Raehelen, yes agonizing is a good word to describe the process. I wanted to make sure that the pieces didn't repeat near each other. But I noticed when I posted these pics last night I had two tiles near each other that were repeats, dang, though one is upside down from the other. You can see it in the first pic. I tried to balance the heavily veined tiles throughout the walls, using the lighter tiles to break thinks up. I tried to plan all my cuts within each tile to maximize pattern or prevent repeats. I did not waste even one tile in this project. I think I may have made a miss cut on one of the niches "L" pieces, but I was able to salvage that for one of the bottom tile trim pieces. These tiles are very nice, they are dense and cut very well. They are an Italian tile. My floor tiles seemed a little weaker, they were made in a plant in Tennessee. Both porcelain. BTW, I may have lucked out, there might be 3 tiles left over after I am finished. I was able to use one tile for 2 pieces in several areas at the top and bottom.

I thought I would update what we actually ending up doing. When I first posted I thought we would be in the house a few more years. But, we decided to go ahead and sell. Before listing, we met with a real estate agent who was very familiar with the specific area, then we met with a stager, and finally with a contractor. For the kitchen, the primary advice was to paint the stained cabinets white. The island was to painted a color darker than the walls. Also, to remove the wine rack on the island and put in shelves. For the bathroom, remove the upper linen cabinet between the vanity and the tub (see my pics above of how it originally looked) and replace the cultured marble with some sort of stone. Additionally it was suggested to paint the interior of the house gray. We ended up doing all of this. We painted all of the stained cabinets in the house white (the island we painted dark gray). We placed the cultured marble counters in all bathrooms with marble (we endeavored to make it where it would go well with the tub surround in the master bath. While we were still completing the work - most of the painting and other work had been done inside - we were asked if we wanted to show our house to someone. We frantically got the house presentable to do this and showed the house and sold it. Anyway, since so many commented on my original pictures (which are above in an earlier post) I thought I would post pictures of how the rooms looked after the work was done. I must admit that I had never really considered painting the stained cabinets. We ended up painting them all and it was one of the things that the buyers liked best about the house. They felt that the house was very move in ready. And, honestly, once the work was done I loved it and wished I had done it a long time ago (ironically we are now under contract to buy a house which has stained cabinets that we don't like...I think we have white painted cabinets in our future...)

Most people prefer walk in showers. My vote is a walk in for ensuite over a tub. Whether or not it needs to be tiled sort of depends. I am a bit confused as you say what you want but then note this is a rental. That is planning for two things at once that may not necessarily coincide. A high end rental? Sure. Do the tile. Not so high end? Eh...I think the lower maintenance, the better. Tile and grout looks pretty as long as it is kept clean, but not every renter may be as motivated to keep things clean. If intended market is families, a tub or tub/shower unit somewhere in house is a good idea. Again, a tiled drop in depends on market. Also, you can do “tiling” as you said but please make sure you can also do “waterproofing” and proper tiling in a shower. A lot less room for error unless you want to be ripping it out when the wall rots in a year.

Thanks to everyone for your comments. When we remodeled our hall bath for the kids almost 3 years ago our contractor sized up the kitchen since we had finally addressed the bulk of the major unsexy fix issues (roof and sheathing, electrical panel upgrade and assorted fixes, plumbing, all new HVAC, and 60K worth of good Anderson replacement windows/sliders). When he removed a kitchen floor vent and a threshold it became obvious that we have plywood sub flooring that is 70’s thin with a thick mortar bed and a single tile layer. We assumed that there was extra flooring but it does not appear to be so. I have said since we purchased this house that the tile has to come up and you’ve all confirmed that my instincts are correct. I’ll plan for removal and possible subfloor replacement. I am also searching for a tile that will complement the existing tile. Our new hardwoods are refinished solid 3/4 inch wood so they are good. I will source and reprice getting matching hardwood but cannot do so through the first company, that whole experience was almost lawsuit territory after 6+ months and several partial installs (bad original install followed by other installers who noted faulty thin plank product, several sales reps also said product was no bueno so after a complaint with the state attorney general and blistering BBB review got some movement and ended up with pretty flooring). Sigh Despite good inspectors everything in this place ends up being far more than projected. Jjhmarie, do you have a suggestion for an alternate tag to get some kitchen maven suggestions? Here are cabinet door candidates and tile.