Thriifty Decor Chick: tile

Showing posts with label tile. Show all posts

Tiling a fireplace surround

HELLO! Sorry for such a late post today – I completely forgot I was supposed to help at my son’s school this morning so my day has been a bit behind. ;) This is a big post but I still wanted to share it with you today because I’m SO thrilled with how it turned out. I finally finished up the tile around the fireplace and I luurvvvvve it. Yep, I brought out the lurve for this one. I went with the herringbone tile because a.) I loved it and it was the one that had my heart as soon as I saw it b.) I realized that it wasn’t going to be as hard as I thought to install and c.) my husband picked it immediately between that and the regular marble subway tile. SO. I’ve shown you how I tiled the <a href="http://thriftydecorchick.blogspot.com/2011/11/fireplace-redo.html">surround years ago</a>, but this is a refresher with a little more detail. That time I didn’t need to grout so this tutorial includes that step. I started by finding the middle of the actual fireplace – not the surround but the firebox: <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjM6ijCNq0CA2m3QiSzTYAKp0hM7UMUpKYVuBLcz3WVm_JKdcgzNkEuHBduxYdWcu_Y9bcxLiFENMgl02ZTxAHERIL03W9VxS_ibhqxSledymWZEgBG6hThVSRDfUoRCpAd4a2cGNKp7PU/s1600-h/IMG_9768%25255B2%25255D.jpg"><img alt="how to tile fireplace surround" border="0" height="333" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisU622pZaIrFJKRjiSDGzIdb4fUzYK1uh_EIGdFC19TqyFirz1jWHTNf2kizROLZ7qKhLXIob1eJqtjKU4wotb5T6ubt8SzEiU-0gUfvDQ6w-OJN1JUyhlUj4BOlmGgIo4SEDE7QNZw9w/?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="how to tile fireplace surround" width="500" /></a> This was because the two sides beside the box aren’t exactly the same size. So I wanted everything centered on the firebox part. I borrowed a tile saw from the guys that do work on our house occasionally (they’ve let me borrow it a couple times and it’s a big money saver). I’ve used it before and actually quite love this tool. It looks scary but it’s not hard to use at all. For this marble tile I made my measurements and used a pencil to mark where I needed to cut: <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVHQezvr6rMDjdiDK_YVDf9dEoMA5Zmw6d_ee6h4TSSQk5Y1aJR47NtyDsyF8YmFrh6VLKL3iOsYXJyR2bccc0r4Ii8gTICCTe9A20u0Aeo6DvZUN4mpVBjSR-qZRynxD3lDItQkvKXY0/s1600-h/IMG_9773%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img alt="how to use a tile saw" border="0" height="366" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRiG-oQONYz8C41ZTfxhj3EkJmNff5VduG1baHYiFlQZAGh9D4cEa6Qqvpy6vnFUrh2YinyTyTUV2LnlKj_b2upN5WP0HHP2lGbHhelDTJIMRy2dgAGgtw5CCXb9d1-jD0DgpdDdS3sWQ/?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="how to use a tile saw" width="550" /></a> Pencil is the only thing that would leave a decent mark. Before you do any cutting be sure to check your mark against the saw: <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVXIMIhBCMipPfgD9pfd7S88BWh5-A1gtlMVuZCJlnZ5aQ2GJXN8ZsnO2Ybu5C7yZ26BiXoLJm2ianaLadKj32RuoTNRja33qDBFbZrQQucrnEBvsY2dpLLkBoYlGrvI25oE2NPIblWnc/s1600-h/IMG_9774%25255B2%25255D.jpg"><img alt="how to use a tile saw" border="0" height="750" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUxfLKa9g1c4lwEnsiJ7i8tyVgkS1gWVi5nFMbvUp68JA6244p4LiR7mD-wODMaDJKjHENWBtvqqNrHifYeNtixZE_nmdeAuddUpE-XMAlRdAihHTJQOvTF5QusSBZDoznMaSDxSe89q4/?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="how to use a tile saw" width="500" /></a> Like double and triple check! The saw makes it easy to line everything up – just make sure all the sides are flush against the panel that the tile lays on and then check your line one more time before you start cutting. The tile saw must have a water source – usually a bucket that the pump sits in underneath that runs the water through the machine. Make sure that water is running through before you start cutting: <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgP73nxJ15FKYQReofuSNRXfbB_FU0I85LMoj8WQS75z3DRAJgnxnEYHe6LtVVTP4ukeCiymLg3TDgm8AUhIFIZHC4zkOqZSRBDMum4OBYxvfzEtsQXe-AqJXl6ykn0kF8f3AsmcbZVEcc/s1600-h/IMG_9775%25255B2%25255D.jpg"><img alt="cutting tile on tile saw" border="0" height="750" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8yyR4yCPQTlNdD_jQWixnE2S45SWsd1PMCtjTCQwxSxuJxvNhj6wDRScFW19gi3uK0iPX7XWMmj-T6BRN5-OcTKNuhoF9VqWtF7QNeTIVNba9dgVVW-_LBNO5APxZ4gIBf09hfV3sTuE/?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="cutting tile on tile saw" width="500" /></a> Now, tile on the mesh is easy to cut because you’re taking care of such a big piece at a time – but there are some tricks to it that I learned along the way. First of all, GO SLOW. The marble is very soft and will easily chip. You’ll want to hold onto the panel that the tile sits on and control it as it goes through – otherwise the saw will want to push it through really fast. It’s not hard – you just have to be patient. I found that when I was cutting the tile didn’t cut as cleanly on the right side, but the left side was usually a better cut. So I made sure to turn my tile accordingly to get a clean cut each time. Does that make sense? I wanted the “good” side on the left. Also, because the tile is so soft and the pieces on the mesh are so small, I found it helpful to lay something on top of them as I pushed them through: <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2X0zfI2s6VNrUFN8baD-R7F3_ZBZRnRcpJlop1s8E6ObT8uMWZGc3mCTFM5x8f_Pvk4fbfPqXiVHG3NORNksYn4ua_EHqDVafY20oNsncovYvJeajKWSi-TmrGZSrPlxxjE6F3GAMP-4/s1600-h/IMG_9776%25255B2%25255D.jpg"><img alt="cutting herringbone tile" border="0" height="333" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbn4lbg2DQOH3G_lom86Sfd17c-MEz_BIqD3bFI7Qu8Nbbo-U58nH7A4RMnygF3m1Yl9gTq7CU8cmxTsBZ3ONocZvTSeMSV2DY7cQd2tJ-PmepFSrwru0IfSgajKf4BlDgC8jEBZvaXYQ/?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="cutting herringbone tile" width="500" /></a> If you can apply a little pressure as it goes through it keeps the tiles from moving around as the saw cuts them. (WATCH where your hands are!) It was really helpful when it came to the first and last piece along the mesh. Bottom line though – very few of my cuts were perfect. I realized very quickly that it was going to be next to impossible to get perfectly perfect cuts on every one. Which doesn’t bother me – it adds to the “character.”  ;) I have a LOT of character in this house. I would cut a piece or two and then get them up on the surround – I used this premixed adhesive to do so: <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdmGgk20dO7mvVou4u__Lz6nVEidxrYNa7XqjAAi153jiE5uIugj2DPp6G3Txdp1gX40X05QcOqg393gsIXY3aDVkNuNo9a4dFZhKY3sBT5IvBwKHwyiccHoQ3aF2KTIwEf7cJSTu6jss/s1600-h/IMG_9834%25255B2%25255D.jpg"><img alt="easy tile application" border="0" height="750" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihkZTEvwUq-dPGZylrG4VkuhacyJuhV_6V5SqfzDE55AvOyC5n2KDiNgvkHEuPc2aEz_tRTXdfKsi4NmjQEh06oYCuYJvBZ-Ssdc-XwFKk0ACda9YOrxmQRgYANrdn0awEcCYIaSuFri0/?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="easy tile application" width="500" /></a> I’ve tiled a few times and the first time I mixed the thinset and grout myself – I didn’t care for it. It’s messy and a pain in the butt, at least to me. Buying it premixed and ready to go costs a little more but was SO worth it. You’ll want a notched trowel to spread it on. I don’t feel like I’m ever good at this part: <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdSzb-hdbd4YTyqtXCTQkHodDfCP0r9PXsyhnTj6KJOuLn53c_-tXtLGXMnveWthx4-dGyQFDNuW35bwY3REB9d4gRyiq5JZYGyitiTlUgrszX8axQxiVELbyGdQL2Iojng01vTk5mVsg/s1600-h/IMG_9769%25255B2%25255D.jpg"><img alt="how to tile a wall" border="0" height="750" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEje8rZCyzvdZ9C_wxIed7S7SvOZfi3-AzW3O3uWosKxUBteDFX8BUrrctaqGEQ5_IMyBzCCGH7HRMNryJr2L8aZayFAyKNwEgZ75z_l26bETPzR_lwLZXFMssL37qH2xkCk-7P8vy3hLUA/?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="how to tile a wall" width="500" /></a> I think I use too much – but I’d rather have too much than too little. Spread it as evenly as you can and make sure to get the edges:  <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZ79kFcvb2-7ZrgfJJr134nRIvEzQIwKKpSNa576SQRIQQjI16tKrxCyGftVj4T5H7wvAPngi5Oro6wCJlkGOJjTS5z9qP4FPyFZC6GUveBskxGF4xIFiaY2to3nSl-iuG7y1U3wZTU2g/s1600-h/IMG_9770%25255B2%25255D.jpg"><img alt="tiling a backsplash" border="0" height="750" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjese9Zv18wtZOGTPOY-4zj_LfmKk0-U0FK1M-NIx_xmZn-gc7Ka4B7HOQmo_rhK4LmqJnLTUrjFpdJcEe-CKCxFdJWnn45yP3xGp5OsXYzNboN_EyPd8-OaYnrFcbpsAG7ifbda7qqPDY/?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="tiling a backsplash" width="500" /></a> Then just push the tile on there and smoosh it around. I didn’t use spacers at all and I didn’t need to do anything to hold the tile up as I went – the thinset grabs it pretty quick and within a few minutes it starts to set. Just adjust it if it starts to move down at all. Also, if the thinset comes up between the tiles you can just use a toothpick to clean it out. Even with my laying it on thick I didn’t have to do that much. I had the gas line run to the  front of the surround when we moved the fireplace so I had to work around that spot – you can just unscrew that metal valve so you know what pieces need to be cut: <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsTntg826zA2IVpcaz36LI31HMpPFNDYaa-WzvYY0bDsPs4kFyKU4dVgvOrrQM7cn7c89lo17ZKV0F3JzsxvFBGyCtELrjtWXcgRxfNKBw5dh5j1CUDTqtYQ4YNyenWsfIcRmcGfCSRCc/s1600-h/IMG_9772%25255B2%25255D.jpg"><img alt="tiling fireplace surround" border="0" height="750" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2A49XEFvLF3CBt9vSshVxfX07FYFaAx-7aR6-tU1wGPoqpcJ3NEhv1NsrXRgBGUM0Hwk6smZ_USTCK1snQGIC3TbNhfxyT9hH9_PZFtNyvJhcj-6cwikx9B6KAfgx4lSZQQrp0uSji9g/?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="tiling fireplace surround" width="500" /></a> I thought that area was going to be a lot harder than it was. If a piece was in the way I just took it off the mesh backing and then cut it by itself. You can also get little nippers that will cut smaller pieces like this easily. When you’re done you just “butter” the back of that individual piece with the thinset and then stick it on. I had quite a few pieces that didn’t cut great and I would just take them off the mesh and then find/cut a better one for that spot and stick it on. You never know when it’s done. :) I let it sit for a day or two – I can’t remember how long really but the container will tell you how long. Then it was time to grout – which is usually my least favorite part. It’s MESSY so be prepared for that. I taped off the wood around the surround: <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhx4WDNRuto7U61g21r-rlebhY-mqMWVTORZk_RoV-K78s8U0yQkUg58L2dSg7n-rxJ50oiELbT7iaOxoveK621-8ZkYNHOJuY2Zuv9IahFtICoa6EOXtWoYV7FM0HUqtlhx7AeW8x1F2s/s1600-h/IMG_9794%25255B2%25255D.jpg"><img alt="grouting tile" border="0" height="750" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCE2VOHoPl4UOfi0iKhV3vEes4ZiEqZ4nwrGrDxb6j_p_AvrgNH1TJq9O6qyz2ITYtBhj7mRrXoaO7hIofs4A0KSw2oWIgCHp1FTpLH63KZusRybmY2iSr5ERj1b_JOmfzdmxEzGSPFzI/?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="grouting tile" width="500" /></a> And then covered the actual fireplace with some tape and a trash bag: <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi66MFiWnyKSZ43Ms-ibWRAhlPgrlZUz-7-WFlQjFsmhGgOUU0xIwlRLUxTQvWTScp8mXFBDuYU0XPVe1sTM1X3HCTpIz1PXWKAjwSao-zaw6ELFRV-cG0i3G0D-LWUFHT4ts-b0XXtZ-A/s1600-h/IMG_9795%25255B2%25255D.jpg"><img alt="grouting tile" border="0" height="750" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhh8vBZ5IWxSsrAHIVHHbeEhPOSEgEe9upmRAQLSSYYTbcOmyyL1B_ji33dfvpVCOQSHXYihLwDWcONGcaxkRvZC921X6sHtlRY6lD1aXWYVM9__hgSlOJLepIhdU7UaMMGB-A4fZdwJoo/?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="grouting tile" width="500" /></a> I let the trash bag come out to the floor so it caught most of the grout that fell in that area – it made for quick clean up too. Again, I used premixed grout: <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhs8X3iOW4p-jqzPMFZkbBHxj8bDp_FlUa8bmxoalpcx6ZUj0C-2roOwBye23qMbyIq_-CXPoeVzfWZoY6bFAAFm8YHmdYAqRZUY5m2vQR6lY3I_e6vZiFIs3eqBx-mALSKTAmwX42jys4/s1600-h/IMG_9833%25255B2%25255D.jpg"><img alt="gray grout for tile" border="0" height="750" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtseNmGVDNivCJ1brpxQIOj5PPYXr70OZ4-S3DXS9rneaYNaoeoG591y3yeLTOVS8_gj_99Q6Nq1A48lYx9J8ZteskFqBoODr4PG1dmI4itoxYBohYaCmsW57bOFKJFesvwi5vwteyqZ8/?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="gray grout for tile" width="500" /></a> I picked a color called Delorean Gray – you get more color options when you mix it yourself but I was going for this anyway. So usually if your grout lines are more than 1/8 inch you’ll want to use sanded grout. If they are less you can use unsanded. Most of mine were 1/8 – but some were less, some were more so I used sanded grout. The only thing is, as I mentioned, marble is SOFT. So there are some issues with the sanded grout that I’ll touch on in a minute. You use a float tool to apply the grout – I found it easier to get it out with my little scraper:  <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgE8FANfOsqM_45pEJgfB6GLkE365xTQPbzKADDith4Z6_0Mr8nDb5JK5fJc1VO3ToosKtBRHqtW4Fu4WRS8LehFim0yFRV3ierZhX2iEvDVvSeIdmNyGTyQftmC59pKpQ7ixDNo8MK72c/s1600-h/IMG_9800%25255B2%25255D.jpg"><img alt="how to grout tile" border="0" height="333" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfR5p769TvB5bJtt_-qivi8P0uZ9pmz_Bso9M3AfORuacOEKJkXGFOCk8ZW4CuEO9otQogY3v9PmVLJCihyFru-mIpcR2lRvMvorcW8doqdiSmdZpKxMl9hs9cNI_-5JtSEuyFJdXWl34/?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="how to grout tile" width="500" /></a> And then apply it to the float: <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9oRnaplA_zHwoXn00MWNTgZy45FEdj5HrIbeaGEC1lKQblDclVLXEFsZRmSsFxJ2lxhKBOTvC-OMaqKzXLbeTAm19xMcYWnn743v0AIHGrbGcb0L8vrO-mgquVj5D0nATI421CvZByCw/s1600-h/IMG_9801%25255B2%25255D.jpg"><img alt="how to grout" border="0" height="333" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuLab6UB6UtXnqY0c_frwMPRMB8m6g9ukwTXRlmkFJsRaj9NJBerFnrzcm7KWnS8tDvKlqbVG3Mw2LVUiq6z1pmNL8VYSkHaTOS6mGE39_8n9-g0D0CcvBtl7Zfdila4Jtolelq3BUowQ/?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="how to grout" width="500" /></a> In my opinion there’s no right or wrong way to do this part – just do what you need to do to get it all in there: <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhXSHEsU3QY2-hvRpVdkS3zy8jpU_JIf9nLzbonlB-af9SEhTyvuZkoMUPACu76ZODOICmpSEneCK3yFFlGScel7dijDnlNAHBpAI73MK2EBnw7Qk6HgtIwt3bdLmfj-j26XViOsmw_GY/s1600-h/IMG_9803%25255B2%25255D.jpg"><img alt="tips for grouting marble tiles" border="0" height="750" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMLDCu8H12nB3DL9dIW9db5yERPf23HdLE3gkl4L1h7ZO_VHsu_K7DfZ6Pb8eJ6zyEdFwAanVp4KhLpK2jhy74k_T8xonUmI2d4yKy_vZuu8_gY5WMw9N8bAxEsI3grwhAtAWRB2ke4z0/?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="tips for grouting marble tiles" width="500" /></a> Just smoosh (lots of smooshing) it in there as much as you can, making sure to get the edges. I had a gap between the fireplace and the tile that I grouted too (that’s why there’s painters tape there). Then as soon as you can start wiping it all down with a big sponge and a bucket of water. This part always freaks me out because it feels like the grout isn’t going to come off. But just keep at it – wet sponge, wipe, rinse the sponge, repeat: <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8Iz2mNmg81EcrZk5vanW8N0P0htcez9W3Y25XG69Ag3uiAKOrth5jJZUY3r7Jq0XP18KvcoUoSlU9pqjOsKBaNmmxoWpDgHqBVDNvtp8whfROFCXsoTlxC-CFvP2MjMDdp6-D68VBPOQ/s1600-h/IMG_9804%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img alt="grouting tile" border="0" height="750" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6wvNapB-qafTByZooUj01hyQPutAkAbMtYsarplCE007tMAeEBRtk3gjjynXb4hx7LvaRyk5yj9Cf4BQ3QQ-5UTcSpaEicEB8GuSyVtkBfBSZhxHh5jl4N_Pb9umEBGTvcC4JQ-m5t_A/?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="grouting tile" width="500" /></a> So here’s where the problems with sanded grout come in with this tile – first of all because the tile is so soft the sand kind of wears down the sides of the tile a bit. There’s not much you can do about it though – and honestly between the float and the sponge I think you’d get some of that anyway, even with nonsanded grout. I actually like the “worn” look it gives them. Again with that character. ;) And then the grout kind of etches into the tile as you can see here: <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMVJBRlgyH9NHQUTb6_SDYw53NkXk1mnlNtBozMN4qqKCP_x6nHOZ7eNW7HXBNM-JA3NHEySEH3Duuh9GEizQ6MKEB4_BuJfx13mmmfDIjAbRD5I9rX_wOxWpx10c694PPqtb3jz3eZ4Y/s1600-h/IMG_9805%25255B2%25255D.jpg"><img alt="getting grout off tiles" border="0" height="333" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9sP7z8PjlGVGhhzMRzlmS-JMAqCnY4GhhSVWORFWWKTIq-4uMqzkJg3kmoldUO_MmDY7Ask_VyzigYw7-_Ygjf2ZYbmzTX3DXBHfKAuf9CGxKhffn4TaE0SizAAyaWuPmTgzy2L3ArJ0/?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="getting grout off tiles" width="500" /></a> It didn’t do it on all of them, but I did have to wipe down a bunch individually. I just used a wet rag: <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbbfNknBKWwK19USeo5f7vxxqs3nTIWGIs1JwQRamvOywa3I3Z89xFieDCAYgOvw-2mD8jAMfO1SxkJU1dogTPoXEnmWBJEW-fA3BPvsE3w9YbVLjnmnsVeTbPDdBtJDoFAkc7V-2mvYw/s1600-h/IMG_9806%25255B2%25255D.jpg"><img alt="getting grout off tiles" border="0" height="333" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgP85TbsCPd2QDfNavTSnLWC656ARfxYkGrqEuEDoKchTTojH9bfT1h-5m2MJ5mSFgx7dhul0IUbWapDZSPDlAgD467wjfa86Bl5iuUxxhmnV0RGXYNaSbgjCsnQIp8mRhXHkDx8UOhr6k/?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="getting grout off tiles" width="500" /></a> After that if any had some left I used a (very clean) razor to get any other residue off: <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhP4Fk2_kcc6pm2z3LCcwqr-pa9X0YTaN1aEkEZwHLFeRXqjP8CxaHxEyJW-owkIKufiXKomFzm1HzoMdH2atFoFmpPHqXehuvkHhl7VTHDc5IXrHwy1VZfvkkmqF8SMhyphenhyphen4iebqUWXg19M/s1600-h/IMG_9808%25255B2%25255D.jpg"><img alt="cleaning tiles after grout" border="0" height="750" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIz7261gECgyMcwUFbrwpvbVbBeFeNHAyn4W-8bP7PCz5n_Cf6utAGFcM_Wo3LWvPmEDDUoVz7VEgy4M1WZiFR_pq7yMforb4kb9_is7y4DcPWakLVA11Eq6RLBQkkGRiaD3as8Mz_eLU/?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="cleaning tiles after grout" width="500" /></a> If you were using this on a backsplash where it would be seen closer I’d probably use the non sanded grout – but because I had some bigger areas to fill I’m glad I used the sanded on the surround. After the grout dried I ran a bead of grout around the edges (it comes in a tube, same color) to make all of my not perfect cuts (mostly) disappear. Character! :) And we now have a gorgeous fireplace surround that I’m obsessed with: <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPqv8D6max7ue1anv10keyH6QdGPeekhRUBpkx3oGsJFes9uEJIf2bA6y6XmYbjEwn1DSVy6GAD9VXQ1G1_77ZMpPBhHjG9AYl_9E7JB6RZZg-_sKj3RFoFKX0gaxp4jgKK_5wgRU_Bv4/s1600-h/IMG_9839%25255B8%25255D.jpg"><img alt="herringbone gray tile" border="0" height="704" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIn0oHO11yZ24M3aYv4SK1N7cmThgKsDfQ7amp-qqi_hCIg4W_uRI6S3I9upquvjo-l_uDzMhhxbYQzgVX8VVmO98bvzbUG0WlqyTnD1Evo6RWGEcXT6uYlKNGzndfE8VKNcWnQqXalOc/?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="herringbone gray tile" width="532" /></a> I went back and forth between gray and white grout and I’m so glad I went gray – it really makes the design pop even more. I LOVE IT. I love all the colors in the marble too – white, gray and a lot of a tans as well – they tie in perfectly with the <a href="http://thriftydecorchick.blogspot.com/2014/08/a-new-wall-color-kind-of.html">new wall color</a> in this room and those tan colors keep it from feeling too cold: <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhABPVbRYVAtM7GueP0helhXIlwz5gKwwWNNwn9z7GCtlxKaocl_sQLWE-DreDGQw5hN0kQ0ktkJp14ljvIPxpvfdrdS5BcBPeeTn16IeviBhSfUPoKB0MC590QI66dWflYvFRWimz7FYE/s1600-h/IMG_9842%25255B2%25255D.jpg"><img alt="herringbone tile design" border="0" height="333" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5Jdp4XXIZbHjsvn6PjyjMG_yKZZF9CFTTZ_O42mLD5PYLDE2YBT5BJVXQkWX2AQYoIMXiIIngijUoDSBZPJdymkFzzFyJl5VzAacFmBwwZEM67vEQuzlGgTgKcI8Er3W6gcl1ldIKxvA/?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="herringbone tile design" width="500" /></a> I love how the the tile looks with the gray paint and the metal doors on the built ins. And I love that they catch the light and almost shimmer: <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgYjEPMIaFdNEVkzB_kRcjn8yFWBwfbrYjJL4LFylh7dzTM_QmrTVuDXtnUyFwcGy9X6ceQq75gcz_15veJOnLSn6aqgsNxzN-YGG0qkrqjD9-aFrJd_ZWokfRar6vfAwG2jtys5iyrzw/s1600-h/IMG_9844%25255B2%25255D.jpg"><img alt="herringbone marble tile" border="0" height="333" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_riRZman9BxeDeBnS_oKAuTvMNngOLxt9iGg_4GiSqWvwWiADxRtrUcVOlWzD5gZVWfJfmHRwtLzI7_grFDdfjdQpJY0pCIDkabXY69FNCzxQmanCeWWR4j5XPknx03ukla_6nDqUCKM/?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="herringbone marble tile" width="500" /></a> Next up – tackling the wall above the fireplace! It will be the same gray color and will get a treatment. I hope to get that started and maybe done this weekend. And then everything will get one more coat of paint. But for now I’m thrilled with the progress so far!!: <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhn3E6P_xv6nweI_jrVawJ5_wYPBc4CyFXayy-ZnfdRUvo1dplUSi8lsB0iaCPHGYFx8XMQP-1mp8yKUF9BYGRIEnt92wnIFGx6U6s93dgdBTX-QfWReLMyEVkvYVt1yhDoGAU5J3CB45s/s1600-h/IMG_9841%25255B7%25255D.jpg"><img alt="herringbone tile gray fireplace" border="0" height="750" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizsdFnxoRHaMcA_gRQ64ap0cqR1tVxeIgD0PDI0fj0oW_teJlb_viOvzsUI8ZwU84dDnxqNG6qQanA4GBlyhvbV6LII4WraXnuP2nnUcl9H6nX8m7HSyB5t6NdoyQ4CmrGWKtH3xxBDUo/?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="herringbone tile gray fireplace" width="500" /></a> I hope I made some sense of the tiling process – if you have any questions let me know! It’s not hard at all, it just takes some patience. Have you attempted a tiling job? Did you find it hard? A small spot like a fireplace surround is a great place to start! Have a great weekend!

Tiling a fireplace surround

HELLO! Sorry for such a late post today – I completely forgot I was supposed to help at my son’s school this morning so my day has been a bi...

10:04 AM

A painted fireplace

Well HELLO all! I’ve been working my butt off on the fireplace this week! I don’t have a totally finished product to show you but I’m SO excited about the direction it’s going so I wanted to share. I went a little out of my comfort zone and I love it. Sunday I had had enough with the unfinished mess and started tackling the fireplace and built ins. I thought it would take me a couple days max – HA! I’m on day five and have a good four days of work left. I way underestimated how much needed to be done. It’s a beast – the fireplace is massive and the built ins have a lot of surface area to paint as well. On Sunday this is how the one holding our TV components looked: <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjY6xABdpilrh9p-c6ga-65JwxR3zLAt2WYWce80U8-UuXVfdbj9dO2UgjNCrri_EjWALFhQ-7z1KjvLGCe8o79rrRvjeSb2GUqgOcIC1hZT6r_S1v5eyMLgjqermMAEBRhV39YFlVy-o8/s1600-h/31%25255B2%25255D.jpg"><img alt="built ins by TV" border="0" height="667" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZAYoUWdgSdlBFpooOCFI5j1pnQK9w605mVJ22VdahgCT0hmdJgLprkJOTVnXGmfBJfQrK4MRFf5iBVoGfxMlqLoRv8fey7ES0Q3lAMRTESJ6ZaDQXe2E2s7mSDkLbdkhALgPbfrQ62Tk/?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="built ins by TV" width="500" /></a> Hot mess. I’ve had guests and friends over for weeks with it looking like that and I could have cared less. All the sudden on Sunday I couldn’t take it one more minute. It’s how I roll. And yes, I was equipped with a cherry icee. Ignore the poor plant that has become a snack for the cats. My first order of business was to fill alllllllll the holes: <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIaveFGwxpwlQVJHoNd5LOeGGoY8HQpVJA8j9lchvBuuI_fEgJdaCgKpKT5_as46NdQGlNE6pAfYgsLMlZCXNk6Cx9kLQ6PbQHhu8_IWqheM0p5vdTijWL2wyJzi_MygPYIpgrERItCws/s1600-h/32%25255B2%25255D.jpg"><img alt="trim on built ins" border="0" height="667" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8ImHRroJvHEWSSrwRxsu9qPOPplleJSOvxoNncWZGEvnSUshWchCgVFI3JX1gHDcctVtKH7AJtn_y9c3j2wSO6V4HB3f6ZHLRccXtzbALdn93keKajFZaqpZPsbXWTxRm72Zxgtc06iY/?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="trim on built ins" width="500" /></a> I didn’t worry about all the cracks because those were getting covered later. But I filled and sanded, then caulked the whole thing top to bottom. THEN came the priming: <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgd9Zoy7GvV85iFtucqui2aBiwny8MkMD4aCQk8uGnqfzdVVdADuxaVi7ewz1jdk6qTvnuqeE8ZY2e0mAiOYoLH8JWPtnEA9HO0Cjm8_tKYJqHZn37qdvzmLr_qrV0FujAeWyifaJcBoGA/s1600-h/33%25255B2%25255D.jpg"><img alt="short built ins by fireplace" border="0" height="780" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi03v5NS_FyWbRoEm3JU7S-Pl0bxHJOgq8y9BQqRNz_9cgjyDBcIYrFYKLgaphwS4l7hLhiM32dWWWCu7H5N-9PYzsR6F8CNFLlXwz0DPrDJrcepHWpMjJSgsQIXtdBs_DWKGkd70-h_qQ/?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="short built ins by fireplace" width="488" /></a> I got all that done in the first day – by the second day I had my white semi gloss paint in hand and started painting the first coat…but stopped myself. You can’t tell from the pic above because the board and batten isn’t done over there – but it was a whole lotta WHITE. I love white trim as much as anybody (well, more than anybody), but the white built ins against the white board and batten was feeling a little blah. I had been playing with the idea of painting the whole thing out in a light gray all along. Somewhere along the line I talked myself out of it – I didn’t feel like it would look right without enough contrast. But I had that white paint in my hand and couldn’t get the idea out of my mind. I wanted this area to really pop and as it was it wasn’t happening. I had an idea percolating in my head and looked back through some pictures I had saved to get up the guts to follow through. When I saw this photo I had bookmarked the decision was made: <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEielJI8d8ZAgG1BwmYGB0OhF5QH3W05FcEISQpJCY0c10sZyLvQjMeyYwMktBCqggPeWYBrXHyrRftBO1OQCSI5SZX5ZHWGhU6_mr2xthAz4UIZ16NgWqiQ_KU70IP5jLaHpFQ2anFfBG4/s1600-h/19mebeckdesign%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img alt="19mebeckdesign" border="0" height="749" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyqEQISiJO8Sg0NdyxIalmf8ygRpObiDAZ-Bzi_e0n_k1QF4bQ0J_5xwXbTPouClJ6bcEXZRXjS3iD6ud9z4TbGbutOXXOx2VOO3XGd1Xb0bw5v9uOmVn9QaROEtkoWO31Q4otCTl5OMg/?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="19mebeckdesign" width="500" /></a> (<a href="http://beckdesignblog.blogspot.com/2012/04/before-after-beautiful-kitchen.html?m=1">source</a>) GoodNESS people. That is stunning! I’m so obsessed with contrast anyway – white trim against a dark wood floor, black door against white trim…so this is right up my alley. I was sold. The bonus was that I already had the paint – I LOVE the Peppercorn color I used on our <a href="http://thriftydecorchick.blogspot.com/2014/03/dark-gray-accent-wall.html">master bedroom wall</a>: <img alt="IMG_8768" border="0" height="750" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjsKdAATVPcXAA3wxjevvVyJU6ZFPDTUjTw_RZ-XXy8d07Xb_IEZhVyliuB9LjjwoMYvQDcaMLrXcfyLZO0WfJK-Tua43b1SyBqIuufcX5AUecDRal_Yz-5lx3xuX7aKhUsOHQeh2dIIw/?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="IMG_8768" width="500" />And it looks identical to the gray in that photo! This family room gets LOADS of light now that the wall is down. It’s glorious. I’m not worried about the room feeling dark with all the natural light and especially not with the <a href="http://thriftydecorchick.blogspot.com/2014/08/its-time-for-some-board-and-batten.html">mostly white walls</a> throughout the whole space: <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8ys0OBmIBNy3HegJGU7LU_FDGsEqQbgbaL_ycvDOu7HOTgjarU4WiIZ18c3WMM_srWpKTA5SW79VJ26SC6W6kH_gjsdy5HMSD29e6SkMygm254sTc_7SbO_Y9izmCvfV5OdX2k6WgX1s/s1600-h/IMG_9728%25255B2%25255D.jpg"><img alt="board and batten" border="0" height="750" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMy_msZjcCtlnxVgc7BDrFiAUdsVax1I1S8zI11GxnZ3n2bJffcBV1dSaVR_0Ep_VxCsZ0-2gDtq9-XG4gGer5maFXIi1dr4Xg71q3nDk4W4llJrjB1ik8hHWebAXCm3KRH4We_VSNFxU/?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="board and batten" width="500" /></a> So I put a coat of the gray on – and I was a little nervous but loved it. I started installing the decorative trim and fell in love a little more: <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4VZOlgBKE2HUOGxCXM4GHLEOiBVlcpHhgjACCCcDWSsxaupeiBfCoefpJgBwFV0ZRmz_QOmUrBrGWpWsJiXEKi0PhIBBiJSGq9qTds-v92h-HDgAQWcMq0dRYIyH3i36Bw4bDsusJYO8/s1600-h/30%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img alt="trim on fireplace" border="0" height="652" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicdru3y4d5l00n9z5iPZ-QHtPfqhSd6cqaitlRq0qJaiF3XaADFm2Tsjv69LYFcno1NJ3yYsQ70p8-TXkODpiClooii82q4dKKoNfxj3t0oWUG5y-puJ-u7FwYYG-kMpNtyt-OyN9M-vY/?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="trim on fireplace" width="512" /></a> And then with another coat I was head over heels: <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRvtC6WlYbW-1hnMtpqws_WJrncXQ23NndelusJclebxrwjZi0xVObcldX5WCTj2WBnOGUddFlb3yZVNjg3HqJNsm_9hIX_clBtGr34jtPsFBEnuR7pM2TMIM03M0zJQy8MR9IsMa2Oqg/s1600-h/IMG_9756%25255B2%25255D.jpg"><img alt="gray fireplace" border="0" height="333" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQZPDcIWpkDZaJdWCWuyNKdWfCq_9rOpei1zAammmwmGKltIQ4o1wfK-6ChgGZZTSqAb43unnYh4TCiRjBrebTWTwS1KhqdqVHXuY5QWji1TinXKfLbDzZZWl2IurSH4j_jL1yTbUZo6o/?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="gray fireplace" width="500" /></a> Oh my goodness – it is a step out of my norm but I’m loving it.  I think doing something that feels a little uncomfortable at first is so important to do in your home as well as in life. At least once and a while. :) It still needs another coat – the paint I had is an eggshell finish so I’m grabbing a quart of the same color in semi gloss to finish it up. After all this work I don’t want to worry about scuffs (which are a lot more noticeable on a darker paint): <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNcjJtnXdIXs4w0uT33h9MdsAYeP-6lao2JCOdc7LqEz82oPcIPQP7779jCxri9qAaSkyS6t7bq9eCvCLOn4cVeoRu8zjbMREBaittuH0RzyS8fysz6VHZx9hgQ497Qtp9sT_jHukBB0g/s1600-h/IMG_9761%25255B2%25255D.jpg"><img alt="gray fireplace" border="0" height="333" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYYumHHYR5Ao016eGAZfWj__pdQ8zsINGPelYO0QbLNXdRRgqWA4wMhXGkE6v_psQVm8_0gOfRlQOvY_ZoeS5h5QYmbBs0uPLi-PSISl56HnknG8DWHGnzu4XDGCabpwJLL4xXJ02J4no/?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="gray fireplace" width="500" /></a> The past couple of days I’ve been working on the cabinet doors – can’t wait to show you those too! And I still need to paint the inside of the cabinets but that may just happen later (cause my hands and wrists are screaming uncle): <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghM9OZSouYQBEBePdzomuzGEg4TN_m5WJaqaCoVs3pDRF-TVL0VTNsD0E-xe1hhnooLtqmB5bMqHRNY5JzlhVGgq0DLHxBNt1LEcJ_oi0rADKnzJLVSfgE9G_Bgn17VIY_zLntztOTLpc/s1600-h/IMG_9755%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img alt="gray fireplace with built ins" border="0" height="775" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtBWP5m1v_e-5CLIs-h9__2hVoYtp1LSZTiR8cgG0JWaMjyWJcK1NeKryOCvvAZxRrar3cZ6Rfiu8L9z_7GfWFPyVwzcWjO84abQRsMLzwO7Lg0Cd1KAQ3-PudYoZKlJRBHguwT9mRqGs/?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="gray fireplace with built ins" width="484" /></a> Today I’m finishing up the doors and then I’m hoping to get started on the tile for the surround. I’ve been trying to decide on one of these for weeks: <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTTIqAJ82wGCEUIyQIJ8S7w_6dkjp3wVDxG1usxQPyLrxJfeYCRxCGmB1JCQagAOng10ojwEirDqMUADFJ0Rk0eJAbNEFS2eldz6OpwJX7ItpoOUe2GfEF6z6Q0da-VYqcZ0jvtZM62FA/s1600-h/IMG_9763%25255B2%25255D.jpg"><img alt="gray and white marble tiles" border="0" height="333" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_jCgt6ZxJ8VWDdgNg4LWf1NKWx4QmA21UgVX6ZDq2f9BnVPMcj2dA65_7m992-lXud4q_jh7444EyCvOmFPfCq6nWCY0yf9D-Air0sKBVj_WYzFOKhrVkc7fiBt2hTVuYZTnyjM-E4uU/?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="gray and white marble tiles" width="500" /></a> The first and third from the left have been around the whole time – the subway and the hexagon were later additions. :) It’s now down to the the subway: <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtfmzU7FvtgLGXvGmtsmAYx9GhILHjYdtVzQsvKNqLK7_4mb8BVBCEGNl_MDZezG6WpRmOldErC32N3SdivgTPNuFSmHQgYjk-44w5WfhGkL8h_IM679EGmST9G1vOQOfKiR-zayNaxuw/s1600-h/IMG_9765%25255B2%25255D.jpg"><img alt="marble subway tile" border="0" height="750" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlxyAA9xqK0eTyScKobeNUcSufC10QivVPSsov4sT7RtzxI8g_p-pfOHXsBk6bm7vE6gmNwjAPrl9P0Ex5q61lNZxbGh9fNFcurphb8CjBed_Pz5CnPXTxH06cdDTcjN8pH2Nz01ymurY/?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="marble subway tile" width="500" /></a> Or the herringbone: <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5F25UdjEY0unhf0KnwcRZrMA4UQsAQwnxeKt-OCUzh-QZeYdQZVWLri_6Ewk-Y80TN1ykf-q19F0jhYzLTSx6CQBDWxpxSAZ76D2TUkrImKXmORiYNFspTQHISAsvSZOvg-Scte-Yixc/s1600-h/IMG_9766%25255B2%25255D.jpg"><img alt="marble herringbone tile" border="0" height="750" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqkJVasTc4HCP9foEwGFpdurgoaCcUfnoWwLoYUo7SInj8HmIOdRoedomZ_WkFhQkod_-pFju_pjhotgr0zRimhUUIqGvN9KcNMgdcIOkmP51jVW-mFL8zGQcfH8U8RIwAQh2SKSwoXUE/?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="marble herringbone tile" width="500" /></a> The herringbone has always been my favorite but I’ve been intimidated by the small cuts I’d have to do. But as I was holding it up to take this picture I realized I could just cut it down so it fits centered – I can just cut each side off evenly and installed it that way. No small cuts needed to fill in all those spots. I could do the same for the top as well so I don’t risk losing a finger. ;) So…now that I realized that I think I’m going for the herringbone. Ugh, I’m pretty sure. They are both classic designs so it’s a hard decision. There you go! More progress – and I went dark! After the I finish up the doors and the tile (over the next few days), then I’ll focus on the wall treatment above the fireplace and around the TV. Then I’ll give everything one final coat…and I’ll be done! I’m not stopping till I get there – but it will probably be next week. I’ve got my 20 year reunion this weekend so I’ll be taking some time out to party. :) Could you do a color other than white on built ins or a fireplace? It’s not for everyone – but it does give it some drama and certainly makes it the centerpiece of the room. I don’t know if I could do a whole room in such a dark color but little bits of it make me giddy.

A painted fireplace

Well HELLO all! I’ve been working my butt off on the fireplace this week! I don’t have a totally finished product to show you but I’m SO exc...

8:32 AM

The fireplace design

Hello everybody! I’m back home sweet home after being away in Atlanta last week. Another successful Haven Conference is in the books!! Thanks to all of you who attended and all of our vendors and sponsors who help to make it a success! Every year I leave feeling so humbled and blessed. I came home and crashed hard – and then my boy got sick so we’re still nursing his bug. Back to normal! :) Today I’m sharing the process I went through to decide on our new fireplace design. THIS is the fun part for sure. Usually I’d spend months pouring over photos to figure out exactly what I wanted, but this time I had to hurry it up a bit. The fireplace happened a lot faster than I thought it would because we had to have that figured out to move the gas line and lights. Thankfully that built was the majority of the cost in this project – from here on out it’s not too bad. And even though I had to hurry up my normal process, I’ve known what my “dream” fireplace looks like for years anyway. ;) I just wanted to find some pics to show the guys. There were a couple things I was considering to change up the look even more. I love the look of a grand fireplace and as I was looking through inspiration photos I noticed that the ones that really struck me had two things – a hearth of some kind and they were raised up off the floor a bit. Our fp has always been down to the floor and has never had a hearth: <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDXR9nOiB8Sy34y6S0-QZOaT4yhUCtO-HDZ86auA69KRijjIQDySOxFi7kpD7MOu9jotqLss1r52JPp2FDg7MLlzEht3FbY-bi3rxDb4dPk9pc2DsdPaesQq1C-pQrlNiMCgatGGb2kNk/s1600-h/mantel-christmas%25255B2%25255D.jpg"><img alt="mantel-christmas" border="0" height="750" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4MXVn_yqojb5PpuMHUunSBeI0gIlMJNO8sWO_Yd4WnDx_vS39ZUdvooOGT60_sqBjKGFZn4XQMpkD6VjmNRnpWP_i9H8P6gDNjIcnZdT7-_kailXMLgqSe6QtDmHNFtwU7E0MyK3cjxQ/?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="mantel-christmas" width="500" /></a> I’ve always thought raising up the box and adding a hearth would make it feel grander, but I wasn’t sure I’d be able to do either one. I started doing some research to see if it was something I REALLY wanted to make happen. This was my original inspiration: <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKYXnxM5-SAcfckPwIgL7lel_zrZxQHCWghaZ6H4n6b8H_-EB7g6KYAVKN1t08rNt6BBIpLhqNJ2-S9n6dmW6_I6cozn2zWboAhkBexdfjDfxlduODetXw8RWs0d1LaHc631ZgX7q7G-E/s1600-h/Seaton%252520fireplace2%25255B5%25255D.jpg"><img alt="raised fireplace on hearth" border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNTKO0j7Ee7XspY5CfRN518sUZ7kua_oKVhzVnP8UBjxNzHUqQWyVOb-hv-hGOlj63QPwj6PdeXPlfjDoVrpWsqi2LmWXwqQLf4lxtYi1uLbK7U2q3dHCJZyjD7RPdMLWywEXxrhrrFTU/?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="raised fireplace on hearth" width="427" /></a> It had both – the fireplace itself was raised up a bit and there was a flat hearth. I’ve always thought both things make it feel more substantial. But then the more I looked at photos, the more I realized most of the ones I was drawn to may have have had one of those features, but rarely both. Kelly’s gorgeous fireplace had a hearth but the actual fireplace was to the ground (because it’s wood burning): <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOfcfi9CkJfeOv79UPtAU7Gsa22osjecxzI5j0AIWQWTOSFP9ZQV-k-NnEP9mS8aB0E3gyHe_xWV03qnFONRQ8KpkLKt1qZh5NsGbstD2o5TPuiSHEXbfZGd2OPALQG8Aaknf60UQw9U8/s1600-h/IMG_6994OneRoomStyle2%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img alt="woodburning fireplace, hearth" border="0" height="694" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuPqFUXFaNKQKvmSeuuMnuapel6JU3RCtaTOXziHoXnLyIqMQyFIU9vAh_K2_DnYIBnZiTgZu0K8Z2IydJnpYVtqRhZlTQtUkwazO9dbLd4mB7YBfkz-Wk_41jru52OGoTXHLCan6bj4Y/?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="woodburning fireplace, hearth" width="540" /></a> <a href="http://eclecticallyvintage.com/2013/06/one-room-three-ways-living-room-style-3/" title="http://eclecticallyvintage.com/2013/06/one-room-three-ways-living-room-style-3/">(source)</a> Layla’s beautiful fireplace redo had a simple black hearth and another fireplace that was low to the ground: <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmHu18qhU6kJvfjkUko24OvrKmuf4XP8oaFMimODF-Uw7-c8j0_49-sItbI9ovaa37If93XSNt0Q-lzdwUu2iTEMhGvqmTExJCUciV7rR3tbfTAORe-z3WMf5ezcTcuFO5LEiW-hD1REw/s1600-h/RMS-LaylaPalmer_eclectic-living-room_s4x3_lg%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img alt="lettered cottage fireplace redo" border="0" height="375" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAaGi7k19r-vtQ82osmWtDAkDhZ-bnUiCAhHjCiAzlNfK4bEo_jlo8BQPMQEEfUvQVFtjlMsMB2JS3AEA79iLDPYPkDCAWSDKd875RsRwpwENAnhPSkRnmqojJNc1VadtmpUl-ck2uLW8/?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="lettered cottage fireplace redo" width="500" /></a> (<a href="http://theletteredcottage.net/my-82-fireplace-makeover/" target="_blank">source</a>) Again, their’s was low because there was a cast iron firebox inside initially, but I did like the look. I finally found a gas insert that had a small hearth and was down low too: <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlKTxqO-RfgdVau4y9AahVmyCYpk3dg1Qi8esI3xlhxFxNldvPN2ODYRpWzQvX_VSStS0DYrp9apiF1Vu4-fji4GcBPf-DhC-nYIwIvtnVrMvSjmLFWg8BiErzYl7qCA0RK0B8JprhAio/s1600-h/Screen%252520Shot%2525202014-07-14%252520at%25252010.19.07%252520AM%25255B4%25255D.png"><img alt="TV over fireplace" border="0" height="339" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzDXvk5Yv388CP3mvHe1iiC8Q-PynrYcZCTHWeM-FY0XXcG46WaM7eUVkFZnzcsqnH946Sx0H_uhsJdjM5KcMc_4l-3VjFrk28Iu5Oht22HzZ7JFUSYIYauO9uMGcYBbq_7zd9IHqXzbQ/?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="TV over fireplace" width="518" /></a> <a href="http://www.houzz.com/photos/1169324/Daybreak-traditional-living-room-salt-lake-city" title="http://www.houzz.com/photos/1169324/Daybreak-traditional-living-room-salt-lake-city">(source)</a> The more I looked the more I realized maybe a raised insert and big hearth wasn’t the look I was going for. ;) And then as things started to come together I noticed that adding a tiled hearth was going to eat into our family room space even more. I’ve mentioned that the new room will be much bigger, but it will be long and skinny. That width the hearth would take up is valuable space. And I looked into raising the gas insert but there were two issues – the venting in the back would have to be replaced and it would mean the whole thing would stick out even more. I mean, it’s already a beast. And we’re moving our TV over the fireplace so even another four to five inches in height would make our TV really high. As it is now I think it will be great, but any more and it would be awkward. So after a little more research I decided to nix both. The added cost and problems weren’t worth it. I felt a ton better about that decision after seeing this gorgeous fireplace redo: <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhddIKnUCp2VIUbin6UnhV4z4yosTPwuLjYP7PTZkqCnm1kaA5zjyKRmXCKWjdDSLbFw3JWtfpxMkQgevlDCdavd1hIR52VUhoXpFF0HcqTjD_843c1I9CVtkp-7ND1r3GznRZCqY-xuvc/s1600-h/IMG_760%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img alt="TV over fireplace" border="0" height="750" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCGTKN4u3l8N2vfhyphenhyphenPzYHCab79qXpmPx2PDxFjhbHW9d3uS640wLt5ZCXuiQXY2hVH5YAGrAttYD1f0dorbXdDrAbaiMucU2V8EmYpFRWAAZCWL_Qq0VscA5eg33w6sMTAPNz8XRQ-rXo/?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="TV over fireplace" width="498" /></a> <a href="http://feelinglovesome.blogspot.com/2012/11/fireplace-makeover.html" title="http://feelinglovesome.blogspot.com/2012/11/fireplace-makeover.html">(source)</a> No hearth and the insert is to the ground – and it’s beautiful. And when I found this one I saved it to my files and named it “exactly.”: <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaCkUU2vMHAx05FOSUstXSXGtVP-UHEk7ex3mRWBnT0YwNh4qMG3pJ60oFC2OtcPhVmn5HaaeMwnlkLUoyX0leajmbHsy6hKT7ubDKAtOn-HmpcO904xquR2VLqBilqFdD3tFluB9XeSU/s1600-h/fireplace%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img alt="TV inset over fireplace, no hearth" border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIjlNG0lQC6w423dX6uFmHBfBn-KA4ZlA_YqaAHWHUbzqDVuq_OUPPwVsO3QoXaFhejnCNNz5pBSMhKvtIfzTbnhkFNXq0RyVAHw7vsaFqTsQVyrqTXCkP7LlQGRksnT1aacIhhnt-m8o/?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="TV inset over fireplace, no hearth" width="480" /></a> <a href="http://simplyinspireddesign.com/a-sneak-peek/" title="http://simplyinspireddesign.com/a-sneak-peek/">(source)</a> This is actually very similar to how ours will look, at least the fireplace and wall part above. I’ve been planning to “sink” the TV in just a bit and this gave me a good idea of how it will look. My plan is that you won’t see that inset part though – the bracket will go inside and the TV will sit over it: <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIizb9UB6SDU-SHrgtCTZhbQMjlPnpdwJxzUyNMyk2UleVOBMQBIoC1UyGxcBrfIvfH2rnELyQkHI3XacBDRmOXXjzJ-Dned_aDfRuWpGwJcLDNAwrrlVQ6bsjJNR4DtDkYskwLwehmVc/s1600-h/unnamed%25255B2%25255D.jpg"><img alt="inset for TV bracket" border="0" height="667" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEha7EQjpmy7NUhmZLC8TWvDOTd6Dsqgi0TfSpw4DfVuWOvkcLHJQCPXZ6ji0s0gj_pibohkURXw_RmTcKDom-zHal4Mh4XWGLS1hqBHTek-A0LDc6OigerO-wMcol-q954Eqy8i-IhpCtA/?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="inset for TV bracket" width="500" /></a> As a reminder, here’s my inspiration for the look of the built ins and fireplace set up: <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLkBD_YaXqylzueJ6WodI89LwPApVr3KrD8W-uIFYknNds12fO26Vjd1PtdpRwWYKKCkkoQD052SWgP8HBb0QxWpCTtB2B6heGnq2kkcGSnaAHJdXXhx5GoHVRhnNjikaVvk3_gsUqwg8/s1600-h/101915053.jpg.rendition.largest%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img alt="fireplace with built ins" border="0" height="416" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPneOE6rALOVzhSzhY1eYHVjYFfd0tjhzYb-kKECRGemaUnuQaAmJrjQAgc8wu-CGstyyjW7kPAPuif6nygCsbsnZf6LTcM6hBboUHDljHI2zfJqJAclwV8lA1qnDFabxT0qOyaDtsio8/?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="fireplace with built ins" width="500" /></a> And this is what they had done as of early last week: <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHFkN7K3l-ZUDnZ27kIFIBwEss9ndw2TwRuM-rTy6HlMesSKgb4Aln0Iyn5eO5xEvoVjM4dZN_xMVHYd_V5D7YnR74zIba8aMdSwAu_3qzjd_JVofLumyKEXJh9k0dk5vHFbGM8aG_cow/s1600-h/IMG_9388%25255B2%25255D.jpg"><img alt="fireplace with built ins" border="0" height="750" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKkqZlSFmsI6pAZQjhI45-EnbU2K1EGNDqJ_AJldCmrXdnqU9dig9NKIwyFXcwOlJIOcMT4tgfxsBeLmXB7-_mwQQAIMAYhZalxnfta9rgu62st6Yqgo3hw-wo9Qy5iTYY8NyJLEknu3Y/?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="fireplace with built ins" width="500" /></a> Lots of progress has happened since! This week I’ll start caulking, filling and priming the entire thing. I still have to figure out what tile I want to use on the surround: <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjB2cQs0RQAyBFoynX7RLoscUSFAQIwp0JSRNFrJZbrDCmqyj95TzKNiEzQ0Fvk5_1SyPf-hloBt83KAyB2qhxpymBhvDL6RVNBctRoAUPRLLgPc1CCeqIDmB0ttH04Irf6Xt7lgsoejMs/s1600-h/7%25255B2%25255D.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" height="375" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiVureHAHFwfxSDdGeH5bP-V2WEMCpQvb82BEmNYC1YGM2Evz-glhTzgEghbvVkiBR1D-81vOe1ZTAVoWxs4Mc0bGg-QXGttiQUjbvrQt0UYHpWufpExgMAvedKHMjUrznt36RhE7TmDs/?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="" width="500" /></a> Those are just a few options – the first and third from the left are my favorites but that herringbone looks hard to install – lots of little bitty cuts that I’m not sure I want to attempt. It would look AMAZING though, right? Anyway, I hope by the end of this week I’ll have the whole thing at least primed. Can’t wait to show you the progress! We’re almost to the point where it’s all up to me – the guys are finishing up the fireplace details today, working on the lighting in the room and then the audio/visual guys are coming to move everything. I’m a little nervous about that – hope it all goes smoothly. Then the floors can be patched and I can get moving on the walls and paint. So far so good – I’m doing OK with the mess so far. Since there’s not really much left for the contractors to do I can see the light. :) I think we’ll only have another week or so of construction and then the smaller stuff starts. Do you have a dream fireplace in your head? I’m so excited I get to see mine come to life!!

The fireplace design

Hello everybody! I’m back home sweet home after being away in Atlanta last week. Another successful Haven Conference is in the books!! Thank...

8:40 AM

How to pick out tile (in the laundry room!)

Hello all! I’m making little bits of progress on a bunch of rooms right now – it’s decorating ADD at it’s finest. But at least there’s (some) progress, right? I’m SO happy with how our basement laundry room is turning out! It so fun to have a new space to work with, I’m in heaven. And dare I say it – it’s not so bad when I have ROOM to do laundry. Yep, I said it. Anyhoo, I actually picked out the tile for this room months and months ago, I think before the room actually had walls. ;) I had always dreamed of this pretty hexagon tile from Lowes in the space: <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjq71YLRHI379DJnK2ltTculiRnIPFruhVJIIRejhhU32aHHXaPJ5oiFaUdYu8EXBOwJpir-w4_GmkMg8wUspWrSE3MXrf4BKRjuesoH3MZdHktj_qi9mP5suWiTBvVsdreQayX5N0aQxw/s1600-h/hexagon%252520tile%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img alt="white hexagon tile" border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSi1IFwCD_uddLbyu04DeWLBT-7iRqjQo2RJkHyuY5SwiZB1pQhGWXEH4Z06RD2WsRDca7oNAyKQ_8D3jb-srl6wL9Z5q_AkQJqQqCixPq2ng9qO9r6cKW6eWrX1cYC7Dic9yOsfl36e0/?imgmax=800" style="border-right-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: auto" title="white hexagon tile" width="360" /></a> I wanted something a bit different, something that was fun, but wouldn’t break the bank. And this stuff was perfect. (It’s called <a href="http://www.lowes.com/pd_302928-74035-SL012OCT26HC1P2_5005562__?productId=3426464&Ntt=american+olean+oct+white+tiles&pl=1&currentURL=%3FNtt%3Damerican%2Bolean%2Boct%2Bwhite%2Btiles&facetInfo=3">American Olean Sausalito tile</a>.) But as time went on (and it was closer to the time of installing it), I got cold feet. The tile is really thin, and I thought it was supposed to be used only on a backsplash. Even the guys who have been working on the basement were worried about using it. I was so bummed, because I had planned on this stuff for half a year. :) So I did two things – asked some bloggy friends if they had used it, and went to Lowes to find out more about it. The first bit of info I learned was from my friend Cassity at <a href="http://www.remodelaholic.com/">Remodelaholic</a>. She told me that typically tile that is made for wall applications (like a backsplash) is white or cream on the back. Tile that is made for the floor is dark or clay colored on the back. Mine was dark on the back! I had no idea! Good to know, eh? Then Lowe’s guy showed me indicators on the tile box that helped a ton: <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgniYTBOXDpMGAH8IsRmwtY8AGPEDdsQsS6GdlBJL6jqxLlwqDg3Fxt4vYID1ZGJ2tmjT_vMj56y-NEntnVFQNSHOh-TmKWvjbSPZuKFScKj3v7IzeqoGUsRGF7_O-tNPOU_Tc7l2AcHnE/s1600-h/IMG_2342%25255B9%25255D.jpg"><img alt="how to pick out tile" border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWZxlEcbnjcEoACHT2xLA6sQy7ETm1Llse2QA0h8lb9TNo_43ZgWKNZp8B_1RAkKhcZscSkB9Q5wGLdPXJUt9RY8Gse81OJYqo8heD4dlYMPBr5J7F-TGeTJVNqZ-Bu-cfPS6zIqJtjto/?imgmax=800" style="border-right-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: auto" title="how to pick out tile" width="360" /></a> It was a wealth of information! I looked up what the codes mean and found <a href="http://www.homedepot.com/hdus/en_US/DTCCOM/Home_Services/Tile_Flooring/Tile_Flooring_Buying_Guide/Docs/ceramic_tile_label_info.pdf">this</a> helpful pdf from Home Depot. First up – the grade for this tile is a one (the highest quality) and you want to use grade one or two for floors, a three for floors. The PEI (stands for Porcelain Enamel Institute) is a three – this indicates the tile’s resistance to abrasion. This one is fine for moderate wear and suitable for home use. The little umbrella icon is for water absorption, which is something you want to think about for a spot like a laundry room! This one falls between low and moderate absorption so it was fine for this space. Finally, one I didn’t even consider but is nice to know – the C.O.F., which is basically the slip factor. My tile was rated at .65, and anything above .60 exceeds ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act) guidelines – which means it’s too not slippery. I was honestly surprised to see that my pretty little tile passed every test with flying colors! SOLD! :) Because I have <a href="http://thriftydecorchick.blogspot.com/2009/08/i-can-tile.html">limited experience</a> with tile, and because the mortar had to be spread as thin as possible to avoid it seeping through all of those grout lines, I didn’t DIY this project. The room had turned into a second storage room over the past few months, so I did clean it out and get the floors cleaned up: <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2BhqFHPk1G3vWaiB70bl2UF8188NbjZj3JiOHE7xU-61RT4JTeUAdmYQJab1oOPjC7B3J8fUBNtptu2vWEd7PNmcax9h2fsUYK56mhLNwU580nFxvVxQ-RYecuKLhch5GMO5Zu7QwJAQ/s1600-h/IMG_2325%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg346F0GXVKV64GLlCVlYd56jaEYHeZbRYPpCbmr0NyMYz8tJhxTqCkrq3fmsbUaKwYHL2AY8KkLRhkJrgl-JZ_aSpBeTTcdtZI5IDc2Qv_5BF6ez5YrkSPot-Yl2JNR1W1yG3UW3fO6kQ/?imgmax=800" style="border-right-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: auto" title="" width="320" /></a> I went back and forth on an underlayment in here, since the tile was going directly on cement floors. I talked to about four contractor-type peeps and every single one of them said it wasn’t needed. So I didn’t do it, but I’ll let you know in time if that was a good idea or not. ;) Because I didn’t want to worry about keeping bright white grout lines clean, I used a light gray grout color: <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEil8lGKvebx7eKzbt9DSOil9rMAU1rbB5h2UejSDzHA5_z64fw9RqR92LafYPlBNkMn8L60et4RU3GJBglmke8Nlkzt91LjAxOVtV3ieMdV97LRO6QX0KSMavDDz1OXCOAgeKgAZqdgH3I/s1600-h/093994293107xl%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img alt="warm grey sanded grout" border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5vWu_VK-X2Zo13CXHyqlSebnVxouNApJGlv65hn2cgn8OxJoUXH2qK4X_Eh5MwRVhEwh_SfrKqqkTP5nbGVJTVTAVVmRCWSVMF4XlAXmgPXc-tVSHgr4gdPzZe31ruO69MhkrTCDxiBw/?imgmax=800" style="border-right-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: auto" title="warm grey sanded grout" width="400" /></a> This is the product I picked out (from Lowes) and it’s a sanded grout called warm gray. I love it!! One thing to consider – one bag was more than enough for the square footage of this room, but obviously those tiles have more than average grout lines. So we needed two bags of the grout to get ‘er done. I am SO thrilled with the result:<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKrTSr2mMhKnmW19oTiDRnI4VbhlHBQuzAvnKfqJV2qOwE4Ked5foar4jWxHgZhtej5TQ-nKrKxKFi0eyMc4X2iOWVdJZ-VJq6bJ23iC52xkiX9uNMJZ9b62hStOnpIKFa0hyphenhyphenoVLDvCHA/s1600-h/IMG_2338%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img alt="white tile gray grout" border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7sauC1GcFiH-g4UXj1D7t8KGMr1AmfegI3Q_QZn7IoYuuZ21sN9IuPusuny8XpfFK7swj7y4yLUEsxA5le4x_Nnijt9aW8XjgV0T0lewSP8JgQt0iLbytuZFjRknoliQFD6Y72BTV98I/?imgmax=800" style="border-right-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: auto" title="white tile gray grout" width="450" /></a> The gray grout will be easier to take care of, and I LOVE how it actually shows off the pretty shapes of the tile. They would be lost with white grout! After it was grouted and wiped down, I cleaned it well one more time, let it dry for an hour, and used this sealer the guys recommend: <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsUQ4cjz3DkIzsx4DzaoBnCxvKtZrrUuqdo5Csgxr5xfDZu1n4CrveVlCjoOwWYBoubLAEe0hj8grc7M-eEbQfIpo1NBd-vCIL-ScuL3Ma_VtMWVFAHC2zbTVgcjK3cRocg9IAT96GNhI/s1600-h/photo%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img alt="one hour spray grout sealer" border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBsbgTup8jHHOQUVRvyRT1rqNNU9a2bcfAEC8d7dXL7yjkz5Zc4rqpgDvUr5yuZkcs7f43qF5-vtyuwUDMC7TxPXo2_v7Y9xtRWSy4HqigJPID-c1yYdZNGpvzYJ5tvcHeAjPqlkeXSvs/?imgmax=800" style="border-right-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: auto" title="one hour spray grout sealer" width="340" /></a> Other sealers I’ve used in the past can’t be applied till about three days after the grout is done. This one can be applied after just an hour. It was the easiest sealant I’ve ever used – I just sprayed it down on the tile, working my way across the room. The floor will be super wet when you’re done, so work your way out of the room. Let it sit five to ten minutes then just wipe it clean! I got down on my hands and knees with two rags and wiped as I went through the room. It says you can do a second coat 30 minutes later, but I soaked this floor so I didn’t think it was needed: <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGe9JReE8T4YlzgK48TNzwC9xGPJCwbDIGwVx-PuyHYdmG84_XEdne2RNuGc1OzMDzbg0xB-ZaQS-4cG_ztC3qTaLGDEhxGQzEAp27DLI_DL8HUb1gsyAkscr-I7q0aAfqo_rF2hTFytI/s1600-h/IMG_2332%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img alt="white tile gray grout" border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgz5RRl1_DjTAIiXA-A_1iMpvXFWoVGdJWe2nYSXpiB86rsl995NIEf-MFil8oChKvGbuBgzOzXRnczvehprtUaKahMp4WIS-9Cy6YjiMT_QLY0WHJ1scyaMM0xdCx9mdFnor6cHvOvtk0/?imgmax=800" style="border-right-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: auto" title="white tile gray grout" width="320" /></a> Isn’t it pretty? It turned out just as I envisioned. Here’s the after with the tile: <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPPT2E33oso9p_rZWESyTXh0C2_YsRVPX34S31JGqMOK82cl6EoFojc2yJJJouBvg885LcoV2_QIbBjBeBWZsTNNsDfHgadbj_WNcGloH3IjG-_lrZko73l66tqZoFEPd7RORyGVDWPEM/s1600-h/IMG_2328%25255B13%25255D.jpg"><img alt="white tile gray grout hexagon" border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTgraCkGlVvdBZScSh7L3VttYnUSs892yvR3z4jsVWTZ_zE-EN_1nNTCD8bbBOhqa5A6pFV7HPwvnkFFDeqhQW_Jhnvq0wuyYw1dd90a9_fZbb5ZxeKmI_mPoN2hKPVR-tQVEfKbWfDT8/?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="white tile gray grout hexagon" width="320" /></a> This room already looks SO much different now! I’ve been busy in here and I can’t wait to show you more! Now I’m psyched to get the bathroom tiled and I think I might try my hand at it. I think. :) I’ve never done floor tile and I’m nervous. I was planning on going light on the floors in there too, but now I’m thinking dark, which I’ll explain soon. This tile cost more than basic ceramic tile, but I thought for the unique look it wasn’t too bad – the whole room was less than $140. I’ve seen this look for WAY more so I’m thrilled with it! Have you tried this pretty hexagon tile in your home? Have you ever tiled a floor? Any tips? P.S. I think I said “grout” 55 times.

How to pick out tile (in the laundry room!)

Hello all! I’m making little bits of progress on a bunch of rooms right now – it’s decorating ADD at it’s finest. But at least there’s (some...

8:53 PM

Tiling a fireplace surround

A painted fireplace

The fireplace design

How to pick out tile (in the laundry room!)

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