Anything that lengthens the sight line makes the room look bigger, so having tile unbroken to the ceiling will make that area seem bigger, plus I think that tile up to the ceiling is easier to clean.

I like it to the ceiling for one clean plane.

That said, in my own house I stopped short of the ceiling because of crown moulding. However, I think to the ceiling tends to expand the space by reducing the number of materials seen in that spot.

Taking the tile all the way to the ceiling definetely will make the room seem larger. It is the same as when you wallpaper and use a border on the wall at the ceiling. It stops the eye, visually cuts the height of the wall, and brings the ceiling down.

Thanks, guys.

Suero, the "lengthening the sightlines" thing is precisely why I was theorizing that stopping short of the ceiling would make it seem bigger, because there would be paint color running horizontally back into the distance, as it were... but then after looking at the photos I thought I was wrong. it does seem like running it up to the ceiling is best. Thank you!

But that brings up another issue!!! There is a window on the wall adjascent to the tub.

The window used to be glass block framed in tile, basically continuing the shower enclosure tile around the window frame. Here's a pic from before we changed the window (yes, we're moving the door location from how it is now..):

We took the glass block out and replaced with a normal double-hung (wood framed on the interior.) I'm torn whether to trim it in wood or tile. If I use regular wood trim like the rest of the house, it will overlap into the shower tile by about 3". I'm not sure whether splashing is too much of an issue or not. And what about aesthetics? Would you trim it in wood or simply make the shower/wainscot tile frame around the window, as well? Then I suppose that the tile above the window would need to go to the ceiling as well, huh? Will that look too bizarre? If I trim it in wood, might it be better to do a "pictyre frame" trim, like you'd do on a casement without the stool... so that there isn't the wood "shelf" to catch water? Also: since we had planned to trim it in tile, so the window frame is set flush with the interior wall, not set back like you would for a regular window trim.... Argh!

Thanks, patty03015. Great analogy, and you guys are totally right. To the ceiling is best. So: how to trim that darn window now?

I think it might look larger to go up to the ceiling, but after looking at the pix you posted, I think I prefer the ones that stop short. If I hadn't been looking at the pix of both to compare, I'd have chosen up to the ceiling. I guess you just gave me food for thought for when we do our family bath.
Is it a necessity for the room to look larger? It is not like you gain floor space or elbow room by either method. I know a woman is always trying to elongate the line with clothing, but must we do that with a bathroom? If it did not look larger, would it look cozier perhaps?
BTW - it was the subways with hex floor one that really sealed the deal for me. I like the molding up top and the contrast with the wall color. Perhaps you could use a tile molding and do that around the window as well. This way you get the best of both worlds.

I'm getting ready to have the exact same job done (subway tile too) & know I want the tile to go all the way up to the ceiling. I may even tile the ceiling...not sure about that yet.

I just think the tile finish will be so pretty! Does it create a feeling of a smaller or bigger space, I don't know!

Loved your inspiration pics. They are gorgeous!

Definitely border tile around the window, and carry the border above the tile around the room. Sort of like this window:

OK, that's pretty interesting... I had been considering a chair-rail height trim detail like that (even splitting the tile between subways above and larger tile below, as that pic shows) but then I though that the horizontal line would make the room seem smaller (re our discussions above....) Hmmmmm......

Suero-

I have been looking into your suggestion... but I can't find any suitable trim profile that looks like your pic. (The old window was just trimmed in bullnose, which was what I'd been envisioning previously, but it doesn't give the obvious delineation of the window like your pic has!)

Do you know what that sort of trim would be called?

i too am not crazy about the photos you posted that shows the rooms with tile to the ceiling.

i would probably tile to the ceiling, but would also add crown...that would tie the whole room together and look more attractive.

I think we have to look at it in the context of a modernist house, right? That will play into the decision.

We did a bath in a modern house that was handicap accessible and by the time we thought about starting and stopping tile, we ended up tiling the whole space from floor to ceiling including any jambs. Its a bit echo-ey but it has heat lamps in it so its not cold, and the HO says he may have done the actual ceiling if he did it all over.

I am not suggesting this for your project, but I am suggesting that it be looked at from a modernist rather than traditional viewpoint.

I just (mostly) finished remodeling a bathroom with that same layout. I changed the bathroom to a much more monotone look (mostly white) with larger format tiles going all the way to the ceiling. It made a very big difference in making the room look larger. I was not particularly interested in cozy and preferred a sleeker, modern, clean aesthetic. Like others have said, minimizing breaks in color or texture helps to trick the eye into seeing the space as larger.

Thanks, palimpsest. You're right to remember my modernist tendancies :) --- however we're trying to walk a fine line between those personal preferences, the house's era (1956) and the market we're aiming to eventually sell in (New England coastal cottage neighborhood). The exterior will be shingled. Kitchen is cherry and stainless and carrara and one wall of 50's exposed brick + fireplace. Master bath is warm modern. However, this is my daughter's bathroom, and it'll be the least modern room in the house (antique dresser vanity with curved front, curvier faucets than I normally like, etc). But still, no crown molding or fancy detailing (sorry busybee3! it's not anywhere else in the house, either...) I was going to do plain 3 x 6 subways with a 1/2" pencil liner and 2 x 6 bullnose. That was the extent of the detailing.

Decisions, decisions, decisions! Ugh!

Pricklypear, post a pic please! That sounds beautiful!

What about something asymmetrical like tiling to the ceiling (or at least to top of window height, if high enough) and stopping on the Left side of the window and wrapping the whole window in the tile including the jambs and sill?

Yes, that was the original idea, if I am understanding your post right, palimpsest. I'm just questioning that now. If it's all the way to the ceiling starting at the left edge of the window, back around the tub, then coming down to chair rail height at the right edge of the tub... but worried that the assymmetry of those two verticals will look weird. (Left and right side of the to-the-ceiling tile, I mean.) I should draw it in perspective and look at it, I guess.

I might consider tiling to top-of the window trim all around the room--there is not much left. Then you could cap off the whole room with one color and hang any art or mirrors down from above the tile, picture rail style which is kinda girly.

Try searching "cornice".

Here is a link that might be useful: Here's an example.

I will try to find some time to post a pic. I haven't because it's "mostly" finished since I still haven't put up the remaining towel bars and the vanity backsplash. (Both are simple tasks, I've just been swamped with other work on the house.) Maybe I should just resign myself to posting almost finished pictures.

Hi,
Suero - you posted a picture of a tiled shower, with a curtain rod that looks like it went through the glass panel on the kneewall. I am remodeling my bathroom, with the same glass/kneewall idea, and I need ideas on how to use a shower rod with the glass panel. I have not had the glass made yet, so I could have a hole cut in it.
The glass panel will really open up the room and make it feel larger.