Well, it turns out the the contractor who renovated the bathroom put the flange at the subfloor level, rather than the tile level. So the original wax ring was not getting compressed. There was minor leakage around part of the ring. The new plumber installed a spacer, a new wax ring and re-seated the toilet. Issue is, the gray tile isn't going anywhere. I obviously cannot lift the toilet up on a daily basis to check for leaks. Am I wrong to expect the tile to whiten up again? It has a sealer on it, so I imagine that impedes evaporation a bit. I don't mind making a poultice to take up any stain--I know how to do that and it usually works. My concern is whether the continuing gray patch means a continuing leak, or if it's just a leftover from the original leak.

Hi Phyllis, Glad to comment on this. My tiles looked like this too - any tiles that were pure white stayed white, while any with even a bit of grey veining went really dark. That contrast while wet made me REALLY nervous. But after some time, they all looked beautiful again. One further comment - I hand picked each and every tile hoping for a beautiful installation. It sounds like you may have taken that extra effort too. I would do what you are doing - just watch each day and I expect you'll find the tiles getting lighter and lighter. Once your fears have calmed, just start in again and you'll be rewarded with a wonderful backsplash!!

It's a lovely kitchen! For many of us, change is hard. I had grave misgivings about my new kitchen when it was first installed - hated the glass doored cabinets, hated the crown trim, had doubts about the color. I got used to the cabinets - I had not realized (nor had my KD pointed this out to me), that all my inspiration pictures had one single unit, not separate boxes, so I surprised at all those seams. I think now, it could have been ordered without seams, but neither of use knew at the time. It was just a surprise and I don't like even good surprises! I found a way for them to add trim to the crown area and it looks SO much better. The color was fine when the walls were given a second coat of paint. When I change something, it's often a problem for me to figure out if I don't like it because it's "different" or because I just really don't like it. Time figures it out for you.... SO glad you're happy and I think it looks terrific. Yes, to painting that crown like the hood.

Oh, FYI...I'm currently re-doing my kitchen, and I'm having my cabinet doors made by Scherr's. Their door prices are very reasonable, IMO (less than Semihandmade, I'm pretty sure), and they will finish the doors in any Sherwin-Williams color you choose (as well as doing any door/drawer front in any size). I'm finishing mine myself, because I'm on a rather tight budget, but it's something to look into. You could add brighter-colored doors here and there if you want, or maybe have your peninsula doors be a different color, if you're worried about too much gray and white. I'm doing IKEA cabinets, and Scherr's is making me doors that look just like the Hittarp door (with grooves up and down the entire surface, no raised frame around them). Hittarp comes in off-white, so this way I can do white doors, and I built a shelf peninsula that's painted in S-W's "Oceanside." My toekicks will also be Oceanside, for a bit of fun and color in all the white. Orange is my accessory color--all of my countertop accessories (utensil holder, coffee crock, sugar bowl, knife holder) are Le Creuset's "Volcanic." I just haven't decided yet if I want butcher block countertops or black or white (or some other color, hee; I could paint laminate any shade and then seal with polyurethane or acrylic. I did that in a previous kitchen: the walls were pale spring green, the cabinets white with bright yellow doors, and I painted the old [1960s] laminate countertop a cool blue-gray and sealed with several coats of clear polyurethane. It looked awesome, especially with pale wood flooring throughout.) I hope that helps! Your kitchen looks gorgeous so far!