I think if the extra cost is a financial stressor for you then it's not worth it. I actually like the bathroom you linked to before the flood damage. You could "bling" it up with the light fixtures or other fixtures which can still be done on a modest budget.

I'm assuming the total is $1500 for both bathrooms, in tile?

I'd pick a less expensive tile, then compare the two. For example, if the less expensive tile would cost $800 to put in, I'd then ask myself if the extra $700, so almost twice as much, would be worth it (not if "$1500" is worth it. Either way, you're paying $800).

If the less expensive tile is $200 to put in, I'd go with that, as that is a $1300 difference. If it's $1200 to put in, I'd go with the encaustic as, to me, an extra $300 would definitely be worth it.

this is a long-term decision, and for long-term things, I give a bit of leeway where price is concerned since the cost will depreciate over time.

If you spent $1500 for a floor that was going to come out in a year, the cost to you would be $1500. But if you hope to have the floor for 30 years, the cost is $50/yr.

Edited to add, you have to add that $50/yr (or whatever) to all the overage amounts dispersed over whatever time period applies to each.

It would cost $1500 more to go with the encaustic tile rather than the hex? Or the encaustic would be $1500, and the hex would be less? I'd make sure you have accurate numbers before you make your decision.

I think I'd be most concerned about the upkeep of the white hex. You already know you were unhappy with that aspect, so I wouldn't do it again. Maybe a gray hex, or a white/gray pattern, would be easier to take care of, and would provide a little more wow?

You know I love the encaustic tiles, so I'm biased. I would use them if it's at all possible. But it's not worth completely blowing up your budget and causing you more stress.

I agree with Tibb......pick an alternative you like (in gray so it won't show every speck) and then compare the price with the encaustic. It's the only way to determine just how much you want the encaustic. If the alternative is $500 for both bathrooms, saving $1000, but you're not happy with it, you have your answer.

Since you are already over budget, I'd look for medium grey hex and use grey grout to make the floor easier to keep looking decent. If you want bling down the road, you could always wallpaper or paint the walls a jazzy color.

I would probably use it in the master bath, or the bathroom that you use most often, and economize in the second bath, perhaps using it as a border with a plain tile to coordinate.

Thanks everyone.

Tibbrix/Joanie, I think you two may actually be my husband. Those are his arguments exactly. I will do that. I just wish I had a twin who had time to go out searching for an alternative tile.

We try not to spend money we don't have, but because the whole house is being torn apart and we have the opportunity to do and redo things we otherwise wouldn't (or do things that would cost a fortune if walls weren't already down) it seems ridiculous to put things off.

But all those things cost money - even if it's not as much money as it would be if the walls weren't already down.

Olychick, I like that idea. I don't think it would work as a border (just because our space is so small), but maybe as a centre square? But then I'd have to find coordinating floor tile. Where is that shopping twin?!

Crl, it's not the colour so much as the fact that it is all one colour. I need to find time to get to a tile shop and see alternatives and how much they would cost. Insurance will cover the cost of hex tiles and we have to pay the difference, but I don't even have a clue what hex tile would cost.

jlc, yah I love it too. I think the main stress is mostly in making the choices. I'm constantly trying to keep things straight in my head balancing money and opportunity. For ex., we can keep our old fridge for now and have them build the space for it and then save for a year or so and buy a bigger stainless one. But things like tile, if I economize now, I won't have the opportunity to change in the future.

Annie, do you think I'd tire of it on the floor? If everything else was plain white? Our floor space is pretty small. I'm second guessing myself now.

For a grey option, how about something like these penny rounds on overstock?

I do think the idea of doing one bathroom in the encaustic and the other in a less expensive plain tile, is a good one if you feel torn.

Overstock has tile?! I wouldn't have thought to check there. I really like that. Heading over to see cost, etc.

I think someone else mentioned using the encaustic tile as a "rug" so you would need less of it. Here's a picture.

Bathroom Installations · More Info

Thanks, crll. I really like that look. I also need to head over to the house and do a site measure of the actual floor space. I can't seem to calculate correctly from floor plans.

Yeah, you might tire of it...this is pretty busy. You probably don't have the same association with it that I do, but the pattern reminds me of the really bad vinyl sheet flooring my mother had in her kitchen back in the 70s only hers was in the beige tones.

Oh Annie, I know you posted that pic to dissuade me, but it is having the opposite effect. I get the same feeling when I see it as I had when I saw the clear white slab of marble for our vanity - I just want to gather it in my arms and hug it, I love it so much.

I think my concern aesthetically is not that I'll tire of it, but that it won't work in either of our small bathrooms. That it needs a bigger area to shine.

I really like the penny round, but I think I need to go with a bigger format tile. I remember when they put in the hex tile, thinking that while it looked okay, the small format made the floor shrink visually. I think the penny rounds would have even more of a shrinking effect. However, penny rounds to do a "rug" might work. Hmmm...

Encaustic tile in small bathrooms. I think it's beautiful. Might want to go with neutral colors, which would probably hold better over time.

Different strokes for different folks...I look at the pics in Tib's post and I go no...all I can think of is someone future buyer walking into the bath and saying, and who's idea was this tile!?! Maybe we can cover it with a rug!

Since your home is 100 years old, and you have already made the decision to use subway tiles on the walls, encaustic tiles would not necessarily be an appropriate solution for your floors though they can be quite attractive. I'm sure your white hex tile from before was a housekeeping problem, but a dynamic black and white floor for the bathrooms seems appropriate. Maybe one of these patterns would be of interest to you. All can be done with porcelain mosaics though it will require a very good tile setter.

There is also this example with a small area on a wall, as well as the floor. It's very crazy (but kind of wonderful), but I am posting it for the idea that you could do a small area--on the wall even.

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I am doing large format tiles on the floor to minimize grout. I think that tends to be a more modern look, but I want the function so much that I decided to go for it anyway. Here's one of my inspiration pictures.

Qualicum Beach Residence · More Info

And here's another.

Cloudy Meadow Ranch · More Info

I'm not sure of the date of your home, but encaustic tiles were used in homes apparently from the mid-1800s through the 1930s or so.

I kinda like the look of the encaustic tile as a "rug" and the mosaics that Beverly has posted.

However, they all give me pause. How to be delicate? A bathroom is a working room that we need for the best of times and the worst of times. I think of not feeling well, of needing to spend some unfortunate moments in that room. And the thought of all those strong patterns at such times makes my stomach roil.

I'm biased: I love that encaustic tile, so while I'm quite frugal, not to say, stingy, I probably would have it installed in one of the bathrooms. It's 700 dollars over how many years? If you enjoy it for 10 years, that's 70/year or 5.80/month.

The encaustic tile is so pretty!!

I also like the idea of using as a 'rug', as pictured above, if you have the space to do so.

Adds the pop of beautiful pattern without overdoing it...and hopefully less costly as well:)

Okay, so this is how exhausted I am. I am just home from work (almost the last day of school - yay!) and I'm skimming the topics while putting my tired feet up before starting dinner. "Oh", I say to myself, "someone is trying to decide on bathroom tile just like me". It's only when I click on the thread that I realize it is me!

I just read somewhere that each tile can weigh as much as 3 pounds. Therefore, shipping is going to be fairly costly too.

What if I just do one bathroom with the encaustic (possibly rug style) and do the other bathroom in hardwood? The hardwood is covered under the insurance. Do people put hardwood in a bathroom or is that just asking for trouble? It is site finished oak.

If I do use the encaustic, it will definitely be of the neutral variety. The middle pic that tibbrix posted above is my inspiration bathroom and the one that got me searching for the tile. The cement tile shop . com makes one that looks pretty identical.

Sorry I haven't replied to each post. I have read them and appreciate all opinions - even those that don't like it. It helps to realize it may not be everyone's cup of tea. Resale is always an issue at some point, but we are going on the assumption that this is our forever house.

I'm off to read some designer and contractor emails and answer a ton of their questions. Right now I'm wishing I was little less of a decor addict and could just say, "oh, just go ahead and do what you think is best."

There are lots of threads re: wood in bathrooms. There are those, like me, who LOVE our site finished oak bathroom floor. Mine has Swedish finish- so easy to keep clean, impervious to water - unless perhaps you have a toilet leak or other pipe. But, as I was told, if you have a pipe leak, it's likely to ruin whatever floor and/or subfloor you have, so you might as well have what you love.

Then there are all the people who will say don't do it. :)

I probably wouldn't put hardwood in the kids' bathroom, but it would be fine in the master. You do need a tough finish, use bath mats, and don't let water sit on it. I think kids tend to be messier, and don't notice when they drip water everywhere!

Beverly's fourth picture is picture perfect! Nothing is more appropriate than the judicious use of black and white tiles in an historic home. Clean, beautiful, goes with any accent color.

I'm not a hardwood in the bathroom fan. I was thinking about it until dh mentioned pee stains and absorption. Changed my mind real quick on that one!

I think whatever you feel you love and can afford you should get. The fancy tile sounds period for your home. And I think in your area people would love it if resale was an issue ( but sounds like it isn't).

I'm not a fan of the "rug" look, but I like simple and am not a fan or borders or like little strips of different tile on a backsplash if you kwim.

So I sent an email to our designer with pics of the tile and she wrote back saying she had just seen these at a design show and she and the distributor were gaga over them. She said they had actually talked about how great they would be in an older home. I do believe this is fate telling me I have to have them. She is going to source them and we'll see about cost. Maybe I can scrimp somewhere else.