32-40" will make the space look BIGGER. 48" will make it look SMALLER. Full height will be the same. I took 1' off an already small bath, but by adding crown molding and painting the ceiling white (visually raising ceiling), putting up white wainscoting to 40" instead of yellow to 48", removing opaque shower doors, everyone thinks it's half again as large--and that's with a new cab above the toilet and a medicine cab where there was only a mirror before.

I like timeless tile schemes also, like your all white...and have learned from experience and too much analyzation of inspiration images that texture and layers trump color for impact. Break your white up by using shadow as a color- variences in tile depth when trim pieces are added (chair rails, bullnose, baseboards...) break up the flatness of simple field tile. Adding a horizontal line with trim at a traditional or non-traditional height and/or changing the direction of the subway for some portion of the room- breaks it up and keeps your options open for adding color to less perminant layers in the room. Also, you're right on about adding a bit of color between the floor and walls- I don't think matching wall base tile to the floor border tile is the best solution...keep the plane-change-line sharp. If you use small hex for the floor, consider a contrast by inserting a grey hex every 1/2 foot or so (the wide-spread polka dot effect will open the area too)or add the grey hex as a 3-4" solid or checked floor border around the entire room. Since there will be little color contrast on the walls, a contrast where floor meets wall is warming because it grounds the room. This is fun, huh? kat

I did tiling for the first time when I tiled my backsplash and I can give you some advice from one beginner to another (not meant to replace the advice of a pro, but just might be some things that a pro takes for granted since they are good at what they do). IMO the way to get a professional looking job is to: 1) take your time. It's not going to go quick, that comes with practice. It took me a week to do my backsplash, a pro would have done it in a day, but I got a professional look. 2) use spacers. If there are no lugs on your tile to give the proper spacing, use spacers. I will never forget watching some DIY show, maybe weekend warriors, where the guy was like "I don't need to use spacers, I have a good eye." Oh what a crappy install THAT turned out to be. Again this is a practice thing, someone who does this all the time might be able to do it without spacers but you don't have that much practice so use them. 3) never work with someone who doesn't have the same standards you do. Tiling is not necessarily a 2 person job. 4) Try out one of those cheapie tiling kits at home depot - the one that comes with a cheap, half circle shaped piece of tin for spreading thinset. I have kind of small hands (definitely smaller than the average man) and found that this tool was MUCH easier for me to control than the larger trowel. Sure, you can't spread as much at one time but see #1. Even with the trowel, the thing is notched to make sure you get the right amount of thinset on the walls. Use the right size notches (maybe bill can help you with that and also some tips for applying). 4) Buy more extra than you'd need for a pro and don't be afraid to use it... to re-cut anything that needs to be re-cut etcetc.

Susie the bathroom does not exist yet lol! It will be rather small though, which is actually a good thing because I’d rather buy less tile & get something of high quality. It will be going on our second floor once we finish dormering our cape. All I know for sure is: * I’m planning on a larger shower in lieu of a tub. Unless UTIs suddenly become less terrible, I won’t be taking any baths anyway. Plus we have one downstairs. * I’m planning on floor to ceiling glass doors in the shower. * I kind of want a skylight? Is that crazy? * No subway tile (unless it barely resembles subway tile like in the examples below). Typical subway tile is too uniform for my taste. I think I prefer my tile to have more individual character. * I’d like some natural stone because I think it’s pretty & timeless. However somebody here mentioned it’s hard to take care of and that is a totally legitimate concern that I haven‘t considered. * I’m really trying to avoid anything trendy but I also really dig zellige tiles so I guess I’m planning on breaking my own rules. * Ideally I’d like to stay with “natural” colors. Warmer whites, maybe black?, stone, maybe like a light sage green (used sparingly) * None of that ”all grey farmhouse” nonsense that’s taken over New Jersey. I’ve incorporated a lot of warmth into my home in protest of this dying trend. * I don’t have the guts to use a patterned tile : / and perhaps most importantly: * I like mixing texture & finish- hence the interest in zellige tile