This is a spot where cracks often develop. After cleaning with a a mildewcide, check carefully for a crack. If the grout is cracked, open the crack up a little wider with a grout saw (inexpensive at a hardware store) or steel blade and fill it with a color matched caulk or sanded sealer from the tile store. If the crack has moisture, let it dry well before caulking.

Almost any mildewicide will do the trick.  Grout sealants all seem to work but I would go specifically to a tile shop to see what they recommend.  I think most sealers will work but application and prep are key. 

Do your homework by not only interviewing several contractors, but talk to their previous clients and get their take on the value they received working with their contractor. There isn't a professional contractor operating that charges more based on where the project is located.

It's important you trust your contractor and that they are a good fit for how you like to operate. Take the time to understand their process. When all is said and done, you should be having fun through your project. If you're not, you might have picked a contractor that doesn't fit the best.

Good luck and HAVE FUN!! :)

Find a design-build contractor you trust and let them take you through their system. They will take all of the guess-work and most of the headaches out of th process, ensuring you enjoy the project during AND after. Also, check out the site https://Houzz.com Houzz is a great site for organizing your ideas and generating new ideas for design and product.

Have fun!!

They are tough to take off. If it's glued to drywall, you can use a prybar to rip it off from the drywall. Note: You will more than likely need to repair the drywall when you're finished, if you are going to have a finished wall. Go slow or you'll break the mirror. Also, wear safety glasses and gloves - a must.

Here are some helpful steps to make the process safe:

http://www.lowes.com/creative-ideas/bed-and-bath/remove-a-bathroom-mirror/project

I have not heard of it and therefore not used it.  I got a couple or favorable ratings on Yelp, could not find anything about it in Houzz or Pinterest. 

Sorry

Philip Anderson

HDR Remodeling Berkeley, CA

Here is a list of what "not to do" with kitchen remodeling....

http://freshome.com/2012/10/23/10-mistakes-you-dont-want-to-make-in-your-kitchen-design/

Here is actuall pictures in houzz you can see as well. Good luck!

http://www.houzz.com/ideabooks/828020/list/kitchen-design-flaws

I agree, 300+ is typical.

Please read this blog! It is very helpful when looking for the right contractor.

http://fineremodelutah.com/how-to-work-with-your-contractor/

a stainless steel film will be easy to keep clean and won't do much damge to the wall when removed. http://www.amazon.com/Instant-Appliance-Stick-Stainless-Steel/dp/B00BAUPS9M

Full 42" upper cabinets are the easiest way to maximize sotrage in any kitchen. A lazy susan in the corner cabinets are the best way to maximize that space as well.  Using a microwave with an exhaust instead of a hood over your range can free up counter space in any kitchen. Other less traditional options can be opting for a smaller dish washer such as a drawer or 18" wide unit.

There is a lot of good advice in people's responses. The best thing you can do is get as much detail as possible in your estimate from your contractor/s. Just to clarify one myth, we, like most professionals, value our time. If a job takes 30 minutes to drive to, this time has to be accounted for in the management of the project. We, being a Contractor, charge more to manage a job that is half an hour from our place of business than we do a job that is 5 minutes away. Just to be fair, it cannot be said as a flat out fule of thumb that Contractors should not charge more solely due to location alone. You should never pay more because you are in a fancier neighborhood with the same logistics as the one next door. Just take it all into consideration during your search.

There is a great resource that we point our clients to when trying to determine "how much things cost" in general. There are so many different variables that go in to a project that it is hard to really throw out a figure and say "Hey, a bathroom remodel is going to cost XXXX" without knowing the location of the project, how big the bathroom is, what level of finish, etc.....

Remodeling Magazine does a survey every year of 35 common remodeling projects, and what they actually cost across the nation. They publish these results, and categorize them by location. Their survey is really great because they actually give you an example of a project, and a laundry list of what goes in to it, and a typical price that would be associated with that remodeling project. We find that it is a really great resource for trying to determine ballpark figures and get a good idea of what things cost around you.

Here is the link to the 2014 report: http://www.remodeling.hw.net/cost-vs-value/2014/