New Shower ~ again

The rowhouse was somewhat finished in late 2019, however during COVID a drip was discovered coming from the kitchen ceiling. After investigation Brad found the shower upstairs was leaking ~ mainly to poor workmanship when installing the drain. Over some time the floorboards dried out and are still in good condition beneath but the shower had to be ripped out and rebuilt. This time the shower head will be positioned for a tall person of 6'4" and proper waterproofing will be done.

The rowhouse is on the industrial side with the use of exposed brick walls and accents of black / gold and gray.

The hardest thing is not getting the work done - but finding someone who can fit it into their busy schedule and is competent enough to do the job without taking us to the cleaners, again. Finally after 6 months that was accomplished however we still end up paying a hefty fee for the work ~ but it should be done right this time.

Originally, the shower was designed with long beveled subway tiles double stacked. The floor was a dark gray flat pebble and accents of grey penny tile ran up the wall. (You can see it in the left mirror). This is all going to change.

Styles and trends change quickly ~ and it's already 2 years since we picked the original design. Now lets try for something that isn't so labor intensive and period appropriate for a century old row house.

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SHOWER NICHE

I think sometimes you can try to hard to make that niche a focal point ~ when it's not necessary. The old rule ~ less is best ~ comes into play here. If the walls are simple - then it can be played up ~ but if the walls also have pattern - it's best to just run the wall pattern thru the niche and find something striking for the flooring.

Here's a great webpage with 70 ideas for niches ~ Next Luxury

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I'm loving the spa like feel of the porcelain marble and faux wood tile. These tiles are larger than 12' x 24'. We have a floor outside that is gray linen....

WOW~ spa ~ this could work.

They just used a few boards that look like wood for the niche.

The flooring is a mix with black and wood

A little mid century feel here - the look of gray, wood, white and black. Pricey at $38.95 sq ft, but if we can keep the other prices down ~ I'm game.

13.5" x 15.62 ~

Tile Bar ~ Phantasm Marble

It is a mosaic - so the sheet will bend and there are grout lines between all the colors.

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Today at Lowes I found this:

24 x 24 Polished ~ great reviews. Did not see this one in the store.

Larger means less grout lines.

Satori Regent Satuario

This smart person ~ bought a bunch extra porcelain and laid the pattern on the floor before installing. That way he was able to link up the veins ~ which looks so much richer and realistic.

He then used the basketweave on the floor.

12 x 12 $ 12.98 sq ft

Black Basket Weave

IN THE STORE TODAY:

12 x 24" Matte Porcelain Statuario

1.99 sq ft

Look at the difference in color between the matte and the polished. In this tile I like the matte - clearer, cleaner and whiter.

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ACCENT TILES

GBI Garda Marble 12 x 12

Pricey at $29.95 sq ft

Garda in the niche and small Bow Tie on the floor.

Bow Tie Mosaic

Actually a very small basket weave at $5.98 sq ft

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INDUSTRIAL

Keeping the price down and industrial -

use the black hexagon in the niche as an accent the black and white basketweave on the floor.

I was thinking of running the black up the wall on the shower head side - but it might be too busy with all the veins ~ and not necessary.

Black Polished Marble Hex

12 x 12 ~ $11.98 sq ft

I think the black shiny against the matte porcelain would be sexy. It has a few veins of its own because it's also marble. This could also go on the floor but I'm always partial to the basketweave in an older home ~ traditional. I have it in my own guest room.

~ GRAY ~

BASKETWEAVE

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If you wanted to keep in tune with the gray flooring in the bathroom - go for a gray basket weave. The marble design will be busy - so the calming gray tone carried throughout would be sophisticated.

Observe ~ gray on gray tone. Nothing jumping out at you .

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Check out this Carrara Parquet Polished Tile

Just display it in the niche - maybe some marble chair rails around it.

Carrara Parquet

$13.98 sq ft ~ 12 x 12

Sky Light Beveled Mirror and Glass

This was a popular tile - they are out of stock. Very cool with the mirror effect. 19.98 sq ft 12 x 12

Also comes in a small herringbone which would be better suited for a shower floor. Slight Blue tones in the glass - that look grey.

Mirror Herringbone $10.98 sq ft

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FROM HOME DEPOT

Matte black tiles - with shiny penny tile mix on the floor.

Penny Tiles with larger slabs.

And last but not least to carry on your green theme.

Border with Shiny Green tile on top of a high chair rail. Ok ~ this is pricey. But after going into so many model homes in town this last week - over $4 million ~ the shiny handmade subway tiles~ basic size and larger ~ are the rage!

If you have a black pebble tile - again not my favorite because it’s a row house ~ but if you use it ~ I like the black vs the gray pebble. Use BLACK grout.

The black hexagon at my Lowes is marble with white veining and is shiny - like it better. Yours looks like a black matte. So that’s matte floor with matted walls. Would rather see a contrast ~ and shiny is coming back in style. (is your porcelain tile matte or shiny). The hexagon repeats the hearth in the bedroom and the front door ~ not that it matters ~ but it’s good design and have a richer look. It also repeats the kitchen counter. The shiny will also repeat the shiny of the slab on the bench.

Maintenance on the shiny vs the matte will also be much easier. Floors constantly have to be cleaned ~ and the matte is unfinished. I know there is a price difference but you're talking only about $150 more in the long run for the floor ~ if you can get it.