Perhaps because the corners would have to be mitered at 45 degrees and he doesn't want to do it...or is incapable. Why don't you ask him for a better explanation? You're paying him. "Not possible," without any adequate explanation, is not acceptable.

My niche is framed in bullnose, to be honest I like the look without it better but this is how my tiler liked to do it.

The other possibility is to do the bullnose facing out from inside the niche.

If no bullnose, what is your tilesetter suggesting to finish the edges?

palimpsest-

Can you clarify your comment? The only way I can imagine doing bullnose in a niche is to have the curved part all around the front edge of the opening.

Contractor says the 3" width won't be wide enough so he'd have to have put in a small piece of tile behind the bullnose piece to span the space to the back of the niche. Want to use metal edge pieces or quartar round. Anyone have any feedback on these two methods?

Indigo it depends on the tile. Not all tile presents a nice cut edge and consistent color through the whole tile like yours.

Most preformed niches are 1/2" thick. When you put a tile on the back of it, the depth of the tile with the thin set, + a grout line + 3" bullnose on the inside should cover the niche edges.

There are many edge treatments that you can use. Soooo many ways to treat an edge. Bullnose is pretty much "yesterday". Quarter round is a better idea than a bullnose.

Indigoheaven: What is the Jolly made of?

I believe the almond is PVC. I would not count on plastic to not change color over time, personally. Look what happens to "white" fridge trim. At least if you use bullnose, it's the same material as the tile you are trimming.

Jolly: http://blogs.daltile.com/magic-of-jolly-trim

I ran into the same issue when I tiled my shower. My bullnose was 3" wide and my niche was something like 3.5-4" deep (can't recall exactly). I ended up using Schluter edge strips.

I think you can either mitre the edges of the tile in the niche and where the outside meets the niche. Or you could use the bullnose to surround the niche like roarah did. Or you can go with strips like I did. I wasn't sure I was going to like the strips, but it ended up adding a nice accent on an otherwise boring wall.

https://www.houzz.com/photos/martinsville-main-bath-traditional-bathroom-new-york-phvw-vp~93008873

"Our contractor says that is not possible." Hmmmmm

Removable glass shelves are the way to go IMO. Pop them in the dishwasher, Done

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