I actually had to dig this photo out of my computer’s recycle bin. I was embarrassed at the gaps and, while I had faith in grout and caulk, I wasn’t eager to share the full frontal shot of my first tile job.  So, instead I showed shots where my imperfections weren’t so in-your-face. Well, here’s what that same wall looks like after it has been grouted.  (I still need to caulk around the edges.) Amazing, right?!  I was a little nervous that I had too much faith in caulk and grout, but it exceeded my expectations in making my amateur tile job look great. Here are some things I learned in my inaugural grout-applying project.  1.) Grouting is a not-fun job.  When I looked longingly at the bucket of grout on my counter before my trip to Arkansas, I imagined I would smooth the grout over the tiles in one swoop, sponge the excess

I only have a small idea of what it’s like to live through a kitchen renovation, but I know enough to know that it’s pretty disruptive to a household.  One of my dear friends had to gut her entire kitchen (down to the studs and floor joists!)  I remember her balancing across the joists with a platter of sliced watermelon to feed volunteers who came to help with the kitchen project.  That woman fed a family of six with a microwave, griddle and crock pot for weeks.  Amazing. Replacing my back splash, counters, sink, faucet and range hood pales in comparison to the upheaval they went through.  Even so, I want to keep things as normal as possible and restrict the number of days I have to wash dishes in the bathroom sink. Here’s the way we’re making the changes easier to live through… First off, we loosened the counters,