Revive the biscuit vs arctic white tile debate from a 2025 view!

last year

last modified: last year

(edited for clarity because first several responses were all about fixtures, not tile) Please help on wall tile and floor tile color choice between Daltile arctic white or biscuit? The tub, toilet and sink will be all bright white, with chrome metals. The only no-go is anything black in this bathroom.

1. For a timeless neutral bathroom with bright white sink, tub, and toilet, is Daltile Biscuit tile or Arctic white tile or a color tile better for wall tile wainscot and tub-surround tile color?

2. We know the design world loves stark cold white. How hated is biscuit wall TILE in the design world?

3. How do you get a warm, creamy, timeless Biscuit wall tile look instead of a dingy, dreadful, dated Biscuit wall tile look?

4. If 2025 resale were to carry equal weight to homeowner preference, what’s the best color choice for wall and floor tile?

Photo: Similar size, layout and vanity, but not actual bathroom bc it is demo'd.

Context: charming 1920s original craftsman bungalow, SW Alabaster walls and trim throughout, SW Creamy painted original kitchen. Long, narrow, compact bathroom is 6’x8’ with white tub, sink, and toilet.

Vanity: same as photo, Fresca Hartford. Plan to paint vanity after tile choice. Limited vanity choice due to 36” width from wall to tub, so vanity is 12" D, curved sink 17" D at apex. Budgeted less on vanity in order to spend more for tile.

Floor: 2” Daltile hexagon floor tiles

Wall and tub surround: Daltile subway tile with 42” H wainscot.

Any other opinionated design advice welcome.

Featured Answer

Kendrah

last year

I'd get fixtures that match, even if they are all a bright white. You can then use a more off white ivory tile instead of a bright white tile that is the color of your fixtures. I think a bright white tile - both hex and subway wall tile, is going to look too modern for your 1920s house. I have had to make hex and subway tile selections for older homes and have been right were you are at nice. Get samples of all the tiles and hex's in the brighter and less bright colors you are considering. Get them in to the space and look at them. Get more than just one tile of each color. Get a handful so you can stack them next to each other and really get a feel for them.

In the end, it is truly is fine to have brighter fixtures and more ivory, creamy, old timey, less shocking white floors and walls. Look at pics online of renovations like yours.

Gotta say, I'm not in love with that vanity for your craftsman home. You are looking for something 12 - 17 inches shallow, I understand, but does it have to be a vanity? Could a shallow console work? Or a shallow pedestal?

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Comments (11)

PRO
Patricia Colwell Consulting
last year
I would never have any bathroom fixtures that do not match so you have a white sink get the rest white why do you want anything else . Colr can be the walls the backspash tile in the shower and please do not get that style of toilet in the pic above one piece no bumped out anything to catch every thing flying around in a bathroom
PRO
JAN MOYER
last year
Pure white is timeless in toilets , tubs, sinks. Yes, they should match.
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PRO
Diana Bier Interiors, LLC
last year
"Biscuit" is just another word for "beige." I wouldn't use beige/biscuit fixtures in a bathroom in a 1920s Craftsman home (or any other 1920s home for that matter). White is classic and will stand the test of time. When we renovated our 1920s bathrooms we used all white tiles with some small black accents, as we did when building our vacation home over 30 years ago. The white is still in great shape and it will work with anything else you want to do in the room.

Regarding the toilet in your inspiration photo, it is totally appropriate for the period of your home. Using a one-piece modern toilet would be a big mistake.
User thanked Diana Bier Interiors, LLC
kandrewspa
last year
Here are some period appropriate ideas that get away from biscuit if you want to consider something else:
Lost Angeles, Westholme - Complete Remodel · More Info

Ladies Lounge Remodel · More Info
User thanked kandrewspa
PRO
Diana Bier Interiors, LLC
last year
Those are beautiful bathrooms, kandrews
User
Original Author
last year
last modified: last year

Original bathroom before everything except the vintage medicine cabinet, light and cast iron tub were removed for demo.
User
Original Author
last year
am looking for tile color advice, not fixture advice, since most of the responses were about fixtures. Sorry for not being clear earlier that tub, sink and toilet will be bright white. Any tile color input on Daltile biscuit tile vs Daltile Arctic white tile appreciated! Yes, I have a samples of all tiles, plus a 0100 Daltile soft white sample, which I have ruled out.
RedRyder
last year
White tile. Absolutely. Period appropriate and always looks right.

There are thousands of white tiles, so think about what you want for the floor and how you will place them.
User thanked RedRyder
palimpsest
last year
last modified: last year
The Daltile Biscuit is pretty light but it will will read as a pale neutral color against bright white. These tan/beige tiles--which are more saturated-- in these 1930s and 1920s bathrooms were used with white fixtures (Obviously a modern vanity at the top and a modern toilet at the bottom)

was used with bright white fixtures.

Kohler introduced colored fixtures in 1927

Horizon Blue (powder blue)

Spring Green (which they make again)

Autumn Brown (like a butterscotch color)

Old Ivory ( more yellow)

Lavender

West Point Grey (white background with black speckles)
User thanked palimpsest
sisjbj
last year
This is Arctic White subway tile. It coordinates well with Kohler white fixtures.