We’ve looked at a ton of tile and I keep coming back to this one, but IRL, it almost seems like we ordered the wrong sample. The designer ordered a sample. In the tile bar photos, it seems somewhat colorful. In the samples, very gray and white, none of the occasional warmer honey or blue undertones in addition to the gray I see in the photos. I ruled it out at the designers based on how gray leaning it is, but keep going back to that photo… I ended ordering another sample, and there’s definitely more variation (compared to the memory of it anyways!), but I’m still on the fence.
I can’t find any photos of it installed that aren’t vendor prepared. Possibly a user issue? Any suggestions? I tried googling it, I tried houz, but so far no luck.
We’ve looked at a ton of tile and I keep coming back to this one, but IRL, it almost seems like we ordered the wrong sample. The designer ordered a sample. In the tile bar photos, it seems somewhat colorful. In the samples, very gray and white, none of the occasional warmer honey or blue undertones in addition to the gray I see in the photos. I ruled it out at the designers based on how gray leaning it is, but keep going back to that photo… I ended ordering another sample, and there’s definitely more variation (compared to the memory of it anyways!), but I’m still on the fence.
I can’t find any photos of it installed that aren’t vendor prepared. Possibly a user issue? Any suggestions? I tried googling it, I tried houz, but so far no luck.
When you say you can't see any pics that aren't "vendor prepared" do you mean ones on the tilebar site? Because they do show a lot of it installed. IIRC they name the same tile differently on different sites. I did a Google image reverse search and wonder if it's the same as this one:
In which case you can order from HD and return to store usually if it doesn't work for you.
ETA: Full product here:https://www.homedepot.com/p/Ivy-Hill-Tile-Calacatta-11-89-in-x-11-81-in-x-10mm-Matte-Marble-Stone-Mosaic-Wall-Tile-0-98-sq-ft-EXT3RD104679/308815037 with images by two different customers in the reviews.
We’ve looked at a ton of tile and I keep coming back to this one, but IRL, it almost seems like we ordered the wrong sample. The designer ordered a sample. In the tile bar photos, it seems somewhat colorful. In the samples, very gray and white, none of the occasional warmer honey or blue undertones in addition to the gray I see in the photos. I ruled it out at the designers based on how gray leaning it is, but keep going back to that photo… I ended ordering another sample, and there’s definitely more variation (compared to the memory of it anyways!), but I’m still on the fence.
I can’t find any photos of it installed that aren’t vendor prepared. Possibly a user issue? Any suggestions? I tried googling it, I tried houz, but so far no luck.
When you say you can't see any pics that aren't "vendor prepared" do you mean ones on the tilebar site? Because they do show a lot of it installed. IIRC they name the same tile differently on different sites. I did a Google image reverse search and wonder if it's the same as this one:
In which case you can order from HD and return to store usually if it doesn't work for you.
ETA: Full product here:https://www.homedepot.com/p/Ivy-Hill-Tile-Calacatta-11-89-in-x-11-81-in-x-10mm-Matte-Marble-Stone-Mosaic-Wall-Tile-0-98-sq-ft-EXT3RD104679/308815037 with images by two different customers in the reviews.
By vendor prepared, just that I only see them on the tile bar site, never one that looks like it’s just been installed by normal people vs for an ad, if that makes sense?
It reads super gray in the customer photos, same as the sample have. Womp Womp. We are at a loss on backsplash. (Actually, DH is not at a loss, he has one he likes, but I’m not a fan. It’s $$$ and that tile will take up a lot of real estate)
And I had no idea that they rename tiles on different sites! That’s good to know!
When you say you can't see any pics that aren't "vendor prepared" do you mean ones on the tilebar site? Because they do show a lot of it installed. IIRC they name the same tile differently on different sites. I did a Google image reverse search and wonder if it's the same as this one:
In which case you can order from HD and return to store usually if it doesn't work for you.
ETA: Full product here:https://www.homedepot.com/p/Ivy-Hill-Tile-Calacatta-11-89-in-x-11-81-in-x-10mm-Matte-Marble-Stone-Mosaic-Wall-Tile-0-98-sq-ft-EXT3RD104679/308815037 with images by two different customers in the reviews.
By vendor prepared, just that I only see them on the tile bar site, never one that looks like it’s just been installed by normal people vs for an ad, if that makes sense?
It reads super gray in the customer photos, same as the sample have. Womp Womp. We are at a loss on backsplash. (Actually, DH is not at a loss, he has one he likes, but I’m not a fan. It’s $$$ and that tile will take up a lot of real estate)
And I had no idea that they rename tiles on different sites! That’s good to know!
Is this it on Wayfair? If you click on the link where it says there are 26 reviews, it'll show you some customer images, too. A bunch of them show the gold in the design, and some reviews mention it specifically, but there is a review that mentions a sample that doesn't include the additional colors, too.
Pilsy, that is the one! It really never occurred to to reverse image search.
Seeing the real life installations is helpful but not in the way I thought... I'm less worried about the colors now than how busy it looks when seen from far away.
Post by mrsukyankee on Apr 18, 2024 10:00:48 GMT -5
Do you want a smaller tile like the one above? Or would you be open to something bigger? I'm just imaginging cleaning up all that grout! You could probably find a bigger tile (like a subway shape) that has the marbling of the marble tile but won't feel so busy.
mrsukyankee , we are open to other stuff. DH is not a fan of subway tile and wants something more unique. The designer had pulled a few subway tile shaped options, like this one but at the end of the day, they just look like painted brick to me. We currently have this glass subway tile that I love, but cleaning glass tile is annoying. And DH thinks it's too plain.
DH really wants this one: But it's $50 sq/foot and way more busy than I'd like. Gives me Saved By the Bell vibes.
The designer pulled this one, but it's also expensive and too gray leaning:
I love this one in the website photos, but despite the photos and the listing description they are NOT beige. They're gray. Despite being gray, probably a front runner still. Still lots of grout. I used the reverse image search (thank you PP's!) and also found it at HD with lots of real life installs, and in about half, they read as very gray. The sample I have at home is almost pure gray.
Counters lean more towards warm undertones, which is (part of) why I'm so anti-gray for the backsplash (I prefer warmer undertones). They look VERY gold in the online photos, but IRL, are more of a white with subtle gold/honey & some gray veining.
Post by mrsukyankee on Apr 18, 2024 11:59:49 GMT -5
k3am, you might like something like gold carrara types of tiles. That would give the warmer marble like items. I can't go on most US sites for tile/homegoods or I'd search for it for you.
dr.girlfriend , I will add that to my next round of samples! I ordered 10 yesterday. I will fully admit that our tastes run a little eclectic and aren't everyone's cup of tea... I ended up grabbing a mix of what DH would call "safer" choices and some that are less popular. (He wants to go bold.. tile is not the place where I want to do that)
Gold accents:
Reserving judgment until I see them IRL:
Similar to the 'beige' one that was really gray that I liked:
This one, in both polished and honed. I'm sure DH will say it's too basic.
For DH's tastes that I don't entirely hate (but may when I see IRL):
For DH's tastes again, that I like less than the one above, but more than the one he currently likes best:
DH has already declared this one too basic and I agree.. even with the ones with different tile patterns:
Kind of a wildcard, but was looking for something to fill the cart:
k3am , you might like something like gold carrara types of tiles. That would give the warmer marble like items. I can't go on most US sites for tile/homegoods or I'd search for it for you.
Most of the ones above were found by using your search terms... I clearly am not cut out for this. But the designer didn't hit the mark and I don't know how to tell her in in words what it is that I don't love about her top choices... and we are clearly not helpful clients because our tastes are all over the place.
Post by mrsukyankee on Apr 20, 2024 3:21:35 GMT -5
I like a lot of the ones you selected (I'm pretty good at finding things when I do research for stuff - my husband lets me research anything we buy or holidays).
We've narrowed it down to the two below. DH and the kids like the bottom the best, I like the top the best. The designer likes the top the best as well. We'll have them quote out both and see if I still like it the best once I see the price difference... and as a side note, the color variation in the bottom one is significantly less bold IRL.