That tile is gorgeous. I wonder what gray grout they used.

I'm thinking of using the following in the horizontal niche over the tub.

It's a beautiful mosaic. We also used an Artistic Tile in our remodel. We used it on one wall of the shower and as a backsplash around the tub. We went 15" high around the tub due to the design of the pattern. I was advised against it (on Houzz) as people thought it would be too busy. But it's not. We have 3 different tiles and I think it's fine.

And I think with that leaf tile you will want to be generous with the size or you'll cut off some of it and it will lose it's impact. Below are a couple of pictures of the tub and shower with the vine mosaic.

I love Artistic Tile's Jazz Glass collection. I wish we could have found a place for some in our bathroom.

I would be hesitant to put it near the vanity for the reasons you listed: I think the walnut should be the "star" there, and adding the mosaic to that area may take away from that. The 4x8 wall sounds like a better idea, but I'm having a little trouble visualizing where it is in the room . . .

Your bathroom is going to be so cool, btw. I can't wait to see the finished product.

OK, I'm usually against against tiles, but this is gorgeous! Agree to just use one full wall and not mess around with little bits and pieces anywhere else.

Have you googled "tile accent wall in bathroom"?

Glad you all agree that it is worth finding a way to fit this into my design! I do definitely plan to use it on the back of my shower niche, but that will only be visible from the inside of the shower. Here is my current layout, so you can see the wall where I plan to use it - to the left of the tub. Not sure yet what end the tub filler will go on - probably depends on how the plumbing works out. Planning to use the Toto soiree freestanding tub.

Could you do both sides of the tub?

nosoccermom, I'm hesitant to do that because it would be costly, and then its no longer an accent wall. I think it would be overwhelming. And I fear it would make the back wall where the windows are look unfinished. But I assume you asked that because you think just the one wall would look strange?

Oh, you're talking about the left wall. I was thinking the window wall.

But you are talking about the short wall. Where are the fixtures? Is that the wall you'd be facing if you're in the tub? I don't think it would be weird on the left wall.

Yes, the wall that separates the tub from the toilet area. The tub will have a floor mounted tub filler, so that wall would be bare unless I decide to put a towel bar there. I'm not really sure which way the tub will be facing, it could depend on the plumbing. I would face in the direction of the tub filler, but the other end of the tub would really be prettier to look at I think. It has a nice curve to it. Here's the tub (and the filler). I don't want the filler on the side because I understand from reviews that the water shoots out in a nice arc.

Maris® Wall-Hung Dual-Flush Toilet, 1.6 GPF & 0.9 GPF, Elongated Bowl · More Info

Your tile is absolutely beautiful. Love it! I agree that it will be gorgeous on an accent wall, much better than using it as trim somewhere.

Lotteryticket, your vine tile is gorgeous as well!

I have a hard time visualizing the various options. I wonder if someone in the decorating forum could photoshop this. Lovely tub, BTW!

Thank you for posting the floor plan. That really helps. Could you run a strip of the mosaic up the back shower wall ,directly opposite the shower door? Make it fairly wide, like 24 inches? and do the wall at the end of the tub? Then you would have the impact of seeing it as you walk into the bathroom in both places. Have you picked out the rest of the shower tile?

nosoccermom, I like your picture! Makes me wonder if I could separate the windows behind the tub, but I don't think I have the room to do that without making them very narrow. One of the issues I have with those windows is a roof below the window that is not so attractive. Moving the windows to the sides and away from the peak of the roof might be nice. My other options were to make the windows high, but then there would be a blank wall space, or put a top down shade or privacy glass on the lower section of the window. Here's another pic I found that might deal with the roof issue and provide a good place for the mosaic accent - but my ceilings aren't that high - just 8 ft.

Contemporary Bathroom · More Info

Lotteryticket, I was originally thinking about a wide vertical strip in the shower, but DH doesn't want the tile in the shower, except maybe the back wall of the niche. He's afraid we will grow tired of it and doesn't want to have to rip out the shower. But if its on another wall somewhere, it would be easier to remove. And then there's so much grout in that mosaic so that's a concern. Plus, I'm thinking of doing a pony wall on the front of the shower so I can place the controls there and reduce the glass area which I fear will be too much to keep clean. But that's all still up in the air.

I love the tile, and it has nothing to do with being born in Detroit and married to a jazz musician! It will look fine on the 4 x 8 wall as you planned, and I love the idea of putting it above the Roburn cabinets and lighting it with LEDs. There it will really shine! I understand you wanting to place the walnut panels between the Roburns and to the sides to place the lights on, but can you also imagine the simplicity of the whole wall in the mosaic (no quartz backsplash)? Think about that. Also think about splashing some light off the wall of tile near the tub.

I would not use the tile under the vanity. Nor would I use it on side walls of the vanity space where the mirrors could reflect the mosaic tile back. Too busy and dizzy then. But for the whole back wall, yes! Or even just that top 22 inches, yes! Because the wall near the tub cannot be seen from most of the room, you do need a dramatic use (whole wall around the Roburns) to introduce the pretty mosaic elsewhere so that it does not look like an afterthought.

I hate the skinny line of the mosaic that is shown in Houzz. It wastes the beauty of the mosaic's design and coloration, using it in such a small area! Lotteryticket, you used yours properly, looks great!

nosoccermom, the window behind the tub is our major source of natural light so I wanted it to be large. In our current room we have a 5 x 5 garden window,a dn I feel like even that doesn not provide as much natural light as I would like. And if I have to use a high window or block off the bottom section to hide the porch roof, that makes the extra width even more important.

nancyinmich, loved your remark about the Detroit jazz connection!

I agree that the mosaic is not good for the side walls. Maybe I will use the blue/grey tile we have for our floor & shower on the side walls of the vanity, and maybe the back wall underneath too (or paint it a similar color to save $$$). But I really hesiate to use the mosaic as a backsplash. It seems like too much variation - wood, counter, mosaic tile, mirror all in such a condensed space. I'm actually even wondering if walnut strips on the sides of the mirror will be too much. I saw one pic on Houzz done like that and it just looked strange to me. But if I want to build out the wall between the mirrors to make them look fully recessed, I don't know how else to do it.

How much wall space do you have left and right of the window? Too little for the mosaic tile to make a statement?

We haven't decided on the windows yet. I'm struggling with that too. But I don't think I will like strips of the mosaic on the sides. I do like the idea of doing the wall below the window as in the pic I posed above (Tuesday), but then there will also be a strip above the window that could be done either with the mosaic or the solid shower tile. It will only be about 12" I think, and I'd rather not call attention to it. I was thinking that doing the bottom of the tub wall and the top of the vanity wall might be interesting, not not too much of the mosaic. I really don't want to overdo it with the mosaic.

I'm still open to suggestions though. I just don't have the confidence in my design abilities to commit yet.

I did do some diagrams on excel to try to get a feel for things like that, but they don't seem to really help me because they don't show the materials. Is there another software that I should use that might be better for that? I am using home designer for my layout plans, but the 3D stuff is of limited value, also because you can't get the actual colors and mosaic designs to show.

Love love love that mosaic and think something along the lines of your very first picture of the shower accent wall is perfect. It's art so can go anywhere you want it.

Think about the vanity wall as a wall, not as blocks of colors. Using the mosaic on the entire wall surface, except where the Robern cabinets are, will actually make the wall look LESS busy. It will unify the wall. The eye will see the dark Walnut cabinet doors down lower and it will ground you with the low height and dark color. The side walls with the shower tile on it will fade into a kind of background color. The vanity top, being thin and white, will be a divider between the low, grounding walnut and the glory of the mosaic. It ties in with the white leaves, so goes great with the mosaic. The brightness of the white counter and the mirrors draws the eye up, then the mosaic delights you with the whimsy of the leaf pattern in the beautiful tones. Remember, from straight on, the Roberns are going to feel light and sparkly, even if they do have walnut frames, because of their mirrors. Above the white line will be light and bright with the mirrors, lights, and the mosaic tile. The tile defines the wall and draws you into the space. Otherwise, the vanity wall will look more like a series of unrelated blocks of color.

Again, JMHO!

I have a lot of difficulty visualizing, so I don't have good advice. For a busy tile to me it seems to do better in a smaller or more horizontal layout versus vertical (like in your picture examples, I think the tile would look better under the window vs. the picture with tile vertical on the shower exterior). I do love your tile, it very pretty and unique. It seems you definitely should find a way to incorporate it.

I think it's a great tile. Very unusual and will be the star of the bathroom.

I also agree that it should be used sparingly. One, because it's going to be expensive! Two, because it's busy and a little of it will go a long way. Use too much, and you'll have overshot the mark.

I'm not completely sure on the spot you're talking about using it, but I have one question: Is this accent spot clearly visible from the bathroom doors as you walk in? I think you should be sure this tile accent is "front and center" -- not tucked away somewhere.

mrspete, if I do the wall behind the tub or the wall at the end of the tub, it will be clearly visible when you enter the room. The vanity wall is on the same wall as the entry door, so not so much. And I do want the tile to make a statement, but not be overwhelming, and not look like we were just trying to "fit it in" somewhere. Its a tough line to walk, for sure, and I am not the artistic type so I have a great deal of difficulty visualizing things.

BTW, this tile is $45 a sq ft I think, not cheap but a lot less than some similar mosaics I saw and liked that were $100 +. Nevertheless, given that I seem to have very expensive taste, budget may be a factor.

nancyinmich, your comments really have me thinking. You sound like you definitely have a good sense of design! I will see if I can do a mock up somehow to see how it looks. But I'm really not sure about the backsplash, only because I want the counter and backsplash to be easy to keep clean. The uneven texture of the mosaic and all that grout gives me the hebejebees. And I somehow feel like it would be better viewed from a distance. FYI, I am planning on wall mounted faucets. More $$$4 ;-).

Could you print out pictures of the tile and stick it to your wall?

But if you're doing a grey grout that will help with keeping it looking clean. Call them and they'll tell you the grout that they used. They are very helpful.

My fear is that you will find that walls on neither end of the tub are actually visible as you enter the room. Looking at your diagram, it looks to me like they are visible only to someone in the tub. It is certain that the walls at the end of the tub are not visible in the mirrors or from the shower area, the two areas you will use the most. It seems a waste to put tile where it will not be seen.

Maybe you should ask others with small mosaics near the bath vanities how they work for cleaning. Really, though, this mosaic is appropriate for interior floors, according to the manufacturer. Unless it is installed by a novice, there is no reason it should not be perfectly flat, without any edges sticking up. It is also good for shower walls, so it certainly can stand up to splashes from hands turning off the faucet. It will be easier to install around plumbing than a solid surface would be, or around the electrical rough-in for your sconces. Another advantage of using a busy mosaic in the backsplash area is that not every little water spot or toothpaste speck will show, so cleaning weekly, not daily, will work fine! ;-)

Numbersjunkie, not sure where you are getting the tile from but the tile shop I used had a bath design program where they could put your bathroom in and mock up tile in different areas to help you visualize. Ask and they may be able to do that!

Here was mine...granted the coloring of the tiles is off but at least it help give somewhat of a visualization with texture, pattern, etc.