Well, I'm taking a couple of the black tiles that weren't set back to the store today. If this much pitting is to be expected, they should have disclosed that to me. The sample they had at the store they showed me had no cracks or pits in it whatsoever. So I'll see what they say-- the cracking doesn't go all the way through necessarily, but there are long lines where it obviously isn't a solid surface I'm looking at. Interesting to note that the black tiles in general are "softer" with respect to the tumbling process...

I like timeless tile schemes also, like your all white...and have learned from experience and too much analyzation of inspiration images that texture and layers trump color for impact. Break your white up by using shadow as a color- variences in tile depth when trim pieces are added (chair rails, bullnose, baseboards...) break up the flatness of simple field tile. Adding a horizontal line with trim at a traditional or non-traditional height and/or changing the direction of the subway for some portion of the room- breaks it up and keeps your options open for adding color to less perminant layers in the room. Also, you're right on about adding a bit of color between the floor and walls- I don't think matching wall base tile to the floor border tile is the best solution...keep the plane-change-line sharp. If you use small hex for the floor, consider a contrast by inserting a grey hex every 1/2 foot or so (the wide-spread polka dot effect will open the area too)or add the grey hex as a 3-4" solid or checked floor border around the entire room. Since there will be little color contrast on the walls, a contrast where floor meets wall is warming because it grounds the room. This is fun, huh? kat

HI there, one of the key "exercises" we do with clients is look at the home's style, region and your lifestyle. First, you typically want to have a kitchen that "matches" the style of your home (Traditional? Modern?). Then, you want to have what the wine growers call a sense of "terroir", that is, the area in which you live (desert? mountain?). You want to have a space that fits into the vernacular, as we designers say. If you have a unique architectural or historic home, you want to have respect for that and express its style, if at least for resale value. For example, if you have a 60s Eichler home (very valued now) you might want to consider recreating that style of kitchen to ensure good saleability. Last but not least, look at your lifestyle: are you casual or formal people? Do you entertain often? Are there kids? These criteria, and more, will help you at least narrow down your choices. Elimination of what you DON'T want is a great step forward! All best!

The look you have selected fits into the is 2010's grey trend. There isn't anything wrong with that if you love the look AND it fits the style of the house. You seem to be having doubts, so I would slam on the breaks and review all the choices and why you made them. Might be worth going through some Houzz photos and save the ones that catch your eye in an ideabook. Don't overthink, just save the ones where you immediately say "ooh, I like that". Save about 30 or so photos, then stop. Go back and look at the photos and analyze the individual elements. Do you see any pattern to your choices?