PS - I was going for this look with the paint color on the ceiling, trim, and door, but there isn't enough contrast. The color I chose looks washed out. If anyone has a color suggestion either for the walls or trim, that would be welcome too. Maybe it should just all be white?

Would beadboard half way or all the way up work?

I think the white subway tile you have would be perfect as a backsplash for the vanity areas. Looks nice!

Thank you Sarah. How high up? Up to the mirror I presume? And would it extend all the way over to the bull nose on the surround and down the wall or stop at the counter edge?

Yes up to mirror. Either with that schluter edge or a pencil tile edge piece.

Using the shower niche tile as the back splash would complement the shower and give you a more interesting look. It is hard to tell from the photos how it coordinates with the color of the counter top.

Whatever tile you use, it need to above the wall outlet plate. You don't want the top of the plate for protruding beyond the tile. If that is a problem then change the outlet to a horizontal position. The wall will be patched, but it won't be a problem since it will be covered with tile.

Can you get the same tile as the niche but in all white? Subway will be too big for a small space. I would run it up to the mirror and stop it where the counter starts to dip (so don't run it out to the bullnose).

I really like your wood counter and think the mirror is the perfect size bit would paint it to match the cabinet (or white wash it to something in between).

Thank you ALL for the input. I love the idea of running the outlet horizontally. Why didn't I think of that!?! I don't think I can find the niche tile pattern in all white. I worry that using the black and white version might make the room busier than I want it to be. Does anyone have strong opinions about running beadboard up the wall to either the bottom of the mirror or up the entire wall? This is literally a farm house on 10 acres and while I'm not intentionally going for that as a design style, I think elements of farmhouse could work here and there. Yes? no? maybe? I think the subway tile is an easy default but maybe a bit boring? what if I stacked the subway tile vertically so it looked like wainscoting? Please don't stop giving me your honest opinions. I am truly grateful for input. I've been going it alone to this point. This thread is so helpful! Oh! and don't forget about the ceiling/trim paint color question if you have thoughts.

Daylight pics for more reference.

I think it looks great. since you have that farmhouse thing going, and You've already bordered your shower tile (otherwise I'd say run the same white tile all the way over to the left) what about doing the shiplap option?

bring in some of these accessories too.

see how it's done right up to the shower tile?

I like the black ceiling here too. Or, do some similar stained wood on the ceiling,

or the white beadboard

shiplap. bring in a colorful rug/runner, maybe some baskets

colorful runner

you have great light in there. bring in some greenery.

all the countertop space at the one end, do something like this

find some artwork (or the shelves) over the toilet.

or hang some art on the wall next to vanity

it's Texas, do the longhorn pic!

I don't mind the niche, but if you want to have a little more control over color, get some dispensing containers (glass or other) w/the pumps, and put your shampoo/conditioner in those

or get bougie bottles. put a little plant in there too

The scale of beadboard doesn't work for me with the scale of the tile. I'd go with shiplap all the way up the wall as Beth suggests and I'm not even a fan of shiplap but in your house I think it works well.

That shower head is a hoot!

Beth H -_you're a Rockstar!!! I love all of those ideas.

tozmo1- you made me chuckle. That showerhead... oye veh. I let him pick whatever he wanted. ha! That may be the last design choice he ever gets go make. LOL! Gotta love my man. 🥰

yeah, but what happens when you don't want to get your hair wet!? men don't think about those things. just use the handheld when you don't want to shampoo!

The handheld is definitely the saving grace. We also have an outdoor shower off the master bedroom. It's on our back deck directly behind the larger vanity. I can give him his crazy showerhead. He's worth it.

If you’re not worried about the wood counter then I’m honestly getting a wallpaper vibe. Something with a white background and a lot of negative space, maybe a large scale print. Not really busy, but whatever your taste is (floral, geometric, striped) and then look for a simplified version of it. I also like the idea of wide panel woodwork, vertical or horizontal, because I think it would contrast nicely with your tile. You can definitely do a tile backsplash but I think it’s a little more complicated on the vanity wall next to the shower because you have to choose more carefully. Since they are next to each other, there’s the consideration of how much of the wall you do in relationship to the shower, and then consider the other vanity. I think you can be more creative if you opt to do something different altogether. I’m not a huge fan of accent niches but honestly as far as they go it’s a good choice! A white wallpaper with some kind of fineline black print would look great with the tile and the wood.

Something about lower tile back splashes right against a full tile wall is a little harder for me. I’m having a hard time with this one in one of my projects and I have found I generally like switching materials altogether instead of breaking up the wall.

Also, i love bathrooms with little quirks and I have a feeling whatever mistakes you made you will still love this one in 20 years.

EvaElizabeth- Thank you! So encouraging. I really appreciate your perspective. I will definitely look at wall papers before making a final decision. You've articulated a lot of what's been bothering me about choosing a tile backsplash. Nothing seemed quite right and I didn't know why. Thank you for putting it into words so eloquently. Right now the wider plank shiplap option and the wallpaper ideas are the two front runners. I am grateful to everyone who has commented. I wish I had come to you guys from the start.

"Also, i love bathrooms with little quirks and I have a feeling whatever mistakes you made you will still love this one in 20 years."

I think you're right. You just made my day!

What is the reason for the receptacle on the left end being "proud" of the wall? Is there no way to make it flush? Are you planning to tile that part also? Regarding the right-hand receptacle, I'm a bit anal about tiling wrt outlets. How big are your tiles? If it's possible, I would try to put the receptacle in the middle of a tile (or, more realistically, if the tile is large enough, center a tile on the receptacle).

Hi mtvhike- I'm sorry but I don't knownwhay you're referring to when you say "receptacle". I'm afraid you'll have to dumb it down for me a bit. Do you mean the electrical outlets? The tiles are 3x6. I also don't know what you mean by being proud of the wall. Sorry. I'm a bit ignorant about these things. Thank you for chiming in. I'd like to understand more about what you're saying.

mtvhike- I get it now! I understand what you're referring to. That strange left side receptacle is a plug in extender. I used to get more outlets before the remodel. It is not a permanent fixture. The actual "receptacle" is flush to the wall. I'll remove the extender when the other outlet on the right is in working order. The contractor put the right hand receptacle in, but it's not working. I had him put one inside the vanity cabinet as well. That one isn't working either. 😕😒😐😑😞😪
I plan to change the right hand outlet to a horizontal position. As of now I'm looking at shiplapping the two walls behind the vanities and mirrors. I don't think I will shiplap the other walls but I'm willing to consider it. Do you have an opinion about that? I'll remove the weird plug in extender thing with the little shelf when the right hand side outlet and vanity outlet are working. Here's a link to what that thing is.

https://www.amazon.com/Electrical-Extenders-Indicator-Protector-3-74x6-3in/dp/B081NB7KV5

Thank you, Thalia; I've been corrected many times on this board that an outlet can be a light as well as a place to plug in cords. Sometimes people use the term "plug" but, really, receptacle is the correct term. Since there is only one on the wall under the mirror, once you determine there it is, you could cut one tile with a rectangular hole in it to surround the box for the receptacle. This, in my opinion, would make a cleaner look with no tile joints going behind the electrical plate. Of course, that tile would determine where all the other ones are located!

Thanks mtvhike. I'll be sure to use the word receptacle now that I understand the significance. If I use tile I will definitely take your suggestions to heart. I am still leaning towards shiplaping the entire wall and not using tile at all. Right now I am pausing to give myself a chance to breathe after a very stressful three months with a subpar contractor. I have a handyman coming today to look at a few things. If I like him, I may just go ahead and try to get it all finished as soon as possible. Wish me luck!

@Thalia B. Hi! Just found your post and I LOVE your bathroom and light fixtures. Can I ask where you got the light fixtures?