Designing Kitchens and Bathrooms - Basic Question: Where to Start?

I'm about to tackle my first bathroom remodel. I'll be putting down some great basketweave marble tile that comes in 12" x 12" sheets. My question is where should I start laying the tile? The bathroom floor area is approx. 5' x 5' with the vanity and toilet on the left hand side. The tub is in lengthwise across the back wall, so the most visible areas will be the right-hand wall and the edge across the front of the tub.

Thanks for your help!

Dan

With a floor like that, I really think, were it my floor, I'd do something interesting with it. For instance, you could do a band around the edge with an interesting looking porcelain and the rest with the marble, only diagonal the marble. As to where to start laying the tile, do your layout first and then follow the lines.

I had the same situation when I did my bath. I put the full tiles in front of the tub and wall opposite the vanity and toilet. I ended up with a half tile along the door. My wife and I are very happy with the way we did it. Most of the replies disagreed with me, so lay it out and make your own decision.

Basically, you want all the tiles that butt up against the outer walls and tub to be approoximately the same size so that the floor looks centered. In your case, you have a 5' x 5' room and 1' x 1' tiles so the math may work out quite nicely for you and you may not have to make any cuts at all. Keep in mind that the threshold at the door may extend beyond the area you measured.

While not necessarily your case, what you do not want to see is something like a full tile on one side of the room and a 2" strip on the other. The floor will look off centered and give you an odd feeling that somethings not right (sorry michealshortt).

If the math does not work out to use full uncut tiles in your situation, then lay it our such that you will have a 6" to 6 1/2" tile piece that runs the perimiter of the room. Thats a 4 by 4 grid perfectly centered with almost a 1/2 tile all the way around. This configuration will allow for any adjustments you need to make at the threshold.

If you haven't already, plan on removing the toilet and putting the tile underneath it. Do not attempt to try to cut the tiles to shape around it. You will drive yourself mad trying to get a good fit. You will also try to compensate with a large bead of caulk which will ruin the look of your install.
You can leave the vanity in place if desired as you will be making square cuts around it. Better chance of success there.

Good luck, the floor will help make the room special.