Thanks CT Yankee..I cannot believe how different the grout looks compared to the sample. My daughter likes the contrast and im thinking maybe i just have to get used to something different. i dont love change..so i like to get opinions to see if I’m off base.

I have a hard time with changes, too. And it’s especially hard when you really love the old thing. I totally get it. Years ago we bought a new home, and I absolutely hated the fireplace. Within a month or so it grew on me and became one of my favorite things there. Give it a chance. You may surprise yourself too!

Thank you im feeling a little better. by monday the appliances will be put back maybe my opinion will change. nothing is permanent..and its not the end of the world. i redid my kitchen 10 years ago and its my favorite room in the house..so i want to love it!!

I can see why you love it! It’s a beautiful room that’s warm and welcoming. Hopefully some others will post about changing the grout color, just in case you decide you want to do that.

I would live with it for a bit and then decide

Thank you HU. Do you think it looks ok? im looking at it over and over and thinking maybe i live with it. i guess it cant hurt to discuss with installer on monday when he returns maybe he’ll have options of his own🤔

or maybe ill love it by then..wouldnt that be nice!!

I would not be happy with the way that looks, on the assumption that you want the floor to resemble wood, and the grout makes it look like tile. However, you can "paint" your grout. There are grout paints that work quite well. I've done it and it held up great. It was a little tedious, but I would do it now, while you're motivated.

Thank you Mrs. S. i did want it to look like wood..now im trying to get out of that headspace and see if i can like the contrast with a dark tile..maybe get away from wanting the wood look..since i had that look for 10 years before this. but i am going to call the installer tomorrow and see if they’re willing to work with me and change it or seal it with a colored sealer, of offer up another solution if i feel i cant live with it. ive also read that applying mineral oil can change the look of the grout..but id much rather the installer take care of it if they’re willing.

Who picked grout. Always use grout that matches tile especially wood look alike. Definitely talk to installer and get options from him. The install looks good so see what your options are. Staining grout is one. Replacing it not easy. Since I am a fuss budget about these details, for others doing tiling, have samples made with a couple different looks. Let cure (dry) for at least 24 hours. Then you can decide from an informed posture. Good luck.

Thanks Flo..i picked the grout..its meipei bahama beige. However it looks nothing like the sample..i cannot believe how diffeent it looks..it almost looks white in contrast to the tile. when it went on before it dried/cured..it looked ok. After about 12 hours i knew it was way too light. I would rather not do it myself if i can help it..i am not handy and i want it done right if i decide to change it

I agree that it's kind of pointless to put in wood look tile to resemble wood and have it look just like brown tile. It's pretty tile, so I would have it colored or replaced with a much darker grout that matches the tile. I'd do it now while it is pristine and there won't be any issues with dirt. I don't think you'll be sorry if you darken it.

I would darken the grout. For my woodlook porcelain floor tiles in my bathrooms and entryway, I chose grout colors to match the tiles.

Thanks kculbees..beautiful..i had the same look until i was forced to redo the floors due to water damage..and i dont know how i made such a booboo with the grout color

Thanks everyone i called the contractor this morning and he says they could dye the grout if i am not happy. they were coming back monday anyway and will have a look then. i think whatever i choose ill ask them to test a spot under an appliance to make sure i like it. has anyone had a good experience with grout dyes put on by a professional..being able to achieve the level of dark color you wanted? id rather not insist on digging the grout out and replacing if theres an cleaner quicker viable solution like dying it.

I like it with the cabinet color.

Hope you got the grout that resists stains. That's the only thing wrong with lighter grout.

Oh JudyG thank you. I have a few days to decide whether to live with it or darken the grout with dye. ill figure it out. it was not the look i intended which is the problem…and now i have to figure out if i live with the unexpected or to go back to my original plan. ugh..decision decisions!

i dont think its a stain resistant grout, but good point..ill look to seal it to help with stains if i keep the lighter color.

If you dye it but ever have issues with that treatment in the future, it can always be replaced then by removing it.

I don’t think your contractor got the right grout. Probably wasn’t available in his timeframe.

Flo the bag is sitting right on my counter it was bahama beige. i probably should have chosen chocolate or cocoa, but the grout on my floor still looks nothing like the bahama beige sample..far from it! if the bag wasnt sitting right here id agree with you!

So, then getting a darker color will require staining or going to the darkest brown available. Sorry you have this challenge. These grout colors are so tricky. Hope he can do stain for you that will last and look better.

I agree with Flo, they may have used the wrong color grout. I would have them stain the correct color. Best of luck!

Has anyone who commented here had any experience with dying their grout..how’d you like it, how'd it hold up over time? id say it’s worth a try..in the end if there are issues with dying, i can regrout. what a hassle!!

The chart color definitely looks darker than what is in your house. However, when it dries, grout usually gets lighter. I hope your installer can stain it darker. I agree your floor will be spectacular with the correct (darker) grout.

follow

HU-161159613 are you having the same issue?

https://www.amazon.com/Mapei-Grout-Refresh/dp/B009NT0OJ6?th=1

I would go to the product page and read the amazon reviews. See how happy people are.

Cleaned up the floor of haze and i feel better than i felt yesterday. will keep you all posted and let you know if i decide to darken grout by Monday/Tuesday..and take new pics when everything is done and appliances put back and the kitchen is back to normal.

UPDATE: I will definitely be darkening grout with mapei grout refresh..at mapei’s suggested solution..contractor is doing it. i wish you all could see the tile in person and suggest a color, but i know it’s not easy to do from pics only...i want to get this right. i likely will not stick with bahama beige, but will go darker with a chocolate, cocoa or mocha. Anyone willing to provide thoughts? my tile is Navarti brand, model Teva, color wengue.

My thoughts are that you should purchase a bottle of each color you think is close, and use a spare couple of tiles to experiment. or choose an out-of-the-way place to test the candidates.

It's a tedious job (although, I enjoy tedious jobs). So turn on some music or a good podcast, and get a few tiny paintbrushes, and take your time. It'll look really good.

Mrs S thanks, but the contractor will be putting it down. I plan to pick one color since mapei will send it to the contractor. i may purchase a back up or 2 to have..and plan to have him start under an appliance. I’ll be happy when i like the results and it’s all done!

Testing is always good. I went on line to check tile color. Hard to be sure but the main net impression of the color is black/brown with hints of gray. I then went to the Mapei website to check colors of the “refresh”. I would go #1-Truffle because it looks the darkest. Dark colors recede and light pops forward visually which you have sadly learned the hard way. Second choice is Chocolate. But I think Truffles is the one. Test in a place where not obvious like a pantry or behind a door. You have to test on current grout to ensure the right outcome. It might take two coats to get the depth of color on the light grout. I hope it turns out for you. So awful when expectations are not met. Good luck!

You’re making a good decision, sfranick. While the existing grout isn’t horrible, I think it’ll look better darker. Your old floor was a great color so I see why you’d like to repeat that.

Fingers crossed this works out for you. Take note of @Flo Mangan’s suggestions.

Thank you all!

Flo, before reading these new comments i picked chocolate and truffle so I’m on the right track it seems..I brought the samples home so i can see them in my lighting. i was waffling between them both so will get a bottle of each.

i really did love my old floor CT Yankee..i struggled with repairing it over replacing, but ultimately chose replacing. i do like the darker color and larger planks for at least some kind of change after 10 years..although the larger non-rectified planks come with some lippage issues that i was not aware of (which is the only issue i have with the contractor for not informing me of this)..but i dont know if that would have changed my mind anyway, but it would have been nice to have had a choice.

I so appreciate this forum..what a great help!

A floor should provide a background for other elements IMO. Anything that draws your eye (like the geometric pattern you now have) detracts from the overall look. Darker grout would definitely be a better option for you. Good luck!

Go darkest. Trust me. Dark recedes and it will help with kind of blending in like a grain of the wood look. Hope all goes well.

Flo, the contractor is actually going to regrout. They considered the grout refresh but wanted my job done right with the right color grout not a colorant. The consultant there recommended black. She is going to send me a photo of a house they just did with the same tile and black grout, but I wanted to pick your brain about it as well in regards to my space. Any thoughts between the black and tge truffle..from anyone? Once it‘s done it’s done so I’m doing my best to get it right. Don’t mind the mess. :-)

Truffle

Its an issue..not today but floor tile grout has been a (formerlly) controversial issue…. no grout(biggest mistake), color matched grout… white grout…. white grout is second worst to no grout…and i wont go into no grout…. LESS I ENCOURAGE SOMEONE TO TRY IT….white grout stains way to easy… its prone to stain in a kitchen…… its prone to mold and mildew on a bath floor…. SHORT STORY… your narrow grout lines are fine but your color is too light over the long haul …. have them scraped/ pulled or maybe stain them… my guess is pull them and get them VERY CLOSE to the tile color but no darker… and i honestly wouldnf go quite as dark as the tile…. i know what youre looking for and i know WHY YOU WANT IT … your color missed the mark… sorry … wish i had some Good news!!!!!🥺🥺🥺

Get test samples but I still lean to Truffle.

Wait to decide until you see the job with the black grout. You might favor that once you see it. It seems that wood look tile is intended to look like wood floors, which have dark lines between the boards.
The black might look better than anything:

Sorry but I have to say the black just looks like big gaps in the ‘wood’ floor. You want to color match the tile so it visually blends and just goes away as much as possible.

I have hardwoods (not engineered) with no gaps at all, but I thought it was favored by some to have gaps (maybe engineered flooring as I posted just above?) and it seems the gaps are always dark, maybe partially a shadow?

Perfect! So happy you took the time to get this right. Looks soooo much better! Good for you!

That looks really nice and much more like a real wood floor than the light grout did. Glad you're happy.

That looks fantastic! Nice job!

Hope all is well w you, looks great!

Looks great. Absolutely worth the time and effort.

Looks great!! Nice kitchen!!