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Looking to create a spa bathroom- need tile advice

15 years ago

Our bathroom is 7'x 5' and our plumber advised that we tile all four walls and flooring. The reason is because our venting system is horrible. We live in a three story condo built 20 years ago and nobody on the condo board wants to tackel fixing the problem. The vents run but they are not properly venting to the outside so moisture and mildew builds up quickly. It is probably illegal but like I said the board doesn't want to tackel the issue and I like my neighboors so my plumber said to avoid black mildew building up behind the walls I should tile all four walls when we renovate. I am looking to create a very zen/spa feeling bathroom with clean lines and neutral colors. We want to enjoy it and make it desirable for resale in the future. I would love some suggesions about design and products specifically tile designs for all four walls in a small space. I'm thinking about putting a half mirror on one wall to create an illusion of space. I really appreciate your advice. Thanks!

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Comments (10)

bill_vincent
15 years ago
You might want to look into rectified porcelain. It's made to look like natural stone, even polished. Here's one example:
jenny61
Original Author
15 years ago
I love the color of the tile. I was originally considering using porcelain tile that looked like travertine. However, someone in the tile store told me that was not a good choice for the floor if you have kids, since it is like glass and slippery when wet. However, on the walls I think it would work. I just don't want to have the feeling of being closed in with four walls of tile but I need to explore my options. Thanks for the pic
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Holligator -- I am so glad to do you any kind of favor. Your kitchen with that beautiful soapstone was one of my first inspirations for using soapstone in my kitchen -- which we love above all things (if you look at the bathroom pics below you may be able to see the soapstone I snuck in there as well). And it's funny what you said about your husband liking black. Mine does too, as long as it's not shiny (which made soapstone perfect for us). So what goes around comes around on GW! I love that. Anyway, the floor definitely doesn't show dirt (even with a muddy-footed dog running around!). That's a bit hard to see in the pics (where the flash shows up every piece of lint) but in real life they just look good. We're very pleased (we had a great tile guy who was meticulous in laying and spacing the tiles, which were on a very loose mesh backing). It took some looking to find larger format hex tile. The tile we ended up with is American Universal in a matte black, 1.5-inch size. I really like the matte look (the penny tiles on Door 16 are matte black, from Nemo Tile in NY, with black grout) and I'm glad we went with the slightly larger tiles (the other choice was one-inch tiles, which were easily found at Daltile). The American Universal tiles were shipped from California (although the box says made in Japan) and had a lead time of a week or so; my impression is that they are fairly widely available (we got them from a local tile store). These photos aren't great (and the trim on the new pocket door is still not painted!) but maybe they'll give you an idea. The first is probably the best representation of the way the floor actually looks. From August 12, 2011 I think the flash in this one is making the grout look lighter than it reads in real life and the tile shinier. From August 12, 2011 Good luck with your powder room. I look forward to seeing the finished pictures!
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This is one attempt. I am not familiar with the regulations nor the dimensions of europeean appliances/bath fixtures etc. This might not work, I don't know. Maybe the distance between the toilet and the bidet is too far. I placed them that way so you don't see them when you enter the bathroom but it may not be practical. Also I wonder if the shelves you have in your kitchen are inside the pillar. In the floor plan below, I completely remove the shelves: If you don't need the powder room:
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Thank you... https://www.lowes.ca/product/bathroom-vanities-with-tops/cutler-silhouette-48-in-single-sink-white-chocolate-bathroom-vanity-with-cultured-marble-top-304181
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bill_vincent
15 years ago
Nothing says you have to use the same tile on the floor and walls. :-)
monicakm_gw
15 years ago
My floor tile and wall tile are porcelain. A matte texture, not shiny. A honed travertine look. 20" on the floor and 13" on the wall. The border consists of real tumbled travetrine and glass tile. BTW, I have real honed travertine in my entry and it's more slippery than the porcelain in my bathroom. You can use the link below for more pictures.
Monica

Here is a link that might be useful: InSPArational Master Bath
suero
15 years ago
You can get rectified porcelain tiles that are not slippery. Look for tiles with a coefficient of friction >.6.
I have them in my master bath and they are not slippery when wet.
iamnodiy
15 years ago
Wow and I thought that we were the only one who had a 5x7 bathroom. When we remodled it was also suggested that we tile all 4 walls floor to ceiling. It was not for mold but for easy clean up. In a small bathroom painted walls are prone to hair spray build up,and water drips from spashing and steam and wall paper just peels off with the steam. We also had the same feelings of being closed in with four walls of tile. So what we decided on was to break up the wall with 2 colors to form a wainscot effect.
november
15 years ago
wow, iamnodiy - I LOVE your wainscot tile look! We just finished our 5x7 master bath and used vinyl (wood-looking) white wainscoting, but if I'd seen yours, I might have done that. It's absolutely gorgeous.
oruboris
15 years ago
OT, but in the circumstances you describe, I'd suggest to the condo board that their crappy venting was presenting a health risk, and opening them to massive liability. If they fix the vents NOW, they may avoid having to gut the entire building to address mold issues.

If that didn't have the desired effect, I'd design a room that could accomodate an electric de-humidifier. It will be tough in a room that small, but completely worth it.

Until you have healthy air, the design of the bath is a bandaid on a tumor.
MariposaTraicionera
15 years ago
Iamnodiy, I also love what you did.
iamnodiy
15 years ago
Mari and November thanks for the compliment. Using the clear shower doors and running the tile all around the room really helped to open up such a small space.

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