Bath alcove tiling design help needed!

[Abuela]

I'm working out the details for tiling around my new tub, and I'm feeling overall fine about doing the prep and the actual tiling but totally NOT ok with figuring out a design to follow. I'm worried (with very good reason) that I'll do a decent job of tiling but that it will look like crap because I chose a tile layout design that just doesn't work, or I put the nooks for the shampoos and soaps in the wrong places so that it looks awkward, etc.

If there is anyone who is really good at this and would be willing to help me, I'd be hugely grateful! You don't need to calculate number of tiles - I can do that - but just help me figure out a good design to use considering what I'm trying to do, which isn't even all that complicated (I think): Just white 4x4 or 6x6 square tiles possibly with some subway or smaller square tiles as accents and/or as a border row, plus a black or other color or glass accent line... somewhere. I'll get more specific and post pics if anyone volunteers to help.

If you're not up to helping with the tile design, I still have some other questions that I hope someone can still help me figure out:

1) I want places to put soap and shampoo that are both up high for when I'm showering, and down low for when I'm soaking. Do I have to do this on the ends (one high on the fixture/drain end, one low on the deep end) or would there be a way to make it work on the long wall? My main desire is to not have to turn completely around to get things if I'm soaking but I'm not sure how to make that work aesthetically. I'm probably going to use a prefab niche that can just be tiled into place (Click here to see what I mean).

2) Am I correct that with a very small bathroom, I need to be keeping the design as simple as possible?

3) Related to #2, would it be really off to do something like this in a bathroom that I'm trying to give at least a vague impression of a 1930s bathroom?

(Click here to see more pics of a bathroom that uses mosaic tiles in a somewhat similar way to what I have in mind, though I want to use square white tiles and probably a solid-color glass mosaic tile as the accent.

4) True or false: If I want to tile the shower first and then MAYBE tile all around the bathroom next year, the safest way to plan for that would be to frame the whole thing with a narrow border/edge tile all around, instead of ending it with rounded-edge versions of the tiles I'm using, so that I can later take off just the edge tiles where the wall tile meets the shower tile (and then continue the edging around the room).

FYI the floor will be black and white hex with probably a black (but maybe white) border, since I have not quite enough of the hex tile to fill the room (CS, yes, I'll hopefully FINALLY be installing that tile you gave me this summer!).

[steponmebbbboom]

I would use some sort of bathroom design software to help visualize what the bathroom is going to end up looking like if this were me. (and it soon will be)
i just did a google search for bathroom design software and came up with a few links. I haven't tried any of them, but when the time comes, I think this will be the way to go. I have the exact same concerns you have. I want to remodel my main floor bath into a powder room and do something period-sensitive, but at the same time resale-sensitive (in other words, the design I choose will have to stand up to current sensibilities, as well). Here's the links, see what you think.

http://www.3dspacer.com/interior_design ... s_bath.php

http://www.bathcad.com/ (Not free but maybe you can use the company you are buying tile from to help you using such a program? It would be totally justifiable to get this kind of help if you are buying tile from them)

http://www.kitchendraw.com/

An artist friend of mine used his software program to redesign the front facade of his MCM bungalow. Pretty sure he had to pay for it, but next time I see him I'll ask what he used. I would consider going to a bathroom design centre to get some layout help using their software program, they should be willing to do that for you if you buy stuff from them.

[Abuela]

Thanks!! I never even considered that there would be a design program specific to bathrooms. I'll check them out (well, when I finally get my taxes done... )

[sooth]

My best suggestion for you (as far as picking and planning a design) is to look at a lot of photos and visit tile/bath showrooms. Seems obvious, but the more photos you flip through, the more it will reinforce your decisions. You never know when you might miss an opportunity to add just ONE extra little detail that could make a big difference.

If you want to browse through some of my inspiration photos (also in the 1920-30 range), go to this album. The password is 1923fs.

http://s1018.photobucket.com/albums/af3 ... d%20Ideas/

As for the border tile, I would think that either would work, but that it would be easier to just pick weather you want wall tiles or not NOW, rather than try to do it later. The more common wall options for this period/style would be tiled on the lower half, beadboard (painted or stained), plain wall, or full tile (which I find is a bit much).

[Abuela]

Thanks for the link! The biggest issue I have when looking at pics is that they all seem to be bathrooms MUCH larger than mine (which doesn't take much!!). I checked the measurements and mine is just over 45 sq ft, plus the walls are only 6.5 ft high which makes it feel even smaller. It's just hard for me to have a sense of what's going to look ok in a small space.