klavr Are you sure you want to change the floor for resale value in a year? I don't know what area of the country you're from. I'm in the midwest and am pretty conservative with money. The real estate market has tanked here. Depending on your your house and your market, a tile floor may not increase your price. The added value may be in getting a buyer quicker, so that's worth something. But the market is unlikely to get better for quite a while. Buyers are scarce due to tightening lending standards and those able and ready to buy are looking for a bargain. We're returning to the days when people are less willing to pay a premium for an upgrade they could do themselves for less. Just something to think about.

For those folks in similar situations the problem with gas inserts is that most manufacturers only make about 3 sizes of inserts - small medium and large. Since an insert has to fit various sized fireplaces they are generally short in height and don't adequately fill the opening hence the outer surround panels to cover out to the existing surface. The largest inserts rarely exceed 24" tall so in a 42" x 42" opening as shown in the sketch above, the gas unit does not fill the opening,and has way too much black surround. Valor Gas Fireplaces makes 4 Insert specific units, but their 7 zero clearance fireplaces can also be used as Inserts if the fireplace is large enough. If your F.P. opening is about 53" W x 54" H you can fit a 50" Linear inside. This means that Valor has 11 inserts, more than any other manufacturer. A Valor H6 fireplace is 42-1/4" w x 34-1/2" H which would fit if you have more than 42" If anyone needs more information contact me. Here is the Valor website for more information www.valorfireplaces.com

My opinion will be biased because I have very similar tile in my master we redid 12 years ago. 4" squares on the diagonal for the shower floor and 12" squares on main floor and up the shower walls. Coincidentally we are in process of redoing my kids' bath the past few weeks (it was also redone 12 years ago) because a hard-to-find leak in the tub prompted us to consider replacing it....which then brought about the issue of replacing the tiled tub-surround that would be damaged...and we would also have to try to retile some spots on the floor because a new tub would be a smaller footprint leaving some bare spots once old tub was pulled out. My point is that we also had to figure out the whole, "do we do an updated 'patch job' to save a lot of money, or do we just gut it and accept the cost as the price of being at peace with it/enjoying a new look and improved function. Right or wrong...which is always a very subjective thing....we gutted it and I'm thrilled. I was not interested in painting my cabinets just to have them have peel-issues due to steam, and we also got rid of the tub altogether and opted for a stand-up/walk-in shower for my older kids. Resale was considered on this issue...but by the time we move, someone can either love it as we've made it, or we will price the house with an "allowance" in mind. The old space had hot-chocolate colored walls and 'slate' porcelain floor and tub surround...an overall warm and cozy feel but also tired and dated. The new space is a porcelain 'marble' hex with white subway walk-in shower that is awaiting glass doors...an overall calming feeling that is also bright and fresh. I now actually wish SO BADLY that I was able to redo/retile MY whole bathroom (tile similar to yours). And there's nothing wrong with my bathroom, and a planned paint job on the walls will help me like it even more...... In my kids' bathroom, however, even unfinished with the floor and shower tile installed just waiting for the rest to come together (waiting on backordered tile base moulding) ......... I walk in and just smile and breathe deeply because of the way the space now makes me feel :) So my very biased vote is to gut it ;) ;)

Really nice tiles! My gas insert is rectangular in a fireplace with an arched opening. They cut a piece of metal to fill in rest of the area and painted it with black paint. I had to crawl into the fireplace to help draw the template so that it fit the opening perfectly. It is set back about an inch from the front of the opening. It just sort of sits there, isn’t attached to anything.