Opinions Needed - Should I change grout?

9 years ago

I am contemplating changing the grout color on our backsplash from white to gray. It's called Bright White but has a bit of a yellow tinge to it compared to the really white tiles. If I were to change it, it would be a light gray or perhaps a medium gray.

Here are some pictures, a few are before grout was done making it look like it had gray grout and a couple after grout pics. I'm thinking the gray grout may soften it up with so much white and tie in the Super White counters. What do you all think?

And a picture I found online of the beveled white subway and gray grout

Sorry if any photos are upside down, I can't tell on my iPad. Thanks so much for any advice. :)

Featured Answer

plllog

9 years ago

Generally one wants the grout not to be the same color as the tiles so that the lines look nice. In the pictures, yours looks fine. If you go gray, it'll be a cooler (color temperature) look, and the grid will pop more. As it is, the tiles don't compete with the counter as much.

Digging out grout without damaging tiles is a tedious job. You probably don't need to get it all, just enough so that the new grout can grab, but even so...

The question is one only you can really answer: Does the current color bother you enough that it's worth the effort and mess to change it. If you've lived with it for a few months and it really bothers you, it might be. After you've lived with it a year and lived through all that time, your kitchen will be full of so much life and memory that you won't even remember it unless someone reminds you.

Comments (8)

jellytoast
9 years ago
Personally, I would leave it alone. It is a PITA to remove grout and that is a lot of tile with small joints. I think your "after" shots look much better than the last pic you posted with the grey gout. IMO, that grout is too dark. Also, imperfections with the joints will show up more with a higher-contrasting grout so that is something to consider.

This post was edited by jellytoast on Fri, May 9, 14 at 21:26
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eam44
9 years ago
I second that emotion jelly & p. it is a huge pain to remove grout. It causes an awful mess. What you have looks fine, and if the warm grout looks funny with a cool tile, I sure can't see it in your image.

If it really bugs you, just be sure to protect those counters before you do anything. Good luck.
romy718
9 years ago
I can't see the yellowish tinge in your photos but I prefer your white grout to the picture you posted with the gray grout.
Beautiful kitchen. Love your Super White!
oldbat2be
9 years ago
I prefer the pictures pre-grout (like the contrast) but will defer to the experts. If money's no object.... then perhaps retiling is an option vs. removing grout?

What draws my eye for some reason, in your finished pictures, is the lower hood 'panel'. I employed some 'sleight of hand' in my own kitchen to draw the eye away from what I felt was way too much white. Have you thought about a mounting a sign or rectangular plate up there?
debrak2008
9 years ago
How long have you lived with it? If not long then wait a little while.

I do prefer the way the kitchen looks in the first 3 photos. Interesting idea from oldbat2be, but I personally would not put anything there.
User
9 years ago
The grout isn't the issue. The hood needs pulls. It's too white and blank.
nancyocean
9 years ago
Have you considered grout paint? You could do a small section and see if you liked it.