CRAMPED SPACES AND WEIRD TILE CHOICES—ANYONE ELSE?
I get the appeal of matching grout, but honestly, chasing a perfect color match for 1940s tile seems like a losing battle. At a certain point, I think it’s more practical to pick a close modern shade or even lean into the contrast—sometimes the “almost” match just looks off anyway.
About the lead glaze issue, I’d actually push back on the idea that it’s just part of the gamble. There are some pretty affordable lead test swabs you can use before demo starts—no need to wait for surprises mid-project. It’s not foolproof, but it beats flying blind and potentially dealing with hazardous waste after the fact.
Matching grout to old tile is a rabbit hole, for sure. I’ve seen people spend weeks hunting for that “just right” shade, only to end up with something that still looks a bit off under different lighting. At a certain point, I think you’re right—embracing contrast or going with a modern neutral can actually highlight the vintage tile in a good way. Sometimes the almost-match just makes the original tile look dingy.
On the lead glaze thing, I’d add one step before demo: after using those swabs, if you get a positive, it’s worth checking your local disposal rules. Some places are strict about how you handle lead waste, and you don’t want to get stuck with a pile of debris you can’t legally toss. I’ve had a project stall for days because the landfill wouldn’t take our demoed tile until we got it certified as non-hazardous. Not fun.
If you’re dealing with cramped spaces, I’ve found that lighter grout and tile colors can help open things up visually, even if it’s not a perfect match. Just my two cents.