So these textured tiles are not good to use because they don’t squeegee well? I know not to use slick tiles on the floor. I don’t know what waterproofing system the contractor plans to use. Maybe Hardie Plank? I’m paying him to know what to do and do it.

Can you show the bath getting all the

"Just counters, tile, faucets etc?"

Add Jpegs of the existing baths, BOTH IN A COMMENT BELOW.

( Hardie Plank is an exterior siding material )

and you DON'T just trust any contractor to design for you. )

There is no "Just do this" in design.

What on earth is this?

To replace tile requires a total gut of a shower down to the studs and all new waterproofing and for sure not textured tiles in a shower. Shower niches are IMO not decor items no need to make shampoo bottles decor either . I never design showers with niches I much prfer a nice caddie that can drain prperly and can be removed and cleaned well. Tile gys and contractors are not designers , get one before you have huge issues . A shower needs to be cleaned often and at least a squeegee after every shower so teextured tile cannot be cleaned with a squeegee so abig no for that choice. .This is acase of you do not know what you do not know. Get an actual bathroom designer before your life become a wet soggy nightmare

Go with Onyx- can look like tile or anything you want it to, and so much cleaner! Grout is the worst to keep clean in a shower!

We have a matte textured tile in our master bathroom, different from yours but it is hard to clean. It takes a scrub brush and elbow grease to tackle the uneven surface. Not fun.

Those tiles would be great as a kitchen backsplash but large format flat tiles, closely spaced with epoxy grout would be easier to maintain. Our niches are no big deal to clean however.

There are several different ways to have a waterproofing substrate just ask what the plan is so you know its legit. We used cement board, taped and mudded the seams with redguard over that but there are other methods. Good luck!

Depending on where you are, you might be lucky to be able to do a bathroom for just $25K. And if you're doing all the tile and faucets, do you really want to keep your vanity? Is it 36" tall, which is what is now considered to be standard height? If your toilet is an older model that uses a lot of water that should go, too.

The frequent commenters here have remodeled a lot of bathrooms and kitchens, but some people only do one of these once in their lives. It depends on how often you move and the condition of these rooms in your home. So if this is your first time and you're undertaking multiple baths and a kitchen you definitely need to slow down and either do a lot of research or get professional help. While function is most important in these rooms, if you make good choices with materials, etc. you can end up with rooms that you will be pleased to use for years to come and add value to your home.

At least start by compiling Ideabooks here in Houzz to figure out what style you like. I agree with the other commenters that wavy tiles aren't a good idea on walls which will be subjected to moisture. Keep it simple and use 12 X 24" tile everywhere to reduce grout lines and use the same tile on the floor and walls. Use a smaller size of the same tile on the shower floor if you have a shower instead of a tub. That way you are assured of matching surfaces. Use a neutral color that will have longevity. You can always paint the walls an interesting color if you like color, or just use colored tiles.

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" don’t know what waterproofing system the contractor plans to use. Maybe Hardie Plank? I’m paying him to know what to do and do it. "

To change the tile in the shower will require the gutting of the area and immediate area at a minimum. You need to familiarize yourself somewhat and develop a scope of work, be sure the quote details EVERY step. Exactly how and what they intend to use. Or you very well be throwing money out the window.

How old is the current bathroom?

How old is the house?

Style of the house?

Your current tiles would suggest that your house is traditional. You don't have to do "period" bathrooms, but it helps to keep the age and design of your house in mind when designing a space. You can find newer tiles that have a nod to the past and complement the style of the house.

Ok, so I thought by asking on Houzz I would get some helpful advice. Which some of you gave me, thank you. But there is a lot of not so nice comments.
To answer some of the questions. This is not my first remodel. I am not changing the footprint of any room so I don’t feel like I need a “designer” to pick out tiles and counter tops. I am researching and doing a lot of looking for ideas. And a part of why I am here asking for advice. Let me say here that my contractor is a home builder/remodeler that people I know have used and recommend. If he/his people can’t handle a demo and redo he would not come highly recommended.
I live on a bay canal on an island, so this is a coastal home. It is 16 years old and was a custom home when built. And yes more traditional features than are normally put in a coastal home these days.
I’m keeping my cabinets and toilets. They are a good brand and are still nice. Until the toilets look grody or malfunction they stay. Even thinking of keeping my oval Kohler sinks they look so good but I want a different shape. I do want to get rid of the dark granite and replace probably with a light Quartz.
I’ll keep looking but find some other site to ask questions.

Oh and I like shampoo niches. Had them before and they look nice and are useful.

Research more about the really important stuff. Or you will get early failure, with rot and mold. More than 50% of “contractors” do not know how to waterproof correctly.

So...........You want to get annoyed with all the folks who've done HUNDREDS of baths, because we are supposed to know within the lack of context provided, how to read your mind? and the room you have, and all you wanted to know is what is easy to clean?

Okay!

Shiny/glossy anything is easier to clean than not shiny: ) Smooth is easier than bumpy! Ripples and more ripples are traps for soap scum.

Unless you phrase your question differently, every other site will say same........and one person's idea of easy, no big deal, is another's idea of "waaay too hard, I hate to clean".

Do you love/like to clean your baths? Do it how often ? There is your answer.

I have matt finish tiles in my master shower and gloss in my hallway bath shower. They both are large format, but neither has texture. Neither seems easier to clean than the other, but the glossy tile shows every water spot unless it is thoroughly dried. This my guest shower, so that doesn't typically happen. I love the look of your textured tile but I wouldn't use it in a shower.

Tile of any type will require cleaning. Textured tile will be harder to clean as someone else mentioned you won't be able to use a squeegee (lol, don't think I spelled that right). But, if you like the textured tile and want to use it, putting in more effort to clean it will be worth it.

BTW, I also kept my original vanities. It's certainly fine to do that.

We have both in two separate homes. Both of the master baths have 12” x 24” matte finish tile & the others ( except for one finished in marble, ugh ) have gloss finished tiles. I really haven’t noticed a difference in cleaning. BTW, I have shower niches in all my baths, except one, & I miss having one there. Carrying a caddie into the shower with my shampoos, conditioner, loofah, etc reminds of camping, no thanks, especially since I wash & shampoo daily.

Why are prices so high in the US ..$25k to redo a bathroom !!

It is a complex space with lots of different pros in the mix - plumber for fixtures, plus waterproofing with a tile pro for shower, tile pro for flooring, plus electrical pro, plus purchase of vanity, faucets, sink etc - plus paying for demo and removal of current materials plus usually a GC to manage all the pros -

FWIW I got a full gut reno done for $8600 but I GC’d it myself and it was a small bath - went with a pedestal sink which is less $$ and picked uber simple inexpensive tile (paid top dollar for my tile pro and plumber, but i live in an old house and always go with trusted pros w/ grey hair ;)