I agree with both Sue and Weissman. He hasn't got a leg to stand on without a signed change order that specifically notes a change in the insert size (which he obviously doesn't have since you never changed the size...!) You could let him finish (insisting he do what you want), then simply deduct the extra cost from your final payment if he has the gall to include it. He's not going to go after you for $500, especially when there is no contract in place. On the other hand, in your shoes, I think I would take Sue's approach and just get a GOOD tile guy in to do the job after the rest of the work is done and the GC has cleared out. That's what we did -- the backsplash wasn't done for another 5 months, but we took our time, found a tiler we really liked and for whom the references were phenomenal (which is why we had to wait that long -- he was booked solid) and the backsplash quite honestly is probably the most professional part of our kitchen remodel. I'm not sure I'd let a GC do it himself no matter what, unless he can give you plenty of references (that you actually see) indicating he's done this before and knows what he's doing. I would tell your GC that given his confusion about your specifications, the "moving target" on the price, and your concern about how he plans to do this, you have decided to engage a professional tile installer instead. As a question, have you basically paid him everything he's owed on the rest of the work, or did you hold back something? And how serious are the items on the punch list or are they very minor? (since he may be ticked about not having the additional money from the backsplash work and may just walk on you if there's no contract... might be worth letting him do that if the consequences wouldn't be extreme...)

Well it took me awhile but finally finished my chair. I started out trying the gel but did not like the results so went with a satin finish black paint. I am happy with the results. here is a photo.

I've commandeered a spare bedroom for my sewing/craft room. It's a relatively small space, so I've had to be super organized to store (and be able to find--LOL!) my supplies. Here's how I've made my space work for me: a couple of bookcases to house my large collection of children's books (contemporary story books, antique storybooks, cooking and craft books) and games. I've got my craft supplies in labelled plastic bins in the closet. My best find, however, if a European Computer cabinet. It looks like a tallish armoire. When you open the doors, there is a large space at the bottom (perfect for bolts of fabric and quilt batting. Then there are 2 pull-out shelves--great for storing thread, bobbins, buttons, etc. Above that are 2 more shelves on which I have my fabric folded so it exactly fits the space, arranged by color. On top of the cabinet, I've got a big basket of my small scraps--rolled so they are easy to see and grab as needed. It's amazing how much that one cabinet holds. I also have some hooks within reach of the sewing machine that hold my: scissors, tape measure, rotary cutter, etc. With my intense use of the storage space available, there's plenty of room for my sewing table and ironing board. I'll probably even manage to squeek in an extra arm chair we have, once we buy new furniture for the living room. Whether you have a bit or small space, I think organization is the key. Those plastic shoe boxes are great for storing things like: pipe cleaners, beads, small spools of ribbon, other little 'gizmos' you happen to have. Larger bins are good for storing leftover skeins of yarn and so forth. I make sure each is labeled on the exposed side--makes finding things so much easier. I'd also recommend not using open shelves for storing fabric so it doesn't get dusty or faded before you get around to using it. Of course, it's nice to have some 'entertainment' available--a TV or radio, or maybe a little DVD player. I'd higly recommend thinking about the arrangement of your equipment. I've got my sewing machine at right angles to my ironing board. Since I use an office chair with wheels, it's easy to swing from one to the other, when I'm working on something that needs frequent pressing (when doing that, I have the ironing board set up so it's low enough to use when seated--otherwise I prefer to press clothes standing up. I also keep a decorative crock in my sewing room--it's large enough to hold a couple of 'fills' worth of water for the iron, so I don't have to constantly be running down the hall to get more. Another thing I like to keep in the sewing room, is a small dorm-style fridge so I can keep a supply of drinks (and sometimes even lunch) handy so I can work with minimal breaks. I also love that my sewing room has a lovely view out the windows. If yours doesn't, because it's a basement room? There are some amazing photo panels you can put under the lights of a dropped ceiling--pictures of clouds, or hot air balloons, or branches of flowers--they make an interior room feel a little less closed in. Carpet--for a sewing craft room, I like something with very little nap so it's easy to find dropped pins, beads and other tiny bits. If your carpet is thicker, you might get an area rug to put under your work area. Have fun designing and using your space--it's so nice to have a well-organized space to do your hobbies. One where you can leave everything sitting out and no one will care. Enjoy!!!!

I have been looking for a house to buy, and I looked at one that had a layout somewhat like yours. I just wasn't ready to buy and it wasn't exactly in my price range either, but it was hard to turn down because it had a fireplace like yours, open on one side to the LR and the other to the kitchen. Except the house I looked at was particularly odd, in that it had stone face on the LR side of the fireplace and brick on the kitchen side. So that would have had to be redone, IMHO and it was one of the reasons I passed on the house, just didn't have it in me to do that. But anyway, while I was dreaming of what I would do with that house, I had this idea, and let me toss this out to you just for conversation's sake. The house had an open concept with a dining area adjacent to the kitchen, so the fireplace on the kitchen side was just for the view. If I had bought the house, I determined that I would get two wingback chairs for the kitchen side, and have them in front of the fireplace, at a 90 degree angle to it, facing each other, with a table in between for tea or a game for two. Any chance of you wanting or being able to do something like that with your wing chairs? Might be fun to try, and you could move the other chairs around in the LR to fill in the spaces. I just love the romance of a wingback chair curled up by the fire with my cup of tea.