The link worthyvess posted shows what may well be Taj (if it is, it's a busy slab of it) and a floor that looks similar to a very plain marble with soft veining and (shock!) it's a pretty bathroom, no clashing or wild pattern to be seen. I don't want to be like some regular posters who are extremely opinionated and seem to get frustrated and almost angry if they can't browbeat others into following their style preferences....but I took another look at the new Emser tile you posted. It's very plain, with only very subtle veining and as cpartist said, Taj tends to read like a very plain beige counter once installed. I don't see any way the Emser could clash, and if it doesn't go with the shower wall tile you've had concerns about anyway, the Emser for floor, shower floor *and* walls could be stunning and overall a pretty subtle choice.

Emser solves your problem .Keep the top simple white, add your rug, sconces, mirror, lovely hardware,. and enjoy a beautiful bath.......in this lifetime. You don't need the Taj,

@debrak6: "Here's the thing: I've seen a lot of Taj slabs and installed in various rooms; it invariably "reads" as a relatively plain, neutral counter and not a busy pattern. I really don't see a big issue with having a pattern on the floor and shower, especially one that looks subtle like the Emser."

I was just thinking the same thing. I am looking at this slab directly..... head-on, in a vertical position. It will never be viewed that way when it is installed as a countertop. The view of it will always be from some angle. Because of that, I think it does tend to "read" as a not-quite-solid beige color, which is the look I'm after. My vanity cabinets will be white, and there are a lot of them, going up to the ceiling on both ends of these vanities. Plus, wide white baseboards and white crown moulding. Plenty of white going on there.

I feel like I need to hold the Emser tile up to the Taj slab before I can commit to releasing the Taj back to the warehouse stock. If the two don't look good together, then I will just choose a different countertop. I would hate to put in a plain white counter with the white vanities, though. I know there are calmer patterns and solid colors in quartz, but neither of us like the look of quartz.

Then I worry the Emser tile won't be the right shade of white against my already painted baseboards, and the two surfaces will be touching. I would hate for the baseboards to look yellow or dingy right up against that Emser tile floor, or vice versa. I know I could always repaint the vanities and baseboards to match it, but I really don't want to have to do that in a brand new house. Ugh.

I'm taking some days off of work so I can completely devote my time to visiting different tile shops and the slab yard too. And hopefully put it behind me once and for all. Thanks to everyone who has spent time answering questions and offering advice to me. It is most appreciated.

But she WANTS the Taj. They both love it and keep coming back to trying to find a way for the Taj to work. It is the driving force behind this bathroom and nothing she has posted or any of her mood boards have a white counter anywhere as something they would like. It's not helpful or respectful to the OP's dilemma to keep insisting the Taj should go and that they should do a plain white counter. Other posters have linked photos of bathrooms with Taj counters and patterned or veined floors, and they look nice...no decorating crimes in sight.

Then................after three months of indecision., the op does what she wants and stops asking, twisting, agonizing. Return at finish with the mistake, should there be one in her eyes.

What she really wants is marble, and for that marble to be just fine with a conflicting natural stone. That the marble is on all the bath floor, shower floor, shower walls...and then add Taj Mahal? That will equal competitively busy and two stars clamoring for the roses tossed on the stage.

What she truly wants can't be had minus a lot of dollars and TIME,,,,,,,as nobody in their right mind does this or any marble without a sample of the marble along with a RESERVE and verification that the sample is representative of all the quantity needed for the space.

So......... that's yet another issue aside from resources. It isn't helpful to agree and go along and have..............busy, no matter the materials. Which is what she asked way way way up above.

Good plan and good luck, A C. You can slay this dragon!

Looked up the Emser tile on Instagram to see it installed, in a real bathroom and holy moly…. I just can’t. Yes it’s on a wall here and not a floor, but this is NOT what I expected it to look like at all. I’m really glad I could find this actual photo instead of just relying on the Emser website ‘visualizer’ tool. On there, it looked like a very calm, subtle pattern. That is definitely not what I would call calm.

Next course of action is to seek out a SOLID color tile (or nearly solid) that is relatively light in color, and then hold it up to potential slab choices.

This absolute hell just never ends. I’m ready to pull all of my hair out.

I’m doing taj in my bathroom counters with white tile in the shower, walnut vanity and the floor tile is a grey hex. I know you said no grey, but there are some warmer greys out there. I’d recommend looking at Arizona tile if you haven’t already. Check out Reside it comes in a brown that is pretty light and earthy looking but not busy. I think it would compliment the taj.

https://www.arizonatile.com/products/tile/r11-anti-slip-finish/reside-usa

Just a suggestion - I was *thisclose* to selecting this for our primary bath. It's a creamy white (I also dislike the dreaded travertine, but this ain't it, yo) - it's soft underfoot, and you can use it for the whole floor. With a close-in-color matching grout, it won't feel busy. May not work. But just a suggestion. I'm kind of heartbroken it didn't end up working out for our space.

@bmanning: Something like that is what I’m now thinking of, too. I wish now that my vanities were natural wood instead of white. That would make this easier, I believe. Sadly it’s too late for that.

@JP L: That’s a great suggestion as well. My husband wants something like that and I’m totally open to it. Tomorrow we’re going to make the 3+ hour drive to the nearest large city with some more well-known tile stores. Hoping among these visits we will come to a conclusion.

How is this busy? It's faux marble , the real thing? Just as "busy"

(I think the herringbone floor was making it appear busy)

This ISN'T busy below?

You are completely lost. Get off the computer, get to a local dedicated tile store.

Accept that IF you want/must have Taj Mahal? You select a white, or a pale warm gray porcelain to go with it , or make yourself the busy bath.

Or ? Adjust your budget, your closing time, do the MARBLE thing, and give up the Taj there as well, because it is very unwise to marry two different natural stones with veining.

And if not that? Remain in "nowhere land".

It's time to get off the computer, cease whining, and move on. After a point, it is reinvention of a wheel.

Or it could be a very nice bath.....go in person.

I hope your trip today is fruitful and helps things come together. I think it will be useful to continue to google images of particular tiles while you are in the store looking at them so you get an idea for how it looks repeated in a floor or on a wall.

I always find it iseful to call ahead and ask a few questions, make an over the phone connection, and let them know when you are coming so you can get one on one help in the store.

^^^she will figure it out. Now she know she doesn't like busy and I understand her because this is how I felt about marble porcelain tile with all those veining, too. It's not for everybody and that's OK. Sometimes it better to choose something more boring or plain and later just add decorating pieces than have so much pattern all over. My marble look wall tile was bigger format and less busy and I was already nervous but from the beginning I had plain floor tile to calm down everything.

Well, dang on the Emser not being to your liking once you saw more. Best of luck on your shopping trip...hope you find something that works.

While this doesn’t match up exactly with my vision board, it looks very nice and has the serene look I want. It does appear to have a mostly white countertop with the white cabinets and doesn’t look too sterile.

My wall color will be very similar to this. Sconces and fixtures similar too.

Problem is, no one on Houzz will explain what products are used in most of these photos. Why do they omit this important information? If the floor is indeed a marble, maybe I can locate something in ceramic that is close. Same with the counters.

https://www.houzz.com/photos/monterosa-transitional-bathroom-phoenix-phvw-vp~53689800

Onyx look like porcelain tile might be more calm. Just ask in the store.

Yes, I really like that tone-on-tone onyx look! 👍 Not plain, but also not busy.

The explanation is right here:

You ask..........you get the answer as was informed in 2016. As other folks asked.

Marble.!

and it is both a floor and wall tile

Your look will NOT exist in any ceramic tile.

^^^ yes there were questions asked under that picture but no answers, just bunch of people guessing what was used.

The question was answered at the site, it is posted just above,

The tile is marble, has a name. again.........

Why not just do marble?

@worthyvess: I would love to do that. I had my mind set on marble many months ago but it was going to be $6k for just the floor in this room. Not counting labor. I would’ve had to add even more for shower wall tile as well. We’ve gone over budget on several other areas, so we couldn’t justify the expense, despite all of the misery this decision is causing. :-/

What has the lag time cost in loan fees, closing time? Stress?

Will you be in the house 10 years? Will you have the bath for those ten years? Will you be happy with the image you posted above that IS marble? It's an extra 600.00 - 900.00 per year to "justify and satisfy" with a lot less expensive white top than the Taj Mahal you have been clinging to. The top that complicates, doesn't belong with another veined stone and keeps you stalled in the exact same place.

Which is currently no particular place at all. .At 900.00, ....2.52 or a cup of drive through Dunkin "joe" every single day, to be in the bath and love the bath for the next ten years

It's so easy to spend other people's money!

Time has a way of being money. It's either your own, which may or may not have a "cost" or it's someone else's time which almost always has a cost, and time from a bank........show me when it doesn't have a cost .

Depending where you live,? If you cut and color your hair every month via a pro? A mid sized city? Vicinity = 1800.00 a year. Hardly any women blink if they come out gorgeous every month.

And many people just don't bother having their hair colored and still feel gorgeous, even tho someone else might try to harangue them into coloring their hair.

A C, even though marble is beautiful, I would never put it in a shower. Too many products harm it, cleaning is problematic because of that. Search the forums for people who regret marble in their showers.

There are many stone look porcelain hex tiles, if that's what you want. This is on a wall, not floor, but I think it's beautiful and would be so much easier to keep clean than marble.

Hex

@olychick: that is a lovely bathroom! I have a F&D fairly closeby. I will definitely check this out!

Olychick is right, no marble in the shower. … I was thinking on the floor.
The floor tile in the picture looks calm enough for Taj Mahal. Doesn’t look like marble either. Just the wrong color.
Floor and Decor has a pretty big selection, surprised you haven’t been there yet!

Worthyvess, I think since she has a curbless shower, having a marble floor meet up with a porcelain tile shower floor wouldn't work, so she'd have to go porcelain both places (or marble).

Olychick you’re right, no marble in the shower. … therefore not on the floor either.
The floor tile in the picture looks calm enough for Taj Mahal. Doesn’t look like marble either. Just the color is wrong.
With no marble on the floor, with a white counter, she has no natural stone in her bathroom.
Nothing like natural stone imo.
Floor and Decor has a pretty big selection - saying a prayer you find something AC, to go with the Taj - or maybe a marble counter! Bathroom is as good a place as any to get it! Might be cheaper than the Taj!

UPDATE

After about 8+ hours on the road and several tile shop visits, we re-selected the floor tile. Then we took the new choice back to the Taj slab for comparison. It seemed to match well enough. This ceramic matte tile is calm, with just the very slightest hint of a pattern. I didn’t really want a 12x24, but the only other shape offered in this tile was 12x12 and I liked that even less. So this is what we’re going with. We’re doing a matching color penny tile for the shower floor. The grout will match the color of the tile in both areas, so everything will appear as uniform/seamless as possible.

I do feel better about the new pick. I still have a hard time visualizing the end result, but I’ve got to hope we chose the best possible thing and move on from this.

I will certainly share a photo once this bathroom is completed. Fingers are crossed that it will be ok.

Thanks everyone here for all of the helpful information and encouragement.

I'm so glad you are keeping the counter and I think it will all look stunning with your light cabinets. That does look really nice together and the matching grout will make it all pretty seamless looking. Be sure to post your 'after'!

Good luck and we will be waiting for the pictures! Pictures found on internet: they are more contemporary style but have similar tile to give the idea.

Thank you for updating and good job! I'm so glad you got to keep your beloved Taj slab, and I think that tile looks great with it. It will be beautiful and calm.

Yay AC!!! That tile looks perfect from what I can see. And it won’t be right adjacent to the Taj anyway, I think.
I’m glad you’ll match the grout to the tile.
Can’t wait to see the finals!!!

Small update… Not finished yet (it’s taking FOREVER), but here’s a progress pic that shows the tile floor in part of this bathroom.

What tile did you use?

@eld6464

Tile link:

https://www.daltile.com/products/stone-look/calgary/legacy

I used Custom brand grout in the Bleached Wood color.

The tile is 12x24.

It's looking amazing!!!! What's going on with this big gap near baseboard ?

@J Sk

Thanks! They’ve still got to put down shoe moulding. We’re a few months from completion, yet.

Are you happy with your choices? I remember how you were stressed out.

@J Sk:

I am pleased with them, yes. I cannot imagine how terrible that first choice would’ve looked!

That looks really good! How nice to see an update and I'm pleased for you. It's very calm and relaxing and the soft subtle veining adds just enough richness and texture.

Thanks, Debrak6! I’ll add more pics once it’s complete. :-)

I was waiting for your update and cannot wait to see more pictures!. I think it's going to be like you envisioned :-).

Looking great! You made nice choices!

It looks beautiful!

Very nice--enjoy!