I like that you tiled all the way up on the shower walls. Stopping partway up baffles me. Your niche is nicely large and functional, too. You are detail-oriented, keeping lines straight with the laser, doing the lights behind your mirror and under the edge on the counter and all. If you waver at all with an LED line, that is very visible, and you have that line straight!

I see the two soap dishes? Toe rests? They are quite visible because they are so light - unlike the rest of your tile, which, though it may have a lot of variety in pattern, all matches in color. The soap dishes are more white than the beige of the shower tile and really stand out. Is that the "notice something unusual" that you wanted us to look for? Are they soap dishes? You have me intrigued now! They are too high to be toe rests for shaving legs!

Hi Nancy, Thanks for your comments. Yes, you found the unusual item :-) I added two soap dishes because this bathroom is typically used by two people.

It's a very clean and streamlined look. From what I can see you did a great job and thought of everything. What is a recirculating hot water line? Is that "instant" hot water? We are about to embark on a large format tile tub surround install. Did you find the laser level to be a must in the installation?

Hi Monica,

Thanks for your feedback.

Right, recirc hot water results in instant hot water. There are two ways to do it: (1) add a crossover device to the furthest fixture or (2) run a return line from the furthest device back to a pump at the water heater. I had the walls open, so I did #2 (pump: Grundfos). Though it saves on water, the cost of equipment and installation and additional energy usage makes the main benefit convenience rather than cost savings.

I would not tile without a laser -- they are not expensive and I like perfection. I use the Craftsman 2-beam, self-leveling laser level, $85 at Sears. For lasering walls, I clamp the laser base to a ZipWall pole and move the laser up and down the pole, as needed -- a good enough system for occasional use. For large format tile, be sure your surface is absolutely f-l-a-t.

Good luck with your project!

We live in a 1675 ft ranch home and the one full bath is on the opposite end of the house from the water heater and furnace in the basement. We used to spend 2 to 3 minutes waiting for hot water for a shower, and always had to wash our hands in cold water as we could not justify the wait. We are awaiting our bathroom gut, but we had plumbers in the basement a year ago due to sump pump failure and a flood, so I had them add the pump and pipes needed to make the hot water circulate. Now we, too, have instant hot water in our far bathroom. It still surprises me sometimes to turn on the tap and have it!