Ok, I promise this is the last set of tile pics (unless I find what ottertail used!). The store got the Roman Stone (not really stone looking) samples for me: But I still think I like the subway better (this store has it $8/sf instead of $11). It almost matches the color of my floor grout, even though each tile has some color variation it's a gradation rather than a speckled effect. So even white grout might work (to be a "negative" of my white floor with tan grout) instead of gray. Only thing is, they said subway is harder for DIY. If I do the 4" squares, I won't be able to do diagonal b/c then I'm going to end up with tiny triangles at the top of the 18.5" high space - running the first row flat and putting a 1" liner doesn't help either unless I get creative with grout spacing.

Yeah! Cousin came today and put in my 2 new drawers, and adjusted (reinstalled) the top middle drawer in the island vanity so it doesn't have a gap under it (but just barely "pimpled" the front where he tightened the screw too much and it *almost* came through the front! I didn't say anything b/c in taking the front off, I wasn't watching - talking to him- and let the front drop onto the 3 screws I'd already taken out that I'd stupidly laid in front of the drawer on the counter!). Next - drawer liners - all the Merillat drawers are getting worn already, though I expect the solid maple custom bottoms to wear better than laminated (paper) plywood. Sink base looks OK, but I'm buying a new trash can and thinking of setting it inside a dish pan, or at least putting vinyl tile or remnant or something under it - old dish drain board won't work since it's sloped, but maybe upside down? Have smaller can from laundry room there now. I will call laminate guy, but I think we'll end up living with this for 8-10 years since it looks like HD price for this laminate was $29/sf installed - so about $1000. Not worth it - too much else to do. Cousin said it would be months b4 he could do my crown since he's so busy now with landscaper and a big carpentry project someone finally made up her mind on. But maybe he can come back to fix my broken cabinet and install the oak shoe then if I finish it this week. I hate to have the crown sitting in DR all summer, but if he can just cut it roughly to length and do the mitred returns on a couple of pieces I can finish it and have it ready to go any time he's ready. He says (and I agree) finish the baseboards and casing first so when someone walks in my house it looks finished - no one will say anything about not having crown on tops of cabinets. I was only going to do crown 1st b/c I figured I could stain it in unfinished MBA it was so narrow and longest piece is 8ft, but that has changed since he got too busy to do it this week - we had originally scheduled kitchen work for early April. So I'm going to be spending all summer finishing baseboards and casings (not too many left), moving onto doors and window sashes (jambs and sills are all done).

Gone_South, I saw the picture of the mural before but didn't want to scare you off of it. lol The field tile they used really plays up the gray in the mural and that isn't the look you need. You need to have some of those gray tones in the mural but need a field tile that will stay in the warm tones your kitchen needs. I totally get what you're looking for. At least I think I do. The two murals that you're drawn to are very classic equine. I really hope you find that right mural. If I were in your place, I'd be doing the exact same thing! Found this mosaic of Whistlejacket on eBay. Love the colors in this for your kitchen. Picks up the gray tones you need from your granite and looks like it pulls in the color of your cabinets. Problem is the size. It is 40"x40". But wanted you to see it just to give you ideas. Here's another one that I found on eBay. Also a mosaic and it is 40"x28". Too big but love the colors. I wonder if you could remove enough of the bottom of this mural to make it fit your space. Just a thought. Also found this site called Artwork on Tile and they'll make custom murals from digital photos. You can customize the size as well as the image. They will put your image on ceramic tile, tumbled marble or glass tile. You just need to provide a digital image that is a high enough resolution for the size mural you want. I googled Whistlejack images and there are tons. I thought this one looked like the colors would work with your granite and cabinets. Lots of options and ideas out there. Here is a link that might be useful: Artwork on Tile

I'm not sure how I came across this post, I think it was displayed on the right side and I clicked on it being intrigued by the tile making. I was at one time interested in working with papercrete and hypertufa. But after enlisting my brother, who wasn't as enthusiastic, and my niece, who poured cement down my laundry room sink, which original to the house had lasted 70 years, and ruining three blenders, my interest waned. True to form, if I come upon difficulty in a project, I think of it as a sign for me not to continue. And really, after all these years of trying various crafts that result in crap, I should know better. I also should have known better than to ask my brother, who always says it can't be done to any of my unique design ideas. And I should have known better than to ask my niece, who once stayed up all night before having to drive to LA for an art show, cutting mat after mat after measuring once, twice, sometimes ten times, but always coming out with the wrong size. I think we both have math dyslexia. I should video us trying anything crafty to see where we go wrong. I think both of us having ADHD might have something to do with it. Sorry for the backstory and run on sentences. So, I just wanted to see if you continued with your venture. And to say sorry for whatever tragedy occurred to cause you to have to move to Florida. Not that there is anything wrong with Florida, but it isn't Panama. Which is one of my favorite places in the western hemisphere. I hope no one is upset that I brought up a seven year old post.