Decisions, decisions

I thought I was finally done with all the big decisions. Everything important was locked down I believed - I knew exactly what was to happen with all the major fittings, all the things not so easily changed once installed. There are still plenty of smaller items that are yet to be determined, but nothing of great consequence. The big things, however? All done.

Except that all changed with the flick of a switch. The light switch for the shower room, in fact. After bunking off work today (connectivity issues with the company network limited what I could have achieved), I dropped by the flat to catch up with the joiner (one of the most valuable lessons I've learned so far has been to never underestimate the value of being able to stand behind a workman whilst he's working) and set him on some new tasks. Afterwards I retreated to the shower room to bask once more in the warm glow of the freshly installed lights, and check how the plaster was drying out after a small (but annoyingly persistent) leak. Whilst doing so I was struck by how much I liked the appearance of the freshly plastered walls - a light shade of salmon. It wasn't remotely close to darker shade of grey I'd originally decided upon almost six months ago for the wall and floor tiles. Back then I'd narrowed it down to two options - both large square porcelain tiles imitating actual stone (I'd discounted real stone tiles purely on maintenance grounds). One tile was slate grey, the other a fetching shade of sandstone. After much humming and hawing I choose to go with the slate tiles. Partially because they were cheaper, but also because it just seemed right to me. Instinct has played a large role in this process and I've realised that I can do worse that trust it. Admittedly several people commented that the dark walls would make the shower room appear small. My argument against this was quite simply that the shower room is small (really quite minuscule) and that nothing I could possibly do would ever make it appear large.

But this afternoon I couldn't resist checking back on the alternative so I toddled along to the tile shop, only to find myself vacillating again. The sandstone tile looked as lovely as I remembered (perhaps my familiarity with the slate tile has given way to the faintest contempt) and more, it's currently on sale, so I can't discount it on price alone. I purchased a sample tile and consequently spent a goodly portion of this evening staring at it in variety of light conditions, and standing on it, and sitting on it, and lying on it, and generally becoming intimately familiar with this slab of imitation stone. And for my efforts I remain thoroughly uncertain. I'm sure the simplest course of action would be to remain steadfast, and continue with my original choice, but it seems a little late in the day to go with the easy option now. I shall take it to the flat tomorrow to compare with the existing slate tile. I'm quite certain that I would be happy with either, but I think I may now be leaning towards the sandstone. Then again, perhaps not.

Bother.