Help me choose tile pattern!

15 years ago

Thanks to everyone for helping me pick out my bathroom tile - Ilva Pietre Travertine Bianco! Now I'd appreciate your help in picking a pattern for the tile.

I'm using 14"x14" tile on both the floor and walls. The floor will be set on the diagonal. The walls will be full-height in the shower-over-tub, and half-height in the rest of the bathroom. There will be a 3-1/2" border of mixed light/noce travertine random brick; in the bath/shower, there will actually be two borders - one matching the rest of the bathroom, and the other two field tiles higher.

It was my intention to stagger the field tiles throughout, but the tile guy suggested using a straight grid above the first border in the tub. He thinks continuing to stagger it will be too busy. I mocked up the variations in my word processor, including what it would look like doing a straight grid pattern without staggering any of it - this is what they would look like over the tub.

Staggered:

Mixed staggered and grid:

Grid:

Please vote for your favorite!

Thanks!

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Comments (11)

kchaconas
15 years ago
Hi Charlikin -

I tend to get motion sickness, so I have to vote for the last one! You missed a combination though: Grid top & bottom, staggered in the middle, which might be interesting.

Good luck!
Kathy
charlikin
Original Author
15 years ago
Ha! No, motion sickness is not quite the effect I'm going for!

The thing I forgot to mention about the tile is that it's pretty low-key - just a soft cream color with a bit of gentle veining in it. I was hoping to make it a little more interesting (and maybe bring out a little bit of shading) by staggering it.

That said, the straight grid pattern is starting to grow on me... I wonder if I should keep the field tile very simple and let the interest come from the random brick mosaic?
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sandra_zone6
15 years ago
How about trying two more mock ups and posting them. I'd like to see brick, grid, brick and then grid, diagonal, grid before voting. :)
charlikin
Original Author
15 years ago
Diagonal???

Sadly, the word processor I'm using to mock these things up doesn't rotate 45-degree angles. (I'm photoshop-challenged.)

But here's the other one:

Brick/Grid/Brick:
sandra_zone6
15 years ago
I skipped over the 14" tile in your first post. With the tile that large on the walls, I think I'd stick to the straight grid pattern.
charlikin
Original Author
15 years ago
Thanks, Sandra & everyone! Your comments, as well as taking a fresh look at the mock-ups, were helpful. I also looked at some photos of bathrooms on ratemyspace, and noticed that the bathrooms I liked had straight grid patterns, while the ones I didn't like were staggered. Amazing.

So I've decided to go with a straight grid pattern. :-)
mahatmacat1
15 years ago
I was just going to say I liked the straight grid pattern the most. The staggered is more, IMO, when you don't have an accent and you're making interest with the pattern of field tiles rather than anything else.
charlikin
Original Author
15 years ago
Let the tiling begin!!!

{{gwi:1492708}}

I knew he was doing the floor today, but to my surprise, he tiled the sink/toilet wall too! Now I finally get to see what my border looks like with my tile. :-)

The main tile is porcelain, but the border is a mixed travertine - have to decide if I want to enhance it. As soon as I can get in there with a wet sponge, I'll figure it out... hope there's enough time to post photos here before I have to make a decision so you all can help me!!!

I'm not crazy about the way he tiled the border on the outside corner. He said the border tiles were too fragile to mitre, but I would have butted them together the other way, even though it wouldn't have matched the way the tile and bullnose below are butted (see photo below). I think it would have gone better with the mitered bullnose on top.

You know, looking at it, I think I would have preferred he mitred the entire corner... Sigh.

{{gwi:1492709}}
bluekitobsessed
15 years ago
Straight grid, if it's not too late to vote. Looks great so far, btw.
charlikin
Original Author
15 years ago
Oh, way too late to vote! LOL! (But thanks for confirming what I actually went ahead and did!!!)
susanlynn2012
15 years ago
I also vote for the straight grid so I am glad you are using that. I love your tiles and color and style you chose. Any pics of more of your floor and what Porcelain you used there? I love the neutral colors. Your bathroom is going to look so beautiful. I can't wait to see the finished room!

Help me choose tile pattern!

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