Take a look at travertine in a light ivory. It seems to go with everything. I have travertine on my bathroom floor, shower, and tub deck, then used crema marfil marble for an accent. It looks serene and beautiful! If you use the 18" travertine tiles, cut to 9 x 18 for the tub surround, there won't be that many grout lines. Get the installer to use "butt joints" in the tile so the grout lines are just teeny. Another alternative would be to go with a black and white theme.

motherof3: I am building a cedar shake cottage style. It is a little more formal then a typical cottage but we are building in southern Maine on the coast. (We only have a ROW) Can't quite afford frontage. This marble is going in our (kids) or guests bathroom. I still say kids even though they are all married and relocated. We are doing a white vanity with bead-board, the honed carrara marble top with undermount white sink and a 12x12 tile in gray with bluish streaks going thru it. I have seen the carrera marble in capes, colonials, and even farmhouses.(I am a retired real estate broker) Now a days I really believe it is do what you like and anything goes.

I like BM Classic Gray. Forgot to add that I'm glad you posted this as I was thinking of posting the same question. We're remodeling our master bath and using a RH weathered oak vanity with a carrara marble top, and I can't decide what paint color to use on the walls. I'm honestly thinking of just using the White Dove trim color on the walls too, so I don't mess it up!

I have some scrap pieces. How do I test for silicone bleed? Do I just apply it to the edge or surface? Do you think it is better to use a different type of sealant?