Can't really say how it will turn out quite yet, but we are installing 18" square rustic ivory travertine floor this week. We selected 3 x 6 biscuit subway tile tub surround (contractor talked us out of 4 x 8 size); 12" brushed light brown emperador marble squares in shower and 5/8" mosaic dark brown marble on shower floor and the tub deck.

I would use the same travertine tile on the floor and in the shower. even in the same large size (to minimize grout).

The maintenance of travertine is easy. If you get a honed finish you will not have to worry about etching. Just seal it once a year. it holds up very well. we have friends who have travertine in all their showers. looks new after 6 years.
Make sure you buy high quality travertine which means -
- less fills
- very few large fills
- very few through holes
In fact the travertine we have in our house does not even take a sealer. i wipe it on and wipe off almost all of it...

Wow, it all sounds lovely and boy do I remember agonizing of our tile decisions. Whatever you do, you'll love it when it's done.

The only problem or complaint I have with my tumbled travertine floors is the soap scum. Since it's a flat surface it's inevitable, I think. I've posted a couple times here and can't seem to get an answer how to clean the scum off the tiles and grout. Strictly from a cleaning standpoint, I regret not picking a ceramic tile for my shower floor because you can't use anything harsh to clean it up.

Just my 2 cents... good luck whatever you choose.

thanks for the input. Does anyone have any pictures of where they or someone else has done a travertine floor with ceramic/porcelain for the wall/shower/tub?

We plan on installing travertine floors (silver thanks to blondelle) and rectified porcelain in the shower and steam shower. We are using " modern travertine white" rectified porcelain. I have lived with a travertine shower for 4 years and it is impossible to get the soap scum off. It also has water stains from our hard water.

tanem - that's what I was afraid of. Are you trying to match the silver travertine to the porcelain (i.e. duplicate) or contrast or harmonize colors? Who makes the porcelain tile? I googled it but only found a distributor of tile with something called Modern Travertine in white and did not know if it was what you were getting.

That is the exactly the one I'm getting. It is not bright white, but a creamy white. I'm trying to harmonize colors, not match. I love travertine and feel comfortable putting it in the master bathroom, but also realize it's downfalls, so to me the combo it the solution. There are beautiful porcelains out there. We are building a very modern house and I plan on putting rectified porcelain in the kids bathrooms also. If you have children (boys in particular) travertine is porous and you will get stuck with a constant urine smell. This is my experience.

You are on the exact wavelength as me! Our house is more traditional and I was thinking of white/off white subway. The only problem with this is the many grout lines in the shower. I do have boys but their bathroom is done and I used porcelain for the floor so I only have to worry about my husband.