I have been reading this bath forum for a few weeks, getting ready to start our remodel. I have found some great advice, tips and inspiration. Thanks! I saw a post about different patterns using 16 x 16 floor tiles, but I cannot find the post now. We are thinking of using the 18 x 18 Stainmaster Luxury Vinyl tiles with grout. I would like to know if anyone has used these, and any suggestions on the pattern layout. Bath is 10" long and 5-6' wide looking from the door. They also make a 12 x 12 that I may add in as well. If anyone can send me the link of the post I am referring to I would appreciate that. Also any advice on doing a search on this forum. I have a very difficult time with a successful search for a specific topic. Thanks for all of the after pictures!

I am doing 12x12's on the floor in a diagonal pattern, then doing 12x12's on the wall of the tub deck (about 34" high) and on the 4" wall next to the toilet nook (back of the shower wall). The wall tiles are stacked in a basic pattern but the floor pattern breaks this up. I'm also changing the grout on the floor and wall to give some variety. The shower is broken up with a frame, but it has 6" tiles on a diagonal on the floor and ceiling (same as the floor tiles but cut down to size) and the walls are 24x24 tiles. The walls are porcelain and the floors and deck face are travertine. The tub deck is also 24x24 (undermount) and it's in the porcelain. The baseboard is the travertine with a polished edge set square like the tub deck and wall). In my family bathroom I changed out the floor to a basic 12x12 pattern set square and then trimed it out in black granite (antiqued) in a 4" base board trim, with the tub and shower surround in 6x6 hexigon pattern. I know it's more expensive to change patterns, but it does break up the look a bit as does trim (like you are planning). It's really all a matter of preference. And luck...if you can find an installer :oP

I think the first question is: do your tiles look dated? Be honest. Unfortunately tile looks don't seem to stand the test of time. We had the 12x12 tile in our kitchen demo-ed. I would say that it is VERY awful...we were moved out while that was going on. The demo-ing only took a couple of days though. In our case the tiles were extremely bonded to a concrete subfloor so I would guess it was worse than usual. OTOH, floors are too often neglected in kitchen renos. It's sad when people spend crazy money on cabinets and appliances yet leave dated floors in place. It's not good when you can *tell* that they left the old floors in place. My flooring budget (replacing the kitchen tile with hardwood and refinishing the hardwood in dining/living/hall areas) ended up being 25% of our kitchen reno budget! It was a huge hassle as we had to move everything out and we are a family of four. We had to find alternative accommodations for a week because the flooring area included our home entrance. But I would say it was a critical element to the kitchen reno and I have no regrets now that I'm on the other side. I don't imagine that grout refreshing will be simple or cheap either. $3000 sounds like a great price to me if it includes demoing the old grout. I would add to that budget the cost of moving items and staying out of the house during the demo part. I do love a white kitchen. Personally I would not choose a white floor to go with that - I agree with comments that a mid-tone would "ground" things better. I think earth coloured ceramic would look great if they were VERY good quality - some are quite vulnerable to chipping. I also love this look: If you're considering resale, do consider alternatives to tile if you do not live in a warm climate.

(I don't know if "layment" is a word. I'm talking about diagonal or straight.) Please answer any parts you can. I hate decorating decisions, especially things that are permanent and expensive. (Bids are $5K labor only. This is Hawaii; no comparison with mainland costs.) Also, this is a condo we occupy part of the winter and rent out other times of the year; must be *practical*, and money IS an object. All of our condo flooring is what I call "Maui Red Dirt", a rough finish, mottled, 13 X 13 ceramic, laid on the diagonal with dark grey grout. This tile is no longer available. Why the baths weren't done is beyond me. They are 4" gloss tiles, floors and shower. (Incredible waste of labor!) I need to re-do two small bathroom floors. Each floor is roughly 3 X 6. I need to re-do a very small (not even 34 X 34) shower. Toilets, sinks and tub are 'beige'. Vanity tops are lighter beige, mottled cultured marble (good condition). Cabinetry is a light pseudo-bamboo (good condition). General Rules, please? Stay dark going into the bathroom floors, but go lighter in the shower? (Dark could feel like showering in a cave. Possibly boost the lighting?) Lay tile on the diagonal -- floor AND shower walls? Use larger tiles -- floors AND shower walls? I'm looking at American Olean Costa Rei in Oro Meile and Peitra Bianca. These are 'shaded' -- darker portions 'bleeding out' to lighter overall. Floor tile comes 12 X 12 and 18 X 18. Wall tile comes 3 X 6, 6 X 6 and 14 X 14. Thank you!