[Mamabug]

Randomly dreaming about bathrooms. Our current bathroom was done in 1976 and was of er, um, Mediterranean influence in its tiles. Vanity is disintegrating, old style wire-reinforced cracked shower screen. Spotted mirror on the medicine cabinet etc, etc.

I am pondering a reno of large white wall tiles with dark grout and dark grey floor tiles. White bath and basin, not sure if I am thinking of dark or white vanity unit.

Any thoughts, things I am overlooking etc???

Our last bathroom was very 'heritage' - cream and maroon tiles, beige bath, basin and tapware, dark green towels, so I am looking for something a bit different.

[Banana Pancakes]

Not my style but if you like it go for it! I love the look of white wall tiles with the white grout. To me it looks very fresh but different strokes and all that!

[katpaws]

I think you would be better off having grout that matches the tile (unless you are using some funky tile that suits a different colour). I have just finsihed decorating three new bathrooms/powder room in a reno and worked closely with the tiler to make sure everything was done as well as possible.

Our main bathroom (i have posted some pics of it in a thread here) was designed around bronze/silver/brown tiles which go over one wall (shower wall) and the floor. The colour is great for hiding dirt. The grout is brown. We did consider silver but decided that would not look very good.

Our ensuite has black tiles on the floor (marble) and white on the walls - all with matching grout. The powder room has silver glass tiles with silver grey grout around the vanity, which is white with a silver glass top. I think it (matching grout colour to tiles) gives a more polished look.

I think you would have to see some examples of tiles with different coloured grouting to see if that is the effect you want.

This post has been edited by katpaws: 08/04/2012, 03:24 PM

[Mamabug]

katpaws - I have seen the white tile with darker grout, and liked it, which is why I was thinking of it. I really dislike how lighter colour grout discolours over time, and was hoping the darker grout would reduce this.

What about a lighter grey wall tile with grey grout and darker grey tiles on the floor?

[katpaws]

With our white tiles we went for a darker white grout so that dirt would not be so apparent. Also, bad grouting can lead to discoloured grouting and greying (and my tiler would probably add make sure you clean the tiles every now and then!). A friend who reno'ed the same time as us has grey tiles with gray/white grouting which was looking very dirty - and that was because the grouting had not been done well and had to be redone.

Gray tiles with gray grouting could look good, depending on the tile. Gray is a very "in" colour at the moment.

I think with tiling it is pretty much the tile (quality) and the tiler (who grouts) that makes it all work and look good.

[Mamabug]

Gray tiles with gray grouting could look good, depending on the tile. Gray is a very "in" colour at the moment.

Hmmmm....so when will it become dated? I don't plan on ever renovating this bathroom again!!! I figure the first job lasted more than 30 years, so can this one.

Can tiling be done without grout? That would be the perfect solution.....

[la di dah]

I am totally mad for black and white (mostly white, ratio-wise) bathrooms. I don't want an all white bathroom as I find that a stark, meat-locker effect, and I wouldn't want a scary mostly-black '80s drug dealer bathroom, but I looove me a white bathroom with black accents.

white groat white tile is super pretty and seamless.

dark groat Personal opinion, is that it wouldn't work as well if there were no dark elements in the bathroom to tie to. A thin line of black pencil tile and/or a floor like this would have worked as well IMO.

I think the dark works well if you don't mind a more vintage/art deco sort of look?

Sorry for photobombing I just find it helpful to show what I meant. These are not my house or anything (I wish!).

[katpaws]

Hmmmm....so when will it become dated?

It really depends on the tile and the design.

My ensuite (black and white) will probably last in design for longer than my main bathroom because it is a simple and modern/classic design. My main bathroom is very modern and for some people it would not appeal (even with the chandelier i am putting up and all the mirrors lol). However, it makes a statement and feels very luxurious.

My main bathroom is:

http://i1101.photobucket.com/albums/g436/s...7/280212015.jpg

I wouldn't want a scary mostly-black '80s drug dealer bathroom

La di dah, i looked up some grey tiles that were the subway look and it was very prison like! I would not be game to pick up the soap...

[KnightsofNi]

We did ours black and white. White wall tiles (with white grout). Very dark grey floor tiles (with grey grout). And shades of grey and steel mosaic feature tiles. 4 years on and it still looks great.

Oh and white vanity.

[la di dah]

La di dah, i looked up some grey tiles that were the subway look and it was very prison like! I would not be game to pick up the soap...

Yeah, I saw one bathroom that was supposedly very high-end and fashionable but with multiple shower heads and all grey tile, it just looked like my time in military basic training barracks... I ain't never been to prison, lol, but its a similar aesthetic. Bit spartan for me for a home bathroom.

I like grey but I think would personally rather have the tile be black/white and then do grey for the painted parts of the wall. That way its the easiest to change in five or so years. Or if I start feeling mopey and depressed in there, I can paint it fairy floss instead very easily, rather than retiling, which ain't gonna happen.