too many tile choices

15 years ago

Old house built in 1922. The bathroom being remodeled is the upstairs family bath, no master bathroom. It is shared by me, hubby, and 11 yr old son. It is a small bathroom, only 7' 7" x 8' 7". No room for a seperate tub and shower.

I have been planning this bathroom for 2 years now. I have the tub already purchased, almost all the plumbing fixtures purchased, sink is picked out, and cabinetry will be custom. I am stuck on the tile.

I like everything. Makes choosing tile difficult. This problem is delaying the process considerably.

Do I go for the historically appropriate hex floor/subway wall?

Or the elegant look of white statuary marble?

Or the ever popular, rich earthy brown tones of some stones?

Or the modern glass tile look?

How do I pick when I like it all?

I have tried the pros and cons of everything, but that does not help, cause they all equal out, lol!

Any suggestions? Should I just flip a coin?

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Comments (2)

just_julie
15 years ago
I'm the same way, I like EVERYTHING!

Let your husband and son decide. It will make them feel included in the process.
kimkitchy
15 years ago
angie, I just want to commiserate and say, "boy, do I know how you feel!". Tile choices were the hardest thing for me during our 1913 bungalow kitchen and, later, bath renovations. I couldn't get over how much there was from which to choose. It was overwhelming!

Style:
Does your home have a consistent style throughout? Is the rest of your home "original"? Do features from 1922 remain? Is there a feeling you are trying to evoke in your home as a whole? Would one style or another look totally out of place with the rest of your home? Or do you embrace the "eclectic"? What would look best with the cabinetry you've picked out?

Practicality:
Since this sounds like a hard working family bath, you want materials that are going to hold up well to use. Can you tolerate stains and etching in marble? White is not a problem, as far as color for ceramic/porcelain tile, but I think it is terrible as a color for grout. So, think about both. Test natural materials before you purchase them; drip shampoo on them, leave water standing on them, etc.

Small spaces:
(I'm sure others will disagree but...) I do think lighter colors make smaller spaces feel bigger. Do you have a window in this bath?

Bring home lots and lots of samples. Invite a friend or relative whose opinion you trust about color to look at your tile samples with your cabinetry choices, etc. (it helped me a lot to show my BIL tiles - he's a printer and has a great eye for color). Don't worry about what's hot in the latest mags (or what's not). In the end, if you "like it all", you can't go wrong! Best of luck with your remodel!
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