The problem is, if you go on a forum where people are absolutely ga-ga about houses, then you're likely to get an echo chamber where people tell you to "go for it!" it's only to be expected. And there really isn't anything wrong with a splurge or two, as long as you can afford it and you really, really want it. However. The building process is extremely emotional, and really deranges your rational thinking. It can be hard to separate things you really want, from things that are a temporary fixation. It's like trying to distinguish true love from overwhelming lust. When you are in the throes of the fixation, reason goes out the window. And there's lots of pressure, obviously. So you buy the item. But sometimes, later on, you can wake up and realize, the "lusted for" thing is just not all that. Kind of the morning after. Buyer's remorse. So, what to do? Lately, I've adopted a mantra I call, "I've got to have it or I'll die." Is this item so fabulous that it meets the "or I'll die" criterion, or is it a lesser sort of "want?" I find, very few things really meet the "or I'll die" level. (For me, it's cedar shingles.) Another way to deal with it, is to equate the cost of the item with something else that you want, weigh the two, and see if you are willing to sacrifice one thing for the other. I call this "Paris days." Let's say each day in Paris costs me about $500. (I know that's cheap, just work with me here.) Then the item I want costs a certain number of "Paris days." If it's $1500, then that's three Paris days. If I price it out this way, the cost becomes much more concrete, and I can really see whether it has value to me compared to other ways I could be spending the money. The bottom line (pun intended), is that only you can determine the value of these items to you-- it doesn't matter what others think, it's your money. It's easier to decide these by some internal process of your own, preferably in a calm state, away from showrooms, friends, family, the internet, and any other "influencers." And don't worry about getting it perfect. Even the pros screw up. Good luck.

Also, we've changed some things in our kitchen/breakfast room area so that color is going lighter. Currently it's SW Colonnade, but will be changing to SW Glacial Stream. It's a similar tone, but I want to go lighter. From the kitchen, there's an opening to an area where the garage door is on the left side and the powder room door is on the right side. Here's the Cheerful door to the garage. If you don't like it, please keep your comments to yourself. I like it a lot, but it's a bit brighter than I anticipated. Note to self to always do a sample, not just hold up a swatch. I will not repaint it. It looks good, just personal preference to the brightness. The gray is Colonnade, but changing to a smidge lighter gray.

A 1 inch x 3 inch tile? Usually these small tiles work well because there are plenty of grout lines to increase the grip underfoot. It may or may not work. What's the slip rating? Photos of the tile and the space would help.

Flo, thanks so much. I just got home from the tile shop. I like the basket weave with the black dot (not the dark grey I was considering) and the guy I’ve been working with at the shop suggested just buying field tile that matches the dot and use that as the liner on the rug (cut into 1/2” strips). His thought on the wall is to either use that same liner, to match the dot, or skip it. I’m leaning towards skipping it and letting the floor be the focal point. Do you still think this a tough tiling job? Is it the basket weave or herringbone subway or ...all of it together?. I imagined that the wainscoting would be easy. To answer your question, no I don’t dye my hair at home, but thanks for the heads up.