Bathroom tile questions

Big bathroom, could be 17.5' x 20'

7 x 5

Don't tile to the ceiling except MAYBE in shower area. It's a tacky suburban look to go to the ceiling all over ... marble elegante palazzo.

Classic NY is to just below med cabinet, bumping up to shower faucet level on that area. Then attach towel bars just above tile line in main area, so future changes to those are patchable in paintable plaster, not tile.

Newer standard for shower faucet height is 80", so many people add the extra foot of tile to reach the ceiling. I still would stop at 86", though. That allows the pistachio wall paint color to tie around the whole room, at least a little.

Probably the typical 7X5= 35 sq ft

Uptowngal,

I disagree with Alanhart. I have renovated hundreds of bathrooms and I like the ones that have tile up to the ceiling. If a budget is a concern that is a different story. If the bathroom is very old the walls might have to be skim coated anyway so the cost difference might not be so bad

Agree with Alanhart. Just re-did my bathroom and tiled up to (but below) the medicine cabinet. Looks a lot less stuffy than if I had tiled to the ceiling. Also lets you show off a nice paint color that can be used as an accent to the tile.

I have tile up to about the final two feet of the wall. Love the look.

For a standard postwar 5x7 (tub, toilet, vanity), I like to tile to the ceiling in the tub area and up to or a little below the medicine cabinet and around that wall. The wall on the other side of the tub left untiled, with wood or tile base moulding. There are always exceptions. If the bathroom feels small, it can sometimes look bigger if it were completely tiled but you have to be so careful with your choice of tile. I have seen a very compact bathroom tiled in white thassos to devastating effect.

In a high ceilinged bathroom, I like to tile to end a couple of feet short of the ceiling.

10023, that's my case. High ceilings.

And you really can't go wrong with white subway tile.

Also look at door placement - is it on the long or short side of bathroom wall?

Primer is spot-on.
With right choice of materials even smallest bathroom can feel much bigger.
http://www.byaccnyc.com/Fifth-Avenue--5.html

a combination of tiles and mirrors is very nice. Like hotels do. If done well can make a small bathroom appear much larger.

You know this is all a matter of taste and design. Some designs call for the tile to go all the way up and some only halfway and some no need to tile anything but the wet areas. Also, wall paper could be a great alternative if you need save money and it brings another texture to the room. You can also just use paint and do a faux finish which is so easy these days. A great DIY project and it is only paint and maybe later on when you get the funds you can tile the whole room. Good Luck!

if you're doing the floors as well, basket-weave pattern is classic and elegant. It also gives some visual impact to an otherwise overlooked part of the project.

if its larger tiles, then go to the ceiling, if its smaller ones, maybe halfway.

toss in a border or a trim here and there.

Depending on the layout of the room you can tile just one of the walls to the ceiling (I do think all the way helps the room feel taller) and consider it like an accent wall. Then paint and art work or mirrors to balance the room. Also I agree the size of the tile and type/color are very important to make it work.

Oops - typo - i meant 35 sq ft - thx raddoc.

nyc10023 - the door is on the long side of the bathroom wall.

I'm thinking of using subway tile w a color border to add some 'personality'. i want a look that's simple & elegant, not 'overstyled' with tile in an obscure color or pattern.

the point about replacing towel bars, etc. is a good one. If I go w floor-to-ceiling tile, how difficult would it be to fix/replace a towel bar?

thx for all the advice!