I wouldn't use accent tile. Sooner or later, you'll hate it. I wish I'd skipped any accent tiles. They were the first to date the bathroom.

You have wood, granite, some subtle variation. I'd add interest with accessories, towels, art, etc.

Skip the accent. Please.

I too was thinking accent tile in bathroom. Just read some of Killam's blogs... GREAT help and pointers

Thanks for your input. I'm aware of the general consensus of the forum that accent tile should be avoided, but I also don't believe that marble, subways, and quartz countertops is the solution for everyone. There has to be a happy medium.

I thought the Cepac tile was pretty neutral and wouldn't date itself. It could be calm and modern with a tone-on-tone accent in the Arctic White. It would provide texture and some pattern. I'm not sure about going to a pure white shower, though the shower pan is white. I'll need to see what happens to the granite when it's installed because I don't know if it will read warm or cool. Probably warm.

No more so than it'd clash with a white tub or toilet.

We used it in our guest bath with a white tub and toilet.

Mayflower, what did you us for your tile surrounds and flooring? I also hav the white galaxy countertops.

Not there yet, Lily. I don't have the granite installed yet and have been focusing on the floor to select tile since I do have that tile on-hand. But now I think I need to focus on the granite to help me select the tile, especially since I'll need a tile backsplash. We are scheduled for granite install mid-March, at which time I'm going to need to select shower tile. I might go in an entirely new direction than large format porcelain. I've been hung up on that by being scared of cleaning grout. I think I'd have better luck with a ceramic tile to match the granite.

mayflowers, so the main concern is the grout lines in the shower? what if you did a medium sized tile? maybe a 6x12, or 4x12, 4x16, 8x16?

similar pan like yours, with a larger format tile on walls and your accent tile in a niche.

some people like this, some don't. Personally, I don't think this type of layout looks dated. A lot depends on the tile you choose. (I don't really care for the niche tile chosen)

similar layout but this is 3x6 subway and tiny mosaics. I happen to like the look of this (but might have chosen different looking tile)

looks like 8x16 tile and 1x1 glass mosaics.

when you get into using larger tiles like this, your walls really need to be level and plumb. An experienced tile setter would be needed to get an excellent install like this.

another large format with a sleek look. very minimal grout lines. (again, you need a really good tile setter).

here is the accent strip with the larger tiles. I don't like the combo of tile they've chosen here, but w/ better tile choices this design could work.

4x12 matte white tiles with a 2" hex accent design. would this size tile still be too much grout?

these look like 4x16 matte tiles and 1x1 iridescent glass in the niche. I like this design.

any of these layouts speak to you? As for matching your floor tile, that should be a problem with it being so neutral looking. you could do more of a contrast with the larger tile if you like.

The problem I'm having with the porcelain tiles are they are also meant for floors and they look it. Like the Juno tile I pictured. I got the sample and didn't care for it.

The first tile I showed might be a good color match but it only comes in a 12x12 and 18x18 with no bullnose or trim and I'm trying to avoid Schluter edging. My floor tile is 16x16 so should I avoid a square tile for the shower? Or use the 18x18, which should look like the floor with such a slight size difference?

I also like a Porcelanosa tile, which is what I drew my diagram based on. Those tiles are either 17x26 or 17x17. So again, same size as the floor.

I can't get a good photo of the Porcelanosa tile. It's Ferroker Platino, the lightest color.

Here's the Niquel, which shows that it isn't a solid color.

Where did you get the Niquel? Here’s what the tile store recommended, but it looked too busy. It was a good col match. as you can see from the picture, it’s busy. I’m not sure if I like that.

Here’s another tile that might work.

may, if you plan on using those large tiles, then yes, they will look like floor tiles (most of the time). Nothing wrong w/that though. It just depends on the overall look. I think you're being too concerned about grout lines. large tiles, small tiles, you still have to clean them. As long as you do that on a regular basis, I don't think you'll have grout issues.

the pic of the other tile you posted isn't the best match with your floor tiles. I don't mean that color-wise, I mean it style wise. If you like that tile, then use it for the floor too. Do you HAVE to use that other floor tile?

Yes, we bought it. We used it in a guest bath. It's LVT and to use a ceramic tile, we'd need cement board, and it'd raise the floor. This is the least offensive LVT I could fine. Most have a very fake stone look and odd coloration.

I'm trying for a lighter look for the master. It's DH's bathroom and he has certain likes and dislikes. For instance, he didn't want a painted vanity. Here's the sink base cabinet to our three piece vanity. It's lighter than the dark-stained cherry in the guest bath. So we also picked a lighter granite.

Beth, do you think the tile that I posted with the mock up in the show room too busy if it is used alone only for the shower surround and use the soli color for the floor?

what about the avorio? Would I be able to get away with using that for both the floor and wall?

What I learned from doing my guest bath with a granite that doesn't even have much pattern or directional flow is that it got really busy in relationship to the shower curtain on the tub. So I'm leery of putting an all-over pattern in the shower. I also feel a sense of being in a canyon the more the walls look like stone. But my home is traditional and the bathroom is only 5' wide. I also think the stone look could become dated soon and a shower it too expensive to redo because of trends.

Lily, this is mayflowers post. I'll be more than happy to assist (as would others) but could you start your own post w/your pictures? thanks hon.

Mayflower, so you don't want a light transition with a higher floor? would it really make it that much higher? I'm not a fan of LVT in bathroom. lifespan really isn't all that great.

if this is your granite and your floor (those paint colors are far too cool looking for the warmer tones you've chosen) then I would stick with a solid tile for the shower. I loathe 12x12 tiles. what if you did the 4x12 or 4x16? maybe 8x16 tile ?

I don't think using a similar looking tile in your shower that matches this LVT tile would look good.

BTW, what does this shower look like? any pics of it?

That's the floor and granite for the guest bath. We needed a 36" remnant and it's all we could find. That was six years ago.

The granite for the master is lighter, as is the vanity. Same floor. Chrome fixtures. 34x60 alcove shower with roller type sliding door. I'm considering a warm white ceramic tile in as large of a format as I can find. Any ideas of companies who make larger ceramic subways?

Here's a photo of a white shower pan with the type of shower door. We won't have a niche but we will have that 36" chrome Kohler shower bar along the back wall, so maybe that's enough and we can use a plain tile. Maybe I should just match the shower tile to the shower pan.

I also went through tons of light blue-green-gray ceramic tile samples because the floor has a little blue gray and the granite we originally selected had some blue.

Did you decide on something? I was finally able to go to Dalite store yesterday to pick up the cove creek.

This is Imola Koshi in beige.

If you like it do it

Can we see a picture of the room as it is now?

Knowing that you like more subtle pattern, I probably would keep the shower all one tile but agree with Beth not to do a 12 x 12 and instead pick another shape or size. Is there a white that picks up a bit of color of the floor too? In very subtle colorations?

And instead of doing a companion tile for the shower, what about doing a subtle wallpaper for the dry walls in the bathroom? Something elegant and simple?

mayflowers, our selected tile was out of stock for bullnose, but our contractor had a local shop that could cut the field tiles and then create a bullnose. Possible there?