The backsplash looks good! I like the square tiles :)

Is it really 9 weeks? I'm sure it seems longer to you, but from this side it seems to have flown.

Call Frigidaire to ask if they will still cover the service call if it happens again, since the service person didn't properly inspect or look for the problem.

Backsplash glitch! - I don't know how this happened. I was certain that I rounded way up, over ordered. I even asked the tile place if I could return unused portion (no.) It looks like we got shorted 5 tiles in the boxes, but, even so, looks like we'd be a bit short anyway. These tiles need to be ordered way in advance (6 weeks?) Oy.

OK. Cautiously optimistic. We might have JUST ENOUGH tiles, using my one free sample, plus the ones in the boxes. It looks like we were actually shorted six tiles (we included the sample in our first count) AND I just can't imagine that I miscalculated that way. I think that maybe the tile person told me that a box would cover X square feet when really a box would cover Y square feet. Stinks that we won't have any leftover just-in-case, and guys are being really, really careful. But really? The exact amount of tile? How is that possible?

It looks great, though:

Carrie, they look fabulous and are so in keeping with your home.

They look great! Hope your tile guy makes it work. If not, hope it's no problem getting him back later to put up a few. I can't believe it's been 9 weeks either!

Thank you! We started on August 17, and contractor was on vacation for a week early on. Things have gone well, even with three semi-major delays: Shower pan, needing new flooring, and cabinet color debacle. GC is doing the tile, with his helper doing the cutting. He's doing a great job. I will say that one thing my GC is really good at is detail stuff. He's doing a beautiful job with the tile. He said if we need to order more tile he'll come back & finish it - it's included in the price. I'd happily pay him to make an extra trip to come down because I misordered.

I like your thinking, Blfenton!

PM us the info and your address, Carrie. I'll order one and send it on. Excellent idea and it might be quicker. Or just have a few of your local friends do it. :)

Ha!, so do I, bpathome!

In for 1 if needed.

OK, you all rock! Is this the TKO Support Group? TKO Anonymous? The first step is....

I had to run out to work for a couple of hours & BS is done! There is NO MORE TILE left and GC said there was pretty much NO waste. So relieved. I just can't get over it - can't believe that I under-ordered (really, I don't believe that I miscalculated) and really can't believe that we had exactly enough tile to do the job right.

GC & helper are upstairs in the bathroom working on the shower tile now.

They plan to seal the BS crackle tile before they leave today (tile salesperson said it had to be sealed before grouting.) Tomorrow, they will grout BS, and, I hope, shower. Just asked the GC when my next shower would be, if all goes as planned - Tuesday evening or Wednesday (if all goes as planned) he said.

He's asked builder to delay finishing his work until Monday, so GC could finish up tile tomorrow - small backyard (among plants, mulch, gardening tools, etc) is staging/sawing/cutting, etc space, so builder & GC would be in each others way otherwise.

Next week sometime, we hope & trust, it will all be finished!

Oh, and just got my Amazon delivery today - several items from the Indispensable Gadget post - rollout sink drain, food scoop & coffee caddy.

I'd be happy to order a sample tile if you want to have some spares just in case. Your backsplash looks so perfect! You see very few people use the square tiles anymore but they are so fitting in your kitchen.

The tile work looks great. Very pretty.

So glad it all worked out. I would have ordered a sample too.

Everything is looking great.

Pretty backsplash Carrie! So close for you now.

Looking good! You're coming down the homestretch!

looking great! I do think you should have a few tiles on hand in case needed later. Might be better (easier) to have a few local friends order a sample to give to you. But if needed, posters here are up to it!

I can order a sample too. Looks great!

Wow! They worked some magic! It looks great!

I'm thrilled they were able to tile the kitchen. Definitely have a few folks order spare tiles. Better to have them and never need them vs. needing them and find they are discontinued.

The shower looks like it's turning out well, too.

Yay!

Thanks, funkycamper. I think that one can only get samples by going into the store & talking to the salesperson, or I'd be sharing the link here!

Yikes, that service guy sounds even worse that the lunkhead who came out to look at my washing machine. But now you have a DW and a pretty backsplash!

What is the make/model of your tiles? They fit the age/style of your home very well.

Fishcow - right? He barely acknowledged me.

Jillius - the tile is Sonoma tar-TriBeCa

crackle in 'Twine.'

The prettiest thing is the crackle, which is hard to capture, but I finally got the below photo. The edges are irregular, so GC was sure to tell me that spacing would not look completely even since the tile isn't completely even. Goes perfectly with the rest of my off-kilter house! The tile itself isn't nearly as yellow as it appears in the photo:

Thanks for posting the make & color of your tiles. On my monitor they look lighter and I wondered if it was the same as mine. Had that been the case I could have shipped you several extras.

Great job capturing the crackle! In none of my pictures (granted, taken w/ an older phone cam) have I been able to show that subtle texture & look that distinguishes them from plain ceramic.

So happy they were able to complete the entire job!

Amck - do you have Sonoma crackle as well? I love it!

A while back, there were a bunch of posts about hooking up faucets so that handles were in front, easier to reach, and dripping water from hands went into the bowl rather than all over the counter behind the sink. I'd thought I would do that, but then wasn't sure if it would work with my faucet, and kind of forgot about it. Then, plumber installed it when I wasn't here.

So, faucet got done with the handle to the right, and the lean to turn it on was a little far and the constant puddle was kind of annoying. Not the end of the world, but... So, yesterday, I mentioned to my GC that I'd forgotten to ask the plumber to hook up my faucet so that the handle was in front. He said "oh, we can do that."

And, today, they did.

Wow! First, great GC, love a fella who says "oh, we can do that". And second, that should the default way! Love it.

And, once the stuff is gone from the garden, oh, will that ever be a nice view :)

Another day, another piece of eye candy. Glad your GC has been so accommodating!

Looking very nice:)

Shower tiling is done. It still needs grout and the door needs to be installed. Looking at next week for a use-able shower:

Stopped in to check on the kitties. They're getting really tired of being locked up. At first, they were happier to be as far away as possible from the noise & strangers. No longer:

And here's what the backsplash grout looks like. I'd originally thought to match the grout as close as possible to the tile. The tile salesperson convinced me to go a little off, and she selected the grout color.

Love the backsplash!!

What a stylish backsplash. Very nice.

Nice ledge in the shower, just right for shampoo. Good tile choices, in both rooms.

How did I miss this? You can slap me, Carrie! LOL

It really looks great!

Errant - I've been posting weekly posts for two months! :) Everyone else is sick of me - glad to have some new blood. :)

Definitely not sick of your posts!

Love both of your tiles. Your kitchen tile is perfect for your kitchen and your shower tile looks so good that I'd never know it wasn't a make-do choice.

btw, my backsplash tile also has slightly uneven edges. My tile setter also gave me a heads up about how the finished product would look. He did a great job installing it and DH and I love it.

Sorry to hear about the counter damage. I'll bet it can be repaired. Ask Trebuchet; I'm sure he'll give you some pointers.

Lisa - glad you're not sick of me. Are you feeling better? I got busy & haven't followed along, but I saw that you were quite sick. When I'm not totally self-absorbed, I've thought of you.

I called the counter top company & was told that they could arrange for a service call... at a price. I declined. I figure if I keep damaging it, and don't want to live with the damage, I can get someone out when there's enough damage to make it worth my while. I really am thinking that a brown or grey Sharpie might diminish the look of the scratches enough to make me happy. No one else would ever see them unless I pointed them out, and then they'd probably say "but I can hardly see them."

Love the crackle!

Carrie, my tile is Horus Art Crackle in Biscuit. More neutral in tone than yours, I think, but looked similar on my screen.

BTW, have to love your GC's attitude re getting your faucet repositioned. That's a small adjustment that you'll appreciate every day.

Carrie, I can't imagine anyone here is sick of you! I love your kitchen transformation, and I think you have done a stellar job of posting photos/descriptions to keep us engaged.

I feel like I should pop over for a cup of coffee!

I am feeling so much better, Carrie. After 12 days of being miserably sick, I started on antibiotics. My virus must have morphed into either a sinus or ear infection because 24 hrs later, I felt immensely better. I'm reluctant to take antibiotics but in this case, I definitely needed them.

"When I'm not totally self-absorbed, I've thought of you." I remember well the kitchen remodel tunnel vision. =) It's got to feel wonderful to be so close to the finish line.