It CAN be done, but that doesn't mean it SHOULD be done. They do make covers that can go right over the present drain cover, and then you can tile right over its flange, and that's what holds it down. You first need to make sure there's no foreign material on the tile-- no soap scum, no body oils, no nothing. Then hit it with a sander to rough up the face of the tile, and use an unmodified thinset mixed with a liquid latex additive.

Since it can be hard to know if you've got a knowledgeable/skilled enough tile man, check over on john bridge tile forums which is a pro-based and run site. At least one pro will address your issue and they are well-studied and experienced sticklers about their trade. They don't take chances with installs. What an expensive mess this one would be if it fails. And they do. Please report back if you do so this thread is complete. This post was edited by snookums2 on Wed, Apr 16, 14 at 19:35

I second the suggestion for the waterhog mats. I'll post where we purchase them if I can find the link - you can get custom sizes, colors, styles, etc. LL BEAN sells them too but they are very pricey IMO. We use them around our dogs water bowls too since they are sloppy drinkers. In addition to our entry way, we also use them in the back of our SUV's in the cargo area since we travel with our Boxers. Keeps the truck nice and clean and absorbs liquids. After my dog had surgery he peed in the truck on the drive home from the vets office (post-anesthesia, if I remember correctly) and I was thankful for that waterhog mat. Not a drop of urine on my upholstery; the waterhog captured all of it, and it was easy enough to clean -- I sprayed it down with a hose and some cleaning solution, left it out to dry and no residual smell whatsoever. They're awesome mats.

For round steps using hardwood, Oak boards would have to be joined (using dowels or biscuits) and glued wider and longer than what needed, then layout the stair radius on the board and cut the tread as one piece usually using a band saw or a template and a router and after a curved nosing is made for, after that it's installed as one piece... In early 2000 they attempted doing stair threads using Oak veneered plywood, that didn't go well on stairs because you cannot refinish them so they stoped doing that. No matter what is being used it's a process and it has to be done the right way to make it look right and to make it look right it will cost you no matter what you do because anything round or curved cost money even if it's shop made. Like Sophie said tile or something else that it can be done from a template and installed as one piece thread with the edges done, etc. this way it will look really good when it's finished. Good luck