This is such a great thread!! I really like the idea of vertical subways and then accent glass tiles running vertically in the shower to simulate the waterfall (I saw metalic ones this way in a video on the HGTV site). I have a small city bathroom so not much room to play with. My mind in dancing around this idea but if I did that then the only 'wow' would be that one vertical stripe within the shower. (All four walls will be tiled since the moisture situation makes this the only real choice so that leaves painting the walls outside the shower not an option.) If I go the traditional horizontal subway tile route with an accent strip all around the whole bathroom then the 'wow' is everywhere but the overall looks isn't as modern as I'd like. I really like the modernness of the vertical layout but how can I incorporate the glass tiles elsewhere besides the one vertical stripe in the shower? Anyone have any creative ideas?

kgwlisa, thank you! The picture helps immensely. Do you have a program that does that for you? Is it something that can be downloaded? Anyway, I was just looking at a bunch of old threads for ideas and I realized after looking at several that have two choices: either stop the accent strip and chair rail at the right edge of the window and the right edge of the sink, or continue the wainscot height strip AND chair rail all the way around the room. Originally, I had planned to continue just the mosaic tile (no chair rail) into the shower, but because the chair rail is going to line up with the windowsill, I think it will look really dumb if I continue the colored tile but not the chair rail in the shower area. Duh. So, I need to order a bunch more chair rail or figure out a different plan for the shower area. I love the idea of doing a picture frame type thing on the big wall, though - that would be a good solution AND I wouldn't have to order any more chair rail! I agree with you about the 2" border under the chair rail rather than the 3" - actually, I would even consider doing 4", but I think you're right that 3" will just look like I replaced a row of subways. I am definitely interested in using a single row above the cove base to accent it. I had also considered running a single row at the same height as the bathtub edge, and continuing that all the way around the room, but I wasn't sure how it would look to have a row of tile running under all of my faucets and handles. Anyway, THANK YOU for your suggestions and please let me know how you make your tile drawings - I need that tool!!!!

I struggled with the decision to put white ceramic subways with stone(ish) or glass accents for many months and just couldn't decide. I love them both. In the end I decided to use stone on the floor and for accents and use glass on the walls. Somewhere along the line I completely forgot about the subways.

Thanks, boxerpups! You seem to be the photo queen around here and find awesome inspiration pics for everyone! Kudos to you! I was thinking of white subway tiles with a row or two of glass tiles of a different size, either 1x1, 2x2, or the long skinny (pencil?) tiles. Some of those pics got pretty close.