considering biting the bullet and tearing them up, along with the plywood under them, to see if the original wood floors are salvageable, which I doubt. Anyway you slice it, it's going to be an expensive fix. Maybe you should borrow or buy a few tiles in the color you're considering and put them down on the floor somewhere and observe for a while.