When deciding what type of flooring to install in our bathrooms, Blaine and I looked for options that would relate to the age of the house and look better over time going forward.
After much consideration and research (good sources here and here), we chose the following mosaic tile patterns in a Bianco Carrara Honed (matte finish) Marble:
Basket Weave with Black Dots (1″ x 2″)
For fun, I pulled up some of our old photos to remember what sort of flooring existed in these rooms before we started demo back in 2015.
The downstairs bath before – with (layers of) linoleum flooring
The upstairs bath before – with blue carpet
Another view of the upstairs bathroom – mid demo (carpet removed)
Our third bathroom, the master en suite, wasn’t previously a bathroom, but rather it was my mom’s childhood bedroom (with wood floors)
Our tile was delivered late last summer, and we’re finally done installing it today! 🙂
Our crate filled with marble tile arrived late last summer when the corn was still a little green
Our tractor could just barely carry the >1,000 lb load up the driveway
My hubby, Blaine, slowly moving the heavy load up our drive
Before laying the new tile, HardieBacker Cement Boards were installed. This underlayment will provide a good foundation for the tile floors.
Blaine installs the new underlayment here in the downstairs bathroom
Last October, we laid the penny tile in the upstairs guest bath.
Three-quarter inch penny tiles going down in our upstairs guest bath
Here is the finished floor today:
3/4″ Penny tile
Notice we also installed marble thresholds at each hardwood – tile transition. I think this little detail makes for a more finished look.
The master en suite bathroom floors got the Basket Weave, which is my favorite.
Blaine and our friend, Zach, installing the basket weave mosaic
Blaine grouting the basket weave
We installed the same basket weave tile in the master shower floor, as well
Basket Weave flooring all done
I still need to fix the hardwood at this threshold
With the help of my Dad, we installed Octagon tiles in the downstairs bathroom over Christmas break.
Blaine lines up the threshold and prepares to set the first few octagonal tiles
Dad using the wet saw in the basement to make cuts
This morning, it was partially grouted
Partially grouted downstairs bathroom floor
We added the final covering of grout today – all done! (Except, I will seal this floor tomorrow. I’ve sealed the other two floors already with this.)
We used TEC Power Grout in the color “Sterling” for all three marble floors, which is a shade of light gray. For reference, we also used TEC’s Full Flex Premium Thin Set Mortar for these tile projects.
Downstairs shower floor
Downstairs bathroom floor – done
Whew, that’s one more project checked off our to-do list!
Just before the sun went down this evening, I went out for a walk with the dogs while Blaine cleared the drive. Having lived in the Deep South for several years, I forgot how nice it is to have the ground blanketed in pretty white snow.
Stay warm,
Miranda
Your tile choices are wonderful! It is a lesson in coordinating the tile styles but not making them “matchy-matchy” and allowing each bathroom to feel unique but belonging to the whole. Easy to do in concept but very difficult to pull off in reality. You are talented and it shows!
Thank you for the teachable moment regarding tile choices. Another post for me to memorize for future application.
Happy New Year!!!
Thank you, Karla. You’re very kind. Happy New Year to you too!
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