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Please help me choose tile and counter for modern bath

11 years ago

My designer and I had a plan for the master bath. The vanity in 76" long and has a 12" high x 4" deep ledge behind/above the counter, similar to these:

Contemporary Bathroom design by San Francisco Architect square three design studios

Modern Bathroom design by Seattle Architect Bosworth Hoedemaker

The vanity is walnut with slab drawers. The floor is to be Cotto d'Esta 16"x24" tiles in Via Tornabuoni (medium gray). The shower is a 3-wall alcove with a 58" wide back wall and 40" wide side walls. The side walls are to be done in super large format "tiles" of Kerlite in the same Via Tornabuoni color. The Kerlite comes in large enough sheets that there will be no seams on the side walls. The back wall of the shower is FAP Velvet 22"x11" Blue tiles run vertically. (The lines on the tiles give an effect of water running down when placed vertically.) The Velvet mosaic with blue, light blue and white square tiles would be used on the shower floor and the vanity ledge. The vanity counter is supposed to be white quartz. (DH hates engineered stone, but the tile patterns are too busy to pair with natural stone, and there won't be a huge expanse of counter once the 2 sinks are cut out.)

My fabricator has a remnant of white quartz that will work for the counter (Eco Polar Cap). He also has a remnant of Azul Macaubas, which I love but could never afford if it were not a remnant. I think the Via Tornabuoni will still work for the floor tile and shower walls, but the blue Velvet tiles will not work with that counter. If I use the Azul Macaubas for the counter, I will also use it for the ledge so that more of that beautiful material is visible. In the shower, I could use large sheets of the Via Tornabuoni Kerlite in 3 horizontal stripes on all three walls, with 2 narrow bands of blue mosaic between the wide gray stripes and the same blue mosaic on the floor.

I am really torn. I love the Blue Velvet tiles; they are a dark aqua with a soft, watery quality. I am not crazy about white quartz counters, though (at least not what I can find as remnants). I also love Azul Macaubas, but I would have to find a coordinating mosaic tile to use in the shower, and this color scheme would have a lot more gray in the bath than the original plan. I hope to be in this house for many years, but there are some family issues that might dictate a move, so re-sale appeal is a secondary issue. Which of the 2 color schemes would you choose? (See pics below.)

Option 1:

FAP Velvet field tiles (to be used vertically on back wall of shower) and mosaic:

Mosaic for ledge and shower floor:

Eco Polar Cap for counter, with Via Tornabuoni for bathroom floor and shower side walls:

Eco Polar Cap with Velvet field tile sample:

Eco Polar Cap with Velvet mosaic sample:

Option 2:

Azul Macaubas for counter and ledge:

Azul Mac shown with Via Tornabuoni:

A pattern similar to this on the shower walls, but in Via Tornabuoni with a blue mosaic:

Blue mosaic might be something like this:

Contemporary Bathroom design by Other Metro Tile Stone And Countertop MIDS TILE

Or this:

Here is a link that might be useful: Via Tornabuoni

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Comments (9)

writersblock (9b/10a)
11 years ago
last modified: 9 years ago
If I were using azul macaubas, I'd go with very plain field tile and no frills. Let it be the showpiece. The more you add the less point in spending for something amazing like that.
kaysd
Original Author
11 years ago
last modified: 9 years ago
I see your point, writersblock. My shower and toilet are in a separate room from the vanity, although there is visibility between the 2 areas when the pocket door is open. The vanity area would have the counter and ledge in Azul Macaubas and the plain gray field tile on the floor. I wanted to bring a little bit of blue accent into the shower so that that room is not just solid gray floor and walls. I need a small tile for the shower floor, and the Via Tornabuoni does not come in small sizes.

I was thinking of doing the shower floor like this, with Via Tornabuoni field tiles making up the outside border and mosaic in the middle.

[
[(https://www.houzz.com/photos/from-mid-century-to-contemporary-master-bathroom-midcentury-bathroom-seattle-phvw-vp~540585)

[Contemporary Bathroom design[(https://www.houzz.com/photos/contemporary-bathroom-ideas-phbr1-bp~t_712~s_2103) by Seattle Interior Designer ID by Gwen
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sochi
11 years ago
last modified: 9 years ago
I was a little confused reading through the post (not your fault, it just takes a second to process all the names and options!), so forgive me I may be off in my response.

I love the Azul Macaubus, it is stunning, but I don't *think* I would use it in the bathroom you're describing. I really like what you've pulled together in option 1, but I'm not crazy about the Azul mac with the Via Tornabuoni.

The two options will give very different vibes to your bathroom too. I prefer the slightly more subdued vibe of option 1, but that doesn't mean you couldn't pull together something spectacular with the Azul. But I think you'll have to keep looking for coordinating tiles, floor, etc.
writersblock (9b/10a)
11 years ago
last modified: 9 years ago
Yes, I thought I mentioned in my post that I liked option 1, but that part seems to have gone missing.
dekeoboe
11 years ago
last modified: 9 years ago
I was thinking of doing the shower floor like this, with Via Tornabuoni field tiles making up the outside border and mosaic in the middle.

What size field tiles were you planning on using? Smaller tiles are used on shower floors for a reason. And how are you planning on handling the shower curb?
kaysd
Original Author
11 years ago
last modified: 9 years ago
Dekeoboe, there is a roughly 4" h x 4" w curb that will be covered with the Via Tornabuoni. The Via Tornabuoni comes in large tiles that can be cut down to whatever size is necessary to create a border for the shower floor if we go that route.
kaysd
Original Author
11 years ago
last modified: 9 years ago
Sochi, what is it about the combination of the Azul Macaubas and the Via Tornabuoni that seems "off" to you? Is it the colors or something else? What kind of floor tiles do you think would work with the Azul Mac?

It's funny that the people on the Baths forum prefer option 1 and the Kitchen forum prefers option 2. DH prefers the Azul Mac, but he wants the project done now. Between my job and 2 kids, I don't have time to shop for new tile to coordinate with the Azul Mac. DH offered to go pick tiles, but he will just pick something from the first store to be done with it quickly.
sochi
11 years ago
last modified: 9 years ago
It was the colours that seemed off, but that could just be my screen, who knows. Funny about the disagreement between the two forums - it may just mean that both options are just fine! I can empathize re: time contraints, kids and renovations! Good luck, it will be fab with either choice I"m sure.
crl_
11 years ago
last modified: 9 years ago
I think both options are good. I was looking through the first thinking nice, very nice, well thought out, that would look very restful and lovely.

Then I got to that Azul Mac and thought WOW. Gorgeous stone.

So I think you should pick whether you want a lovely restful space or WOW.

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