Can you post a picture of the subway tile with the floor and strip tile?

dekeoboe,
Here is a photo of subways. Floor tile is in my above post as is the marble border.
The subways are white even though the photo does not look like it.

{{!gwi}}

I believe that tile installers normally build up the thickness under the thinner tile so that all tile is the same height or depth.

Very classic look ... I love it!

Yes, your tile setter can help build up under the thinner tile so that the tile will lay even. Alternatively, you can introduce a 3rd tile, such as a bullnose that would be installed above and below the marble tile. That would be a nice look!

Andrea,
Since the installer is my husband who is not that experienced in tiling we would rather not have to build up the thinner tile so can you explain to me what you mean by the bullnose that would be above and below .
A photo would be good because I am not very experienced in these terminologies. If you have the time, I would appreciate it.

Thanks

I love the marble strip tile, but I am not sure I see it right next to the subways in a smaller, busier version of the offset rectangles. I think what she may need is exactly what andreadeg suggested - some type of plain, continuous line of trim tile as a buffer on both sides. A simple bullnose in a deeper shade of the grey in the tile would be pretty.

Here is something similar to the idea I'm referring to. Sarah installed ceramic tile, then bullnose, then marble mosaic, and, then topped the tile design with the bullnose again. I'd consider doing the bullnose in the carrera which should be readily available: http://www.buildersdepotdirect.com/Pencil-Bullnose-12-Honed-Carrera-Marble/M/B001E47FUY.htm

Home Depot may carry the carrera in the bullnose too. I'd try buying 4 or 6 pieces of the bullnose and lay out all your materials together to see if you like the look.

Here is a link that might be useful: Sarah richardson Bathroom

Andrea:Thank you for that information. It was very helpful for me to see the photos of what you mean.
I think the marble carrera bullnose will be out of our budget but could I do the same thing using subway tile bullnose.
My concern is if I put subway up wall,then a bullnose piece,then my border then another bullnose. What size bullnose do you recommend. It is the thickness that concerns me. Are bullnoses ever thicker than subway so that it would fit in with my little thicker border.
Les917: Thanks for your reply also, are you thinking a porcelain bullnose and if so what thickness are you thinking. I am probably not making myself clear because I am not good at picturing things but so many stores are closed here for Easter that I cannot check them out today snd when I see them online, I have trouble visualizing the thicknesses.

How about a piece of thin molding above and below the marble strip? Or is this what you mean by "bullnose"? The molding could be either solid white or gray ceramic, or it could be marble.

Here is a link that might be useful: Tile Moldings

We used 3 layers of 1 x 2 inch marble strip with subway tiles in our girls bathroom with subway tile. We framed it out with a 1/2" x 6" strip cut from the subway tile with a white chair rail tile that matched the subway tile. The marble accent pieces were thicker than the subway tile, but I liked that it stood out from the subway tile. I will try to figure out how to post a photo.

caralann,
I would really appreciate if you could post a photo. If you cannot maybe you would not mind emailing me one here:
jnlevesque@yahoo.ca
That would be great.

see if this works

Here is a link that might be useful:

First, as someone already said, the installer could butter the edges of the subway tile directly adjacent to the carrara strips, and bring the subway tile out flush. There's also another possibility, as well. Use the bullnose above the carrara strips, but also use a pencil rail above and below the carrara, which would hide the thickness discrepancy, as well as give it an even more decorative look.

Caralann,
Thanks for the photo. The bathroom is very nicely done.
Would you mind measuring your marble border for me. I think you are saying it is 3 inches wide. Also a few other questions, just to make sure I have it right.
The bottom is your subway then you seem to have a pencil border is that flat or rounded , then the marble border, then is their another border before finishing off with the chair rail.
Sorry for so many questions, but I cannot see the detail so well.

Thanks for the compliment on our bathroom!
The marble border is a little over 3" wide since each marble tile is 1" wide plus grout lines - it is hard to see since we used a light grey grout. The pencil border above and below the marble tile is just a piece of subway tile cut to 1/2" wide - you can buy this piece, but my husband cut it with the saw since it was less expensive that way. Let me know if you have any more questions - I can take more photos if you want.

Here is a link that might be useful:

caralann,
Thank you again. That is easier to see and it is done so well. Now I feel much better about my decisions.
Bill: Thank you also for your words of encouragement, making it sound easy. LOL. I guess for you experts it is all easy, I wish you lived closer.

I just saw a carrera bullnose at Home Depot this weekend. . .

justnotmartha:
That must have been Home Depot in US because I checked Canada's today and no carrera bullnose.
But thanks anyways for thinking of me.

Thanks everyone. Here is what I think we will be doing but feel free to crtique if you have any ideas.
Subway half way up wall, then marble trim bullnose 1 inch by 12 or maybe 1/2 inch by 12 if I can find it, then 6 strips of marble border = 3 inches, then another of the same bullnose as before.
Or should we just use one line of bullnose instead of two.
What are your thoughts?

{{!gwi}} {{!gwi}}

Personally I would rather see the bullnose in a dark grey stone or marble, for some interest and to let the bullnose be a transition between the subway tile and the marble. But what is important is that she likes the look of the combination. I am sure you laid it out on a counter and worked out the plan.

les917,

I would love a more grayish tone bullnose. The piece I am looking at is marble but they seem to all have a whitish tone to them. Do you know any names of gray toned trims.

Is there a tile store in your area? They should have a wider selection of trims than a place like Home Depot. Instead of marble, what about some other stone, or a ceramic or porcelain?

Les,
Thanks again for your ideas. I am going back out today. I am not only checking Home Depot. I have been to almost every tile store within a 25 mile radius.There is a big one about 30 miles from here and I am going to check that one out today.
Who knew one small bathroom would take so much time trying to find products.

Do they call that a bullnose? I know it as a pencil liner. If you are using it so the difference in the tile thickness will look like part of the pattern, you need the one between the subway tile and the marble border. Then you need another one or something else for the top edge.

what about a white chair rail border that matches the subway tile? A lot cheaper!

Thanks everyone again.
Another big disappoinment. Even though two tile stores told me that my border tile would be ok to cut in 3 or 6 strips for my border and that the other pieces would fit into each other. I now find out that it will not work with these randon strips. I now phoned the company that makes them and they confirm that they will not be able to fit into one another unless you are fitting the whole 12 inches of one piece into another. So we are back to square one looking for another border. we really liked the gray marbles and whites of this one and now will have to go looking again tomorrow to see what we can find.

I am back, another 10 days have past since my last post and about 10 more problems in this small bathroom reno.

Besides the fact that the random strips were not going to work because of what I said in my above post we also ran across a major problem with the new toilet. The kohler memoirs toilet is 12 inch rough in and we now find out we need a 14 inch.
So I returned the toilet and will go with a toto Carrollton toilet because that one will work, but then the whites are off with my memoirs sink so I am going to return that sink and get the toto carrollton sink.

Spending more money than we wanted but at this point, we have to just do it.
This means that when we get back to tile we are going to still subway the bath 3 walls but without any border and for the rest of bathroom will not tile and will do a wainscott half wall there to save some $$.

So we are back to deciding on floor it is still down to two choices and we cannot decide so I need you guys to tell me what you would do.
1- AO catarina Colliseum white 12 by 12 on the diagonal.
2- Hexagon-dot 2 inch white with smaller black dot.

We like both but for the number 1- I worry that the Catarina but be slippery even though it is matte.
Number 2- choice- I worry too much grout and will allways look dirty even though I would put light gray grout.

Please give some advice again.
Thanks

Choice number 2 for sure. If you go with white one the floor and white tile in the shower the look will be kind of sterile. Hexagon with small black dot will provide alot more visual interest and offer more traction. Grey is definitely the way to go for tile. It will stay looking fresher for a longer period of time than whie grout.

I'd go with the hex floor tiles. I think I've read in many posts over the years that folks have used a darker gray grout and it looks great. Have you tried searching on this site and the bathroom forum for hexagon tile?

I'm not sure of the layput of the bathroom or if it would look proper, but what about putting the subway everywhere else alone and then the smaller tiles perhaps just as a backsplash in the sing area? Is there a place to cut it off? I guess my bathroom is broken up that way as to where I could allow my jet tub and shower to have a tile and my sink/vanity a coordinating tile. ? Someone suggested the small hex tiles on the floor. I love that look!

Andrea, Carol & Summie,
So far the three of you have voted for the hex typle floor over the marble look 12 by 12. So another question which in your opinion looks the least busy in a small area 5 feet by 4 1/2 feet.
Or which one do you prefer;
The first photo is chloe( a pinwheel design) . second photo is octagon dot.
Here are the two photos

{{!gwi}}

{{!gwi}}

Hi Lyban,

I like the first option; the squares, I think it's a little less busy. Did you mention that your husband will be doing the tiling? You might try mixing up a few samples of the flooring you choose, with different intensities of grout color, light grey, medium grey and black. Refresh my memory on the color of your vanity, and, your fixtures (brass, nickel, chrome, etc).

I like just plain white or a simple look with no black in it actually.

Like this? Just plain and simple and let beauty of the tile do the talking!) Let the vanity and subway tile be all glossy and they hex of the tile will be showy enough.

{{gwi:1400069}}

{{gwi:1400069}}

{{gwi:1400069}}

{{gwi:1400069}}

I think she could subway most everything and if she really loves they other she could trim it off and talk to Dad about buttering the tiles. Butter up Dad maybe! LOL!

Or they make it colorful in really pretty floral designs! That would really be nice but you's probably have to stick to a subway tile.

I shall go hide from your husband now, just as I hid from my tilesetter!!!!

Not to throw gasoline onto the fire, but have you thought of a basketweave with the black? I love these two. I know the first is marble, which is nice, but the second is white.

Andrea,
All fixtures are chrome. There is a white toilet and pedestal sink. very small footprint where the floor tile will go. Panel look wainscott on walls (not beadboard) half way up in this area.
The subway tiles go only on the three surround tub area walls. White tub.

I forgot to add I like the second of your choices. It seems more classic and keeping with the hex tile.
I love hex tile. I really wish I would have done hex tile!

summie,
Thanks for your vote for the second photo.
Carol: I really like the photo of the white on white octagon and then just use the black in a border around it.
If it were my bathroom that is what I would choose. I am going to ask my daughter how she likes that.