10/07/2026
My clients purchased a spec home in Sweetwater, so they didn’t have the opportunity to be involved in the selection process. They weren’t crazy about the shower wall tile, but they could live with it. What was driving them crazy was the floor tile. It was gray, but it was the wrong gray. In this room, it was turning purple.
All colors have undertones, and grays tend to have brown, purple, green, or blue undertones. Some people notice them immediately, while others don’t. Some undertones are subtle, and others are much more pronounced. Lighting can also play a big role in how those undertones appear. This bathroom has an abundance of wonderful natural light thanks to all the transom windows in the space. Fantastic for putting on makeup, but a disaster for that particular floor tile.
I brought in several other flooring samples, but I didn’t love any of them because of how the natural light reacted with the colors. Ultimately, I decided to use the same tile from the shower walls on the bathroom floor, and that’s where we struck gold. The result is a peaceful bathroom with just the right gray veining for the space.
I also suggested adding tall wainscoting using the popular fluted wood look, then finishing the walls above it with a warm, neutral Phillip Jeffries textured wallpaper to bring in another layer of texture and interest.
My clients are thrilled with the finished room.
fixture