Thanks for all the replies-- they are helpful. @Homebound, I think what you are requesting is reasonable. Truth be told-- I have become friendly with contractor over the past few years (he has done other work-- but no tile work). This makes the process a bit more painful. I don't have a problem with the wall tile-- but as you can see from photo--- some corners were cut. As you can see he tiled around shower rod-- that one I don't understand at all as I had asked him to remove shower rod. (the photo was flipped). I will meet up with him in a few days to discuss. I'm leaning towards having him rip out existing floor--- and biting the bullet and having someone else install the floor tile. This post was edited by nyc_uws on Mon, Dec 31, 12 at 13:33

Thanks for your comments, all! (Pardon the lack of formatting, I've been typing this all on my phone!) ____________ Roarah: I think the marble-look hex option looks great! And the grey tile for herringbone is lovely too. I actually was set on doing a herringbone floor at first until it became more difficult to source a 3x20 or 4x24 length tile (I prefer a very long and lean look with a herringbone). Not sure if this will help you differentiate/decide between them, but the herringbone in that size feels a bit more modern to me, whereas the marble hex feels more classic/luxurious but I'm sure either choice will be beautiful on your floors! mrsshayne & grannysmith18: Thanks for sharing your experiences (I've been researching the heck out of those who've lived with penny tile floors to see if they ended up loving/hating them; interestingly, I found much more info on the black penny tile look but not a lot regarding white (except not to use white grout). Yeah, I think the amount of grout and worrying about it getting dirty is what's holding me back. Also, whether having such a large floor area of penny tile will be visually overwhelming instead of soothing and inviting. ____________ Latest Update: I actually returned the original 12x24 grey Porcelain (it was beautiful but was a bit rough in texture which I wasn't sure I wanted underfoot in the bathroom) and ended up buying a White Penny Porcelain mosaic with Mapei Flexcolor CQ Frost grout for the floors. However (>_<), I still can't help but have that nagging sense that this isn't the "right floor" yet... I realize I'm doing the penny or considering hex tiles because I feel like I owe it to the Victorian gods to be historically accurate but at the same time, if we could just have a smooth, one surface (minimal grout lines), white or light grey colored, easy to clean floor, I would. In other words, I feel like I'm trying to put in penny or smaller hex cause that's what it seems like I'm "supposed" to do, but I can tell that I don't actually love them (except for the marble hex which is out of our budget, since we have over 100 SF to tile) which is probably why I ruled them out in the first place, sigh. So I'm still in dilemma mode...but am thinking of choosing one of these really large format tiles from a local retailer (who offers bargain prices on bathroom fixtures and larger cement-look tile): https://goo.gl/photos/3wE9kcS3WPbp9sD18 Mainly, I'm reminded that my original goals for the bathroom were to make it whiter and brighter (maximize the minimal light), more spa-like, with some modern flair/finishes at a reasonable cost, though choosing the "right" tile seems like a decision that will never end until we finally get started on laying things down. Along with trying to choose a finish that a future buyer won't curse me for, the way I did when I saw the red terra cotta on the bathroom floor :P. ____________ I'll keep the thread updated with how things turn out (I really appreciate when others have done the same; it's neat to see people's considerations for why they did what they did and the incredible changes that can be made), just hope the bathroom doesn't turn out ugly (cause then I'll be less inclined to post :P!) Thanks for reading!

Sigh....the great tile debate turns into a 'how wrong is this bathroom preparation' question. The prep needs to be redone. The water proofing needs to run up the walls BEYOND the point of the spray area. That usually means 6ft up. I'm not seeing anything like that. "Any insight into what caused the seams to be so apparent and how to avoid the same problem on a second try would be greatly appreciated!" The answer is not meant to be 'cheeky' but it will sound that way. The easiest way? Use someone else. The training this person needs to go through to COMPLETE your bathroom is a few weeks to a few months worth of education + application of materials learned. No. I'm not kidding. Are you willing to wait for your person to get the level of education your project needs?

LOOKING FOR A QUALIFIED TILE INSTALLER? 14 QUESTIONS YOU SHOULD ASK TO FIND A GOOD MATCH FOR YOUR PROJECT. 1. Do they have liability insurance and if they have employees, are they covered with Worker’s Compensation Insurance? · Make sure you can verify appropriate insurance coverage. 2. Are they licensed (if required in your area)? · Verify. Some states do not require tile contractor’s to be licensed. 3. How many years have they been working exclusively as tile installers? · It takes many years to become proficient as a dedicated, qualified tile professional. Five years or more would be an expected minimum. 4. How was the installer trained? Do they participate in on-going professional industry training from organizations and or manufactures, and specifically what? · Installers who have completed an apprenticeship under a Qualified Tile Installer and participate in industry training are generally more likely to follow standards and recommendations and stay current with products, materials, and industry updates. 5. Are they familiar with the TCNA Handbook and ANSI Standards and do they follow these industry recommendations? · The TCNA Handbook coupled with ANSI Standards are the industry recognized guidelines for the installation of tile for a wide range of applications. A qualified tile professional will be familiar with and know how to specify and use these reference tools. 6. If wet areas (showers/baths) are to be included in the work performed, what approved system/methods will they use to assure a long-lasting installation? · Tile installations in wet areas require some very important preparation to avoid leaks and unwanted moisture problems. Hybrid or unapproved methods, and the use of materials inappropriate for this application can contribute to a very costly and unwanted result that too often requires complete removal and replacement by a qualified professional. A quality installation should last decades or longer. 7. What manufacturer’s products do they use and do they comply with manufacturer’s instructions? · There are many manufacturers of quality tile setting materials. Most perform well with use of approved methods and adherence to manufacturer specifications. Qualified tile installers will be well-versed on the materials and systems they prefer and should be able to answer your questions about the process and materials and their associated warranties. 8. Do they have a company website or social media page with photos of their work? · Professionals will have a public presence that is available to consumers so you can review their work and customer reviews. Lack of a traceable, legitimate, and committed business should be a deterrent to hiring. 9. Can you speak with recent customers and see photos of those projects? · Qualified, experienced tile contractors will have a loyal client base that is happy to recommend them and share their experience. 10. Do they have experience working with the type of tile you plan to use? · There are different methods, materials and considerations when installing various tile products… ceramic, porcelain, large format tile, handmade tile, natural stone, glass. Verify their experience and training with the tile product you have chosen. 11. Talk to them about positives and challenges of past projects · Get to know the tile professional as part of your project team. Do they take pride in their work? If your General Contractor is hiring the tile installer, it may make sense to request meeting with the GC and tile installer in advance of the installation. 12. What has been their greatest challenge as a tile installer? · Listen carefully to understand the installer’s limitations and ability to meet your expectations. 13. Do they or their team belong to a professional organization like NTCA (National Tile Contractor’s Association)? · Industry involvement is one indication of a tile installation company’s commitment to their craft. It gives them access to education, technical information, and other resources to assist them in professionally serving you. 14. Are they, or do they have Certified Tile Installer’s (Certified Tile Education Foundation, CTI) on their team? · The certification of tile installers is an important step forward for the consumer. The industry has established a process to certify tile installers. Certification identifies an installer as being a dedicated and knowledgeable professional whose competence in installing tile has been verified to meet specific tile industry standards.