First, I am a DIYer so take this advice for what it is worth. 1- if you do succeed in removing all those tiles and reapply them to that greenboard, in a couple of years they will all fall off again anyway. I had that in a condo we were renting in the city a few years ago and as soon as the smallest bit of water gets through your grout (and it will) that board will rot away quickly, the tiles will pop off one by one, and the entire project will need to be done again. 2- if you call in a professional now, they will not apply to that greenboard either (not if they are reputable anyway) and will charge you for ripping it out and installing cement board. Even if some DIY people would apply tile to green board, the green board has now been compromised by you removing the tile. Green board is only coated drywall. The green coating is a waxy coating that is supposed to keep it water resistant. If you look at it, do you think it is going to be water resistant now? If I were you I would cut or score around where the tile currently is and was and remove the green board and tile. I would go buy cement board and screw it to the studs. It goes up just as easy as drywall, you patch it like drywall, and then you have a nice EVEN (your tile is not going to lay nice on that current surface), clean surface that is waterproof to go ahead and install your new tile on. And you are not going to have to worry about having to re-do it in a few years. I promise the extra time spent will be well worth it down the road. It is up to you whether or not you want to call someone in or not. You should know that it will be more than the professional simply laying tile though, he will be charging you for re-doing the backing also. Best of luck, Kalindi

Tell us more about the kids. Gender and ages. Having a teeny tiny jack and jill bath with 2 daughters, I can say that there are several areas that need to be addressed if you want the bath to have some semblance of presentability. And avoid losing your mind. 1-kids are not tall. Do not put storage out of their reach. They won't use it. 2-kids are not married--they don't respect each other's property and share well. So Susie may want Crest, and Sally may want Colgate. Susie may want apple blossom shower gel, Sally may want peach blossom shower gel, etc. So frankly it's easier to have each child have their own set of everything. This also eliminates problems when Sally spends the night at Betsy's house and takes everything with her. 3-kids are not careful like adults. They will get nail polish on your nice tabletop. So very utilitarian surfaces are required. I also suggest using a silicone hot pad under hair straighteners so the countertop isn't singed. 4-Teenage kids are Pigs. Disgusting. And old enough to clean their own bathrooms. Make them do it. Plan a place in the bathroom to store Lysol wipes, glass cleaner, toilet cleaner and brush, and paper towels. I recommend having this chore due on trash night. So at least the trash should get emptied. And any time you hear "mom, can I have a friend spend the night?" the answer is, "of course, but you have to clean your bathroom first" So I think when designing your space, to take into account where and how these items are stored. The functional part is more important to get right the decor part. I found that the $4 paper storage boxes with lids that are sold at Hobby Lobby (for VHS tapes and photos...that size box) are great to use to organize in the bathroom. The lids keep things dust free, and daughters can store "unmentionables" there (so they don't steal all of yours!) and they stack up easily and can be labeled. If you have a shower curtain, there are some that have liners with about 20 pockets on them. These are good for organizing there. And as big of a trash can as you can fit. With a plastic bag liner.

I totally understand your concerns about maintaining congruity with the era of the house. My personal feeling is the the mix of old and new is what makes design interesting. I'm not a fan of walking into say an all modern room in a vintage home. It's jarring. But intentionally integrating a modern element into a more traditional space can be the spark that "makes" it. So, for your bathroom, the larger hex can be a "riff" on the classic tile - that updates it while playing homage to the house's era. At the same time, the use of a solid blue on the floor is already a more modern use of the material. So you could go with a smaller blue hex rather than the larger. I would choose your grout very carefully. I personally don't like a ton of contrast between the tile color and the grout. It just looks really busy to my eye. I also am imminently practical and would never put white grout on a floor. Something in the medium gray range would probably work best but I would have your tile installer make you up a couple sample boards once you get to that point. Smaller hex in a solid color: Grout similar to tile color:

My opinion will be biased because I have very similar tile in my master we redid 12 years ago. 4" squares on the diagonal for the shower floor and 12" squares on main floor and up the shower walls. Coincidentally we are in process of redoing my kids' bath the past few weeks (it was also redone 12 years ago) because a hard-to-find leak in the tub prompted us to consider replacing it....which then brought about the issue of replacing the tiled tub-surround that would be damaged...and we would also have to try to retile some spots on the floor because a new tub would be a smaller footprint leaving some bare spots once old tub was pulled out. My point is that we also had to figure out the whole, "do we do an updated 'patch job' to save a lot of money, or do we just gut it and accept the cost as the price of being at peace with it/enjoying a new look and improved function. Right or wrong...which is always a very subjective thing....we gutted it and I'm thrilled. I was not interested in painting my cabinets just to have them have peel-issues due to steam, and we also got rid of the tub altogether and opted for a stand-up/walk-in shower for my older kids. Resale was considered on this issue...but by the time we move, someone can either love it as we've made it, or we will price the house with an "allowance" in mind. The old space had hot-chocolate colored walls and 'slate' porcelain floor and tub surround...an overall warm and cozy feel but also tired and dated. The new space is a porcelain 'marble' hex with white subway walk-in shower that is awaiting glass doors...an overall calming feeling that is also bright and fresh. I now actually wish SO BADLY that I was able to redo/retile MY whole bathroom (tile similar to yours). And there's nothing wrong with my bathroom, and a planned paint job on the walls will help me like it even more...... In my kids' bathroom, however, even unfinished with the floor and shower tile installed just waiting for the rest to come together (waiting on backordered tile base moulding) ......... I walk in and just smile and breathe deeply because of the way the space now makes me feel :) So my very biased vote is to gut it ;) ;)