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 would love it if my house did not look like it was all decorated on the same day or even the same year. A home evolves over time and what one does in it and what one owns should reflect growth. I have mostly old antiques, anywhere from 200+ -70 years old. Our house was built in 1950 as a tract house with no character and none added over the years. There were no cool MCM touches or if there were, they were taken out for very bland cheap finishes throughout. We are going with a lot of clean lines and a 1930-1940s vibe. Kinda Deco, sorta modern, as if someone from then owned old stuff but was modernizing as they went along. I love each piece of old furniture and would never part with any of it, but am decorating in a different style that will work with it somehow. I'd hate to feel locked into a look or time period with no room for creativity. I'd also hate to be matchy matchy and have my chance at decorating begin and end with one look. Doing more than one room gives me a chance to use several pretty colors, different tile choices and unique schemes. Our palette will work well together as we recently put all our paint choices in a grouping on the table and nothing clashed or was out of place. Yet we will have many different shades working different vibes as you go through our house (currently white from p.o.'s, ugh). I just wish I had more rooms and esp more kitchens to decorate as I love putting it all together. If I had to make one choice of wall color, one cab color or one floor choice, that would take a lot of fun out. Our only uniform themes will be the use of chrome for hardware & fixtures and white for moldings. We will be putting a contemporary couch set in our new den, yet also have a more traditional living room and entirely different style couches and seating there. Our coffee and end tables will have nothing in common between the 2 rooms either. The den floor will be a tile with a pattern in it (a faux tile area rug) and the living room will have wood floors. It may sound hodge podge to someone else, but when it comes together, I just can visualize how comfortable and homey it will be. I'd be mortified if someone thought I copied a JC Penny's catalog or even the Restoration hardware catalog I drool over, lol. This is your chance to make your home personal and special. Have some fun and throw a little quirky in, but mostly enjoy the decorating because we are lucky to be able to do it and you may not get many more big re-dos once it is done!

hi calimama.. Well...here's my story. We had leftover granite, so since we were re-doing our powder room as well, we used it for the vanity. The vanity cabinet is a similar stain color as our kitchen cabs, and I also had leftover backsplash tile, so we used that too!! I am not a matchy-matchy person at all...and I don't think it's required that your bathroom and kitchen match. But since you are remodeling both, I think it may as well flow nicely if possible. Mine just so happen to look ...well ...alot alike. But heck...I wasn't about to let my granite and backsplash marble go to waste! KA:) Here is a link that might be useful: my matchy-matchy powder room...haha...

No need to match bathrooms in any way....usually each bathroom decor/tile is directed more toward to the proposed users...”easier to clean” in potential kids baths...” more interesting and pretty” in guest baths...”more luxurious” in master baths...