Tile has quietly become the most consequential decision in a bathroom remodel. It sets the room’s temperature, hides or exposes construction quality, and accounts for a large share of both material and labour cost. Here is what we are specifying most in Pacific Northwest homes.
Large-format slabs and fewer grout lines
Oversized porcelain panels continue to displace small-format tile on walls and shower surrounds. Fewer grout lines mean a calmer room and meaningfully less maintenance, which matters in a wet climate.
Warm neutrals over cool grey
The cool grey palette that dominated the last decade is giving way to warm stone, bone, and clay tones that hold up better under Pacific Northwest light, particularly in rooms with limited natural light.
- Honed limestone and travertine looks
- Zellige and handmade-edge ceramics as accent
- Warm terrazzo in powder rooms
- Vertical stack and offset layouts over classic subway
Tile is the one material in a bathroom you cannot change without demolition. It deserves the most time.
Heated floors are now standard, not luxury
In-floor heat has moved from an upgrade to an expectation in higher-end Portland and Vancouver bathrooms. It is far cheaper to install during a remodel than to retrofit.
What it costs
Tile selection can swing a bathroom budget substantially. Most of our bathroom remodels run $15,000 to $80,000 or more; the pricing guide breaks that down.
Planning a bathroom in Vancouver, Portland, or Camas? Request a free estimate.