Looking for blue or green tiles with bullnoses or pencil rounds?

2 years ago

Hi everyone, I am searching for tile for my kids tub/shower. It is a windowless bath, so we want to go with light colors to make it feel fresh and airy. I bought this daltile carrera marble mosaic for the floor because I thought it might be cute to do a tic tac toe theme.

Any colored tiles you would recommend to go with this? I am thinking a fresh blue or green maybe? The only criteria is that I need to be able to buy the matching bullnose pieces or pencil round edge pieces too. I don't want to do schluter trims as I feel they are too modern for our house. Thank you for any suggestions!!

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PRO

Beth H. :

2 years ago

last modified: 2 years ago

You haven't mentioned their ages, but I'm guessing you want something they can grow in to? something classic and timeless, but with some personality?

Here's a basic rendition of your size bathroom. ignore actual tiles used, just loo at the overall layout/design. do you like the tile wainscot around the room? (I always take tile up to the ceiling in the shower area)

I have a ton more pics for you to peruse!

Anyway to take up this soffit? or is that just an upper cab? in any case, I'd remove all of it

You'll also want to bring in ample lighting. Do a center ceiling light (with 3500 K bulbs) as well as a vanity light or sconces. Replace your air vent w/something better.

I came across these larger format porcelain tiles that look like terrazzo. They've at HD listed under Emser tile/ Terazio. they have diff sizes. it's a matte fininsh.

you could do these on the wall w/the decorative tiles on the sides, or just on the back wall

Or, use them on the floor outside, and for the shower/tub surround, try the bedrosians tile in a similar layout. this is a cross-hatch or basketweave pattern. (Are you keeping your tub?)

For your vanity, since it's small, consider doing the wallmount faucet like shown in this pic^. you will gain a bit more counter space AND it's easier to keep clean. Do a simple vanity like shown, quartz top w/the 4" backsplash surround.

If you were going w/the larger subway tiles, I'd do it like this. stacked layout (or some of the other designs if just doing one wall) I don't care for this particular niche, but you should have one on the side wall that has ample storage for bottles.

Here's a similar tile in the vertical 1/4 offset. it's a bit diff looking but has a nice waterfall effect. Again, use on back wall, side wall gets the larger tiles. (if you prefer) also notice the fixed glass panel. in a smaller bathroom, this gives you a 'larger' feel.

I did my neighbors 5x8 bathroom. We went w/an inexpensive vanity and remnant quartz top. This was an offset sink (drawers on left) Obviously this picture wasn't complete!

Colors I used are shown in the photo. for the inset, I told her to do a few shelves (wood or glass is fine) and have it look something like this:

If you like this look, copy it! I love the wood frame mirror if using cooler-toned items.

Here are a few similar size bathrooms, before and after

The Bedrosian tiles I showed you can be laid in this manner on the back wall. for the side walls (not shown here) you can do the larger format white tile, if you like.

Notice the shelves behind the toilet. good for extra storage. get some baskets or jars for toiletry items.

you can do these yourself for less than $50. get a piece of wood, have it cut to size, sand, stain if you like, coat w/varnish. get a few brackets

I also like this idea.

If you like the more natural, boho look:

Try this w/the terrazzo looking tiles in the shower, and maybe these for the floor

Bedrosian, porceling 9x9 Vivace.

You could do the marin tiles in the shower as an accent on 1,2 or the 3rd wall.

this is the same size as your bathroom. Your ceilings prob aren't as tall, but everything else is the same size. you could totally do any of this.

Notice they did the black herringbone on the back wall, side walls are white. You could opt to do the white terrazzo, larger tile on the floor to make cleaning easier. Use gray grout inside and outside of the shower.

This is a white vanity w/either Super White or a porcelain or marble counterotp. I'd still wall mount the faucet for more space and easy clean. Don't know if you want to switch to glass doors or keep a shower curtain. The vertical T&G is a nice touch, I have another pic of that below.

Sticking w/the black and white theme (I'd use a natural oak vanity and white top and a textured boho shower curtain) you can lay out the shower surround tiles something like this:

Of course you could switch out the colors to anything you like.

You had asked about the Schluter jolly. I used them on many projects.

In my niche I used the gold one on the inset for the border around the marble

And on the outside border used the larger black one. they come in diff sizes, as you can see. The Jolly is the one you want.

Here's a mostly white bathroom with good lighting (don't forger a waterproof light in the shower) . You could choose a diff color vanity, or go w/a neutral vanity and tiles w/color

Don't forget the shelves.

I love this whole look. ignore the double vanity. you could easily do a single, with the wallmount faucet, tile backsplash as well as tile wainscot around the room.

If you take out the tub, the room will look a bit larger. but either way, this is similar to how those Marin tiles (or the Makoto tiles) would look. Taupe vanity, plank flooring

another option to get more bang for your buck, T&G paneling painted in a contrasting color

They used Blue here, but imagine those black and white options w/the white oak vanity.

I don't normally like the 12x24 tiles on a tub surround. to me they're too large.

But these larger hex tiles? I like how these turned out. this is a porcelain tile that looks like cement w/wood inlay. Tilebar has them. (or try IvyHill on wayfair)

As you can see, lots of diff ideas that you can use.

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Comments (9)

PRO
Beth H. :
2 years ago
last modified: 2 years ago
it mainly depends on the tile/manufacturer you get them from. Some make their tiles w/bulnose edge tiles, other w/liners.

I would caution against using real marble in a kids bathroom. it's going to get etched like no ones business. I have a marble floor and as careful as I am, water spot etching and urine drops are all over (from my husband, not me!) if you have boys, forget it!

for the regular tiles,

this is Marin and comes w/a liner. has many colors. either of these are very pretty

https://www.bedrosians.com/en/product/detail/marin-tile/?itemNo=100003171&queryid=287d21eef80f73986b8502cd8d2ba1e8

Instead of the marble tile, why not go w/something fun like this? matches the tiles above.

https://www.bedrosians.com/en/product/detail/shower-tile/casablanca-mosaic
also comes in many color combos

or, have fun w/penny round tiles

for example, I used this handmade -look ceramic tile and it came w/a liner

This Makoto tile is a matte finish and comes in many colors. has a liner

https://www.bedrosians.com/en/product/detail/makoto-tile/?itemNo=DECMAKARB2510M&queryid=287d21eef80f73986b8502cd8d2ba1e8

this is a local tile store that shows their tile selection w/these liners.

most of the white subway tiles have bullnose edge, which I used in my own shower, with the Schluter Jolly trim piece. I don't think it's overly modern

have you looked Bedrosians or Wayfair? they carry tons of options. do you want subway tiles? something larger?

https://www.bedrosians.com/en/product/list/shower-tile/

https://oasistile.com/collections/bathroom-tiles
michoumonster thanked Beth H. :
michoumonster
Original Author
2 years ago
last modified: 2 years ago
Wow, Beth! These are all wonderful suggestions! I like the bedrosian Marin you recommended. I am looking for larger format, because we were thinking of taking the tile all across the wall, from the tub to the vanity. But some of the bigger subways would be ok too. Did you find the schluter jolly trims to match well to your tile? I only have seen the metal schluter trims. Thanks very much!

oh and i haven't looked at Bedrosians, thanks for the suggestion! I think there is a store not too far from me!
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RedRyder
2 years ago
Larger format tiles are great for the shower walls. Using something colorful on the floors is the way to make it more fun. The penny tile is good for inside the shower since that floor has to have more grout (to prevent slipping). Due to its size,you can make stripes,patterns, even spell out a motto.

I agree with Beth that a “marble kids’ bathroom”, is an oxymoron. Go for ceramic for your own piece of mind. There are tons of adorable tiles you and the kids can choose from.
michoumonster thanked RedRyder
PRO
JAN MOYER
2 years ago
last modified: 2 years ago
Large format tile on walls doesn't seem to suit the traditional feel you want?

Show the bathroom you have now : ) I love blues and greens, just remember kids do grow and very fast. .........

There are lots of ways to make a kids bath fun, and still have a long term design you will love over t.i.m.e

Permanent surfaces/ timeless, add paint, art, and the fun with less permanent elements.
michoumonster thanked JAN MOYER
michoumonster
Original Author
2 years ago
last modified: 2 years ago
RedRyder and Jan, thanks for your ideas! And really great advice on keeping the permanent things more timeless. I will also look for non-marble alternatives!

This is the current bath, it is 8x5. Right now, it is so dark and dingy. So I just want to update it so it feels more spacious, and be a little bit playful and fresh, but not go too modern since our house is an 80s built traditional.

Would large format be better since it has less grout and might feel more spacious in a small space?

Another thought is would a colored tile overwhelm the space?

Perhaps i should stick with white tiles and do blue or green as accent?

If i do a white tile, do you think doing chair rail would look ok on the vanity wall, or is it better to take the tile all the way to the ceiling?

I just found this inspiration photo on houzz and really love it, though the mosaic shower tile is way out of budget for us.

Garden Street Brownstone Bathroom · More Info
PRO
JAN MOYER
2 years ago
last modified: 2 years ago
You don't need more than 120 sq. feet of tile tub and floor combined. If you stay in the 10.00 or under per sq foot and porcelain?? You won't have more than 1100 in tile

Put it on both floor and tub walls, add a white waffle weave shower curtain easy to wash , with white tub and vanity, Only!!! TUB WALLS to the ceiling

These aren't mosaic : ) below 6 x 6

https://www.urbancoastile.com/collections/coastal-chic/pro

Or take a SIMPLE lovely 8 x 8 porcelain and do same...pale blue.

Or......

If you want to wainscot one wall opposite vanity? Fine. I would not do the vanity wall. Keep the top to a simple white, matching 4" riser behind, add a big round mirror with a silver/ chrome frame.... some fun art over the potty. Stay with polished chrome for bath.faucet fittings, it's 100% forever.

Use HOOKS for towels in the wainscot wall, skip the towel bars. It's 5 x 8 and you're over thinking it : )

LIGHTING LIGHTING and a very good fan/light combo
michoumonster thanked JAN MOYER
michoumonster
Original Author
2 years ago
Thanks so much ladies! I really appreciate your thoughtful advice! And yes, I totally am overthinking ALL of this, so really am loving your professional help with how to filter out all of the options and how to approach things!

It will take me some time to absorb everything and look around at some more tile stores. I will also ask my kids for input on their bath as well. They are pre-teens, (so lots of opinions here!), and i think you advice is spot-on to not go too kid-like. I think the fun and whimsical is more for me than them, as it is hard for me let go and to admit they are almost teens, haha.

I will update you all on how it turns out. Hoping we can get the bath done in a couple of weeks!!
michoumonster
Original Author
2 years ago
Hi all, just wanted to update my post with pics as promised, in case anyone is following with similar dilemmas. I let my preteens choose their finishes and they chose an all-white bath.

We had some setbacks with some contractor issues, but thankfully we are done with it. I apologize for the bad pics, they are not staged at all. I did not realize how difficult it is to photograph a tiny bath, lol!

We did a tic tac toe theme for a little fun, and chose the marble basketweave tile for floor and accent that has little X-s in it. The kids chose large format white tile on the wall in brick pattern. We got a floating vanity in walnut and oval mirror.

We painted walls and ceiling in BM Chantilly Lace, but I think I may go back later when the bath needs a refresh and paint in a warmer white to warm up the space a bit more, or maybe change out the light bulbs?