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caroline_schildt

seeking help sourcing large format limestone look tile

4 years ago

First time poster here. Has anyone here in the US sourced large format limestone look tile? We love UK based Humphrey Munsons flooring collection they use in their kitchens, particularly the grey tumbled limestone. They have a grey porcelain that emulates their limestone line as well as shown here in photo. We are trying find a website based in US or tile store here in CT that can get close to achieving this particular look in porcelain for us. Thanks in advance for the help!

Comments (257)

  • 8 months ago

    Beautiful! What do you mean about epoxy vs regular grout?

  • 8 months ago

    Thank you! Epoxy does not stain and doesn’t need to be sealed. It is harder to work with so a lot of tile guys do not promote it. But it’s much easier to keep clean. I don’t see any plastic type of appearance on that I used, but perhaps a wider grout line might show the plasticity of the epoxy. If you use it, you want to make sure to read all about it and make sure the tile guys do not treat it like regular grout, leave a haze like they would with traditional grout thinking that it’ll be easy to remove. They should do their best to clean the face of the tile directly after install and use an epoxy grout haze remover after 24 hours. It cures very quickly and is difficult to remove from any cabinets or tubs and so on.

  • 8 months ago

    Ok, thank you for that explanation--I love the idea of not needing sealed and doesn't stain but that is what we were told when our tile was installed with Mapei CQ grout and it left a terrible haze that several years later is still attracting dirt and in certain light, is still noticeable when not cleaned daily-to put that in perspective, most people likely do not mop their entire floor daily, it is about 1000 sq ft of tiled space on my 1st floor. We are getting new tile due to several cracking and it is discontinued. In order to avoid this grout haze again, I do not want the new tile installed with the grout we currently have.

  • 8 months ago

    I got down on hands and needs and scrubbed the haze off twice. I’d rather not have grout upkeep and put the work in early on. I still have more to do and with epoxy, if you leave the haze for longer than 24 hours, it will be harder to remove. I’m about to do a third round this weekend. I am happy to have gone with epoxy grout as cleaning and re-sealing is not my cuppa tea. I hope you share pictures of your completed project. I’m a contractor so like to see what homeowners have done and their perspectives. Please share!

  • 8 months ago

    A Mapei rep came out and said it was set. Some tiles (they were discontinued) were cracked so I need a whole new floor. Looking for another neutral one and I was hoping for the Sabbia or Avorio in the Versailles pattern but it may be out of budget considering the amount of demo that has to be done now since the tile floor was installed over Ardex...

  • 8 months ago

    Some others in this chat have mentioned other tiles they have been happy with which look similar to tumbled limestone. I hope you find something you really like

  • 8 months ago

    Thank you, I hope so also! Is Mapei CQ an epoxy grout?

  • 8 months ago

    I looked it up and it’s not. Says it has “similar characteristics to an epoxy grout.”

  • 8 months ago

    Hello - why wouldn't you use epoxy grout with larger grout lines? I'm planning to do 3/8 offset (so relatively large). I don't want the grout to look dirty, so it seems like epoxy might be the way to go? thanks for any tips here!

  • 8 months ago

    I would go for it personally. I’m just not recommending it or warning that it might have a different look from traditional grout. Have not seen it in larger spacing. Let us know how it turns out

  • 7 months ago

    Hi everyone. Since you have been so helpful with this Avorio tile I thought I'd hit you up for some more advise! Any backsplash tile suggestions?

    The counter tops are Carrara Miksa MSI quartz. We inherited these cabinets when we bought the house. They were in excellent condition so have been trying to make them work. Im not 100% ruling out paint in their future!!


  • 7 months ago

    Is that Avorio? Looks very similar to Sabbia

  • 7 months ago

    I went with red based white in breakfast room and red beige in kitchen. Sabbia now I realize leans slightly green. When I was picking grout the darker I went the more I leaned towards Mappei Walnut which is a little green leaning. Not red based. Now that I have gone with red based whites and beige I see that perhaps green based whites and beige might be better. Perhaps Carrington Beige by Benjamin Moore. I had dupes made at Sherwin Williams of Farrow and Ball Dimity and Jitney and the dupes didn’t turn out to match the Farrow & Ball samples I had painted. They were off. I will post some pictures. I think light slightly red based but not too red or light beige slightly red based are ok. But the darker, green based.

  • 7 months ago

    Not sure red based is way to go. Here you can see. I would like to paint my cabinets too eventually. Please post pictures whatever paint colors y’all choose. I would like to see any green based whites and neutrals with Sabbia especially.

  • 7 months ago

    The last picture where there is a line in the far right corner unpainted, that is before the walls were painted with the red based white

  • 7 months ago

    Did anyone seal their grout? And how so if you did?

  • 7 months ago

    yes Avorio - Im also still struggling with a white as well. Tried F&B Ammonite per suggestion here - it was a bit too dark for my rooms.

  • 7 months ago

    What direction is your room facing? How much light do you have?

  • 7 months ago

    I’ve lived w the Sabbia long enough. It’s a taupe with violet and a cream with green undertones. Can look different depending on lighting. Would love to see pics of anyone’s paint colors. It’s ok if you don’t have a Humphrey Munson kitchen 😉 Please share!!! Thanks!

  • 6 months ago

    Can anyone tell me what grout color and spacing you used for avorio tile?

  • PRO
    6 months ago

    Did anyone seal their grout?


  • 5 months ago

    HU-125072240 What size of tile did you install in you house? The 16 x 24 or the large 24 x 36. I am still trying to decide between the sabbia or avorio color. Both are very pretty.


  • 5 months ago

    hi this is a long shot: does anyone have any left over avorio tile 16 x 24? we didn't order enough and need just 9 more tiles. happy to pay for the price of the tiles and shipping. let me know. the shipping cost for a small batch order is insane! (we're getting them grouted now - they look great!)

    thanks to this community!

  • 5 months ago

    Those that have Avorio what color would you say it is? I know its an ivory/cream but does it have gray? Trying to decide between Avorio and Tufo and every image shows them different colors of course

  • 4 months ago

    Avorio leans cream! There are tiles in this colorway that are more nuetral, gray-ish

  • 4 months ago

    Avorio leans cream. There are tiles in this colorway that are more neutral, gray-ish

  • 4 months ago

    Thanks! i was thinking that was the case, we just arent sold on tufo and dont want all gray. But want the look of these tiles. we currently have a beige travertine (chisled in versaille patternen) in our current house that weve been happy with but looking to get away from beige and looking for only the 16x24 look.


    we like the avorio from pictures weve seen but i dont think it will match the shower wall we picked out (white dolomite with gray streaks).


    Does the avorio look yellowish to you?



  • 4 months ago

    I do see yellow and even pink when the light changes.

  • 3 months ago

    @Amanda Styles what color/brand of grout did you use with your Tufo floor?

  • 3 months ago

    Any ideas for what color would be closest to this image?


  • 3 months ago

    Anyone have pics of Tofu installed? if im reading the thread correctly, these are mostly pics of avorio and sabbia

  • 3 months ago

    Oops nevermind! For some reason a lot of the thread was not showing up

  • 3 months ago


    We are in process of installing tufo

  • 3 months ago

    Beautiful, thank you!

  • 3 months ago

    Finally in the process of sabbia! I know ppl have mentioned which grout they have used for Sabbia. But I’ve been scrolling for ages and can’t find the posts on grout colour!! Anyone got suggestions?? 😊

  • 2 months ago

    @mwynne what grout did you use? What color on your wall?

  • 2 months ago

    @megan your kitchen is beautiful! Where did you find your cabinet hardware pulls?

  • 2 months ago

    @Linda. I went to the store yesterday and on the display tiles, it is suggested the grout match to be Mapei Ivory #39 for Ostuni Sabbia. Hope that helps.

  • 2 months ago

    Thank you so much Elizabeth. I did go with ivory first but found it too matchy…same colour as tile. I decided to go Biscuit. It’s a little lighter. Which some ppl don’t like but I wanted a little contrast. Hopefully it will be done soon and I’ll post a pic.
    Thanks again

  • 2 months ago

    Installing avorio in my laundry room / back entry next week and can not for the life of me choose a grout. Marble beige seems like it won’t get too dirty but I can’t decide if it’s too dark. Help!

  • 2 months ago

    Mandy M.: I'd love to see a photo of your finished Tufo floor and the name of your grout color. Are you happy with it?

  • 2 months ago

    Caitie. Pick an epoxy or urethane grout to help retain a light color without staining. It's more difficult to apply. Be prepared for this when you talk to the tiler.

  • 2 months ago
    last modified: 2 months ago



    Here is our finished tufo. We used prism oyster gray for grout. Our installer liked that brand better than mapei


  • 2 months ago

    @Caitie. Check Mapei Biscuit #5014. One tile store has the Ostuni Avorio tiles displayed and suggested this grout match.

  • last month

    @HU-125072240. Did you use 1/16" grout line for the Ostuni tiles? The pictures posted looked larger than that?

  • last month

    any photos of grigio? Even a photo of samples would be helpful!

  • last month

    @M Greg. You posted 8 months ago that the Avorio tiles that were installed in your kitchen seemed to have a pink hue. How do they look now? Is the grout line hard to clean? What is the grout thickness on your tiles?

  • last month

    Elizabeth, yes, I used 1/16. The tile has an unrectified edge so it looks larger than 1/16. I am happy with the 1/16. Perhaps a 1/8 would be nice. If you’re going with Epoxy, make sure grout guys create a smooth finish with the grout. My guys didn’t in certain areas and dirt collects there

  • last month

    Janalee I used 16x24

  • last month




    This Is Grigio. Mine are outdoor so they might look different if installed indoors . Also mine are dirty.


    But it's basically the colour of concrete.