The very term "back lit" implies it's lit from behind -- yet it's not "clear" for the light to pass through??????

Wouldn't you actually need directional recessed ceiling lights such as is often found in front of a fireplace or lighting intended for high end art -- but that is intended for use near water?

It’s translucent., not transparent. There are ways of backlighting, even in a shower. But the whole infrastructure has to be designed around It, and it needs to be accessible.

I did a full height two sided fireplace design with a bundle of red onyx slabs book-matched. THE feature of the home. Just the stone was over 100K. Not the fabrication, or the infrastructure. Just the stone. And the customer was a stone importer, so that was wholesale.

It simply is not doable without an experienced design team. Your average podunk mouth breathing Group A stone fab-uh-muh-cA-tur out of a tin shed doesn’t have the skills or equipment.

What a shame that is so expensive. It is drop dead gorgeous.

It's quite stunning! I like the resource that Joseph posted.

It IS stunning! But then so is Chatsworth with the gilding on the windows - absolutely spectacular when the light hits them - the entire house just "glows". But I won't be doing it on my own house.

When I was young and in my very first house, I wanted to wallpaper the MBR. A neighbor who was a close friend of my MIL, worked at a local wallpaper store that even sold high-end, to-the-trade papers. I went to look for paper and she insisted I only look in books I could afford - said once I'd seen the more expensive ones, I'd never be happy with what was realistic. She was right.

Now, I do believe in training ones eye by seeing the best of the best! It's how we learn to recognize good design. But it must always be with the knowledge that the best of the best, is probably not what we can afford - be inspired by it, but realistic in how to achieve some of the look. It's a thin line...

Slablite is a produce that utilizes LED for translucent onyx and other stones. I am not sure this is back lit, however, if it utilizes an LED high powered beam be sure to get a lighting specialist involved. Onyx is a rather porous stone, so you will want to have the fabricator seal it and work with them for your specific application. Something this spectacular will likely only be available from the quarry via photos, so it will be important to work with a larger high end fabricator that will have access to spectacular stone. I found out that not everyone deals in high end stone - because I wanted a large Calacatta Marble slab, most fabricators don’t deal in it. So one thing to ask is simply when was the last time you installed a Calacatta or Onyx slab. Yes, stone is expensive, but if it is what you want and you can afford it, then please pursue it. I would guess that this slab is anywhere from $8-$12,000 installed based upon my recent experience.

@Sophie, how much sq ft of Onyx or how big and how many slabs were purchased for $100k.

I have done high-end master shower with exotic stone (not backlit) and it was a very big project, designed from the get go of the design process. There are many factors involved that need to be considered before anything is done on site. All in the basic design. Weight of stone, entry into space after sheetrock, proper drainage, seaming, waterproofing, etc., etc. Specialty installers are necessary everything Sophie has posted is completely correct. I have seen a back wall of a bar done in a model home near me with the backlit onyx. Just above the couner and it cost over $30K, so this is not for the faint of heart, and certainly requires extreme planning and a very large budget. I would not recommend it for a home that is priced under $2M.

This slab of quartzite (Lucent) is translucent and can be backlit. Wholesale price was $6k for the size shown (not including install). By the time you get the correct team (experienced, licensed and professional), infrastructure, permits, etc. I would guess this would be a $25k- $30k upgrade. If you need two slabs, they would need to be bookmatched which could double or triple the cost of material. If that’s in your budget, then I suggest you first find the right professionals who can design and plan this with you. If done well, it could be stunning.

I thought I wanted Onyx for my kitchen island. Estimate was $40k ! Went with granite instead.

Anyone thinking of backlighting is foolish if they don't consider some of the translucent solid surfaces, especially those by Avonite. Far and away outperforms Onyx and much less expensively. And looks every bit as good.

I have a large backlit Onyx buffet / dry bar between my living & dining rooms. The effect is spectacular. SLABlites were used . Yes, they’ expensive, just the LED lights alone were $2k plus cost of electrician to install. The onyx wasn’t cheap either ... lol....but it is beautiful.

I can get a backlit printed glass for less than $2k. Only variable is installation

Sophie Wheeler has again hit the mark. Accessibility/disassembly MUST be integrated into any backlit installation or you're risking destroying the project to save it.

I subbed on a backlit bar top several years ago with no input on design. We no sooner got the last leg of a 25 foot top set permanently when some of the inaccessible LED lights underneath went out. I don't know how they ever got it fixed.

Luckily my cabinetmaker prepared for such a contingency, my countertop lifts off easily. Happily none have gone out in two years. The company told me they last for approximately 25 + years, I often leave my on days at a time, they’re dimmable.

Cheap non tempered printed glass doesn’t remove the fact that you need the skilled design and install team for this. That is what makes or breaks the whole project. You don’t get any of this look with the lowest bidder. You do get to have a serious trip to the emergency room with the low bidder and cheap glass. That’s not the sweepstakes that anyone wants to win.

Felix have you tried 3form? it is an acrylic material with different applications, wether residential or commercial...try looking into them. The material will be easier to work with as opposed to natural stone......

I found the Lighting Co. that has this photo posted. Look under the question section on the right bottom and drop down...they have a lot of info in terms of the origin of this pic etc. You can follow up with some of the posters in order to figure out the install to this particular bathroom.

https://www.houzz.com/photos/contemporary-shower-contemporary-bathroom-denver-phvw-vp~884648

Hello, am based in Montreal, QC, Canada. I am in the process of doing just this :-) I imported a 4 ft x 6 ft slab of amethyst from India and will be integrating it in the back of my shower wall which will be covered in Calacatta marble the same as the rest of the shower. The shower will be 5 ft x 9 ft by 8 ft high with 2 shower positions / benches and 2 rain shower heads. The benches will be 2.5in thick opal white marble. Behind the amethyst will be a lighting panel with LEDs that are designed to disperse the light in a flooding pattern. The transformer driving these lights is the only thing that may require maintenance over time so it will be installed remotely with easy access in my walk-in closet adjacent to the master bath. LEDs will be used in other places in the room providing indirect lighting. I am also integrating art in the design of the bathroom with a 3 ft x 4 ft original piece from a local artist that will be recessed in a wall behind the free standing tub. The piece will be lighted indirectly by LEDs installed in 45 degree angle aluminum extrusions with dispersing plastic lenses. If anyone is interested, I will post pictures as the work progresses. I just completed the redesign of the first floor of the house as well. The slab cost $7k delivered to my house. The backlighting components cost less than $1k. the slab will be anchored to an L shaped stainless steel frame that will be embedded into the wall structure. The light panel will be embedded 2 inches deeper to provide space for light dispersion and prevent the spotty effect. Since the LEDs do not generate a lot of energy the heat will not be a problem. All in all, I expect this feature will have cost me less than $10k including materials and labor :-)

The project should be done this week or next.

@mdemers123 sounds amazing. Make sure to share photos.

A word of caution though, based on everything I read, marble should be avoided in a shower since it’s very porous and will absorb soap and mold. At the very least make sure you seal it a few times a year.

Here is a preliminary picture of my Master Bathroom project :-) The hardest part is now done, my Amethyst slab is installed and backlit :-) If anyone wants more details / pictures I would be happy to share. I will add more pictures as the project progresses ...

Marble tile installation starts Monday. And yes I intend to seal the marble as well as the slab regularly :-)

I'm confused about whether you're using glass or onyx (which surely is a stone?). I would be VERY concerned about using glass in a panel like that for safety reasons. It could easily get shattered (e.g. by the handheld shower flying out of your hand) and might be very dangerous if that happened. There'd be glass all over you and underfoot while you're in the altogether?

I'm building a shower with high gloss Lustrolite panels. The color is from paint on the back of the panel. They're acrylic. I believe they can custom color (or maybe even mount a design?) for you. I can't see any reason why they couldn't be backlit.

I am slightly confused if you are dead set on stone, such as onyx, or just the back lit effect?

Look into Vetrite, this is what I am using for my master...Its spectacular in person, and much easier install.

@mdemers123 wow! Can’t wait to see the final product!
At this point I moved beyond this topic and using regular tile. I was hoping to spruce things up with chroma light but my sub is asking $1000(!) to wire it... ugh!

I have done this in a high end home with a LED back light. HOWEVER, it has to be designed into the slab so the weight of the slab is managed, you have to install it early so you can get it into the space and we had faux wall with access behind for any maintenance. I could go on. It cost about $30k more than tiled shower. The shower had all bells and whistles and final cost was over $69k. So it can be done but it was a real headache and challenge plus, some hair products can mess it up. Glad you moved away from the idea. Better in a bar of a game room type setting.

Hello again, I am progressing with my project. Here are some pictures of the details of the installation for those who need inspiration :-) If you need more info I would be happy to provide, just message me. Thanks!

I included some pictures of the slab when it arrived from India. It is not ONYX and it is not glass, it is a slab of AMETHYST, a semi-precious purple stone (my wife loves purple :-)

The backlighting is from 4000k high output LEDs. In total, about 800 Watts of LEDs ( 24 strips of 6 ft each every 2 inches) power by 3 x 350W 24 VDC power supplies with WiFi LED controller. The LEDs are mounted on a panel with reflective foil. The panel is behind the slab about 2-3 inches to insure proper light dispersion and coverage.

The back of the wall will be covered with lacquered panels that will be removable for maintenance in the future.

I will add more pictures once the furniture is installed and plumbing is completed.

There is a San Diego? based Co that sells very similar backlit panels that look exactly like stone but arent. They really look like stone and are sold with the backlighting system. I believe NorthCounty Tile has them in their showroom.

Great design work. I wish I could put our pics into every waterproofing comment on here. This is an example where a complicated waterproofing system is needed not a simple tub/shower.

@mdemers absolutely stunning!!!

Almost done :-) a few details left + glass extra clear shower door.

Wow...that amethyst is stunning. Makes a very unique feature. I may have missed it, but what is the glass/photo above the tub?

It is enamel on copper done by a local Montreal artist. The piece is recessed into the wall about 4 inches with indirect LED lighting. The piece is 3 ft x 4 ft :-) The subject is 2 sail boats on the sea.

$160

sq/ft for backlit festure not including the stone

Come across your great idea,

yes doable, and affordable with Arcrylic Faux Onyx Translucent Backlit shower panel.

Khanh

Hi I love this post your bathroom is stunning, I have a question about the steel L shaped brackets how exactly do they hold the Black lite stone? I’m trying to find a local steel fabricator to make brackets for a 9’x5’ onyx stone to be hung on a wall nobody seems to grasp the idea.

@Baci Design did you happen o hand the onyx stone ?

Mdemers123, it’s been five years, any issues with the lights? We’re doing this in our kitchen and I’m working with our architect on somehow creating access for when the lights need replacement/maintenance. Did you address this or not worry about it? (Lighting consultant is doing the lights, for the naysayers that respond).

@mdemers123 – Great question! There’s actually a much simpler way to install backlit stone for vertical applications. Our ultra-thin LED panels are only 1/4” (6mm) thick and provide edge-to-edge illumination with no hotspots or shadowing. They also have just one low-voltage wire exiting the panel, making wiring a breeze and eliminating the need for bulky access points.

For most installations, the LED panels are mounted directly to the wall, and the stone is installed in front, creating a seamless look. see images below

What is the fix when the LED panel fails?

Candles?

I was enthralled by the house in Liam Neeson's Cold Pursuit, including the backlit onyx

kitchen counter. That, the usual array of dead bodies abounding in a Neeson flick and my fiery-tongued Asian partner at the time.

Hello @worthy

Great question! I’m attaching an images with a timestamp showing how our LED panels just keep going—we have installations that have been running strong for 15+ years without needing replacement some outdoors as shown

The lifespan of the panels really depends on duty cycle and heat management—if they’re properly installed with good heat dissipation, they’ll last anywhere from 30,000 to 70,000 hours (which is a long time in real-world use). Honestly, in most cases, the power supplies tend to fail before the panels do. We’ve even had clients fully renovate their space again before ever needing a panel replacement!

That said, while failure is rare, there’s always some risk—whether from a contractor accidentally damaging a panel during installation or something else unexpected. If it’s possible to build in some way to access the panels for replacement, it’s definitely worth considering, but it’s not always practical depending on the design.

If you have any questions about how to set this up for longevity, I’d be happy to help! 😊

Just in the process of choosing counters for eight baths and two kitchens. Maybe we'll take a chance. In Ontario, unless annexed by tweet this weekend, so tariffs will make US provision prohibitive.

Haha yes always a big gamble with tariffs

Luckily we are also in Canada so no issues

@worthy, we designed ours so we could access the panels if they failed. It will involve cutting drywall but he framing was done so the panel can slide out. We’re also having our panels made with the cord accessible, for the same reason. We’re getting ours from DiodeLED in Reno, Nevada. https://www.diodeled.com/light-guide-panel.html

That’s a great setup! Having the panel accessible is always ideal in case anything needs maintenance down the line. DiodeLED makes solid products, and we’ve seen some great installs using their panels.

The backlighting world is definitely a small one, and there’s plenty of room for everyone to bring their best solutions to the table. If anyone ever has questions about backlighting countertops, walls, or other translucent surfaces, I’m always happy to share insights from our experience!

We just completed this one

https://houzz.com/projects/7622145

Interesting in blue