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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Will I learn to love it?

111 replies

Beingseenisneedy · 18/06/2026 16:42

Bathroom just done after months and months of planning.
Wood effect tiles and asked for same colour grout.

They've gone and put grey grout!

Didn't get a chance to see it until it was dry. Apparently this is the closest colour to their eyes.

So annoyed.
Have looked up changing it on YouTube but can't trust I won't make it worse.

First world probs I know. Literally no £ left to get someone else.

Have you had renovation disappointments you've learned to love?

OP posts:
Original poster
Beingseenisneedy · 19/06/2026 08:18

ShutupLwren · 19/06/2026 08:06

I fucking despise it when they do this. I fucking hate it. Just please do what I’ve specified, idgaf if you don’t like it or wouldn’t choose it, it’s my choice, my design and my fucking house.

I have also had great struggles. One CF said to me my choices were “stoopid”. Wanker. It looked terrific actually.

Sorry you’ve got to deal with this OP 💐

Thank you. Sorry you've had your choices questioned.

Now thinking about it, theu probably didn't ask as they thought I'd choose a 'stoopid' colour.
He would question my decisions constantly.
Someone needs to tell him the customer is always right.

Better to live with your own mistake than someone else's.

OP posts:
Original poster
Beingseenisneedy · 19/06/2026 08:15

honeylulu · 19/06/2026 08:00

I've seen the photo and it looks fine. They've matched the grain rather than the wood colour. It's not the awful clash I was expecting.

I've had some "buyer's regret" over decorating choices (my own!) And hated them initially, but found after 2 weeks I didn't mind at all. I think my brain needs time to adjust to a big change.

It's a bit crap they didn't show you the colour choices first. Our decorator always suggested 2-3 options and then I chose. Then it was my fault if I didn't like it!

Thank you, appreciate there is some grey in the grain but felt a lighter grout would make the room feel lighter too.
Wish they'd shown me first. Lucky you had good a decorator, as should be.

OP posts:
Original poster
Beingseenisneedy · 19/06/2026 08:13

wheresthesnowgone · 19/06/2026 07:51

It looks absolutely fine, not grey at all. Give it a couple of years and regrout if you still hate it.

Thank you, hopefully I'll have forgotten about it in a couple of years.

OP posts:
Original poster
Beingseenisneedy · 19/06/2026 08:12

Imdunfer · 19/06/2026 07:48

Is it just the photo, or is the quality of the work really poor at the right hand side, top half?

You can paint it if you really hate it. There is grout paint but any waterproof paint should work.

Edited
Show quote history

Thank you. The quality isn't great, but also not horrendous.
It's the combination of the quality and the colour that's not ideal.

I think I could deal with the not so perfect grouting if the colour was right.
At that point we just wanted him out the house.

OP posts:
MrsCarmelaSoprano · 19/06/2026 08:08

I think it'll be hard to get him back now you've paid. I've had a really nasty plasterer before, he was recommended too- I can really hold my own but felt really uncomfortable so I know where you're coming from.

I think if you change the seal to match the grouting it'll tie in better ,at the moment the mismatch is drawing your eye the the grouting which you don't like.

ShutupLwren · 19/06/2026 08:06

I fucking despise it when they do this. I fucking hate it. Just please do what I’ve specified, idgaf if you don’t like it or wouldn’t choose it, it’s my choice, my design and my fucking house.

I have also had great struggles. One CF said to me my choices were “stoopid”. Wanker. It looked terrific actually.

Sorry you’ve got to deal with this OP 💐

honeylulu · 19/06/2026 08:00

I've seen the photo and it looks fine. They've matched the grain rather than the wood colour. It's not the awful clash I was expecting.

I've had some "buyer's regret" over decorating choices (my own!) And hated them initially, but found after 2 weeks I didn't mind at all. I think my brain needs time to adjust to a big change.

It's a bit crap they didn't show you the colour choices first. Our decorator always suggested 2-3 options and then I chose. Then it was my fault if I didn't like it!

wheresthesnowgone · 19/06/2026 07:51

It looks absolutely fine, not grey at all. Give it a couple of years and regrout if you still hate it.

Imdunfer · 19/06/2026 07:48

Beingseenisneedy · 18/06/2026 21:30

Looks black but it's a dark grey.

Is it just the photo, or is the quality of the work really poor at the right hand side, top half?

You can paint it if you really hate it. There is grout paint but any waterproof paint should work.

Original poster
Beingseenisneedy · 19/06/2026 07:31

Bunbun22 · 19/06/2026 07:21

This is bronze

Show quote history

The colour, the evenness 🫠. Looks great.

OP posts:
Original poster
Beingseenisneedy · 19/06/2026 07:29

Paramaribo2025 · 19/06/2026 01:39

Do you live alone?
Sorry to say this - but do you have a man there that could back you up?

The tiler sounds quite menacing.
I can see why you want him gone.

He is unfortunately, although he was all light and sparkles when we first met.
DH works away so I have to deal with him.

OP posts:
Original poster
Beingseenisneedy · 19/06/2026 07:28

LittleMerrymaid · 19/06/2026 01:28

I live in a place where entire homes are tiled and grouting is something I’m fussy about. I think your grouting looks very nice.

Thank you. I should be glad it's not the whole house! 🙏

OP posts:
Original poster
Beingseenisneedy · 19/06/2026 07:26

cosimarama · 19/06/2026 01:21

OP do you have to deal with the tiler alone?

Hate to say it but think you need to dig deep and stop giving a fuck about him being annoyed at you. He’s a business owner and you’re a dissatisfied customer so you’re giving him a chance to rectify his error. Stand your ground and stay calm if he pushes back and don’t apologise for wanting what you paid for.

Thank you, good way of looking at it instead of worrying about his reaction.

OP posts:
Original poster
Beingseenisneedy · 19/06/2026 07:25

zobeit · 19/06/2026 00:37

Stomach keeping? Keeping?
That should be stomach dropping.
Apart from the sealant I think it looks good. If you’re not happy tell him and hold him to account. Ignore his strops. He’ll just have to get on with it won’t he to receive full and final payment.

Knew what you meant. Thing is, he's had the payment 🫣. I was happy enough but the more I look at it, the more enraged I get.
Wouldn't have minded it not being even so much if it was the right colour.

OP posts:
Original poster
Beingseenisneedy · 19/06/2026 07:23

Blueradiators · 19/06/2026 00:23

Oh bless you, OP. I think you have to try. Worst he will do is say no and walk out of the job

My dad did my bathroom and decided to use an off white grout (leftover from the kitchen!) to "save money" instead of the white that I wanted.

I was seething and he point blank refused to change it because he would need to dig the grout out first and we had tiled the entire room.

I've mostly grown to ignore it but sometimes I think about it and feel annoyed all over again 😅 which is not how you want to feel when you're trying to relax in the bath!

Oh gosh, why do they think they know best. To even refuse when he's done it wrong 🤦‍♀️.

I'm hoping I'll grow to accept it as others have said the grey is likely to fade 🤞.

OP posts:
Bunbun22 · 19/06/2026 07:21

Beingseenisneedy · 19/06/2026 07:19

Thanks. Will think it through. So stressful.

Show quote history

This is bronze

Will I learn to love it?
Original poster
Beingseenisneedy · 19/06/2026 07:19

Bunbun22 · 19/06/2026 00:17

You can even mix the grout colours up! No excuse get them back

Show quote history

Thanks. Will think it through. So stressful.

OP posts:
Paramaribo2025 · 19/06/2026 01:39

Do you live alone?
Sorry to say this - but do you have a man there that could back you up?

The tiler sounds quite menacing.
I can see why you want him gone.

LittleMerrymaid · 19/06/2026 01:28

I live in a place where entire homes are tiled and grouting is something I’m fussy about. I think your grouting looks very nice.

cosimarama · 19/06/2026 01:21

OP do you have to deal with the tiler alone?

Hate to say it but think you need to dig deep and stop giving a fuck about him being annoyed at you. He’s a business owner and you’re a dissatisfied customer so you’re giving him a chance to rectify his error. Stand your ground and stay calm if he pushes back and don’t apologise for wanting what you paid for.

zobeit · 19/06/2026 00:37

Stomach keeping? Keeping?
That should be stomach dropping.
Apart from the sealant I think it looks good. If you’re not happy tell him and hold him to account. Ignore his strops. He’ll just have to get on with it won’t he to receive full and final payment.

Blueradiators · 19/06/2026 00:23

Oh bless you, OP. I think you have to try. Worst he will do is say no and walk out of the job

My dad did my bathroom and decided to use an off white grout (leftover from the kitchen!) to "save money" instead of the white that I wanted.

I was seething and he point blank refused to change it because he would need to dig the grout out first and we had tiled the entire room.

I've mostly grown to ignore it but sometimes I think about it and feel annoyed all over again 😅 which is not how you want to feel when you're trying to relax in the bath!

Bunbun22 · 19/06/2026 00:17

Beingseenisneedy · 18/06/2026 21:20

Thanks, not in writing as I didn't think it would be that difficult. Wish I had now.

Show quote history

You can even mix the grout colours up! No excuse get them back

Original poster
Beingseenisneedy · 19/06/2026 00:14

zobeit · 18/06/2026 23:29

No stomach keeping. You pay the piper, you call the tune.

Thank you. Wish it was so easy.

OP posts:
zobeit · 18/06/2026 23:29

No stomach keeping. You pay the piper, you call the tune.