The Homework Assignment

We drove to Ocean Springs Lumber today in search of that trim for the dining room... and I think we found something eerily similar to our old trim. It isn't quite as wide -- just a fraction of an inch narrower -- but I think that's the difference between 10 year old trim and trim bought today really. Hopefully with some glossy paint and the artful use of reveals and caulk - no one will ever notice the difference.

Old trim on the left -- New trim on the right.

Our other homework project -- the edge of the tub surround tile -- isn't quite finished. Basically, we're still clueless as to how to deal with this one.

The right side of the tub surround.

The fact is - our installer should have repaired this sheetrock corner BEFORE he ever installed the first piece of tile. The other fact is - he didn't.

The left side of the tub surround.

The other side of the tub surround leaves us very little space to work with between the tile and the door trim for the water closet. We also have to deal with the fact that the tile is basically recessed behind cut out sheetrock at the bottom... and well.. not so at the top (as you can see in the picture.) Again - this is something that could have been avoided had the backerboard and sheetrock been finished before installing tile. That doesn't help us any today though.

Possible Solution:

We are considering either extending the tile around the sides some: up to the door trim and down to the baseboards on the left side -- and around the front of the dividing wall on the right side.

Problems with this solution: the beginning tiles on the right side of the surround were cut even with the backerboard -- and we will be left with a large gap (grouted gap - but a gap just the same) at the beginning of that corner. Also, wrapping the listello and rope will be a little tricky to get it just right.

Other possible solution:

I am considering using a combination of plain wood panelling and chair rail, quarter round, and whatever other moulding I can get my hands on - to totally cover the exposed sheetrock on either side of the surround. I was hoping that such a thing would give the effect of a half column supporting the dividing wall on the right -- and would simply not be all that noticeable on the left side.

Problems with this solution: I can't explain what I'm thinking to anyone -- so how do I get this idea across to the contractor?