Second attempt was with Windex and same paper towel, which cleaned the two honed surfaces up pretty well. The lighter Raw Concrete seems to have been easier than the Sleek Concrete. And finally, to get rid of that pot scratch I used a non-scratching Scotch brite pad (what we usually use on dishes) with some diluted Soft Scrub. This one took a little more elbow grease but I'm satisfied with the results. My opinion is that comparing the two surfaces (honed vs. glossy) there is a marked difference. That being said, I currently have tile from 1978 and grout lines that are so deep and narrow I have to scrub them out with a toothbrush. I guess it's all a matter of perspective. We decided to go with the Raw Concrete after all, and like others have said, just expect that it'll take a little more work and show a few more stains. But then again, isn't that the whole point of concrete? That it looks industrial? I hope this has helped someone. If anyone is interested I'll try to post some more photos and real life feedback in a couple of weeks once ours is installed.

We have seen a similar issue in the past. The problem occurred when the porcelain tile on the floor did not have 100% contact with the tile adhesive, this caused water to seep down though the grout join and hold in pockets under the tile in the areas where there was no direct contact. The water being trapped in the pockets under the tile does not evaporate and can leave the tiles looking stained. If this is the case with your floor tiles the bottom row of carrara marble tiles are simply acting like a sponge drawing water up. To fix the problem we would suggest that the bottom row of carrara marble and the porcelain tiles on the shower floor need to be removed and relayed ensuring full adhesive coverage. Unfortunately this may compromise your under tile heating and waterproof membrane. Proceed with caution.

Sorry to hear of your loss, M L, and my condolences to you. I would also choose my husband - he was brought up old-school and is very much the handyman. Only problem is - being an ex-engineer, he is extremely fastidious and has a tendency to over-engineer everything. Combined with the fact that he is very busy with work and has very little free time, our home renovation is taking absolutely foreeeeeeeeever (six years and counting)! No chance of us ever hiring a handyman - they would never do the job to his satisfaction, so he'd just end up ripping it all up and doing it again himself.

The kitchen really is the heart & soul of any home, open to be used & viewed by family, friends and visitors. Ours was designed 16 years ago by an elderly couple, so definitely needs upgrading, new life, a new practical design and purpose. I just need to win Tattslotto and a talented kitchen designer! We renovated our ensuite, removing the pink rose tiles to a bathroom we enjoy, without wincing as we enter. It now fits our seaside village environment. The kitchen is very much an important project for the distant financial future . . . . . . .