I would avoid having a different tile in the shower niche AND lighting inside the niche. Why? Simple, elegant, unfussy is the way to go.

Beth, thanks for the inspiration photos. This porcelain terrazzo is the best in that has color throughout so if it chips, you still see color. I'm heading to Bedrosians this morning! I'll keep you posted.

I'm looking for something a little different. What if I use a blue glass tile up at the 8 foot mark (10 foot ceilings) to line up with the windows into the bedroom? I'd use a riff cut wall mounted oak vanity.

honestly? just use the same tile. breaking it up will look choppy.

pick your tile first

I get that. However, those 10 foot ceilings seem cavernous. My original thought was to stop the tile at 8 feet but my tile guy said it was a mistake. I'm off to tile stores now.

yeah, you don't want to stop. just take it up. once you get the doors in and the walls all done, it will look fine

otherwise you're going to get this look. I think doing all tile would have looked better in this instance. (and it's less work since the tile guy has to cut green board to go above the cement board)

what you could do is a dark color ceiling. it will visually bring down the height. (here they did leave a foot gap above the tile.

Where is the inspiration for the darker tile at the ceiling.

I found some 27" x10" tiles (creme and taupe) that look great but its a thinner ceramic tile. Not sure if not getting a harder porcelain for the walls is a good idea. The fact that it's only $.89 sqft might be a clue.

A little too warm for the gray.

I think if you stay in rental, why don’t you go wild. You only ccstay there for few years.

.89 sq ft ? yeah, I'd stay away from that tile.

I like your idea w/this (but I'd also paint the ceiling the same color as the upper tile)

However, this is way too busy looking. that floor tile is a strong NO from me.

All the diff directions on the wall w/diff tiles? also a no. Where's the window??

This is how you get multiple tiles and layouts to work together:

Here are some examples using diff tiles together. lots o pics!

I really like this one. notice the terrazzo in the niche

You could use that same terrazzo for the floor tile outside the shower, or you could switch the black tiles to white and vice versa.

https://www.tilebar.com/terrazzo-italy-sacra-nero-24x24-honed-marble-tile.html

I think that black/white tile is from tilebar. they have some diff options

This one is prob my favorite shower wall layout. love the long niche and how it dead ends.

I also lke the matte subway tiles. (check out Bedrosians Makoto tile)

you could easily use the terrazzo in the white (like the one I posted further up) or the simple black one. With a wood vanity, this would be a killer bathroom.

I noticed you have a walnut vanity. I like it. I like it w/black tiles or a slate gray

Another idea for a walnut vanity and a marble-look top. vertical stack tile layout (again, try the makoto tiles for this look) . Pendant lights are cool too.

I like the shower walls and how their laid, even the vertical accent is ok. I would not use these sliced pebble tiles in a rental. they're difficult to keep clean and will stain

This is a coastal bathroom. To save some money, consider doing this vertical wall planks instead of tile behind the vanity (or whichever wall you were going to do)

In fact, these next two are very coastal looking styles that really wouldn't cost you too much to do

Cloe or Portmore tile in a vertical, white oak vanity, tile behind the quartz countertop, and a porcelain floor tile that looks like cement. (you could als do that white terrazzo)

Finish it off w/the custom wood shelf and some beachy looking mirrors / lights

Here's a white porcelain terrazzo tile you may like comes in diff colors: https://www.perigold.com/bath/pdp/ivy-hill-tile-raleigh-1614-in-x-1614-in-polished-terrazzo-floor-and-wall-tile-361-sq-ft-case-sost4177.html

This one is also very coastal. look at Bedrosians cloe in the baby blue (or check out some of their other subway tiles). The vanity is pretty easy to DIY (the doors anyway) Or you can buy this console from wayfair or target and have it modified for plumbing. it's low enough so you could use a vessel sink like this. Wallmount the faucet and run some veritcal shiplap

what do you think about these longer subways in a herringbone? love the wood on the ceiling too. This is simple but makes an impact. a 4x16 tile size is what you want here.

penny round tile is also a coastal looing option. simple white subway tile in the shower laid in a basketweave pattern is inexpensive

here's your wood look tile floor, wood vanity and honed black countertop,,, (the wood plank tiles are really on the outs at this point)

vertical wall planks.

Now something like this set up you could go a little more dramatic w/the shower tiles.

and the zebra terrazzo tiles would look great here.

stay w/the black and white:

bad photo, but if you click on here you'll see the tile and the install photos

https://www.tilebar.com/terrazzo-italy-sacra-bianco-24x24-honed-marble-tile.html

lastly, do your renters a favor and have something inset in the studs. This is pretty easy to do

you can leave it open w/nice wood shelves or put a door on it

paul, I found a wood look porcelain in a 8x24 size. I normally don't like these, but this herringbone layout w/the driftwood looking tile is really nice.

shown on a floor here, but if you have a large wall space to do, this might look good. on the sides you could do a longer plain white subway

https://www.perigold.com/bath/pdp/ivy-hill-tile-numa-4-x-24-porcelain-wood-look-wall-floor-tile-sost5103.html

they also have a 2x20, Nantucket

A mottled herringbone was actually my first thought! Suddenly I don't mind the tall ceiling.

Different option! I went out scouring again and thought that some of the 24" x 48" stone-look tiles (with fossils) looked pretty good at Walker Zanger, for the shower walls. They also had some mottled glass button tile for the niches. I also, found a another place with 24"x48" piece of the porcelain terrazzo too, for cheaper. What do you think of this option?

I really like this combo

you could do w/a white and gold hardware,,,

Or, more of a boho with this type of decor ((vanity, lights, black hardware, the rug, etc)

another white oak vanity

I also like that herringbone shower you did w/the blue tiles.

The grayish combo in the last pic is nice. for that I might choose an actual colored vanity to give it a little oomph.

Or, this black walnut vanity w/gold hardware would also look nice

If you can stand one more option. Floor tile and wall tile under $10... Glass tile for niche only $85.

I like the first option.

The first in the last post or the first... way up there 👆

right above, first one.

that above paired w/this look, even the coastal shiplap, would look nice

the blue tile doesn't work w/the warmer terrazzo in the next pic. if you want that one (which I do like w/the vanities I posted above) then look for a warmer mosaic tile in those similar color.

I like all of these elements w/that longer white subway in the herringbone.

So, I found a mottled 8"x3" tile that I like for $7 a sq. It gives me a funner beachy vibe. I'd skip the glass tile in the niche and just use the floor tile in there. Any thoughts?

is that the cloe or portmore tile?

What if you did two walls in the shower in a white, and the back wall in something beachy?

you see how these are done? white stacked subway on the side, and more of an accent on the middle (these are just black, but use your imagination)

You should take a look over at Bedrosian tile. look at the Makoto line, the Sahara line, and a few of the others. they look like this shower tile:

https://www.bedrosians.com/en/product/detail/by-look/subway/sahara-tile

You'll find that those tiles will work way better w/your terrazzo than the ones in your last pic.

Makoto link

https://www.bedrosians.com/en/product/detail/makoto-tile/?itemNo=DECMAKKUB2510M

Or, what about this look? use the XL porcelain tiles for the back wall, and the porcelain look tiles on the other. I love the look of this one.

Check out the Lines tile at Tilebar, or some of the other marble look porcelain

Did you look at the Tilebar Rizo-Cenare? I've used them on a project

https://www.tilebar.com/rizo-cenere-24x24-terrazzo-look-porcelain-tile.html

IvyHill carries these too. they come in many diff colors.

While you're over on Tilebar, check out the Kenridge ribbon tiles for the shower. you could combine the two for a modern look. scroll down and look at the gallery of installation photos for ideas

https://www.tilebar.com/kenridge-ribbon-black-24x48-matte-porcelain-tile.html

I can't copy the photos, so go here, scroll down, and slide through the diff photos of the kenridge maple color. imaging it in the black/gray w/your terrazzo and a wood vanity.

https://www.tilebar.com/kenridge-ribbon-maple-24x48-matte-porcelain-tile.html

you could do something w/it similar to this look

Or, instead of the subways that vary a lot w/color, what if you did a scallop/fishtail tile?

On clearance for $6.99. lots of colors too

https://www.bedrosians.com/en/product/detail/sorrento-tile/?itemNo=DECSORCELWAVG

This Marin tile in this beautiful coastal green would be lovely w/the black/white terrazzo. lay the tile in a stacked, basketweave or a herringbone

https://www.bedrosians.com/en/product/detail/backsplashes/marin-tile/?itemNo=100003174

I think I showed you this one earlier. I still like this idea.

Similar colors on sale

https://www.bedrosians.com/en/product/detail/sorrento-tile

With your black and white terrazzo, I'd stick w/the black/white and wood accents.

maybe do something cool w/the vanity/lighting

Or, what about using the terrazzo like this?

Get a box of those tiles you're looking at and lay them all out. that's the only way you're going to see the variation w/the color.

This is similar to what you would get. C-photo.

These are the makoto tiles in the Arashi blue color. it's stunning. but look at the tile on the floor outside the shower. you'd get a similar look w/your terrazzo. You may want to something like this with either the black or the white makoto tile.

with your warmer choice, I think this color makoto (Umi Terracotta) would look killer

for the shower floor, I'd do the matte black 2" round

wood vanity, black hardware, a white or black vanity top,,,,done!

You unlocked the key to the warmer terrazzo... it needs black somewhere! Those are some great inspiration photos for me. Thanks! You are always so generous with your time and talent. I appreciate it.

The color tile is called Ragno Gleeze. It's much more handmade looking than I thought I'd like but you can't beat the color variation in the glaze. I just may use the same tile in white for the kitchens. They have sculpted matching tiles I could mix in too... little recessed surfboard shapes.

Those tiles are pretty. Where are you thinking of using them? Post a photo of the white ones too.

Here's a horrible photoshop of the one bathroom. Also, the Blanco gleeze tile.

Looking at the white again, it might be a better, cleaner look for the second bathroom, no?

Instead of this:

yes, I like the white one

I'm adding one more element for the back of the lighted shampoo niches. It's kind of pearlized and textured. Kinda beachy, no?

those are kind of cool. I hope the niche is rather large? not tall so much as wide

i love the dead end niche

the vertical orientation is nice too

or, you could use the terrazzo tile like this, w/inset shelves

I really like the shelves people are putting in now verses the niches.

The wraparound niche and vertical blue tiles are a dream shower to me! It is the epitome of “interesting decor but also practical”.

Yes, I thought it was wrap around too but I think its wall to wall. My niches are about 24" wide and I think finished will be about 14" high. The bathrooms are scratch coated and waiting for my tile to come in. What a relief. Emser, a local tile store told me "We sell a lot of tile for a lot of rental properties and no one puts the design effort you're putting into it". Haha... likely because it is torturous.

found another terrazzo look

I also like this one w/the zellige tile, the natural wood vanity w/the cement vanity top/sink

So, it decision time! Which tile goes on the back of the shampoo niche? One piece of the terrazzo flooring OR a pearlized looking textured yellow tile to pick up the yellow tones in the blue tiles? This is a rental near the beach. People won't around long enough to get sick of it. There will be an LED strip lighting the back as a nightlight. The tub is white.

Same as the floor. I like the contrast of the speckled tile with the smooth vertical tile.

Thanks for the feedback. The mix has an interesting effect in person, the white floor radiates a blue tone but its all reflected color. It's more gray.

the white terrazzo. 100%

I did one for my neighbor and used a recycled glass mosaic

or, just use same tile

tile looks great Paul.

For my eye, spotlighting the niche against that beautiful tile is a distraction, sort of like an out of scale tiny picture hung on a large blank wall. Can't the back of the niche be a continuation of the beautiful blue tile?

I totally agree with @tozmo1 but if you are dead set on a different tile. please dont use the beige one. it does not play well with the wall or floor.

Last chance!

1 or 3. NO to #2

I really like the niche in the blue tile!

This was the inspiration but I get there's a pronounced contrast in my tiles.

I vote #1. That color is beautiful.

#1

#1 for sure!

Last shampoo niche tile choice to make. Which do you prefer?

I like the first one, or the last.

but since you cut your niche too short at the top, leaving you w/1" cut tiles, doing the center portion means you would have to take that amount off the top row so that it looks like it continues into the niche. if that makes sense

Or, just turn them this way

you could also do the math and make the top and bottom rows the same size.

last thing you want are small cut tiles in the niche. YOu may be better going w/this solid piece

(back should have been done first, then the side pieces, which would have fit right over the sides/end cuts)

I'd planned on the terrazzo back but I need to buy another box to do that... I ran out! I did use tiles on the back of the blue bath in the same units... maybe I need to make it consistant? Looks very nice.

How about using the same shower wall tile but turning the tiles landscape for the niche just to provide some contrast?

It looks VERY nice! Happy accident.

Looks amazing! Would you mind sharing where you got the tiles? Currently looking for a similar style for our guest bath. Thanks!

@Alexa T, sorry I just saw this. The tile is Ragno Gleeze - I used the Turchese and Bianco colors.