For a 100K+ bath like you are describing, find your designer and tile pro as your first step. Let them guide you on the tiles that will provide the best option for what you envision. And that aren’t extra special awful to work with. Because a lot of them are Especially the recycled content ones.

What you have there has never been out of style, and yes, retro is a very strong style trend.

I like glass mosaic tile, but those names aren't enough for anyone to give you an opinion. Please share some pictures!

One thing I'd change about your layout: When you're sitting on the toilet, you'd have a view of yourself in the vanity mirror.

Plenty of tilesetters can work with glass tile. I wouldn't be too worried. You could even get that 100k price down to 10k if you want to do some parts diy.

DIY Bathroom Renovation for $3K (Contractor Quoted $15K) - YouTube

Monique,

I hired a designer six months ago. I paid a flat fee, with the understanding that I would be able to pay for additional guidance on an hourly basis. She chose marble tiles on the walls and floor. The tiles were beautiful, but marble is higher maintenance than I had planned. I asked her for other tile suggestions; she reminded me that she had promised one meeting on the floorplan and one meeting on tile -- she was done.

I plan to hire a tile pro after the plans are approved by the City.

Which of the glass tiles are made from recycled glass? I think that applies to Sonoma, but maybe not for Oceanside. I do not know about the others.

Mrs, Pete,

I can add pictures of the various glass tiles. My question was more about the quality of the product than the aesthetics. I have seen several negative reviews about Lunada Bay on this forum, but I don't know if the problems were mostly related to installation errors.

No easy way to change the layout to avoid having the vanity mirror reflect someone's face while they are seated on the toilet.

The designer that I hired suggested swapping the vanity location with the bathroom entry door. That would place the toilet directly in the line of sight from the hallway, which most would consider a design flaw. Because this is a hall bathroom, the entry door is usually left open, unless the room is occupied.

At one point, in my downstairs bathroom, I placed a tall mirror on the wall behind the toilet, not realizing that this would make male guests feel uncomfortable. There was no place for a mirror above the vanity because there was a window there.

dan1888,

Oh dear, is asking about glass tiles the same as asking for a recommendation for a gold toilet?

As for DIY, I painted the walls and ceiling in this bathroom 12 years ago, I may do that again, but, the next time, there will be tile behind the toilet.

Here is what I have done, so far, to reduce the cost of the remodel:

1. I am keeping the same footprint to avoid re-arranging the plumbing
2. I had the (single-pane) bathroom window replaced a year ago to keep that cost separate from the remodel
3. I purchased plumbing fittings and plumbing fixtures in 2024 in anticipation of inflation on these items
4. I omitted several "splurges" suggested by various contractors -- underfloor heating, wall-mounted toilet, zero-entry shower, and wall-mounted faucets

I have considered purchasing some materials at the local "Habitat Restore."

I borrowed a few samples of Aquabella glass tiles from the DalTile showroom. They were displayed on a table focused on swimming pool tiles. Their website sites several global locations for making tiles, but nothing specific.

I have samples of Lunada Bay glass tiles on order from a local tile showroom.

In my previous house, I used Oceanside Glass Tile in 3 bathrooms and Sonoma Tile in 2 bathrooms. Overall I was happy with the products and the way the projects turned out. Some of the glass tiles were individual pieces, some were mesh mounted mosaics and some were paper faced mosaics.

My only issue was with a custom mosaic from Oceanside Glass. They colored a part of the mosaic in the wrong color. OGT didn't notice, my tile shop didn't notice when they inspected it and I didn't notice when I inspected a couple of the mosaic sheets in the box. I showed up later that day, when the tile guy had done one wall in the shower and I knew something was off, but by then it was too late as I had installed part of the order, so no returns or refunds at that point. It looked fine if you didn't know that the color/pattern wasn't exactly what I had ordered.

A good tile installer will have no issues cutting or drilling through glass tile, but always good to have extra tile, because it might take more than one try to get a perfect hole in the middle of a glass tile.

We have used Oceanside glass tiles in a couple backsplashes and around the inside and outside of a hot tub that is connected to the pool. We are happy with all the tile. We had good installers for the backsplashs. The only problem we have with the tile on the spa is not the tile it is because of the installer. He did do a good job installing the tile which was difficult going around the spa. He works for the pool company. The Oceanside tile was not a tile the company uses I bought it on my own. The tiles that are clear you can see through them. You can see ripples anywhere it isn't smooth behind the tile. The glass tiles that aren't clear look great. I am happy with the tile and how it looks. We haven't had any problems with the Oceanside tile.We also used Island stone glass tile in the laundry room. We didn't have any problems with the tile either.

robinleva:

Thanks, I just ordered some sample glass tiles from Island Stone. There is a local tile showroom that carries their tiles -- about an hour's drive from me, but I have not been there yet.

I am planning to order samples from Oceanside -- they have so many choices that I am finding it difficult to narrow my selection. I will avoid the "clear" tiles -- I think this is one of their cast-glass colors and not a specific finish. I may be able to order some samples from their "Outlet" Store.

Were the tile colors the same as your samples? Or did you see a lot of variation between dye lots?

We have a tile store by us that carries both brands. i spent a lot of time on the colors and finishes for the Oceanside tile. The tile colors were just like the color of the ones in the store and there wasn’t any variation in color. I did order tile from their outlet and samples from the outlet. The tile I ordered from the outlet was a meshbacked. I didn’t like these as well as the tile with rhe paper on the front. We also got subway glass tile from Oceanside that the color was acurate and didn’t have variation. The tiles are really pretty when they are on the wall. I can try posting some pictures later

Glass is very difficult to do correctly. The labor with glass, from an expert tiler, will be significantly more than the material. And the material is far from cheap.

Yes, I understand that the cost for glass mosaic (material and installation) will be high. My initial budget for tile material (porcelain) was $5K (including tax and freight).

I was able to get a rough estimate from a tile setter (before I started looking at glass tiles). He said he would charge about $15K for tile on the bathroom/shower floor (60 SF) and three-sided shower walls (90 SF). That seemed high to me ($100 PSF for installation).

The owner of a local tile store told me that an expert tiler would charge a lot for installing glass tiles, but the price he quoted was $40 PSF.

5K? Try 50 K for some of these tiles. Neither guy is quoting high enough to work with glass. And they probably don’t even own a TCNA Manual. They won’t be the guys you need. You will easily be more than the $250 a square slab quartzite on the wall by the time you do glass tile, with proper waterproofing beneath. No one good quotes by the square foot. They quote by the day, and the complexity.

https://www.ceramictilefoundation.org/homeowners-guide-to-hiring-qualified-tile-installer

https://tcnatile.com/products/publications/2024-tcna-handbook-for-ceramic-glass-and-stone-tile-installation/

The tile-setter's quote was for the job ($15K). The estimate (PSF) was from a tile salesperson, not an installer.

One designer (in another tile showroom) asked me if I plan to clad the back wall of the shower in stone. Quartzite weighs about 20 pounds PSF -- it would take an 800-pound piece of quartzite to cover the back wall of this shower, which is on the second floor.

I have seen photos where the face of a long shower niche is highlighted by cladding it with the same natural stone as used on the vanity top -- less expensive than installing mosaic glass on the face of a niche?

The glass tile on the pools were the Oceanside paper front. The glass tile that is white in the niche was Oceanside tile mesh backing from their outlet. you can see the difference in the look of the front paper mounted glass tile and the mesh backing glass tile. The blue glass tile by the cabinets is the island stone tile. I will try to post the pictures. The tile install was fine for the pool

I should have mentioned the tile on the spa are two different spas. The tiles are different sizes and colors on each spa

This is the Oceanside tile.

robinleva - the tiles on the spas are beautiful!! The niche tile is pretty - was it a true white like on the first spa prior to installation? It looks closer in color to the gold (?) tiles on the first spa.

I've learned how important it is to not purchase glass tile (especially white) that is not through body color. There have been MANY posts on here from upset OPs re: how their glass tile "changed" colors once it was installed. All of your glass tile looks great!

We used Lunada Bay behind the vanity and in the shower niche - no problem whatsoever.

In process:

Niche:

The glass tile in the niche was an off white to tan color.On the spa the white tiles if I remember correct are oxygen iridescent and the more gold looking ones are white non-irid. The white non-iridescent look more clear usually, it just depends if the sun is shinning. The non-iridescent tiles are the ones I can see through. I should have gone with a matte. I only see the lines behind the tiles if I am up close to them on the non-irid tiles. The color of the tiles didn't change after they were installed.

We had clear light blue tiles installed in the shower just a strip of them down the wall. When we went to look at it while it was being installed we noticed the color looked wrong. The tile looked different. Our neighbor who has a business installing tile was the person installing it. We mentioned that it looked different. He explained he painted the back of the tile white because it is easier to install. He explained why it is easier. It made the tile look flat and not have depth. He removed the tile he had installed and I had to order more of the tile. He installed the new tile and it looked great.

@robinleva, @chispa, @clt3,

Thank you for posting photos of your beautiful installations! And thank you for taking the time to explain so many details to consider in choosing the material and in preparing for the installation. It is reassuring to hear that you have had good results with each of these companies: Lunada Bay, Sonoma, OGT, and Island Stone.

I was able to order samples online from OGT's Outlet store and also from the "Design Shop" online. I am waiting to hear back from OGT on their closest showroom and on how to order tile samples that are not in their Outlet store.

I am confused about the four different surfaces that OGT offers on their cast glass tiles. Their mosaics seem to come in a mix of multiple surfaces, such as 50/50 Iridescent / Non-iridescent or 30% Irid./ 40% Non-Irid / 30% Textura or 25% each for Irid. / Non-Irid., / Matte /Textura.

if I want a different configuration of finishes and / or colors, I am guessing I would need to order a custom blend. What happens with rejected tiles -- if the delivered tiles differ from the custom order? Do they end up at the Outlet store with a creative name assigned to them? Maybe someone's rejected order will be perfect for me.

Thank you. Ours was a custom blend. It's been several years and I don't remember the name textura as a choice. It might be something new since then. I ordered samples from the outlet and wondered about it also. I don't know if it was tile that was discountinued or like what you said. The tile I used for the niche was different than the tile they have in the tile showroom. The tile I got from the outlet had the mesh on the back. I knew that before I ordered it. It was very inexpensive. The sample cards I got from them had tile that looked just like the tile in the showroom and wouldn't have had the mesh backing.

Have you looked on line at Walker Zanger tile. They have WZ selects. This I think is the discontinued tile. I don't know if they have any glass tiles you would like. On there they sell the tile by the lot. It will say how many sq ft in that lot and then the price. But there is the shipping charge also.

This is an update on my progress with glass mosaic tiles.

I have been collecting tile samples (OGT, Lunada Bay, and Island Stone), some ordered online and some from local showrooms. It will be difficult to choose "the one."

I contacted four licensed tile setters to ask about installation. I am relieved that the two quotes I received are within my planned budget for labor -- and much less than what I was first quoted for porcelain tile only.

1. The first installer said that when he has installed glass tiles, they always cracked months after he installed them, and he has stopped installing them (he's been working in this field for 30 years).
2. The second installer said that he charges a 20-25% up-charge for installing glass tile, but when he met with me at my house, he insisted that I need only 12x24 porcelain tiles (no glass tiles); also, he wanted to bid the whole project (plumbing, electrical, ...); I explained that was not possible and he declined to bid
3. The 3rd installer was fine with glass tile and submitted a bid of about $6K for labor (12x24 porcelain tile on the floor and glass mosaic tile on 1-1/2 walls). I am concerned because her proposal specifies "standard thinset method" for both porcelain and glass tiles
4. The 4th installer has an up-charge of $250 per area with glass tile mosaic; he submitted a bid of about $5K for labor; I think this is for porcelain tile on the floor and on the shower side wall with glass mosaic tiles on the back wall. (I need to confirm that.) His proposal specifies a specialty thinset "Megalite" or equivalent for the glass tiles.

I will likely hire the 4th installer, as he is well-recommended by several sources.