"I want to stay in keeping with the style of the house."

I know you said 'ranch style' but are there any style features? Does it have a MCM feel to it? You say it is stucco, so does it have a Southwest flavor to it? Something else to go by? Does the whole house have that strong 'vintage feel' or has everything been updated?

One thing that will make a bathroom look larger and brighter is glass tiles instead of ceramic. They are translucent so they look like they 'go beyond' and they sparkle reflecting light. Even the dark colored ones look bright and cheery due to the lucidity. There are more shapes to choose from too. You can keep the architechtural inegrity of the home and give it a more contemporary feel.

I would be careful about adding a border or putting in a pattern of colored tiles as this is permanent and you may tire of it after a few years. It will limit future decorating and may affect resale if that is a concern.

Picture of the space would help. I gather from you post you are only tiling the shower/tub area? Or are you doing around the sink and up the walls a way?

There are a multitude of different options for tile in bathrooms and it is a very difficult choice. I'd advise not rushing into it, but take the time to visit different tile showrooms in your area as well as look over on the bathroom forum of recent jobs. For a more subtle look you can vary the size of the tiles used and/or vary the direction that they run in. Personally, I feel that just using 4x4 tile is a very dated option (but not quite old enough to give a vintage look such as is done with subway tiles). Many choose large tiles these days as it gives a more expansive look plus there is less grout to clean. My home is a remodeled ranch and this is what we did when we added on a new bathroom:

It is a mix of tiles and incorporates some glass tile as dilly_dally suggests.

Save gas and shoe leather by browsing photo galleries on the internet of bathroom tile design.

There are some creative ways of using tile like using subway tiles by not alternating them, but instead lining them up evenly. Or going vertically with them. Or using the 12"x3" tiles. There are 4"x4" square tiles that have depth and look "puffy" to give interest.

Are you updating everthing/anything else in the room? Mirror? Vanity? Windows? You don't want to fall in love with a tile and then have to change everything else out, if that was not in the original plan. If it is, that is great.

Here is a link that might be useful: Glass Tile Design Options

The house is stucco, but not Spanish style. Most of the houses here in my area of CA are stucco, and the style of the house is rather, well, plain.

Someone told me it was a ranch style because everything is all on one floor and sorta spread out (but not really all that many square feet). We have the original red oak hardwood floors that have been redone, and an oak vanity in the small now-white bathroom.

We're only tiling the shower tub areas around the original porcelain tub, replacing the old tile that we removed, but not going all the way up to the ceiling (personal preference of mine). We won't be updating the mirror or vanity or window.

The photos I've seen posted on this website and on-line are stunning, but a bit "much" for my bathroom, and would look too fancy- schmancy for our little home, so those ideas will go into my Book of Dreams. :O)

Thanks for the suggestions! If anyone has any more, please post and I'll be checking back!

Thank you, Kailleanm, for your post. Sounds like our homes are similar.
:O)

If the bathroom is small and it sounds like it is, I think an all white tile, the smaller ones would add interst and yet enlarge and lighten the room.

Hi Sooz --

I happen to love the kind of tile you had; I grew up in a 30s house with strongly-colored tiles in that pattern carried around the room. So while there are many, many options out there I sure wouldn't rule out a variation on the theme.

One thing re your window -- have you really checked to make sure there's no rot around the window or into the walls? Because now would certainly be time to replace things.

We're wrapping up our bath reno so I do have some photos of what we did plus a few inspiration photos I can share -- none are exactly what you're looking for but some have the elements you mentioned.

If you're committed to just keeping the tile in the shower/tub area vs carrying it around the room, I think keeping things simple is probably best. Simple can be serene and gorgeous!

Good luck with your project!

6x6 Tile on the diagonal (inspiration pic)

Think this is 4x4 field, with grout blending in (inspiration pic)

Contrasting grout (inspiration pic)

More rustic approach to grid, with wide grout lines (insp. pic)

Know it's tough to see -- white 4x4 grid, window (insp. pic)

**********

My bath, Before shot (ceiling dropped to 6' over last 1/3 of tub)

My almost-done bath (1905 house), done in DalTile's pale yellow 6x6 in a running bond vs grid pattern

My bath, window area -- we removed double-hung and did a tiled-in aluminum below, awning window above

Hi, house vixen,

Thanks for posting your photos and the inspiration photos too! We did get a chance to check the window area, and surprisingly, it was in really good condition! Woo hoo!

Your "after" photos are lovely--I especially love the rounded front vanity!

Thank you again for your help!
Smiles,
Sooz