The niche needs relocating. A recess full of shampoo and conditioner really should never be a focal point. And its too close to the corner.

You cant have it all.

@User Good point about not making the niche the focal point. In hindsight, I should have hired a designer. Given that there’s no more time or money to relocate the niche, I’m interested in ideas for the tile layout priorities. Thanks.

Lower your priorities from ”perfect” to acceptable. The layout pattern of large format shouldn’t be a ”feature”. It should be unnoticable when well done. You should see the whole, without noticing a “pattern”.

What are you using for backer board?

what is the purple wall board? is that in the shower? only wet rated substrates go in the shower.

where's the niche in the picture?

full tile in the niche?

have you looked at actual pictures of these showers w/these tiles? it would help if you had a visual

how about this one

I would recommend using a solid piece for the bottom shelf. that one grout line looks funky. A Schluter jolly trim piece, or bullnose would also look better for the edges.

is it too late to do the niche like this?

maybe a 24x24 or 24x48 tile would work better for you layout?

1/3 layout

This is a very personal opinion, but I simply don't like the Jolly type edging. I think that it always looks cheap. But that's just me others will definitely disagree.

IMO the schluter edge is clean and neat looking and not at all cheap. But the niche needs to go and that needs a 1/3 offset or stacked there is IMO no random way to laytile you need a plan for sure . What is that purple stuff? I love 12 x24 tile just as you are using them on the floor and the shower walls but I hate niches and more so when tiling is done DIY Get a nice caddy tha hangs over the door or wall. I do not like colored schluter just the nice stainless one

The look of Jolly and the position of a niche are not the most important issues to address for the OP, it's the possible use of "purple dry wall" inside the shower as a tile backer board.

HU-2297.....you coming back?

Is that purple gypsum board actually in your shower and you're tiling over it?

If so, it's incorrect. The purple board is mold resistant and should be limited to areas w/no water. (like the bathroom wall, behind your sink and toilet) Would you like to read the specs?

https://www.goldbondbuilding.com/products/mold-resistant-drywall-panels/xp-gypsum-board

GoldBondXP

Works For Interior Projects

• All wall and ceiling applications.
• As tile backerboard in dry areas.
• In areas with limited water exposure, such as toilet/sink areas and above tile in tubs and showers.

These gypsum boards have organic materials to it. organic materials will feed mold growth, which is why you don't use it in a wet area like a shower. Cement board is the proper substrate for the shower if you just want to tile on top of it. (vapor barrier behind the cementboard, OR the waterproofing membrane such as Redgard on top of it, both work fine)

And no, the manufacturer of Kerdi and Schluter do not want the purple stuff used under their shower system membranes. They recommend the plain old white drywall.

@Beth H. : Just to point out there are alternatives to cement boards for use as tile backer boards in showers, most of the waterproofing companies have waterproof foam backer boards. But, yes, any gypsum drywall type product should be avoided in a shower.

If the purple board has a gypsum core then your contractor has used a product that should not be used in showers. Has any of this work been inspected? You need to ask your GC what the purple board is and ask if they understand the requirements for tile backer board in showers.

HU-222. It's common for some tiles to be short a 1/4" or so. (like 2x4's are no longer really 2"X4")

As I stated in my last comment, as per the manufacturers specs, the purple board should NOT be used under any membrane. (Unless, it's specifically rated for usage under a membrane like Kerdi. I know they specify regular drywall under their products. have the contractor show you the specs for both Kerdi underlayment and the Purple XP usages. If BOTH say it's OK to use under a membrane in a shower, fine.

Sorry your tiling is almost complete, but it plainly states that the purple board should not be used in a shower.

Jeff, yes, the foam boards are also fine. It's just that not many people use those. Moreoften it's the cement board, or the Kerdi type.

Many manufactures now make waterproof tile backer boards, Schluter, Latictrete, Nobleseal etc that professional contractors can easily obtain. Lowes does Schluter Kerdi board.

Just a thought, if Kerdi is ok over drywall, why spend more on purple drywall?

I'll answer my own question - or at least theorize. Regular Kerdi is only a vapor retarder and so some water vapor will get through, also because of the warmth of the shower condensation might form on the backside of the wall board in some circumstances ie cold days, exterior walls, poor insulation. So that might be why mold resistant gypsum board is being used here. But given that why not just use something even more mold resistant like CBU or one of the waterproofed foam panels. I come back to my contention that I would not want to see paper faced drywall in my shower. When I did mine I have CBU (Durock) and Hydroban on the walls and Durock with a 3 mil poly vapor barrier and insulation on the ceiling with a finish layer of veneer plaster. In my area walls and ceilings are usually blueboard with plaster, but my GC recommended using CBU with a bonding agent for the plaster if I wanted a painted ceiling which I thought was a good idea.