Okay. Sounds like you've been getting alot of misinformation and half truths. First, there's no such thing as a grout with the sealer built in. Many installers will try and tell you that about modified grouts which include latex polymers in the grouts, but that's bigtime false. The other, which is more of a half truth is concerning epoxies. Although there's no sealer built right in, sealer can not be used on epoxy grout, either, because it's actually a plastic, and as such, won't allow sealers to penetrate into the grout. However, it also doesn't NEED to be sealed being that by itself, it won't allow alot of the staining that normally occurs (although it also can't be said that it's stainproof-- that's also a mis-statement). Now, Many of your questions can be answered if you go to the top of the bathrooms forum list and click on the "gallery" link. I have a thread over there entitled Tile FAQ's. In there, I go into alot of detail concerning grouts and the choice thereof. One of the things I stress is my opinion that you're better off choosing medium to dark colors in high traffic areas, rather than depending on grout sealers, because the BEST that they'll do is delay the inevitable. With the medium to dark colors, you won't see traffic patterns, staining, or aging of the grout NEARLY as much. This also goes for epoxy grouts, with respect to choosing colors. One other thing I say in that thread, and this WOULD pertain to you-- For the most part, it's my opinion that the use of epoxy grouts in residential installations, although everything people say they are, are very high priced overkill. There are only two times where I feel the use of epoxy grout is justified. One is if you're doing a tile countertop, and the other is if you have pets-- especially multiple pets, who might tend to have "accidents" every once in a while. Hopefully, I haven't confused you even further. If after reading this as well as the FAQ, you still have questions, don't hesitate to ask. :-) Matter of fact, I think your questions' going to be added to it, concerning the "grouts with sealer built in"!

wwwonderwhiskers, Sorry for delay. I didn't know you'd posted to me. Here's half of my peninsula. Click on Flickr pages for more views, but none is good shot of peninsula, sorry. You can see the lights. "Denmark" by Quoizel. Length is almost 9 feet from wall, width is 41.5 inches. DH and I talked about the intensity of light recently. We've decided that my discomfort may also be in part a result of the items we face--a dark wall or windows. The chopping station faces dark wall; sitters face window wall which is light-colored even at night. DH likes the lights even at 100 watt, although he dimmers them sometimes. One issue we did not think through at beginning--the swing of cupboard doors that could smack a pendant. We're very close. Here is a link that might be useful: PENINSULA at Florantha mansion

Fori, is starting to get annoyed again worse than not pleased? I love your mood names ;) Thank you for the advice, if they were that judgemental they would not be invited weekend guests, LOL! I'm probably my own worst critic with house details. It will bother me way more than it will bother them I'm sure. So, not shoddy contractor work, right? Because I plan on using the same contractor for the upstairs bathroom in a few months...

"I just figured that the creative types on Houzz would have coloured grout and may have some first hand experience. " I do and did. I just gave you a link to an actual grout that can be mix matched to ANY paint color only doing it properly and eliminating risk of mixing paint in a grout its not meant to mix with! perhaps you didnt look at the link.- best