Enduring! Your amazing work doesn't end with your herringbone backsplash. That sink is a show-stopper. I love the marble and plain subway together.

Enduring, your bathroom is beautiful! We also are hoping to use plain ceramic or porcelain with marble. I like your floor too...what kind of tile is it?

Thanks you guys!

Linelle, I did 4x4 instead of subway, as that was what was embossed into the plaster of this room that was added on to our little house in the 30's when it got moved to the farm. So I up graded to real 4x4's.

Eljays, the floor is a black Brazilian slate called Montauk. I cut it down from 12x12 to 6x12 approx, a grout width needed to be accounted for. I reenforced the floor joist system to accommodate the stone. Stone takes a stiffer floor.

Thanks Enduring! What do you mean you made the sink? Is it soapstone? I'm really impressed! It's lovely.

Do you think it would work in my bath/shower area to use 3X^ white ceramic subways up to a white ceramic chair rail (maybe with a marble pencil between the second to last row of subways and the chair rail?) topped with 2X4 marble tiles?

What I would do is look at layouts that you like, draw some layouts up, get samples from nearby suppliers, and lay them out on your floor and see what you like. Thats how I came up with my layout, though it is rather typical.

The marble is thicker than the ceramic field tile, so the pencil helped make that transition. I had to build the pencil out a little too, because I wanted the marble and the face of the pencil to be on the same plane. The pencil I have is the same shape as the bottom of the chair rail and the top of the base board tile. It is hard to see in the pictures because there isn't much of a shadow to help it stand out.

Yes, I made the sink, the backsplash/counter, and nearby counter at the tub. These were remnant pieces that where limited in size. It was a very soft and dramatic stone. I have it sanded to a fairly rough texture and I love it. It never shows any scratches but it scratches easily. Here is a picture of the room overall:

Hmmm, lost a post.

Of course Enduring, your field tiles are 4x4, which I love in the bathroom. It just goes to show that whether 4x4 or 3x6, when the overall tilework looks good and cohesive, the actual dimensions don't matter so much. Or maybe they do, but it looks pulled together, not a bunch of separate elements.

Sorry, melissastar, I don't mean to hijack, but enduring-when you mention you sanded the soapstone to a fairly rough texture, do you remember the grit you used? I just love that sink and counter (and bathroom).

Melissastar, how is it coming. Here are examples of how I drew my schemes up in Adobe Illustrator. It was time consuming but I enjoyed the process. The ultimate size for my installed design was what I could get that I liked. I bought my tile local and I am glad I did because I got to see what I was getting. There have been some posters here that have ordered online and their marble looks different from the sample they reviewed. I don't know what percent of GWebers have had this problem but too many for me to feel comfortable.

I used a marble mosaic in 2x4" size pieces, but I cut the mosaic apart to install the running bond because I couldn't get the 12x12 mass to work for me in a consistant manner. I did all my tile work, and I'm a novice. There are some areas that are not perfect, but I don't take pictures of those :)

Leela4, I think the grit was around 120 or maybe even as course as 80. But the color is spectacular on this stone. I have another, harder soapstone that looks like a block of cement when rough - not pretty at all.

This counter is the same stone as the sink and it is 2 strips epoxied together down the long side because all my pieces except for the sink bottom where about 11" wide.

Oh enduring-that counter is so beautiful.

And thanks for the drawings of how you did your tile work.
Melissastar, have you decided on a design?

Enduring, your bathroom has been my inspiration as I plan my bathroom remodel. I am not so sure I like subway tile, and your square tiles "free" me to think about them for my room. I love the touch of marble. It adds that timeless beauty to the classic white tile room, and plays very well with the soapstone (also timeless) and the stone floor.

My room will be a gut, converting a tub to a curbless shower. The materials I am considering for the shower walls resemble carrara. That led me to think about using carrara or faux carrara for the base molding, the pencil line above the white tile, and the chair rail tile above a border. This would tie the carrara-like shower to the rest of the room, plus free me to use either a nice carrara-based border like Enduring's, or to add a more colorful border. I ran into these New Ravenna mosaics, some of which take my breath away. Here is a simple one in carrara:
Nimbus 3 1/2"
http://newravenna.photoshelter.com/gallery-image/The-Studio-Line-Ready-to-Ship/G0000uNcU9.WRTDk/I0000Ih_HHk9hIcQ/C0000eFlDSX30jQA

Flower and Ribbon: a traditional mosaic style with lavender, blue and white
http://newravenna.photoshelter.com/gallery-image/Borders/G0000jKS28GzyW.0/I00009KOomIXONPk/C0000BZiYHlG5mQ4

Jacqueline 4", a subtle floral design
http://newravenna.photoshelter.com/gallery-image/Borders/G0000jKS28GzyW.0/I0000y.X6D2G55Io/C0000BZiYHlG5mQ4

Here is a link that might be useful: Oasis

Thanks, enduring and others. Just an update...I've concluded it will look fine to combine the two, but still not sure I like that option the best. So still pondering.

Ponder away :) We will be here awaiting your decision.

Absolutely beautiful room with outstanding tile work. Wow!