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achtermann1

Primary bath tile ideas

4 months ago

We have purchased enough tile to do either the shower/tub or the floor. We are trying to decide if we should do everything in one tile or do shower/tub in a one complementing tile and the floor in another type. Any ideas.

Comments (27)

  • 4 months ago

    Is the tile non-slip? It must be if you want to use it on the floor.

  • PRO
    4 months ago

    I wouldnt choose that for either. And since the shower walls and around the tub here need more square footage than the floor, I’d kinda question the math.

  • PRO
    4 months ago
    last modified: 4 months ago

    If your plan is to rip tile from that shower without a total redo of the shower ? Call that a total fail and destruction of all waterproofing.

    I would ask why you are purchasing ANY tile, without a consideration of the entirety and necessary quantity for all the surfaces.

    Where/what is the plan for the bath?

    Return whatever you purchased and start over. Free yourself from an ill conceived process - don't paint yourself into a corner.

    If you love it? You need a lot more of it for both.

    Are you replacing the pre form shower floor, or will that be tile?

    What does it go with, what is the counter top, what is the vanity? Where is the rest of the bath?

    What is the extent of the bath "redo" and you need to show ALL of it.

  • 4 months ago

    Wow! I guess I went to the wrong place for suggestions. To answer your question. We have a cracked shower pan. We want to put our house up for sale but in today’s market we will never get the money back for the work we do. Unfortunately we can’t retile the whole shower without doing the bath surround too. We have linoleum on the floor so we want to replace that too. We found the tile that we like but I was worried that doing everything in that one color would be too plain. I also purchased tile white penny tile for the floor. I still have time to return everything before the contractor starts the end of the week. If I knew the right thing to do I wouldn’t have asked for suggestions. By the way. The vanity is maple with a grey counter top. If I had $6,000 I would replace that too. We do plan on painting the bathroom too. If no one has any suggestions and only has comments on how I don’t know what I am doing please don’t comment.

  • PRO
    4 months ago
    last modified: 4 months ago

    Very sorry, we simply can't read minds. None of your very important CONTEXT, especially a redo for a soon sale......was included in your question, let alone a leak in the pan!

    You would understand my comment, if you hung around long enough to see the wild and unwise things people attempt, that also result in disaster following a lot of wasted money.

    You are doing a bath for the next person...You have a leak in the pan, all new tile going both places.

    All you want is simple harmony, clean fixed and bright. You'll never predict what the next owner wants.

    It is QUITE helpful when you seek help, to see the whole, yes the vanity, and the counter and the lighting. The important other info as well. I'm sure you are frustrated by having to do more than slap some paint on and list the house, but there you are.

    Post more jpegs please, ie the penny tile, and get MORE of what you already selected for tile.

    Maybe you came to the right place? : )

  • 4 months ago

    I’d start with the flooring tile, there are lots of options that look nice that aren’t super expensive - do you have a local tile shop? i find them to be super helpful -


    FWIW I am kinda over all the look alike marble tiles (they are everywhere thanks to Floor & Decor) and would probably just go with a more simple look -


    if you’re on a budget with the sale of your home, what about a shower system like Onyx? Waterproofing and all that tile work is $$$

  • PRO
    4 months ago
    last modified: 4 months ago

    You may also ask......do you want to simply rip out the tub, for a compact, finished alcove tub, or ( normally would not do it ) a free standing tub. You're doing the floor? Rather a now or never.

    Can't say a good or bad idea, without seeing the whole.......

  • 4 months ago

    Current vanity and lighting

  • 4 months ago

    Sorry for the defensive attitude. I waited 3 1/2 hours at floor and decor to get help. They kept telling me they were busy. Yes- my current bathroom is outdated. I just want to make a good decision.

  • 4 months ago

    I get it - baths are super $$$ and overwhelming - I did one a few years ago and it about brought me to my knees lol -


    best thing I did was find a great tile pro and then ask where he liked to get his tiles, he gave me the name of a local tile shop - they helped me find classic tiles on a budget (I told them not to even show me anything fabulous and $$$ so I wasn’t tempted)

  • PRO
    4 months ago

    Wellllllll

    What do you have locally? A Home Depot? Loews?

    I think Daltile, and their abundant porcelain selections would be a help.

    Any dedicated tile shops in the area? Most are abundantly loaded with porcelain, very reasonably priced.

    I completely understand just to get it over urge.

    That said, you will be torn up and disrupted no matter what! Is the vanity height good or a bit low? ( under 34.5 )

    Can I ask how far apart the lav sink drains/centers/ exact inches?

    The room seems to need more lighting too,

    Wah....

    I realize a pain, and the resources, but sometimes there are ways to skin a couple cats.


  • PRO
    4 months ago

    ^^^^Minard above


    Exactly!!! why I said Daltile and the process too.

    Ps....how long and high that vanity and the sink centers are what?

  • 4 months ago

    I think we are just going to bite the bullet. Considering a free standing tub, tile to the ceiling. New counter and maybe painting vanity or replacing with something new. I appreciate everyone’s help. This is turning into a big job. Everything else just feels like putting lipstick on a pig. I will update with what we decide.

  • 4 months ago

    Jan- your suggestion is very nice. ❤️

  • 4 months ago

    I love Daltile. Affordable, well stocked in many locations, lots of neutrals that are easy to match, have trim pieces which takes out the guess work about how to finish edges.

  • PRO
    4 months ago
    last modified: 4 months ago

    LOL!

    Sometimes? That is exactly what happens....

    Keep us posted and good luck.



  • 4 months ago

    I’m gonna stick my neck out and ask if you discussed NOT redoing the bathroom with your realtor. Perhaps you can price your home with the knowledge that the next owner will tackle this and make the bathroom THEY want. It can even be a separate item on the listing (xxxx dollars returned at closing for bathroom renovation.)

  • 4 months ago

    We would have if we didn’t have to fix the shower pan. It wouldn’t have passed inspection. That is what forced us to start this whole process.

  • 4 months ago

    Daltile seems to be available everywhere - and it is typically very affordable.


    I wouldn't want you to spend $ on redoing the shower + tub + floors - and still not get some value out of it when you sell your home due to the dated vanity (I assume that your vanity is around 32" tall - new ones are around 36" with countertop)/drop in sinks.


    If you keep the shower the same size + install a new under-mount tub (with a similar type of tile surround) - maybe you could re-use your glass? I know someone who re-used their glass in order to save some money.


    How long is your vanity? I assume that it's in an alcove. There are ways to to save money on a new vanity - just need to know the exact length of the alcove.


    There are ways to replace your vanity + countertop for much less than $6,000.


    You also could keep your mirror and simply frame it out nicely. Not a thin frame - but by adding some nice moulding around + on the mirror. You actually can make the mirror look like two separate mirrors with upgraded trim on that wall for not very much money - easy to DIY - and it looks like you spent $$ having a carpenter install nice mouldings on that wall.


    I've seen quite a few bathroom vanities made out of cabinets from IKEA. Some cabinets are specifically designed to be used as a vanity - however, many people use the Sektion kitchen cabinets to make a bathroom vanity. They can be left at a 24" depth (if that works for your bathroom) OR they can be modified to be the standard 21" depth size or whatever depth you decide (there are many tutorials on how to modify the cabinets + there are installers that specifically do IKEA cabinets that know all of the little "hacks/tricks" - if you don't want to DIY them).


    The floating vanity below is one of IKEA's bathroom vanities (I think it's 19" deep):


    FYI - Godmorgon cabinets have been discontinued - however, IKEA has a new vanity cabinet that is basically the same as the Godmorgon vanities).




    The below vanity was made with Sektion kitchen cabinets + IKEA doors/drawer fronts. I believe that IKEA has added various colors/finishes to the doors/drawer fronts that they offer - however, I'm not sure if this vanity was painted this color or if the doors/drawers came pre-finished in the below color.





    The vanity below was made by adding drawer fronts from Semihandmade:







    Designer Sarah Samuel Sherman's cabinet doors/drawer fronts were used for the white storage cabinet in the below bathroom. IKEA kitchen cabinets were used to make the storage cabinets + the vanity.


    The bathroom below was designed by Emily Henderson (a designer who has a pretty large following on social media + her blog) using IKEA cabinets for the vanity:



    Below is a marble shower + real slate tile + an IKEA vanity made out of IKEA's kitchen cabinets:



    Dark charcoal slate from Brazil is very durable (and not slippery) + a coordinating quartz remnant countertop can be used (remnants are very inexpensive - many fabricators will sell remnants for a fraction of the regular cost of the quartz in order to get the leftover piece of quartz out of their "grave yard" of remnants out back).


    Below are screenshots from a YouTube video where someone did a very inexpensive update to their builder's grade bathroom. A couple before screenshots:



    The floor was sheet linoleum/vinyl (I don't know what the difference is - so, I'm not sure which the below is):



    First, she repainted the walls and trim with paint colors from SW. She used a special type of paint on the vinyl/linoleum - and painted all of it white. She then used a stencil to make the design on the floor. The floors made the bathroom look much brighter (and was easy to do).


    She removed the large builder's grade mirror - and replaced them with two separate ones (plus, she added a new light fixture over each mirror/sink). She was thinking about painting the vanity a light gray (to match the towel in the basket under the shelves she added).



    She decided to remove the shower glass in order to replace it with a shower curtain from Anthropologie.


    All of the above made the bathroom look more updated - and she barely spent any money - just a little bit of time. If you're selling your home soon, maybe you should do an update like the above vs. spending $$ on a new bathroom. You should be able to replace the cracked shower pan + remove a few rows of tiles in order to tie the waterproofing from the walls to the new solid surface shower pan (you need an experienced tile professional in order to make sure that it's done correctly). You then can replace the tiles that were removed with other 4x4 tiles (maybe white ones to match the new shower pan?) around the bottom of the shower walls.

  • 4 months ago

    The shower and tub matter. Do a good job with the most reasonably priced materials. Spend little on the vanity, lighting, and mirrors, where it doesn't matter as much.


    I threw in a super cheap Glacier Bay vanity from Home Depot the week before I put my house on the market. Installed very on trend faucets. The vanity is crap but looks good for a home showing. And it allowed the next owner to replace it with what THEY wanted without feeling too badly getting rid of a new vanity. I recommend the same.


    It can be a PITA to get off the mirror adhesive from a wall. I'd keep what you have. Get affordable, more current lighting.






  • 4 months ago

    Thank you for your help. Lots of great ideas. I will post pictures when we have the work we need to do finished.

  • 4 months ago
    last modified: 4 months ago

    If you can change the pan/tiles and ensure the entire shower is waterproof, I’d head in that direction. The rest need only be cosmetic and that should have a big enough impact to attract buyers. If you gut and spend a ton of money doing, you may never see a return (less to put towards your new home).

    Consider just painting cupboards/adding hardware, framing mirror/new lighting, change the flooring and paint walls to suit and tub surround (special paint). https://peonyst.com/rustoleum-tub-and-tile-epoxy-paint-review/

    If interested, look at bathrooms on line that have had cosmetic changes to see what you think and if heading that way…getting ideas.


  • 4 months ago

    Is the shower still usable?


    This doesn't sound like a necessarily *good* idea, but wouldn't it be nice if you could just list the house with a $15k credit (or whatever dollar amount) for the next person to redo the bathroom? I guess it would limit the pool and raise eyebrows as to the condition of your house. Depending on the market where you live, plenty of people could just end up ripping out your newly done bathroom anyway.


    It is true that you will absolutely not get the return on investment for the money you will spend on the redo. Everyone expects a functional bathroom and you can't list this for more than what other homes are worth in your area just because you have replaced old and broke with new.

  • 4 months ago

    We ended up taking out the shower and bath. When we took out the shower pan, there was a leak that we didn't even know about. We are going to replace the shower with tile, and we got a great deal on a free-standing tub. Circumstances have made the decision for us. Love many of the ideas, and our real estate agent and contractor have been very helpful. Thank you everyone, for the help.

  • 4 months ago

    yay - good to hear, hope the project goes well✨

  • 4 months ago

    Helpful contractor and real estate agent? Lucky you. Glad things are moving along well.

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