My brother is a tile setter. He said people are frequently “surprised” by the grout color they picked. It seldom looks like the sample. Since grout on floors seems to get darker (dirtier?) over time, I wanted to used very small grout lines and black grout on my wood-look tile floor in the guest bathroom. The measurements worked out better using a slightly bigger grout space and he recommended a dark brown grout (sable brown, I think). It dried lighter than the color on the box, but still looks great with the tile. I love it.
I would laugh at that $8K faucet for the price and also the style, except that my husband was entranced by something very similar recently. I hope he doesn’t really think I would go for it!
Not my style but I can see it working depending on the kitchen.
The power of Mother’s Day. 
My Mr. Who Hates Shopping For Anything Decor agreed to drive all the way to Floor and Decor today to look at wall tile… as a gift to me - to my big surprise, he really got into the game of tile selection! Loaded up on tiles with blue hues… now off to see which ones are going back.
Regarding quartz countertops. I’m just not clear on these different name brands for quartz. Do they have “prefab” granite stores near you? ( these are not kitchen design stores, these are granite/quartz warehouses full of prefabricated countertops, usually in industrial area so). If yes, go into the store and see if you like any of their prefab quartz designs. You could save a boatload of money
Quartz is a manufactured material and I cannot figure out how one quartz could be better than another quartz, except for coloring??
CB, not all quartz materials are created equal: the quality of the resin and the % of resin that goes into quartz matter a lot. For example, Cambria holds multiple patents covering their designs and proprietary materials and methods of their making.
Like these:
I am sure other big name makers have their own proprietary processes.
And we have (almost!) a winner for our wall of tile:
https://www.flooranddecor.com/glass-tile/paradise-bay-pebble-glass-mosaic-100550607.html
I went to a new Floor & Decor store today, too. It was my first time to go as there hasn’t been one near me until now. My D took me to lunch and I drug her over to look at tile and such. She is pretty boho in her style and picked out some “fancy” tiles. If I were to put them on my floor, I feel like everything else would need to be plain jane. I found a pretty backsplash tile, but the countertop would have to be a solid color (imo) to make it work. This was the backsplash tile but it was a much lighter blue.
https://www.flooranddecor.com/porcelain-tile/patina-lagoon-polished-porcelain-tile-100566454.html#q=polished+porcelain+wall+tile&prefn1=color&prefv1=Blue&start=2
I am also a Floor and Decor addict.
@BunsenBurner my bachelor client wanted that broken glass tile really bad. I had to scour all stores and there was not enough in stock in So Cal for his shower wall. We had to go with the glass herringbone. Might want to check stock before you fall too much in love with it:)
Just checked, they must have got a lot more in. Plenty down here now
@musicmom1215 I am in love with that tile whenever I go in the store but haven’t found the right project yet
Good to know. I definitely will! The “wall” is actually just some space around two Electric Mirror frames. There were several boxes of it on the shelf at the store. This tile is not cheap… glad we will not need much. The glass herringbone is the runner up as is Monaco Celeste.
@coralbrook - thank you for the herringbone tile recommendation! That shower looked great. I will be borrowing your design for our guest shower. That is the next big project… but it can wait a little.
@BunsenBurner, I love that tile. Where is it going?
It is going on the wall previously occupied by a large glued on mirror. We bought 2 Electric Mirrors to go above the sinks (his has a TV embedded in the mirror, mine does not)
https://www.electricmirror.com/product/silhouette-lighted-mirror/
Yesterday Mister wired the wall for the mirrors and added a recessed outlet for the TV plug. Whatever floats his boat! 
Some house architectural design porn for you, home improvers:
I like sleek and modern, but I believe that a house needs some warmth to really feel like a home, and that sterile looking kitchen does not scream “feels like home” to me.
I love everything about that house.
Work on patio started yesterday. Unfortunately rain is slowing it down.
Like those mirrors!
I like the blue tiles! I have been back and forth to Floor and Decor so many times during this project, luckily it is only about 15 minutes away. I need to head back there to pick my kitchen backsplash next. I am going with plain white subway type tiles because the counter is grey but just haven’t picked exactly which one yet.
My house is a total disaster right now. I have about 10 guys here today, 2 still working on the floors and the rest putting the kitchen cabinets together. I am a tiny bit disappointed in the cabinets but DH will get annoyed if I tell him (he thinks I always find something wrong) so I can say it here. It’s not a huge deal and is really my fault for not looking more closely, but the cut out for the panels (shaker style) is not at a 90 degree angle, it is slightly more (or less?) I guess I didn’t look that closely in the showroom because I knew I wanted shaker style and had looked online where it is harder to see the angles. Oh well, still 100 times better than what I had and I am sure nobody will notice but me. I know for sure nobody in my family will notice!
Floor is looking good and the darker grout is so much better than the light grout!
We actually picked the angled panels like yours over the 90 degree shaker for a good reason - ease of cleaning. Our new bedroom doors have the same style.
@BunsenBurner That is the first thing I thought of when I noticed it- I think I am becoming my mom! I went in and looked closer when the guys were at lunch I don’t think it’s realky noticeable when you are looking at them so that’s good.
I wondered what people wanted ere talk8ng about when they said electric mirrors… now I know. I’ve never seen them before,
Thanks