Do my eyes deceive me? Is it really Danni in pdx?! (You might not recognize my name, but I'm the person on the west side with the DD who was not inclined toward soccer, iykwim [but who is quite gazelle-like at track & XC, so we have a happy ending :)] Nice to 'see' you again! We're doing DD's bath now--I have a somewhat obsessively long mosaic of Pratt & Larson seconds I made for it, as the kitchen prodded me to the discovery of an interest in mosaic that has not abated :) Anyway, back on topic: there are some threads on here about using marble vs. marble look alike porcelain just for maintenance purposes. One poster here did two baths, one in a marble-like porcelain and one in marble, both *stunning*, neither a compromise, IMO. VERY worth finding. I posted on one of them about a porcelain I saw at Pental that looks *so* much like a calacatta marble but is easier to maintain, obviously. It's in the far hallway, or at least was, when I was last there. They may have moved it. My screen is being weird, or I'd link to the precise tile on the Pental site, but you can find it there.

onelady1dog2girls asks: "How does this epoxy grout compare with traditional trouts? Can you use it on a glass mosaic?" Epoxy grout: (1) requires more preparation and care in installation, which means that many tile installers will refuse to install it; (2) is a much less receptive host to mildew and mold than cementious grout; (3) does not shrink; (4) is easier to clean than cementious grout; (5) never requires sealant. We did use epoxy grout with small glass tiles. See my reply to racheldiane in this thread: http://ths.gardenweb.com/forums/load/bath/msg0400104213935.html Here is a link that might be useful:

We had picked out glass tile for our shower floor, however, our installer told us that the glass tile requires a different thinset which is not compatible with the Kerdi membrane he uses to water proof the shower.

are you sealing the marble and grout? that would be a good start.i would just use a natural dish soap and baking soda. we had marble tile in our old kitchen and when i needed something heavy duty i used ammonia. stinky, i know. i am sure it will be magnificent! looking forward to reading other people's comments. Here is a link that might be useful: my blog/not related to this post