My Kitchen Remodel (Help me pick a tile grout color)

[Hardcor4x4]

So I spent most of the day yesterday spending my tax return. I've got this ugly all white kitchen that i'm just sick of looking at. :barf:

Picked up all my cabinets, hardware, crown molding, kick plate, tiling stuff, hardibacker board and bla bla bla and ordered the new counter tops. about $3800 worth. (So far) Picked up a new range a few days ago as the old one, black on white color just wasn't going to work in the new kitchen. Orders from the woman said, new range had to have a 9"/12" burner and time bake as my old one didn't have any features at all. It had no window in the oven door, no timer of any kind.

I'm doing a total kitchen redo. Entire kitchen is getting gutted, stripped and redone.

Heres what it looks like now. :barf:
http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y65/bhugo4x4/Kitchen%20remodel/DSCF5788.jpg
http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y65/bhugo4x4/Kitchen%20remodel/DSCF5786.jpg

Kitchen floor currently
http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y65/bhugo4x4/Kitchen%20remodel/DSCF5791.jpg
A small cut in the linoleum floor made bigger by a dog I no longer have.
http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y65/bhugo4x4/Kitchen%20remodel/DSCF5792.jpg

New floor will be ceramic tile
http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y65/bhugo4x4/Kitchen%20remodel/DSCF5802.jpg

The new cabinets. oooooo Hickory :cool:
http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y65/bhugo4x4/Kitchen%20remodel/DSCF5796.jpg

Formica sample of what the new counter top color will be
http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y65/bhugo4x4/Kitchen%20remodel/DSCF5803.jpg

The pile of remodeling materials
http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y65/bhugo4x4/Kitchen%20remodel/DSCF5793.jpg
http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y65/bhugo4x4/Kitchen%20remodel/DSCF5798.jpg

More pics will follow through the next few weeks as I start to strip the linoleum up off the floor and peel the fake tile board off the walls and trim peices. I'm planning middle May to do the major demo and redo of everything. Needs to be decent outside so I can open up windows and doors to let the thin set and grout dry on the tile. Going to be a few people here also helping so need good BBQ weather too.

[Pioneer]

Sweet choice with the hickory Brad your kitchen is nice when done.:beer:

[newracer]

The hickory cabinets are nice. :thumbsup: I have hickory floor in the main level of my house and love it.

Don't like the formica though. Why not upgrade the counters too?

[TheCopperCowboy]

Did you pick up any recessed cans, hockey puck undercounter lights, or new, dedicated appliance circuits while you were out shopping? Rope lights above the cabinets are the bomb. :cool:

[Wild Hare]

somebody obviously has their prioritys all screwed up. there is a jeep in the garage all torn apart and you are worried about a completely functional kitchen.jeesh, someone take away his man card.









btw, the hickory cabinets are sweet.

[Big Dave]

If I may make a suggestion, raise the cabinet above the range a bit higher and get that microwave off of the counter. You can put an over-the-range micro in there and kill two birds with one stone. At a MINIMUM you want 30" between the surface of the range and the bottom of the cabinet you hang the micro from. I prefer them to be at least 33".

[HillBillyMan]

If I may make a suggestion, raise the cabinet above the range a bit higher and get that microwave off of the counter. You can put an over-the-range micro in there and kill two birds with one stone. At a MINIMUM you want 30" between the surface of the range and the bottom of the cabinet you hang the micro from. I prefer them to be at least 33".

I agree with Dave on the above stove micro. Mine is awesome. Has the vent, lights and all right there. Sure clears up a LOT of counter space.

[Hardcor4x4]

The hickory cabinets are nice. :thumbsup: I have hickory floor in the main level of my house and love it.

Don't like the formica though. Why not upgrade the counters too?
Formica is much cheeper then granite or Corian. I priced Corian and it was $1600 for the counters. A bit much for a fix and flip house. I'm only going to stay in this house another 5 years if that. I just bought this house to update it and put some money into it and turn it around and make some money off it.


Dave. We putting in an 18" tall cabinet above the Range with plans to put a over the range microwave oven once the kids are tall enough to reach that high. Right now our girls aren't tall enough to reach that high so for now were keeping the microwave on the counter were they can easily reach it and we'll throw in a cheep over the range microwave oven when the girls get tall enough. I am gaining about 6 whooping inches of counter space with the new cabinets and countertops.

Lights are something I haven't even started looking at yet.

[Hardcor4x4]

So me and the woman, Nyqyi, (pernounced Nikki) can't decide on a color for the grout when we tile the kitchen. What does the Co4x4 board say?

The blue formica square in each photo is the Kitchen countertop color. First post shows the hickory cabinets. and the appliances are black. walls will probably be a light cream tan color of some kind. We don't want a light grout color as that will just wash out the tile look and all the tile squares will just blend together. we also want the grout to stand out to either tie in with the coutertop color or cabinets.
The color in these photos are nearly dead on with what it looks like in person. Decent camera helps.

First 2 are a bluish color.
Ocean Blue (what Nyqyi is leaning towards and I wouldn't mind myself either)
http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y65/bhugo4x4/Kitchen%20remodel/DSCF5851.jpg

Captains Blue (I think it has too much blue in it but its Nyqyi's second choice)
http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y65/bhugo4x4/Kitchen%20remodel/DSCF5850.jpg

These are a brownish color
Camel (What i'm leaning towards and Nyqyi likes it too but not as much as the Ocean blue)
http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y65/bhugo4x4/Kitchen%20remodel/DSCF5852.jpg

Nutmeg (A second choice of mine and Nyqyi thinks it would be ok but likes the first one.)
http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y65/bhugo4x4/Kitchen%20remodel/DSCF5853.jpg

[newracer]

I like the camel

[Pioneer]

I like the camel


I second the camel

[rubbersidedown]

I think the camel would look great with cabinets!!

[Big Dave]

There's a difference between pics 1 & 2, and 3 & 4? LOL Looks like two pics of blue and two pics of brown!

Personally I'd go with one of the browns with that color tile.

Dunno about the blue formica though, especially if you're doing this to increase the cost of the house. Just my opinion here, but I don't like it a whole lot. For a house you're trying to flip, I'd go with something a little less outlandish.

[Rex Ashton]

With those choices, gotta vote for CamelToe.

I usually use Tec brand grout and caulking (can be purchased at any World of Tile) and I'd choose either "Mocha" or "Summer Wheat" in their colors.

I think you'll kick yourself in the ass daily in the near future if you throw down some blue grout. :thumbsdown:

Cheers on the kitchen remodel though :beer:

[Budman]

I have that same tile. Go with something dark. i went light, and hate it.

[Hardcor4x4]

I have that same tile. Go with something dark. i went light, and hate it.
Yeah, were definately going to go with a dark color. To me it makes the tile stand out and it also hides dirt in the grout. Me and Nyqyi have pretty much decided to go with one of the brownish colors now. Now that Rex suggested the summer wheat thats been put on the list. :rolleyes:
I have 48 colors to choose from. colors from charcoal to lipstick red.
The countertops came today. :bounce:
http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y65/bhugo4x4/Kitchen%20remodel/DSCF5855.jpg

[Hardcor4x4]

The carnage has started http://smiley.onegreatguy.net/chainsaw.gif
http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y65/bhugo4x4/Kitchen%20remodel/demo01.jpg

Basicaly i'm going to have to re-mud the entire walls cause previous handyman idiot decided to use liquid nails and glue the fake tile paneling onto the walls. :headbang: couldn't just use finishing nails, noooo, had to make sure it was going to stay on their during a F5 tornado.
I spent most of the day going through the cabinets and boxing up stuff were not going to use in the next few weeks

Anyway I went with the camel grout color for the floor tile. Now we need to start looking at what color were going to paint the walls when the new cabinets are in.

Oh and we are going with undercounter lighting, will be sweet.

[Pioneer]

Looks good Brad if ya need a hand i'd be happy to help:D

[bender]

dude....


blue formica...


bad...








I like those hickory cabinets though, needs some brushed nickel hardware.

[Hardcor4x4]

dude....


blue formica...


bad...








I like those hickory cabinets though, needs some brushed nickel hardware.

Dude....

Know how many professionaly designed kitchens i looked at with blue countertops before designing mine???



LOTS.......







I'll get a picture of the hardware, but we went with a weathered brass.

[Hardcor4x4]

The cabinet hardware. Nyqyi picked them out. I think I might test what some gun blueing does and looks like on one though.
http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y65/bhugo4x4/Kitchen%20remodel/DSCF5867.jpg

Couple people have asked why I don't just re-drywall the walls or use some thin drywall to cover the walls. a few reason, I did blown-in-insulation last fall and if I were to tear down the existing drywall i'd have one HUMONGO mess on my hands. secondly I don't have the time now to re-drywall. I've got a weekend set that several people are coming to help me do the gut and re-install and can't really change that now. I have kids and their going to grandmas for that weekend because there will be no kitchen for about 3 days. The thinnest drywall they make is 3/8" and that would shorten the wall space where the refg, dishwasher and sink base by 3/4". it's already a tight fit and my pre-measured cabinets and countertops are already sitting in my garage. The tile board i'm pealing off the walls isn't a factor in the thickness gained as it was put in after the cabinets where installed. Theres really not a whole lot of mud compound that needs to be done i've done drywall and plaster work many times before so it's nothing new to me. just use a big ass joint knife and 5 gallon bucket of mud. :D


HEY REX!! mr. tile guy. you have any pictures of tile floor to carpet joints? like in my case where i'm laying down 1/4" hardyboard and then the tile and ill have a tile floor about 1/2" higher then the carpet between the kitchen and living room? See picture in first post of hole in the linolium. Thats where I need to have a trim piece that transitions from tile to carpet when the tile could posibly be 1/2" higher. I'm looking for ideas that will help eliminate a possible toe stubbing edge.

[DaJudge]

So me and the woman, Nyqyi, (pernounced Nikki) can't decide on a color for the grout when we tile the kitchen. What does the Co4x4 board say?



I say MAUVE (http://www.colorado4x4.org/vbb/showthread.php?t=89744)! :D

[Locomigo]

I went with a graphite color for the grout in the bathrooms that we tiled last year and it came out great. I plan to utilize the same color when we replace all carpeted areas on the first floor with tile over the next few months.

http://www.daltileproducts.com/images/products/large/festiva_graphite_field.jpg

[jeepn4evr]

My question is what year & model Jeep that is in the pile of remodeling materials & are you gonna restore it before installing it in the kitchen or put it in like that? Also what are you gonna use it for? Cabinets or kitchen table, actually could probably make a sweet refridgerator out of it. Let me know how that turns out as I might consider doing that in my kitchen someday.

[Hardcor4x4]

My question is what year & model Jeep that is in the pile of remodeling materials & are you gonna restore it before installing it in the kitchen or put it in like that? Also what are you gonna use it for? Cabinets or kitchen table, actually could probably make a sweet refridgerator out of it. Let me know how that turns out as I might consider doing that in my kitchen someday.
I was thinking a chandelier with rock lights. :D

[Rex Ashton]

HEY REX!! mr. tile guy. you have any pictures of tile floor to carpet joints? like in my case where i'm laying down 1/4" hardyboard and then the tile and ill have a tile floor about 1/2" higher then the carpet between the kitchen and living room? See picture in first post of hole in the linolium. Thats where I need to have a trim piece that transitions from tile to carpet when the tile could posibly be 1/2" higher. I'm looking for ideas that will help eliminate a possible toe stubbing edge.
I'll see if I can find a couple of pics tomorrow and add a few words then.

[Hardcor4x4]

I'll see if I can find a couple of pics tomorrow and add a few words then.
I also discovered tonight in working on peeling more of the tileboard off the walls I peeled a piece of the linolium up to see what was undernieth. Looks like it used to have hardwood floors (that would explain the bazzilian staples showing through the floor downstairs.) It looks like they laid down 3/8" plywood over the hardwood floor (throughout the house) and then the linolium floor. So, ok, this kitchen floor is going to be about 2" thick when I get the tile in. lol. I've got 1/4" hardyboard to laydown plus the thickness of the tile. I doubt this floor will have any give in it when this kitchen is done. :laughing:

[newracer]

When was your house built? Are you going to pull up the linoleum? Better have it checked for asbestos before you do.

[Pioneer]

I also discovered tonight in working on peeling more of the tileboard off the walls I peeled a piece of the linolium up to see what was undernieth. Looks like it used to have hardwood floors (that would explain the bazzilian staples showing through the floor downstairs.) It looks like they laid down 3/8" plywood over the hardwood floor (throughout the house) and then the linolium floor. So, ok, this kitchen floor is going to be about 2" thick when I get the tile in. lol. I've got 1/4" hardyboard to laydown plus the thickness of the tile. I doubt this floor will have any give in it when this kitchen is done. :laughing:

Good luck with that Hardi Backer! Putting scews every 4 square inches was the worst part about putting the tile down....

[Hardcor4x4]

When was your house built? Are you going to pull up the linoleum? Better have it checked for asbestos before you do.
House was built in 72 but the kitchen was redone less then 10 years ago and thats when the linoleum was laid down so it's too new to have asbestos in it.


Good luck with that Hardi Backer! Putting scews every 4 square inches was the worst part about putting the tile down....
Thats going to be your job :flipoff2:

If you use thinset to lay down the hardibacker you only need to screw it down every 4" around the edges and then 6-8 inches else where. If I just lay the hardibacker down dry and screw it down then yeah it says every 4" all over. "screw" that. (i know, but it's early in the monring and thats the best i can come up with.) :shrug:

[Hardcor4x4]

Been working on the walls off and on when i'm not out working in the yard. I got laid off work about a week ago so i've got time to get ahead and get the kitchen ready for the final demo. I got all the fake tile board off the walls and started re-surfacing the walls. Just scraping off all the loose stuff and left over liquid nails then speading a thin layer of drywall mud over the surface. Then I take a damp/wet sponge and smooth the plaster after it drys. works pretty slick. I HATE sanding drywall, that dust gets everywhere. Wet sponge goes 10 times faster and no dust to clean up.

Before
http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y65/bhugo4x4/Kitchen%20remodel/DSCF5870.jpg


After
http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y65/bhugo4x4/Kitchen%20remodel/DSCF5874.jpg

Before
http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y65/bhugo4x4/Kitchen%20remodel/demo01.jpg

After (well almost I still need to take after it with a wet spong and smooth it down.)
http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y65/bhugo4x4/Kitchen%20remodel/DSCF5875.jpg

[Hardcor4x4]

Any ideas for wall color?

[Hardcor4x4]

Got quite a bit done this weekend. Took out some wall cabinets that we got emptied out, finished the walls, peeled up the linolium and started laying down the Hardibacker board and even tiled the landing at the top of the stairs. Thursday night after work everything come out of the kitchen and i'm going to town on laying tile and hopefuly friday I get off work early and do a quick sealer on the tiles so the grout doesn't stain the tiles and i'll be able to grout Friday night. Saturday the new cabinets are put in and hopefully by Sunday evening I'll have a functional kitchen again.

Landing at the top of the stairs
http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y65/bhugo4x4/Kitchen%20remodel/DSCF5888.jpg

Floor.
http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y65/bhugo4x4/Kitchen%20remodel/DSCF5889.jpg
http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y65/bhugo4x4/Kitchen%20remodel/DSCF5890.jpg
Puke green or baby poop green walls behind the old cabinets. :barf:
http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y65/bhugo4x4/Kitchen%20remodel/DSCF5891.jpg
http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y65/bhugo4x4/Kitchen%20remodel/DSCF5892.jpg

[Hardcor4x4]

Last night I gutted the kitchen, everything went, including the kitchen sink, he he ha ha. :silly: Started right after work around 5pm and had everything out by 8pm and then finished putting down the rest of the hardibacker board. Started laying tile around 11pm and finish about 3:30 this morning. I think I got about 3 hours of sleep then had to get up to go to work. only worked about half a day today so I could come home and remove all the spacers, put some sealant on the tile so the grout color doesn't stain the tops of the tiles. Clean up excess mortar to get ready to float in the grout tonight. Tomorrow the new cabinets will start making their way in. By Sunday I should have at least a functional kitchen again. Right now I have to go out to the garage to get into the refridgerater. All my appliances are out there.

My nice spacious kitchen...... Looks like it's pizza delivery night.
http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y65/bhugo4x4/Kitchen%20remodel/DSCF5893.jpg
http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y65/bhugo4x4/Kitchen%20remodel/DSCF5894.jpg
http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y65/bhugo4x4/Kitchen%20remodel/DSCF5895.jpg

tile floor
http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y65/bhugo4x4/Kitchen%20remodel/DSCF5898.jpg
http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y65/bhugo4x4/Kitchen%20remodel/DSCF5896.jpg

More pics tomorrow as cabinets start going in. not much will happen tonight. just going to float in the grout and thats all I can do. have to stay off it for at least 12 hours.

[Hardcor4x4]

Got the base cabinets in, countertops on, the wall cabinets in, the crown molding done, the scribe done, the light bar molding also and the kick plate trim on. Got all that in today and even sponge mopped the floor for over an hour this morning getting all the excess grout wiped up.

Tomorrow is cut the hole for the sink and put the dishwasher in and refridgerator back in. then start putting all the crap back in the cabinets. Then we can start looking at paint color and what tile to go above the counters for a tile backsplash.

It looks like a completly different kitchen. It's turned way better then I had hoped for. hopefully this will have incressed the value of my house by a couple bucks.

pics....
Getting everything measured right in the corner
http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y65/bhugo4x4/Kitchen%20remodel/DSCF5899.jpg

Corner base and sink base in with counter top in. Dishwasher goes under the over hang and will have a end peice on the end to support the end of the countertop.
http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y65/bhugo4x4/Kitchen%20remodel/DSCF5901.jpg

Other side done with countertop in.
http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y65/bhugo4x4/Kitchen%20remodel/DSCF5902.jpg

Wall cabinets are hung.
http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y65/bhugo4x4/Kitchen%20remodel/DSCF5903.jpg

Mikey putting up the crown molding. Mikey does kitchen cabinet work for living so I thought he be good to help me out. My Dad just kinda stood around and stoopidvised. lol.
http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y65/bhugo4x4/Kitchen%20remodel/DSCF5904.jpg

The near finished product.
http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y65/bhugo4x4/Kitchen%20remodel/DSCF5905.jpg

http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y65/bhugo4x4/Kitchen%20remodel/DSCF5906.jpg


What do you all think??? pretty drastic change in apperence.

More pics tomorrow after the rest is done. I'm done for tonight. Totally exhausted and wore out.

[formatt]

Looks 100% better. Damn nice job. The only thing I'd have done different would've been to go with a lighter color grout... just personal preference.

Those cabinets are going to look even better with the muffin pans, bread maker, tupperware bowls and random aluminum foil boxes stacked back on top. :) j/k

Looking forward to more pics..

[Hardcor4x4]

90% done. still need to put the shelf in above the range and the new range hood. then put the lights in under the cabinets and above the sink, cabinet knobs and handles and PAINT.

New kitchen
http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y65/bhugo4x4/Kitchen%20remodel/DSCF5910.jpg


Old Kitchen. :barf:
http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y65/bhugo4x4/Kitchen%20remodel/DSCF5784.jpg

[Hardcor4x4]

Another quick update.

Hardware is on, paint is done and made the spice shelf over the range with the new range hood installed. I also insalled some LED lights under the wall cabinets. Their friggin bright. Going hunting today for tile for the backsplash and also try to find some Hickory looking baseboard. Thats pretty much all thats left is the tile backsplash and baseboards.

http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y65/bhugo4x4/Kitchen%20remodel/DSCF5911.jpg
http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y65/bhugo4x4/Kitchen%20remodel/DSCF5912.jpg
http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y65/bhugo4x4/Kitchen%20remodel/DSCF5914.jpg

[Whitey]

Looks really nice!

I like the cabinets, especially compared to the old ones, 1,000x better. :thumbsup: