The shelves.... We originally wanted a 30" x 12" niche but when we opened up the wall, there was a septic vent smack in the middle. We decided on 2 niches instead, I wassn't about to mess around with those pipes. When figuring the tile layout for the design I wanted, our friend suggested that we oversize the niches so the tile would lay out nice - he suggested 18 x 18 niches and I freaked. But the 12x12 would not have been big enough for the 3 kids and all their stuff. He suggested a granite shelf on the bottom and then one above it to make a shelf for soap, razors, etc. We talked about the length and width of the shelves, but never the depth. When I picked up the shelves from the granite fabricator, I freaked - they were 1 1/4" thick just like the countertop was being made. Friend said, don't worry, they would be perfect. They are. I honestly wouldn't want them any thinner. When he laid the tile, the bottom shelf slid in tightly and then he cut the bullnose on the side and the back tiles so the top granite shelf sits on the cut tiles all around. The tiles abouve the top shelf are full 6 x 6 and as you can see, we have enough height for those huge oversized shampoo and conditioner bottles. There is kerdi behind so no worries about water issues and they were all caulked and all afterwards. Being the over-emotional one, I figured this design that had been in head my for 2 years was ruined when I saw how thick those shelves were, but I wouldn't want them any different. I think they 'fit' the design perfectly as is. And I just love the niches. Before, the kids had a tiny corner shelf and bottles were all over the place, now there is enough room for everything plus space for guests when they are here.

mybrowneyedgirls, I checked and the tile is from Florida Tile...I'm sorry, I could have sworn the box said American Olean and my husband has cleaned up the garage so I can't find it. Anyway, the name of it is Retro Classic Flair and the color is "Green". It's 3 X 6. Everyone, I called the tile store this morning and it *ain't* over yet. My salesperson ordered the colored (flexible)caulk for the lowest grout line replacement and was surprised to hear that the tile man had never returned my call. She understood that he had. Hmmm. She said his normal practice is to run the tile out to the countertop edge...and I said he didn't do that this time. She says he can certainly redo it, but when I asked about financial obligation, she said she'd need to speak with her boss get back to me. Story continues....I'll get back to you if/when there's a resolution. Again, thank you everyone.

In some jurisdictions, this is against building codes. In all jurisdictions, this is a bad idea. No, they will not hold up to continual use. Light switches get alot of wear concentrated on the small edges, where the paint will wear off and leave the switch partly covered with paint, and partly the color underneath. Looks ugly and amateurish. Painting electrical outlets is even worse BTW - paint chips off when inserting a plug, lodges inside the receptacle slots, and eventually can lead to poor electrical contacts and bad connections. If you have to paint the switch bezel, at least take off the switchplate and paint it separately, and paint the wall beyond the place where the switchplate covers it. This will ease replacing a switch or outlet if necessary. But better to choose a matching or complementary color in the first place, or go with clear switchplates that take paint or wallpaper inserts behind them.

Are your vent covers on ceilings, at top of walls, in the floor? People depending on their HVAC system and geo location have them in various spots in my area they are in ceilings and we usually use metal ones painted same color as the ceiling paint... And the way I know about the switch plate covers and electrical plugs is from my own mistake... I had granite installed in kitchen in house we own but don't live in--prepping for sale--and used the faux stone covers in kitchen backsplash... the plugs just don't work with that look really...but I left them... also had problem in vacation house in FL where we were having some rewiring done and adding new electrical runs.. the electricians told me that to do what I originally asked for would mean having two different plugs/switch covers in same room... so I chose to go with the older color so I didn't have to switch out (pun intended) twice as many plugs/covers... If you are in older house the plugs/covers are probably that ugly tan shade and the new tone going in--at least in my area--is the lighter, just not quite white tone... I chose paint color for our new house that pretty much matches that color w/o realizing it until it was on the walls...now my wall plugs really blend into the walls...