First off, I've yet to see ANY tile bathroom-- ceramic, porcelain, or stone-- that's looked like it was skimped on. Secondly, this is something done all the time, so to answer your question, it would not look out of the ordinary.

I would suggest putting natural stone where there is not much water contact and leaving ceramics/ porcelain for the areas where scrubbing might be needed. Natural stone requires maintenance, ceramics/ porcelain can take a lot more abuse and still look very good.

We have porcelain, stone, and plastic in our bathrooms. The modern tiles and plastic are hard to tell apart without touching.

Hi,

I'd suggest you look at Mrslimestone's vintage glam bathroom photos. She used a marble mosiac tile on the floor and ceramic subway tile on the walls. It looks amazing!

Best of luck!

Here's a mix similar to what you're asking about: large ceramic tiles on the bathroom floor and shower walls, 1x1 ceramic on the shower floor, and 1x1 quartzite in a strip on the shower wall. To be honest, I would have been happier with travertine rather than the 12x12 ceramic tiles, but for various reasons we decided on ceramic instead. The entire effect looks fine as it is.

fullpass: the glam bathroom sounds beautiful. I love the mixture of subway tiles and marble. It's the porcelain stone w/natural stone I had a question about. I wondered if the the natural stone would make the porcelain "stone" look unnatural.

annkathryn: Thank you for the pic! That's what I wanted to see, the mix of porcelain "stone" and natural stone. It looks good!

everyone: thanks for your input. I appreciate it!

It depends on WHICH porcelain "stone" you pick. The cheaper the tile, the more likely you are to get the effect you're afraid of. Some of the pricier porcelains might make the REAL stone look fake!

I just posted this on another thread. We used porcelain tile (crema marfil)on the wall and noce travertine mixed with Philadelphia Cream travertine on the floor. We love how its turning out so far!

Here is a link that might be useful:

I mixed a stone look porcelain, travertine and glass.
Link below to our bathroom photos.
Monica

Here is a link that might be useful: Master Bath Renovation