IMO it is important to have different color tile on bathroom floor and curb. If all the same color, in dim light or with vision-compromised people, the curb would look like the floor and people might trip on it.

Why is a curbless shower not possible?

Yeah, What Starcraft asked

Lately when building a curb we tile it to match the walls on the font and back, then top it with a piece of stone (featuring a bit of a reveal). Good luck.

Keep the shower area all the same, marble walls, smaller similar mosaic for the floor and a matching solid curb piece.

I agree I actually like the same 12 x24 tile for the main floor and the shower walls the same stone for the curb in a solid piece and the shower floor a smaller tile maybe in a hex The shower you show has way too many grout lines IMO

3z3z3 is correct. The curb needs to be visible even in dim light to avoid a tripping hazard. The bathroom floor tile may match the shower floor tile, but a contrasting tile on the curb will help avoid accidents.

Wood look tile is NOT on it's way out - lol

The shower was a bump out, added to the house about 10 years ago. (Not by me) My contractor says there aren't many joists under the shower so he's not comfortable notching them to get rid of the curb.

The original house is 1970 construction, built on a very sandy soil. Contractor was concerned also about putting large scale tile on the floor, that the longer, skinnier wood look tile will allow for the floor to shift slightly and not crack or separate the tile.

I agree Patricia Colwell, far too many grout lines that weren't maintained well.

Right now we're thinking marble look tile inside shower and entire curb. Black hex on shower floor, grey wood-look tile on bathroom floor. Vanity top will be soapstone charcoal so maybe use that on top of shower bench?

Thanks for everyone's input!

Tile floors are not made to "shift slightly" or bend, The builder is supposed to upgrade the joists to prevent all flexing before you tile. If a tile floor flexes, the grout crumbles. Grout is NOT flexible.

Marble-look tile yes! There are a lot of stories on here about real marble shower floors that stay too wet. Marble is porous.

You should use the soapstone on top of the curb, as well as on the bench and counter. The top of the curb is commonly done this way and is better than having tile and grout on the curb. Grout will mildew and mold where the glass meets the curb unless you plan to dry that area after every shower. Your curb, shower floor, and walls are all supposed to be waterproofed before tiling.

following

How thick is the plywood over the joists? If you place a linear drain at the entry and slope the shower floor up and away from the drain you can go curbless..... Might need a more skilled eye on the job for more ideas.

No wood look tile on the curb. I have subway tile in my shower, and marble tiles on the floor. On the inside of the curb, they placed the subway tiles. On the outside of the curb, we cut down the floor tiles and topped it with the same marble I had on the shower seat. I agree that I would not do wood look tile for the floor. It will cheapen the look of the marble.