None of these seem to me like a timeless look that will suit the character of a 100-year old farmhouse. These are all rather contemporary looks and products. If you want to use them just because you like them, that is fine. But if you are going for something that actually fits the character of an old farmhouse I would have either wood floors (though that may scare some in a bathroom) or a classic hex tile like this:

(We built a new powder room in our 170 year old house and used this for flooring and everyone thought it was original to the house. They just read timeless and classic almost the way subway tiles do.)

Thassos White Marble Hexagon Mosaic Tile 1 inch Honed, 1 sheet · More Info

Thanks, @Kendrah. I appreciate the feedback. As an added thank you, here is a photo of the bathroom pre-demolition. We're bringing the walls up to meet the ceiling, replacing the bath with the shower we're talking about, and replacing the pedestal sink with a new vanity to the right of the door. There is a skylight within the space. We're resizing that ripple glass window & moving it above the toilet, to keep its function of capturing light from above the stairwell). The shower in our main floor bathroom has white subway tile and hexagon tile on the shower floor (white ceramic, not marble), so we wanted to take the opportunity to put something different upstairs. The whole upstairs has dark brown stained reclaimed barn board flooring, right up to the entrance to the bathroom, so we thought tile would make a nice contrast to the hallway.

Do a search of these forums (bathrooms esp) and take a look at all the unhappy outcomes of using marble in a shower. Difficult to clean because of not being able to use many cleaners, hair and soap products can affect it, and lots of problems with water absorption. Some people point out high end and/or vintage hotels with marble, but the marble used there isn't the same as a lot of the carp seen from china these days. So, shop carefully!

Marble in shower?

probs with floor tiles

some people are happy with it!

If you like the marble look, go with porcelain tile. Post your results

Is there a tile store near you, or a flooring store that sells tile? We have remodeled four full baths and go to a tile store instead of a big box store because their salespeople are really knowledgeable about their products and very helpful with mixing and matching different products. I have to second everyone's recommendation not to use real marble on the floor or especially on a shower floor. I used it on a floor in our first remodel and came to regret it. I do use it on counters in a master, but I wouldn't put it in a bath that children use because you do have to exercise some care with it. The porcelain look alikes are really quite good and will hold up for the next 30 years no problem.

Visiting a flooring store with a large tile selection & expertise today, actually! @kandrewspa There are no children in the house (good point!), and any that would visit would use the main floor bathroom. Why did you regret the marble? I understand that it would need to be sealed from the start and about every 6 months thereafter; we are ok with that, having had travertine in a bathroom before without issue. And despite the parquet marble being polished, there are so many grout lines in the mosaic that it shouldn't be slippery. Our assumption is that if we seal marble, it will be resistant to water & stains. Did you have problems despite sealing? I know porcelain is harder than ceramic (which chips, e.g. when you drop the shower squeegee!) & like the big porcelain tiles, but haven't yet seen a marble-look porcelain mosaic tile we like.

I'd worry about having a mosaic on floor/niche and then a busy marble-look tile on the walls. You're in danger of a pretty loud shower.

Bathroom Tile · More Info

I'd recommend featuring one of those tiles and then letting the other surface (probably the walls) be white or gray, for some contrast and quiet.

Beverly Hills-Classic Bathroom · More Info

European Charm · More Info

The Tile Shop - The Gwenyth · More Info

I don't know about marble in showers, but I had marble countertops and can tell you that even with sealing they are not at all resistent to water and stains. Marble is one of the most porous interior stones on the market. Some tile and stone vendors make you sign a disclosure form before purchasing stating that you understand all of the pitfalls of using marble. Also, how hard is your water? Mineral deposits can really build up on marble and make it problematic.

Can you use marble in some other small decorative way in this room so you have the satisfaction of the material but not the problem with the upkeep?

I think marble is pretty timeless, even in those designs. I would do the marble you love on the floor, at least outside the shower, and white subway tile walls. I think those large format tiles are not going to look good, super trendy and busy. They will date.

Thanks - floor-only for marble is a good compromise.

And marble also for details - niches, shelves, vanity backsplash! If you go to a countertop stoneyard/fabricator they may have slab remnants that you can get for pretty cheap! I.e. small pieces of carrara or whatever marble best matches the floor for the back of the niche, shelves, the backsplash. Would be a stunning touch.

Go to www.heritagetile.com for classic tile designs.

I used honed marble in my master bathroom. 3 years now with no issues. I would NOT use polished marble

If you have hard water, like I do, marble is not a good choice. You will get staining and etching, and a cloudy look, that's just the properties of marble. Acidic liquids eat away at it and that includes water. It doesn't matter if it's honed or polished. And if there's iron in the water, both the tile and the grout will discolor to a very unattractive orange-y hue. Oh, and you shouldn't try to clean it with bleach, which is the only way to get rid of mold and mildew. I have to have my shower floor regrouted and resealed at least once a year.

That orangey discolouration is horrible and why I've stayed away from marble in the past. We are just about to get a water softener installed that will remove iron as well as the hardness, but I've read that any water will be a problem because they'll react with the iron in the marble itself, and rust. Yuck! I'm going to ask the flooring expert at the store if a sealed marble mosaic on the floor (not the shower floor) will retain its beauty with light cleaning. And no re-grouting!

I used Akdo Carrara marble hex tile on my bathroom floor (no marble inside the shower). It’s beautiful, and perfect for my 1914 bungalow, but I discovered during installation that some tiles had orange stains from iron inclusions. Certainly none of the sample tiles were orange (!). Fortunately, we were able to pull all those tiles and only install unstained ones…but I do worry that some orange stains might develop in the future. During this process, I was surprised and disappointed to learn that my Carrara tile was, in fact, from China; I was only able to get this information by calling Akdo directly. I purchased the tile from a reputable local tile store, not a big box store. The salesperson I worked with on my renovation was surprised to learn that this marble tile was sourced from China, not Italy, and so was the store manager. I live alone, so I can baby my marble, and so far (6 months in) I have no further issues-but I’d probably not choose marble flooring again, and certainly not if my family was still living here. I did install a porcelain marble look hex in another shower in my ADU, and it’s been problem free, but definitely not quite as beautiful as real marble.

Carole, a sealer does NOT make marble stainproof or waterproof. Marble will still etch, and it will still absorb some water. (grout too) what a sealer does is buy you time to wipe up stains before they set. (Do you dye your hair a darker color? continual washing over the tile w/any residue will slowly discolor it) I have a polished black marbe on my floor that is etched to the moon and back w/water droplets. just water etches. in my shower I have a honed black marble that has held up really well, except for water droplet stains. And, You can't use any harsh cleaner on your walls (if you do porcelain there) because it will wash over the floor and etch it. (ask me how I know)

I also would not purchase marble from home depot or floor and decor. the cheap stuff. that is the kind that has the mineral deposits that will yellow, or will absorb grout coloring, etc.

go to a high end tile retailer and confirm the marble they're selling you comes from Carrara Italy (or Calacatta if you want a warmer look) Anything else is a knockoff and prob comes from China.

there are some really good marble - look tiles in porcelain. take a look at those. Tilebar has some nice ones. Floor and Decor has a few.

Otherwise, embrace the flaws of marble and be ready to baby it somewhat. YOu can calways call in a marble restoration expert to repolish the tile. That's what I''m having done w/mine.

BTW, this is what I use on my shower floor to seal. water just beads up on this.

to clean

If you want low maintenance and easy to live with, without thinking through every liquid that you own, marble isn’t your product. This is normal marble etching and chipping when exposed to acidic substances (like many skin care products and bath cleaners) and impacts. Add in internal rusting from iron inclusions, and the risk of water staining because of an improper shower build, that shows up quicker in marble than porcelain. So that canary in the coal mine bit is actually good.

I am quite sure you will regret the marble for two reasons - hair dye - if it leaches in, or should I say when, it will discolour what you love. And the shiny floor is inviting a fall. I don't know your age but I worked in a retirement home and falls do unbelievable harm to one's psychie. I also recommend you have a grab bar installed when putting your shower in. There are stylish ones on the market and given how fast time flies, and how expensive it is to have one installed properly after, ... just a thought.

PS, who wants to always have to remember to seal the shower walls?

Thanks, everyone, for your great, timely and insightful replies to my query. I've worn Hubby down enough that he has given me full tile decision-making power although he's made it clear he thinks I'm overthinking. I now have half a dozen sample boards from the tile shop (none of them natural stone, let alone marble!), and will pick something from these options. Then I don't have to triple-think my shampoos or cleaning products (BTW no hair dye for me for many years). As for safety, that's what started us down this road, since showering upstairs meant high-stepping into the soaker tub, & if ever you slipped you wouldn't have a solid surface to grab or brace against (the shower curtain on the railing would just laugh, and laugh...). Safety first - with attractive design a close second!

One thing I saw was a niche wall that ends about 18” from bottom of shower. Use it as a place to rest your foot when shaving legs. Also a contractor suggested a teak stool to sit on instead of a built in beach. This way if you need a plastic chair with back down the road you have space for one!

lol Carole, I hear your shower curtain laughing from here! I’m trying to pick bathroom tiles too right now (for 4 bathrooms) and the whole process just lends itself to overthinking.

Lately I’ve been wishing that bathroom tile came in coordinated kits — A is bathroom floor, B is shower floor, C is shower wall. And throwing in options D is countertop and E is vanity would be spectacular!

Please share what you come up with using your sample boards. I’m looking for all the great ideas I can find.

Actually, @Sofia, some tiles do come in coordinating sets. I used one for a client's bathroom--it was a marble-look porcelain and we used the 2 x 2 tiles on the floor and the large format on the walls. There were other sizes as well. If you go to a good tile store (not the big boxes) they may have lots of options and/or can help you choose. Of course a designer could help you with that too!

Has anyone used luxury vinyl on bathroom floors?