I was only focusing on one color and not looking at them as a range, so that is very helpful!! The color varies from tile to tile, so that makes sense! Thank you so much!

Oatmeal is the pinkest option, but light. Wicker is creamy red tan, and right in the middle value wise. Sandstorm is the darkest of the red tans, and is the closest to the grout in the picture.

When I look at it with my tiles, I think the Wicker is in the middle, as you say, and hopefully won’t dry too light. It seems to have enough brown and pink tone to it to blend with most of the color variations in the tiles. At least I hope so! Thank you very much for your insight!

have you already done the tile?

is it going to look like the one pic you posted?

what else is happening in the room?

why not take a couple of scrap tiles, adhere them to left over cement board or cardboard, and sample some grouts?

What grout were you going to use? I've used the FlexColor CQ, but you MUST know how to do the wiping/washing phase.

have you seen these two colors from Laticrete?? Laticrete is a very good grout.

I think they might be a contender. they aren't the same color, just the same tone

back to Mapei:

Maybe Light Almond? hard to tell from the photo. get some samples. only way to be sure.

I think the biscuit/bone have too much yellow in them.

I would NOT match the color of the tile or else you won't have any contrast.

If you notice w/some of these other zellige tiles, they used very little grout, or went w/more of an ivory.

Thank you for commenting! Naturally, I had to fall in love with the most complicated tile! This has been a dilemma because some articles you read say match the tile bc grout will go into those imperfections in these tiles, but to my eye….the little grout lines that are visible almost look like concrete, or just a basic gray-ish color. I want the look of the photo with the chrome shower hardware that you sent and that looks more gray to me. And that does have contrast. I was hoping someone on here had actually used this color tile before and could share what they did. Am only using Mapei bc that’s what the tile provider recommended. Thank you again! I agree, some contrast is needed.

The tile installer should be able to use Laticrete if that looks best to you. The only real difference should be if you selected an epoxy grout - more difficult to work with based upon what I’ve read.

FYI - @Beth H. : knows her tile/grout - that’s why my decision to use Mapei Flexcolor CQ Warm Gray for my Carrara marble was an easy choice!

Please post photos of your bathroom when finished - I’m sure everyone would love to see that tile installed!

Thank you! I would welcome Beth H’s opinion! Everyone commenting has been so helpful! I’m using the CQ for my bath floor tile. Will for sure post pics when done!

be sure and wipe a sealer on the face of the tile before grouting. this will prevent the grout from finding it's way into the fine fissues. plus, that glaze can stain.

I did a black zellige on my floor in an inset design, and spilled something on it. it left an etch mark. I sealed it afterward.

so take a rag, dip it in sealer, and carefully wipe it on the faces of the tile. don't let it drip down the sides. follow directions and buff off any residue.

as for the CQ grout, please watch the video that Mapei has on cleaning up the grout. you have to be fast and work in small sections. do not let the tile people use this grout like the cementious grout and spread it all over the tile, wait 30 mins, and wipe up! It will be a disaster if they do thi (ask me how i know?) the haze left behind is a B to get off. (goof off works) so, grout in small sections, immediately wipe w/in 5 mins, use a rag/sponge w/very little water.

Great advice….thank you for sharing! I just watched the Mapei video on CQ clean up. The CQ is actually being used on the ceramic tile for bath floor. Using Mapei ultra color plus FA on the Zellige areas in shower. I had not planned on sealing it (since it said no sealing required), but sounds like I may need to for the reasons you mentioned!

yep. 100%! those tiny cracks in the glaze you can't really see until you spread grout over them. try it on a sample tile just so you can see the diff. You'll use the sealer.

and make sure your tile guys know. I instructed mine about that grout clean up but did he listen? nope.

every single one of these marble floor tiles had residue haze from improper clean up.

took me 3 hours on my knees using goo gone and some other stuff just to remove all of it. and it's HARD to get off too! Make sure they don't treat CQ grout like the regular grout. that's all I have to say! lol

Looks beautiful! I love, love a nice herringbone! I will listen and learn from the voice of experience! I’m watching like a hawk on this install….my guys have not used Zellige before so we are learning together! I don’t think it’s especially hard, it’s just very EXTRA and there are things you must know and do beforehand. Thanks again for your words of wisdom!

make sure they dip the tile in water before laying them in the thinset. at least make sure they're damp and not bone dry. that clay will soak up all the mositure from the thinset and may not adhere properly.

(if you can apply a sealer before they even start this process, it would be easier. just take them from box, lay them out, and wipe on the sealer, quickly buffing after a min or so. no drips!)

The tiler should lay out all his tiles anyway, and randomly grab. Do not let him go box by box!)

lets hope they're using a laser level guide since these tiles are really asymmetrical. are they butt joining or using spacers.

Yes, I spent a few hours on the floor inspecting each tile and wiping off ink marks. Then I mixed the boxes. Only 12 more boxes to go! I like the idea of applying the sealer before laying. They laid the shower floor today, and yes…I watched to make sure tiles were in water for 2 minutes! I asked before they started to make sure they had a laser level (they do). And I’m sure those are positive comments they are saying about me in Spanish…lol!!!

They are using spacers…1/8 “. I planned on 1/16th, but it just lays out better/fewer cuts if we keep it at 1/8th. I’ve got to make a final decision on grout color with that blush before Friday. Any suggestions there?