thanks jjaazzy! i too finally got to speak with john yesterday. my uneasiness about ordering from a source on another continent was put to rest. he is sending me three samples of the hammershell tile. i wanted to see the square and the rectangle patterns so he is making them up for me. the backing is porcelain and i knew about the coating from the website. so, for the hammershell tile the price is $28 US per square and he told me the shipping for 80 sq (my guesstimate) would be $300 US via UPS. i was planning to use it on the floor as a trim/border for marble or porcelain under the tub so it wouldn't be in a high traffic area. i had my suspicions about it's softness. i think by the tub would be safe though, just as long as we don't bring it out too far. i guess i'll make my decisions about that as we get a little closer. that's very strange about the shimmer under the halogens. i wonder if it would make a difference if viewed from another light source? i'll have to see it when it comes in. we don't have any lighting yet (they've just gotten to our roof) so i think i'll take it to a lighting showroom. THANK YOU for the heads up! in the meantime, let me know how you do with shelltile.net. i'll have to look them up as i haven't come across them before. i'll let you know when my samples come in. ...oh, and which of the tile are you looking to buy? thanks again!

I'm thinking of adding it in my master bath, but have been hearing & reading conflicting reports of use near steam or water. For example: Collection: Mother of Pearl Tile Material: Seashell Color: Pearl Shape: Square Surface Finish: Glossy,easy for cleaning Size: 12"x12"(305mm x 305mm) Chip Size: 20mmx20mm Thickness: 8mm Detailed Description: Each sheet of this tile is approximately 1 sq ft per sheet and is mesh mounted on high quality fiber glass for easy installation of your mosaic tile projects. Application: Mother of Pearl mosaic tiles are impervious to the elements, thus it is great for both interior and exterior use so moisture is not an issue. Mother of Pearl mosaic tiles are great on floors and walls and have been most popular in bathrooms, spas, kitchen backsplash, wall facades and pools as well as a variety of other applications. Characteristics: The mother of pearl mosaic tile has a zero water absorption rate, and this tile exceeds ANSI standards for water absorption for mosaic tile. It is strong, durable, contamination free, and only the best quality tiles are selected as our tiles are inspected for blemishes before shipment. Manufacturer Brand Name: Home Elements Manufacturer: Home Elements,Inc. From Suite 101 a decorating site: (excerpt) Design Suggestions for Mother of Pearl Tiles Mother of pearl tiles should not be used in a wet area, or in an area which gets a great deal of moisture or steam, as this can cause the glue to loosen between the shell and the backing, causing the shell to peel away. Therefore, these accent tiles should only be used in dry, wall applications. Also a tile store did not recommend it for wet applications, but I've looked at many design photos where it was even used on the shower floor & seat in the shower. Any input would be appreciated.

What's a little humorous about the DalTile stuff is that it's natural sea shell, and the brochure even says, "Even when dry, it has a liquid sparkle. And when wet, itÂs simply at home", but then elsewhere it says it's not suitable for wet areas or areas frequently exposed to water! :-) It says it needs sealing, then can be cleaned with "a soft cloth and neutral cleaner." Like the glass selection, it is gorgeous and would be unique. By any chance do you have a deep counter where your cooktop is, or a range that has a riser that will protect the backsplash a bit? Our rangetop is out from the wall a bit, because of having deeper counters to each side and pulling it out to match, and it really does a lot to keep most of the mess from landing on our slate backsplash...So the fact that it's not so easy to wipe down isn't as a big a deal.

i purchased troca shell tile from a supplier in the philippines. while i'm very happy with it, it was a nightmare getting it through customs. i had to get a license from fish & wildlife and if that's not bad enough, the warehouse delays once in the US cost me an add'l $1600. still, it was less expensive than ordering through a tile store here, where i'm told i could expect to pay over $400 a sf. i paid $29 sf. the supplier also has MOP. this is my shower enclosure. i also have two panels flanking the master bath doors, with sconces and for my vanity backsplash but no pics of those -sorry.