It wouldn't bother me, but I'm not as obsessive about shades as most people. I understand them, and can advise based on that understanding, but I guess it just doesn't bother me as much. If it were the tile that were shaded, that'd be a different story- that drives me BONKERS. As for the actual usage, it's alot different. Below is a link to another forum thread. Read reply #2. You'll see from reply #1 that it completely changed the way I look at grout colorants, going back a "few" years. :-) Here is a link that might be useful: Using grout colorant

Once they lay the cement board (Hardibacker board IIRC), the floor is level, isn't it? Not sure what you mean by continuing to level it. I live in Florida so everything here is on a slab. No matter how well a floor is leveled sometimes you have to adjust to make sure that the tile evens up with the one next to it. Here's a picture of my DH's bathroom floor being installed. Those blue things are for leveling (and ergo preventing lippage and making sure the joints are the same size.). I would be very mad if I bought expensive tile and found out that it was defective. I honestly think the OP should try to get her money back for the tile if it is that bad. It also makes me think twice about Happy Floors as I was very fond of their Koncept series and considering it for my bathroom - so I'm crossing that off the list. Here is a link that might be useful: leveling system This post was edited by jerzeegirl on Tue, Jun 24, 14 at 19:33

Hi Kellia, My name is Ken Sherman, President and founder of This Old Grout. I thought I'd shed some light on your grout problem. You are correct in looking at a grout colorant to solve the problem. Because grout is porous, it will readily absorb dirt and spills. These stains quickly become permanent and can spoil the look of a whole room. Even grout that is "protected" with a clear penetrating sealer will absorb spills and dirty mop water and will become uneven in color. Grout colorants, grout dyes, grout paints and grout stains as they are called, go way beyond the level of protection a clear sealer can provide. Further, they restore the grout right back to a completely uniform color and shade of your choice. You can match your original color or change your grout to any other color without removing it. The main advantage of a grout colorant, apart from the fact the grout looks new again, is the stain proofing qualities of the grout after it has been color sealed. Color sealed grout is stain proof. That means even if something spills on the grout and is left to dry, it wipes away with soapy water and looks brand new again. Now please don't take this the wrong way, but none of the grout colorant companies (This Old Grout included) work for NASA, and we haven't invented a way for grout colorant to vaporize dirt from the grout surface. :) Any dirt left on the floor after mopping will still be there when the floor dries. Over time the dirty buildup will cause the floor to look dingy. But there is a solution to that....DRY THE FLOOR. Every time you mop, dry the floor. Puddles of dirty water are dirt left on the floor when the water dries. Even a good rinsing leaves dirty residue on the floor. Imagine after you mop your floor and rinse it you took a big white terry cloth towel and dried the floor with it...would that towel still be white? I can tell you from experience that it will not and that using your spouse's good white towels will cost you just under $60 for a new set from Target. :) Color sealing your grout is the answer to your uneven color issue. No matter what you clean it with right now, it's never going to look new, or stay looking new unless it is color sealed. Grout colorants are easily applied. In your case, I would recommend cleaning the grout with an easy to use prep cleaner. The prep cleaner will make the grout and the grout colorant bond together in a way that it will not come off (10-15 year durability). After color sealing, maintain the grout with a neutral pH cleaner and lots of water when you mop. And remember to dry the floor. Your grout will stay clean. I've been back to projects my company completed in residential kitchens back in 1997 and with a drip of Dawn dish washing liquid and a paper towel, I can wipe away 13 years of dirty buildup to reveal grout that is brand new underneath. Best, Ken Sherman President This Old Grout 866-OLD-GROUt (866-653-4768) Here is a link that might be useful: Easy DiY Grout Cleaning and Restoration Kit

Thanks homepro01 Like some tile (it is a porcelain from Florida Tile) there are not any cove profiles in this color or any other off-setting color that would have worked. I certainly understand that there might have been some other methods but I am unfamiliar with them. I do however enjoy stainless steel and the longevity of it. In the picture the blue protective tape is still on the profile in case that matters. This is the best we could come up with for a pretty small area in a 60's track home with our basement remodel. We removed the heater and duct work from the basement and moved it into the attic as well as put a Rinnai tankless with circ and this allowed us the bath room area and enclosed W/D area. Shower is 36"W X 48"D 86" ceilings.