No need to Google. This came from Daltile, but it came to them from TCNA. Ask and you shall receive: Rectified Tiles What Is The Appropriate Grout Joint Width? Rectified tiles continue to increase in popularity, particularly in the commercial arena. For years, the industry and Dal-Tile have recommended that Rectified tiles can be installed with a 1/16" grout joint. However, from the contractorÂs perspective, installations have become more time consuming and difficult to ensure compliant installations when attempting to install a Rectified tile with a 1/16" grout joint. In response, the new TCNA (Tile Council of North America) Handbook addresses this issue by recommending that the width of the grout joint used be determined by the ANSI A108.02 specification which states that the actual grout joint size shall be at least 3 times the actual variation of facial dimensions of the tile. To simplify: Rectified tiles, regardless of size, shall have a grout joint width no less than 1/8". As a result, Dal-Tile is changing its recommended grout joint width to be 1/8" for all of its Rectified tiles. In addition, we will no longer recommend in our literature that Rectified and Non-Rectified large format rectangle sizes (Ex: 12" x 24") can be installed in a brickwork or running bond pattern where the overlap is 50% [normal brick joint]. The reason for this is that the allowable warpage for a tile based on ANSI specifications can create an installation issue when large format rectangular tiles are installed in a brickwork/running bond pattern. This allowable warpage can create a scenario where lippage is inevitable given the overlapping pattern. To mitigate this effect, Dal-Tile will be removing the brickwork pattern from our catalogs and literature. This will be replaced by a new pattern that will be referred to as a "Staggered" brickwork pattern where the overlap does not exceed 33%, and the grout joint width must be a minimum of 3/16". Also-- grout was Mapei's Pearl Grey.

BM Old Prairie is gorgeous- someone else just mentioned it as well. We painted our finished basement with it, ceilings and walls and it is just plain beautiful. Not lots of natural light there like your kitchen. I am planning to do my main floor with it some day. We used BM Camouflage in the kitchen and it's on the same palette, just darker. Check it out!! Good luck!

Hi Laurielep, I don't have the subway pattern, I just have a simple white sq 4x4 tile with white grout. But my kitchen is white so it works. Below are subway tiles with wood style kitchens. Not sure if any are specifically maple but it does give you a better idea how the white subway tile will look with a wood kitchen. I wish I could say go for a cream grout but I would need to be up close to see the colors. Since your granite is a medium beige brown,have you thought about a cream subway tile rather than white? I think that might flow better. But this is just mho. Best of luck, ~boxerpups A GardenWeb kitchen by Vjrnt Picasweb image Below are kitchens with a beige counters and using a cream or beige tile bs. (not white) See what I mean by the cream going better with the overall look. I love the one below. It is a square tile but set on a V angle to give it a different look rather than the traditional left to right. This same design could be done with a far cheaper plain tile. NewFacekitchenstories I know this is an expensive tile but look at the beige color with the cabs. It seems to flow so nicely.

msrose & jlmjawj- The first picture of your Parade of Homes is a Noce Travertine-looks like the color is the "Walnut". It is laid in a "versaille" pattern. We are actually in the middle of our kitchen remodel and that is exactly what we are using as our floor tile. It has been a popular pattern here in California. The overall look is an Old World, Tuscany style. Hope that helps!