We're looking at the classica cream subway tiles or a beveled brick bone subway tile for the Master Shower. We won't have it on the walls, except for an 8" section around the perimeter of the tub deck. The shower floor is likely to be a rounded light-multi-colored pebble. For bathroom flooring, I'm looking at a 12x12 Crema Marfil Country or Country Beige honed marble, probably on a diagonal (our bath is sorta galley style). I'm also considering Rojo Alicante for the vanity tops. I think the subway tiles and Rojo and Crema Marfil will all tie together nicely. But I've had the same thoughts about the small mosaics for the floor tile. I didn't come up with all these choices alone. I've been to 3 different tiles places that are very helpful. They all have agreed that the look could go nicely. We are several months ahead of install, so I'm just going by their expertise at the moment.

In addition, most grouts are already modified, so just add water and stir...but if you're a real stickler for exactness, or you're on well water that might be heavily mineralized or have high iron, or if you're on city water that might be a little sketchy...then you might want to buy jugs of distilled water and use that for mixing the grout. Problematic water is more obvious in light colored grouts than dark. Toothpicks? I usually recommend gridding when tiling a floor. Though your tiles are rectified, so toothpick "spacers" could work. Plus when you're done you can use the toothpicks to pick the grout out from between your teeth. Recycle the toothpicks by doing that and you qualify as a recycling green builder and you can collect more points towards LEEDS certification.

ice1 - Yes, that's the tile I was referring to. Thanks so much for sharing your photos. I love the Kashmir on your floors and counter. Is it hard to take care of on the floor? What do you use when you mop? Where do you live? I only ask because I live in San Antonio and wonder if the cold tile would really matter. We only have really cold days a few times each winter. That said...it was in the upper teens for 4 days a week or so ago. however, that's a fluke. Thanks for sharing your son's kitchen choices. Is his a formal kitchen? I don't want to have a formal look. I just like the crisp look the tile has. I prefer that over muddy / earthtone colors. It just seems simple and clean to me. But I don't want formal. Hm. Seaglass 7 - Thanks for your input. I will check out the slate and the lighter colors in the other line. I'm not really going for rustic per se...but I certainly don't want formal....just clean and crisp. I think crisp could be achieved with slate. Thanks again. Writersblock - I agree with you. The tile is very realistic without lots of veining and not expensive. Just out of curiosity...what else is near the top of your list if you have to retile? That might give me some more inspiration. Keep the ideas flowing. Thus far the flooring has been the hardest thing for me. :-)

Mine is matte, imitation slate. It has an imitation slate texture and some subtle mottling in the medium dark gray color. It does not show dirt. It looks the same whether it is recently washed or not. It is perfect for my environment, where dirt is grayish and for six months we (and the dog) track in dark gray road slush. Someone elsewhere made a good point that if you live where it's sandy and dusty, then a beigy color is good, and if you live where the clay is red, a reddish, terra cotta color is good. I thought that was really smart.