Thanks for your quick response Bill. Here is a picture of the tub before tiling. It doesn't look like there's a lip that goes up behind the cement board. And another one of the tub with some of the cement board in place. Shouldn't he have used caulk between the tile and the tub? Can he just run a line of caulk on top of the grout? I don't think that's the right thing to do but I know that's what he'll say. Here also is a closeup pic of the red clay that shows. If it was just a couple of places I could understand but it's visible in many places. Along the top of the window it is especially evident. This pic shows one small part of the window, but the red clay shows around many parts of the window. The top just looks dirty until you get up close, which no one is going to do so they'll just wonder what the dirt is up there. I'm concerned about the field tile that has the red clay showing at the edges. Since the nonglazed part of the tile is exposed, will water work it's way in there? Will proper grouting hide the red clay? Again, here's a pic of one spot but the picture doesn't really show how much the red clay is showing. I tried to get a better pic but a photographer I'm not. Oh, and there are about 6 small black marks towards the top of the tub that weren't there when I bought it. It's a vinyl tub. I tried to wash them off but they didn't budge. He did the same thing to my vanity. All of a sudden there are marks on the front where something has hit it and left a series of small dark nicks. I made it clear in the nicest way I could that I wanted the vanity fixed. Now I'll have to do it again with the marks on the tub. Though I'm not sure they can be fixed. Thanks again for your help. Mary

Weedy, I've been thinking about doing something similar to what you suggest. These are small, thin tiles that come attached to a mesh material and they are meant to be grouted. In order to use glue, they would need to be individually pulled off the mesh and glued down, one by one, but that seems like a tedious job that the tile guy isn't going to want to do. The tiles are meant to be left on the mesh, (the mesh can be cut to size), applied in whole strips, then grouted. The mirrors I am planning will be 30x30 or 30 x 36, I haven't decided yet. I want to go to a picture framing store this weekend and find out about having a frame made, to which the tile guy would be able to apply, then grout the glass tiles. The color of the frame would have to be a fairly close match to the vanities since you'd be able to see the edges when it was hung. Then I could have a mirror place make up the mirror glass and have them insert it in the tiled frame. I'm hoping this is a workable idea. In the meantime, if anyone out there has suggestions or pictures of mirrors framed in glass tile, I would love to see. Thanks, Susan

kjmama, I've just spent the last couple of days putting the finishing touches on my renovated bathroom (regular little bathroom, but it looks much prettier now. I'll post pictures soon). Anyway, I wanted to say that I think it's really important to work out a clear "vision" for your bathroom before you start shopping. You need to decide on a style (vintage cottagey? organic spa? glamourous hollywood? whatever you like...) And decide on a color scheme -- I'd suggest two main colors and an accent color. I assume since you painted the walls pink, that you made that choice with a certain look in mind. And pink will be one of your main colors. Are you looking for something feminine and pretty? If so, I would suggest painting the vanity a creamy white and adding sparkly knobs. The curvy mirror would work great with that look, as would the armoire. You could do a lot with vintagey accessories (like crystal perfume bottles). And I'd suggest picking a piece of art that really captures the feeling you are going for. What about that Degas painting of a woman drying herself after a bath? The key is to decide on your look and then really commit to it. Good luck.

I've never used basalt, but I've seen it in raw stone as well as in resinated stone. It is recommended that it be sealed prior to installation. Epoxy grouts might be a mis-match if it's porous. Epoxy can penetrate the perimeter of porous stone tile and give an off-color "picture frame" look to each tile. I'd contact the tech department of the specific tile you're thinking of using. If all they can give you are give generic installation and care instructions, then contact the tech department of the epoxy grout manufacturer and ask if they recommend their epoxy grout with porous stone tile. There are so many versions of stone being used as floor and wall coverings these days. I can't keep up with them. FWIW, basalt is on my short list for a future bathroom in my own house. I haven't researched the installation specifics yet, because I first have to build the addition that the bathroom will be in. lol