Aargh!! I hate my tiles!!

[OrtsandNoughts]

AIBU to get my tiles removed mid way through fitting? And not seem like I’m completely crazy?
I’m having my en-suite renovated. I’ve chosen a feature wall of Portuguese tiles which I love but found it hard to match up a plain tile for the rest of the walls. I’ve bought plain off-white rustic tiles which looked a good match as a sample. But now they’re on the wall, they’ve got a dark edging which makes them look dirty. This wasn’t apparent when I just had one or two as samples.

The tiler is halfway through and I really don’t think I like them. The tiler is due back tomorrow to finish the job.So what do I do?

1. Stop the job, get him to rip them off and find a replacement tile? This would add extra time and expense to a job that’s already taken ages and been over budget. Plus I’d look stupid!
2. Wait to see how they look finished (it’s not grouted yet and the sanitary ware isn’t in)
3. Accept I have terrible taste and suck it up.

Any advice welcome. Please be kind. I’ve not done anything of this magnitude before. It’s been my dream to change my en-suite for so long and to have it as my little sanctuary. But it’s been a nightmare (the company doing it have not been great and I can’t wait for it to be finished) I don’t think it’s even going to be worth all the upheaval it if I hate the end result. 😩
The first photo is the sample , the second is the tile on the wall.
To add insult to injury, my son says it looks like a gents public toilet which was not the look I was going for!!

They are disgusting.

I agree they look dirty and not really in keeping with those gorgeous Portuguese tiles. I also agree with pps about the tiles meeting perpendicular in the corner they should have been whole and then work outwards - it doesn't look great to me. So sorry OP! I think you should remove them and rethink as you'll never enjoy them now.

Don’t worry at all what the tiling man will think or say about you wanting to change them - after this project is finished you will never see him again, and you have to live with the tiles. Definitely get different ones or it will annoy you forever.

Sorry OP, another vote for taking these down and starting over. Pricey but better than regretting them for years.

Options are matching the grout to the darker edge of the tile, I am sure you can do this on Topps Tiles website, choose a tile and then see it in a room type thing.

Your tiler can grout a small area at this unfinished stage to show you what it would look like with either white or a coloured grout. You are the customer and you want to be happy. You can then decide whether to go ahead with it or have it all removed.

If you don't want to do that you can look into other options than tiling. If you want a fast fit option (but not cheap) you can get acrylic wall panels, totally waterproof as not made with wood product core and you can choose one of their designs or any free image you find on the internet. We had our panel cut to size so the design was centred. Some of their designs are a bit in your face but there are also tiled print options too. We used https://rocksaltprints.com/product-category/acrylic-wall-panels/?v=7885444af42e

Tiles do look much better grouted. I'd get them to grout a small section so you can see what it looks like but if you still don't like them I'd get them removed. I settled for a darker floor tile than the sample, there was a colour variance between sample and delivered tiles and because there wasn't much time to find new tiles before fitting I decided to suck it up. Even though the floor is only slightly darker than my plan it annoys me pretty much daily. I wish I'd made a different decision.

I agree with this.
Tiles don't look great before the grouting is in.
It will add massively to the cost to take them off and replace.
I think the main question is whether you can truly afford the expense of doing this.

Personally, I would ask for a light colour grout and see how they look when competed.
You can learn from the experience as your next choice might not be perfect.

I don't want to exaggerate but that looks absolutely AWFUL op! Forget urinal it looks like an abandoned crack den. Take down tiles while it's easy and try again.

Another one saying to take them off and get something else.

Don’t worry about ‘looking stupid’ or feeling like you’re being difficult - you’ve worked and/or saved hard for this, so don’t feel you have to put up with something you don’t like.

Previous posters suggestion of just plain white square was good. They’ll be perfect if they’re the same size as the feature wall tiles.

Come back and update when it’s (almost) done 😊

Unless it’s within a shower and likely to get wet then remove the tiles you’re not happy with and paint the walls in a bathroom paint? That way you can find a combo you’re happy with for low cost? Blue tiles are lovely x

I have an aversion to aged or distressed looking tiles in bathrooms as I think they tend to make them look dirty - I’m glad to know I’m not alone in this.

Good luck with the next ones.

They look hideous. Get them off.

As a tip, take a screenshot of your picture and it will usually load. It takes up less space.

The close up of the tile looks even worse- like black mould growing on the tiles.

I'd remove and replace with plain white tiles (same as the feature wall) or use shower panels so no extra tiles at all.

You might not hate them but are just having a wobble? I often dislike things (I have chosen) initially but in time I come to like and love them again. Its just a weird mental thing.

Here you go:

Love the Portuguese tiles! Look very authentic. Where are they from?
But the beige tiles don't do them justice, sorry OP.

The Portuguese tiles are lovely, OP.

One further problem is that the Portuguese white is very pure while the other tiles are more cream coloured. If using white, I think you need to match the Portuguese white more closely.

And that is potentially a lot of sterile looking white. What about breaking it up with a couple of rows of plain blue tiles, matching a Portuguese blue. Perhaps offset?

The Portuguese tiles look like the standard square shape so I would stick with that.

This is worth fixing if you can afford it. Personally I would sacrifice a series of restaurant meals or haircuts for it, if necessary.

PS The sacrifice isn’t because your taste is horrid! It is because you deserve a sanctuary

They'd look OK if the rest of the ensuite and the bedroom of it is also rustic and in toning colours, but if not they will just look dirty. Best stop now and replace with something you like. I had to do similar when I had the skirting boards and door framed painted black thinking it would look gorgeous with yellow walls, but it didn't and I had to pay to have them returned to white. It was worth the extra cost.

They do look awful, it’s giving public toilets in Grimsby town centre frequented by substance abusers vibes.

I came here fully expecting yo say you are unreasonable and they are fine. But now I have seen the picture, I really dislike them and they do look public toilet esque. Although I imagine lighting, grouting and the rest of the bathroom which we can't see could really change how they look.
Have you googled some examples of similar tiles in a bathroom so you can get more of an idea of where and how they can look good. I suspect they can look nice in the right setting or they wouldnt still be selling them.

Ooh I actually really like them OP. Surely it’s because they haven’t been grouted in something light yet?

Tile selection is so hard to get right because there is such a huge choice. If you really don’t like them, you’re not going to get used to seeing them and it’ll put a dampener on your new en-suite. I’d give in and choose again. It’s obviously going to cost you but you’ll be happier in the long run.

I'm sorry, I agree they don't look nice at all. They look mouldy and dirty. If you can afford to change them, I definitely would. I love your Portuguese tiles.