ᐅ Transition between wood-look tiles and hardwood flooring

I would like to suggest terrazzo tiles into the discussion @JuliaAlex (don’t get overwhelmed when googling, there are also really nice options).

Or, of course, real terrazzo, if you can afford it and find someone who can do it.

When we first saw the wood-look tiles, we both thought they were pretty good. However, I was bothered from the start by the grout lines that are always visible. Now, after nearly two years of working on our house build, visiting countless show homes, tile exhibitions, bathroom studios, and so on, I just can’t stand them anymore. I’m really glad we decided against them because I feel like in 15 or 20 years, these will become one of those "oh no, 2020s bathrooms with wood-look tiles" things when people buy existing homes.

Taste is always personal, but I have realized I simply don’t like fake wood, neither as tiles, vinyl, nor as décor on bathroom cabinets, because I always notice it and it just feels cheap to me.

We chose tiles that appear timeless and calm to me, with some accents in patterns or textures (herringbone, honeycomb, marble pattern, natural stone flow). You can see in the pictures what inspired us and what we ultimately picked. I thought about what has appealed to me for a long time—for example, the herringbone pattern. I have always liked wooden floors laid in that style, so I hope I won’t cringe when I see our bathroom in 10 years.

For that reason, my personal advice to you would be: Either be very bold and use real wood in the bathroom (apparently possible without children and with special treatment, according to our parquet expert), or if you like wood-look tiles, choose a completely different color tone than the hall floor (for example, you might pick natural oak tones for the hallway and then use the currently trendy look of white-oiled wood flooring in the bathroom). Or really spend more time visiting different tile studios to see what you like.

Whether it is modern or not doesn’t really matter to me. But when I’m on vacation, I often notice that the most timeless hotel bathrooms usually feature light, very subtle natural stone tiles. There, you can see the bathroom is not new, but it doesn’t scream out with some “help, 2000s border tiles and mosaics” look.

Tamstar schrieb:

I would suggest terrazzo tiles, @JuliaAlex (don’t get overwhelmed when googling, there are some really nice options)

Or, of course, real terrazzo if you can afford it and find a supplier.

Terrazzo is definitely an interesting option. Friends of ours used it, and at first, I couldn’t really imagine it, but it actually looks very good. For us personally, though, it’s a bit too much—and it seems quite difficult to find good (affordable) terrazzo tiles.

JuliaMünchen schrieb:

We chose tiles that feel timeless and calm to me, with some accents in terms of patterns or textures (herringbone, honeycomb, marble pattern, natural stone gradient). In the pictures, you can see what inspired us and what we ultimately selected. I have been considering what I’ve liked for a long time; the herringbone pattern was one example. I have always liked wooden floors laid in this pattern, so I hope that in 10 years I won’t cringe when I see our bathroom.

Thank you so much for the detailed response, it’s very helpful. It’s true, the “cringe factor” with wood-look tiles is definitely quite high… One more argument against them.
I really like the combination you chose for the master bathroom! Very bright and simple, but nice. Where are you planning to place the accents? In the shower or behind the toilet? And what type of bathroom furniture are you considering? I would like to have some wood accents in the bathroom, for example as a vanity cabinet.
Unfortunately, we are tied to one tile supplier through our developer, and they have a limited selection.

I suggest considering installing hardwood flooring in the bathroom as well. There are basically no reasons against it—preferably engineered hardwood (which is more dimensionally stable) in wood species that are less sensitive to changes in humidity and temperature, such as oak. It should be oil-finished and fully glued down.

The only downside in the bathroom is the slightly higher maintenance requirement.

Superuser schrieb:

I’d suggest installing hardwood flooring in the bathroom as well.

That would definitely look great, but it’s not an option for us. When our two children take a bath, the entire bathroom ends up flooded, and no hardwood floor could withstand that.