Comments on: #1 choice for retro bathroom flooring — 3 awesome new choices from Daltile!

By: pam kueber

pam kueber — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 22:33:58 +0000

Kersten — Go straight to the Re-Store — see what the retro decorating gods have for you there. 54 s.f.? You might hit the jackpot! Where do you live (more or less)? Maybe some readers in your area have recommendations on places to find great salvage tile.

By: Kersten

Kersten — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 22:30:54 +0000

Pam!
I’ve been pouring over the bathroom section of your site for months. And, one night, I couldn’t take it anymore, and put my bathroom vanity/sink, and two wall cabinets on craigslist. They were grossly WRONG for our 1957 ranch, and had to GO. Well, they sold much faster than we anticipated, and for about 6 week now, we’ve been without a sink and trying to decide what to do in the bathroom. Although the floor is in great shape, it is ugly (terracotta type 4″ tiles put in in the 90’s). So, we’re going to try doing this in “stages” so we don’t spend a ton of cash at once. SO- we decided to start with the floor. I really want the Block Random from Daltile, but it is crazy expensive for our budget (would be over $1,000 for our small 54 sq/ft bathroom)! So, we are thinking about sheets of artic white keystone, and pop some out here and there and add a little pink carnation speckle and waterfall randomly. Sadly, they won’t sell any of these fun colors in single sheets. I am totally stumped and tired of brushing my teeth in the kitchen sink. Can you please provide a little direction?

By: pam kueber

pam kueber — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 23:49:06 +0000

Woah, WrenchingTiara,
Here are photos of Nancy’s bathroom, which used the Daltile Keystone mosaic, I don’t think she thinks it looks like a “public toilet”! http://retrorenovation.com/2008/11/10/nancy-completes-her-yellow-50s-bathroom/

Personally, I would not likely do business with sales staff who do not want to show me what I want to see.

Finally – if you search octagon on the site I am pretty sure there are a fair number of pics of those floors, too. The bottom line on all of this: Survey your choices…then choose what floats your boat.

By: WrenchingTiara

WrenchingTiara — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 22:25:41 +0000

I went to the Dal-Tile showroom with a printout of the Keystones Block Random Almond and Square Random Biscuit (shown above), thinking this would be a snap. The saleswoman was very demeaning, saying these were for industrial/commercial applications only, like “public toilets.” She told me I should get octagon and dot, and when I mentioned that I had read those were correct for homes built earlier than mine (ca. 1960), she became incensed and asked “Where are you getting this information?” I of course caved and let her send me samples of white octagon and gray dot, which I have to admit look very snazzy in my bathroom. My contractor also felt negative about the small mosaic patterns because of all the grout–maybe more work to install, but also hard to keep clean. Just thought I’d share that feedback, which I was not expecting.

By: pam kueber

pam kueber — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 20:00:23 +0000

Hi WrenchingTiara, I think that as long as at least one color in the mosaic floor picks up on one color in the shower, that would work beautifully. Have you also seen the Nemo Appiana mosaics? All the flooring resources are on the Fast & Easy Bathroom page – repeated also on the Fast & Easy Flooring Page. Take a look, I think there may be few others to take a look at.

By: WrenchingTiara

WrenchingTiara — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 19:24:16 +0000

I am redoing the floor of my bathroom in an Eichler home, built in 1960 in San Fernando Valley. The shower was retiled 15 years ago in a mostly white marble-look tile. Would the Daltile choices shown (Block Random Almond or Squre Random Biscuit) be best for me, or could I use a mosaic with some color in it, like “Beach” blend in Daltile Keystones collection? http://www.daltileproducts.com/series.cfm?series=238#3602

By: John Ordway

John Ordway — Fri, 24 Apr 2009 15:30:28 +0000

Excellent. Thanks much. I couldn’t find on Home Depot website, but I am capable of actually physically going to my local store.

And thank you for that advice re “satin.” I have no idea what the finish is on the tiles that I’m replacing since they are 1938 tiles (and pretty well-used, if you know what I mean). But I know I don’t want a matte finish — unless that’s what folks recommend these days.

Thanks again for the advice and quick response. I was beginning to tear my hair searching on the internet.

By: pam kueber

pam kueber — Fri, 24 Apr 2009 02:38:10 +0000

Hi John – Home Depot and Lowes both carry basic 4×4 (or 4-1/4×4-1/4 white tiles, and they are very inexpensive. You can also go to a large tile store – the main names in these basic “field” tiles are: American Olean, Daltile and sometimes you see U.S. Ceramic. You might also be lucky and find some boxes at Habitat for Humanity/Re-Store. Finally…and I am not 100% sure about this, but I don’t think it’s recommended to use glossy tile for high-use countertops. They are more likely to scratch (and show it) than a “satin finish.” Good luck.

By: John Ordway

John Ordway — Fri, 24 Apr 2009 00:04:43 +0000

I should add: non-matte white tiles. 4 x 4.

By: John Ordway

John Ordway — Thu, 23 Apr 2009 23:39:09 +0000

Where can I find simple, inexpensive 4 x 4 white tile for kitchen counter top? I’ve looked at lots of web sites. Some come close. But most have “fancy” tiles. I just need the basic.