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jturvold

Shower tile mosaic orientation

5 years ago

We are getting ready for a master bath remodel. I am going with a grey and white color palate and want to use the swirly tile in the pic as a 2X5 mosaic in the shower on the back wall. Most shower mosaics seem to be vertical but I think horizontal would look nice. Here is the drawing and the tile I’m thinking about. Horizontal or vertical?? Any other things I should think about?

Comments (19)

  • 5 years ago

    Jennifer, the accent tile is lovely, BUT, it's a disconnect (completely different style) than your other selections. Too formal for the casual appearance of the wall and floor. And it looks like you may have a bit too much going on in terms of design. Do you intend to have that scribe effect with the pebbles in the floor, or would the floor be all pebbles? The pebble thing is very casual and a bit trendy and overdone look (and a pain to keep clean...lots of grout). I can't tell if you are trying to use some kind of border at the lower walls with a different size wall tile or to create some accent feature there? I wouldn't do that. Pick just a couple materials and designs to work with.

  • 5 years ago
    last modified: 5 years ago

    None of that works together. It’s a complete mismatch in color and styles Hire a Kitchen and Bath designer to help you with this. Because you don’t want a sit down vanity area where it's located, or all of the wasted space. This can be much better, on multiple fronts. Better to get it right in paper first before spending $2.

  • 5 years ago

    Agree, way too much going on, and the swirly tile, while very pretty is a total disconnect to the rest of the choices. I also don't think that the large floor tile, goes well with the counters. In addition, pebbles are a trend that is way over, and usually water gets trapped and can't drain well. I've got a friend who is kicking herself for putting them in. Try to limit your choices to 3 - 1 for the countertops, 1 for the shower walls, and 1 for the floor. You can use a smaller version of your main floor tile on the shower floor.

  • 5 years ago

    Wow - thank you janecalle and celadon! The pebbles were going to be the shower floor but I was very on the fence about them. I love the accent tile and am trying to build from that. The floor and shower walls were the 12x24 gray tile, and the same but smaller 4x8 tile on the lower wall in the shower to give some contrast to the bathroom floor and upper shower wall since it is a big bathroom and that was the only tile design I was using. The vanities are white. I thought I was playing it too safe! Lol. I am working with a kitchen and bathroom designer, my builder and the person they recommended at the tile store but will go back for V2 on the tile. This is the tub I love and I’m putting a chandelier above it in the corner.

  • 5 years ago

    I love the scroll work and the larger format tile. Don’t mix it up with the pebbled floor. I would also NOT use a second sized tile in the shower. Go with the big tile everywhere. No dividing edge in the middle either. I would showcase the scroll by creating a frame around it with molding tiles and use it in a LARGE area on the back of your shower. In other words, make IT the star. LESS is more. Keep it simple.

  • 5 years ago

    The scroll tile is beautiful, but is very dressy and the wall tile is kind of rustic looking. Seeing your tub I'd embrace a more dressy look. I think I'd do a white faux marble in the shower and on the floor. Select a faux marble that has a smaller version for the shower floor. You'll then be able to use the scroll as it will blend nicely with the faux marble.

  • PRO
    5 years ago

    IMO the small tiles on the sample board could be an accent if all the rest were 12 x24 and the scroll does not work at all

  • 5 years ago
    last modified: 5 years ago

    If you want the scroll tile, ditch everything else. It’s much too rustic and the grays are the wrong color families to combine.

    It’s not code legal anywhere to have a chandelier over a tub. It’s an electrocution hazard. Any pendant must be 36” or more away from the tub or shower.



  • 5 years ago

    I agree with Celadon. I love your scroll tile, but the grays AND the white(ish)/marble look background don’t go with the large tile. At all. Keep the scroll, and your large horizontal accent design (beautiful!), frame it with trim, and choose a light gray or white large tile that matches for the rest.

    Ditch the idea of the chandelier above the tub. Celadon nails it again - not to code, and even if it were, it’s a tacky look that doesn’t do justice to your high end design style.


    Put your hand over the picture, covering everything to the right of the scroll tile. Now just use the remaining visible colors for everything (including the dark color of the board on the floor). Scroll tile, light gray/white wall tile, white tub, maybe painted dark gray vanity (instead of white - like the tub), light gray or white counters (contrasting the wall tile in the shower)...and so on. Much more pleasing, IMO.

  • 5 years ago

    How will you get behind the tub to clean the floor? It looks tight. Is this really the best layout?

    Do you have an independent designer who accompanied you to the tile store to pick out finishes, and review the layout your builder proposed? If not, doing so could help you achieve the best results.

  • 5 years ago

    Thank you everyone for the honest feedback and ideas. I don’t disagree with any of it and is why I decided to post here. Other than the scroll tile, I had doubts. I have never done a kitchen or bath remodel and I underestimated how much is involved! I relied on the tile person my builder and cabinet designer sent me to, but I like the idea of a bathroom designer. I didn’t know there was such a thing and thought that was the job of the builder. So much to learn!

  • 5 years ago

    You can use a few different sizes of the same tile for a more unified look. I used 12” tiles for the bathroom floor, 6” tiles for the shower walls, and 2” mosaic tiles for the shower floor (the smaller the tile the more grout for a non-slip surface). I used a harmonizing granite for the vanity counter, the shower entry, and the shower’s shampoo-and-soap niche.

  • 5 years ago
    last modified: 5 years ago

    Are you limited to this tile shop?

    There is no rule that you have to buy all your tile from just one store! Sometimes the perfect matching tile is found at a different store that carries other lines. If you can go elsewhere, then borrow the swirly sample board and take it along to a couple of other local tile stores.


    Sometimes tile store employees are good with design and sometimes they are terrible!

  • 5 years ago

    Chispa - yes! I am going to a different tile store and maybe a 3rd. Lol. So appreciative of all the tips here!!

  • 5 years ago

    The swirl just doesn’t seem harmonious with the other selected tile.

  • PRO
    5 years ago
    last modified: 5 years ago

    jennifer, give us an idea. what's the one look you really want in here?

    and the color? does it have to be gray and white?

    are there any absolute dislikes, or must have?

    that matte gray 12x24 tile you picked, Yawnsville! sorry. But w/all the great tile on the market, and the cool designs you could do in your large bathroom, why pick blah gray?

    I can't believe you're working w/a designer!

    here's a bunch of different designs. any of these make you happy? (just look at tile designs, colors and materials, not the layout)



























  • 5 years ago

    Before you worry about tile detail make sure your layout is rock solid. Right now it’s not. Post a floor plan with dimensions please.

  • 5 years ago

    Love your "yawnsville" description of the main tile I landed on - that is the perfect description other than the accent curvy tile. :) I am really drawn to #2, #3 and especially # 9 above (counting top to bottom) with #5 and 7 coming in a close second. I was trying to stay away from tile that is pure white (I have long dark curly hair that seems to end up everywhere) or shiny/glossy. I defintely prefer a more matte look. I am going to bring 2,3 and 9 to the store with me and start there!

  • 5 years ago

    Beth H., sorry but....some of the above images are hideous combinations of beautiful tiles. One person’s opinion. Which just goes to show that everyone has a different idea of what is beautiful, I guess.