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rechy_kaufman

HELP they installed the wrong color tile

12 years ago
Hi, We just finished remodeling our bathroom. The tile store sent the focus wall tile in BLACK instead of gray. Anyway the finished look is Absolutely not that spa like peaceful look I was going for. So now my bathroom is sitting unfinished. What do I do??? The jacuzzi front wasn't done yet so I was thinking of doing stones on the front (like the shower floor) the original plan was to put the focus wall tile there but now... What to do??? Should I rip the entire thing out and take the loss or could I make it work?? Please help!!

Comments (33)

  • 12 years ago
    Some more photos
  • PRO
    12 years ago
    Have you talked to your tile supplier and asked what they can do to help you. You have some responsibility to have checked the tile to see if it was the right thing, but they, too, would seem to be responsible.
  • 12 years ago
    My husband was the one who checked it and he didn't notice the difference. They are not taking responsibility for it so now I need to figure out how to fix this!
  • 12 years ago
    I think the black wall is actually quite stunning. I would not do the front of the tub in the stone mosaic. If you're looking for a calm, spa-like feeling, I would do the tub and the floor in the same tile that's on the other wall of the shower.
  • PRO
    12 years ago
    I agree that black contrast wall looks great in there. The stone would look good on the top of that step. The rest of tub could go either the dark or light tile.
  • 12 years ago
    This tile is on the rest of the walls and the floor
  • PRO
    12 years ago
    I like grover's idea. You'll end up with a dramatic black, gray and white bathroom. You may have to increase the lighting to compensate for the black wall.
  • 12 years ago
    Seems like this could be a wonderful mistake. Its going to look great! I'd do the black on the apron too. Then play up the spa feel with more of that wonderful color in your glass counter top.
  • 12 years ago
    I love those sinks! Is that natural stone? Looks fantastic with the glass counter. Overall I really like the design. I think the black wall complements the dark cabinets very nicely. I would put the light gray on the front of the tub, not more black though.
  • PRO
    12 years ago
    I think this is one of those situations where an accident has turned out better than the original plan. The contrast is stunning and with an orchid or two and some candles you will have your zen bathroom. I would continue the black tile down the fronton the tub to blend it with the tile at the back
  • 12 years ago
    The black may not give you the spa-like feel you were aiming for, but it is very attractive in its own way. If you still want gray, have you considered having the tile reglazed in the desired color??
  • 12 years ago
    Thank you everybody I'm starting to feel a lot better about this!!! How do you reglaze a tile though?
  • PRO
    12 years ago
    Keep it simple and do the black tile.
  • 12 years ago
    To reglaze tile, check the yellow pages listings--or HOUZZ ads--for a firm that reglazes bathtubs. It's the same process.
  • PRO
    12 years ago
    You have some beautiful wood under those sinks. You could use the wood for inspiration to bring in something other than gray or black. Here is an image I found on line. This wood (or a variation thereof) could be used to compensate for the black on the walls. It would tie in the cabinetry and the black. Wood surrounds for tubs are very fashionable and would work very well with what you have. And wood always gives the feeling of "spa".
  • PRO
    12 years ago
    You could also give you ceiling a different finish to give you a different look. We also have a gray metallic ceiling in our Italian plaster project you might want to consider
  • 12 years ago
    Well, like, groveraxle, you're not, like, even letting us see, like, the tub done in, like, the linen tile that is the floor and other walls. ;-0 Happy mistake on the black wall by the way.
  • 12 years ago
    m3459, what's with the Valley Girl talk? Here's the gray tile, but the lighting is kind of funky, so it doesn't look quite right. But you can get the idea.
    Rachel thanked groveraxle
  • PRO
    12 years ago
    I prefer the black on the tub front! Well done, grover!
  • 12 years ago
    I had a "happy mistake" this week when the flooring guy (dyslexic, maybe?) wrote down the wrong number for our new tile in our bathrooms and laundry room. We wanted camel, and wound up with graphite. It was 100% installed in the guest bath before my husband noticed it didn't look like the sample. I rushed home from the office and discovered I actually liked it better. That didn't stop me from negotiating a discount from the flooring company! Yes...I'm going the H-E double toothpicks!

    The "unhappy" mistake is when the same guy ordered the wrong color carpet! Hated it and refused to let it be installed. Now we are stuck with everything moved and no clue when we'll get the right carpet! :(
  • 12 years ago
    groveraxle, you were right----sigh----once again. Black it is. The valley girl thing happens on the third glass of wine on Friday....;-) Thanks! You're the best.
  • 12 years ago
    last modified: 12 years ago
    If this works for you that's good, but before you throw in the towel on your spa look, I would make a quick call to an attorney. I have done this a few times and you can usually find an attorney who will talk to you on the phone and offer some quick advice. Until you talk to an attorney you are taking the company's word for it that they have no responsibility to correct it. And they will always start with that. Maybe there is nothing you can do, but at least if you talk to an attorney you'll know for sure.

    Also, make sure you go up the ladder as high as you can at the tile store, just because one person won't help you doesn't mean a supervisor or the owner won't.

    Also, ask your contractor what it would cost to redo the wall. Can he do it at cost? It may not cost all that much to redo it. See if the tile supplier would at least give you the right product to do the job over if you want to. At this point it may cost a bit, but would still be doable.

    I wouldn't make too hasty of a decision. A remodel is a big deal, and it looks like you spent a great deal of time appointing your bathroom. Gather all the information about the time and costs involved to redo the wall, then make a fully informed decision. Spend some time in there, see what you think. In the end, all that matters is that you love it. If it doesn't give you the feel you wanted, then bite the bullet and change it if you can afford it. Which decision would you regret more? Leaving it, or redoing it?

    I like the beige tile on the front of the tub. The photo-shopped pic of the black skirted tub doesn't show what it will look like next to the dark cabinets. That seems like too much black to me. The black wall as an accent wall is very interesting. Is the tile the same as the gray tile, but in black?

    I would like to see a large stainless towel shelf and rack on the back shower wall with some pretty towels. If you add a pretty window treatment some of the black wall would be reduced. Just enough left for a dramatic accent wall. Once you put in your glass shower wall that will reduce some of the effect as well.
  • 12 years ago
    Rachel, I absolutely love the black. I would do the tub skirt in either the same black, grey if you are using it elsewhere, or white. I think you will find that you do in fact have your relaxing spa bathroom. I would not do it in the floor tile as i think that is too busy. I would also pick up the colour of that amazing glass counter in towels and accessories. I think the black will give you a far more timeless result than the grey would have. And dont reglaze! You have wonderful tiles there. A reglaze will never be as good as the original finish (imo).
  • 12 years ago
    last modified: 12 years ago
    I have to agree with the reglaze. My friend attempted it as a less expensive remodel option, and after a few years it started chipping off and she ended up having the whole bathroom redone. I think the reglaze would downgrade what you have going on.
  • 12 years ago
    I like the tub/shower layout you've done. Are you having a shower door or just open with the glass 1/2 wall panels? just curious if it might work in my own bathroom
  • 12 years ago
    Thanks everybody for all the advice! Where doing glass all the way around the shower.
  • 12 years ago
    Groveraxle thanks so much for the picture. Could you do it for me again with a close up of the black tile so it's clearer on the photo.. Thank You!!
  • 12 years ago
    Another option would be to repeat the wood from the vanity on the tub apron...but I like the black too.
  • 12 years ago
    Rachel, I've put that photo of the tile on your tub apron, but it isn't going to look right. Angle and lighting make a huge difference. What you actually need to do is set some tiles up against the tub and see them in the proper light.
  • 12 years ago
    Maybe I could do green glass tiles on the face of the jacuzzi! Similar to the glass on the sink. What do you all think of that??
  • 12 years ago
    I couldn't do a satisfactory rendering of the tiles, so I used an image of backpainted glass to give you an idea of how it might look. However, whatever you do on the step will have to be non-skid, and I think it will look better to do the step and tub apron in the same material.
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