Well then, you have a 'natural' ability ot understand their needs and they seem to respond to you very well:-) You have had that plant that long? You know, when I buy a plant before hand and they say 2 years before bloom, it seems like a long time to wait. But, looking back one would probably wonder where that time went and how fast it can fly by! Thanks for the name. It sounds like a plant not to hard to please, right up my alley for now. I hope to own one real soon. I was going to ask you if you missed your other home in which I can remember being very nice. But, you seem excited about being in Florida too. I would be for sure.. The ceilings are high outdoors there year round, and the hunidity in abundance. I'll bet you couldn't wait to see how your plants react and to try plants you once dreamed of. Mike

Hi Bill, I have seen mention of this Mapei on other threads and did a google search and came up with a lot of foreign-language links. Who makes it? Or better yet, can you give me a link to a website? (Also, I sent you an email - did you get it? I noticed another tile installation disaster today. Our Master Bath floor has been covered for protection until today when part of it was exposed while the double vanity was installed. The large 16" square honed Calcutta Gold tiles are not centered on any of the walls, so there are really off grout lines at the center of the vanity. It is really obvious and when I think about it I literally want to cry :( . This is our forever house and everywhere I turn, a tile job is done badly. I could really use a good referal!)

Your house is lovely and I'm amazed at the ingenuity of the building materials. I love, love, love the stairway with that graceful curve and the glass. I'm intrigued that you live in Iceland. I've only ever met one other person from there, back when I was studying in France. She did her presentation on what it was like to live in Iceland and I was completely fascinated. I'd love to visit it one day. In SUMMER. :-) I noticed that the gold tones of the granite shown in the previous photoshopped version were my own fault; I made an adjustment in the lighting and didn't notice it affected the tones. Sorry about that! (Also didn't realize the box to the left was a cabinet instead of wall. Oops.) Now that I see the granite better, I think the tile will be lovely with it, especially if you pick up the midtone color of the granite with the grout. It should bring down the green tones in the tile. It's nearly impossible to show the difference in Photoshop, but I think it will work great. Of course, I'm not a designer, so that advice is worth exactly what you paid for it. :-) May I suggest changing your roller shade to a relaxed Roman shade in a pale warm gray that would also echo the granite and grout? The shape will add some softness to all the hard edges you have going on, and the color will blend in nicely on the wall. I didn't have time to skew the tile here properly, but this should give you an idea of what I mean: Please do post another picture for us when it's done! I am so fascinated by your house and would love to see how the kitchen looks with the tile in place.

Thanks Pharaoh, and everyone. Prill, I had to go into the big city to get it. Natick Tile Showcase, to be exact. I tried to buy local, but just couldn't manage. Tonight, I have the feeling that I don't like the color of the counter with the tile. I have read about that initial shock response here so many times. I tell my clients to give it a few days when a new color goes on the walls. Intellectually, I know it will get better when everything is put back together. Right now, I am just tired and kind of sad. Everything was bliss with the last kitchen. Sometimes I feel like nothing has gone right with this one. Off to a hot bath...