I just use black . . .takes all the guesswork out of it.

OMG- you crack me up!!! I love black, too, but then I discovered all the array of colors on both the Polyblend and Laticrete charts, and I've got dilusions again: pick a grout color, then build a project around it! LOL!

Which black do you use? I used "Midnight Black" from Laticrete on my first project, and find that it's "quite" black, but not BLACK black, especially against a black tile.

There ya go! I've never done a "test" piece...I just wing it....not giving that as advice to anyone...just the way I do things....I don't think things out the way you are suppose to...too much thinking makes me tired. It is what it is! Good luck!

MM I keep playing with it until I like the look. I am NOT a black grout for everything person. I can easily get three and four colors of grout on the same piece.

Sigh. Suppose that does not help you one bit.

For the practical side of your project. Since you are doing this around the sink/counter area in your kithcen it will be wiped down often. A darker grout will be easier to keep up than a lighter grout. I do not know what the tan color you mentioned earlier looks like but it sounds lovely and a good blending grout color for all your colors of tiles.

Chris

I only test if I'm making up a color of grout..nothing elaborate. Last one I mixed up two colors of grout with thinset and tested different ratios. I was using only teaspoons and spreading on a paper plate and putting some of my main colors next to it. I did that because I was sure how much lighter the thinset would make it dry. Not that you asked but I don't think I would use black on your piece. I think your darker areas like pebbles and buttons would just show up like big dark areas from afar. Maybe I'm wrong; you'd know better. I also don't use much black with a lot of china. Love it with brighter glass. I use either a yellowy tan or a beige tan quite a bit.

I always use a gray grout..Platinum Laticrete is the grout d'jour.
Sounds like the test boards idea would be neat, but that means buying several bags at one time. (18 ya say?)

BTW: I really appreciate the chart you sent. I will venture on to other grout colors one day!

Very pretty color.......go for it!

I get one of those color charts from the store and them place 2 or three shards around the little strip of color on the chart so that the strip is in the grout lines til I find a color I like.

Of course then I also mix the grouts I have for more choices. I have a fondness lately for charcol (whatever brand Home Depot carries) and mist (mapei brand) mixed together to make a blue gray. When I start mixing I kinda just wing it.

p

ooo- nice idea, pea!

Some tiles store carry little grout samples you can have ,not on paper,actual dried grout in little plastic things.This really helps.

I've always found the the grout ends up lighter looking
in the application. If you hold the swatch sheet to it
it's the exact same color, but for some reason always is lighter. Maybe because on the swatch it's surrounded by white??? Just something to tuck in the back of your mind while deciding.

Thanks, linlee...I did debate whether to go one shade darker because of that...