How I Finally Found the Perfect Bathroom Tile (After Visiting Six Lowe’s Stores!)

When we started planning our master bathroom at Four Gables, I knew I wanted this space to feel peaceful and timeless. I wanted that “ahh…” feeling every time I walked in.

But let me tell you — finding the right tile was a journey all on its own.

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Falling in Love with the Perfect Tile

After spending way too many late nights scrolling Pinterest and Instagram, I started noticing I was drawn toward marble tile with classic patterns for our bathroom floor.

One day, while shopping at Lowe’s the Elida Ceramica White 12-in x 12-in Honed Diamond Wall Tile (you can find it here) caught my eye. The subtle diamond pattern. The soft matte finish. The creamy-white tone that wasn’t too bright or too stark. It felt warm and refined — just what I wanted for our bathroom.

Of course, falling in love with a product is the easy part. 😂 Getting enough of it? That’s where the real fun begins.

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The Tile Treasure Hunt

I stood in the tile aisle, phone in hand, calculating how many boxes I would need. The calculator on the Lowe’s website said I would need 42 boxes of tile. Yikes. 😬 My local Lowe’s only had four boxes in stock.

No problem, I thought. I’ll just grab the rest from another location.

Famous last words.

Over the next few days, I found myself on what I now lovingly call The Great Tile Hunt of 2025. I drove to six different Lowe’s stores all around the area — Franklin, Brentwood, Clarksville, you name it. Each store had a few boxes of my tile that I could pick up. My little car was packed to the brim with tile boxes, each one a small victory.

There’s something oddly satisfying about the hunt, don’t you agree? It reminded me why I love home projects so much — that feeling of chasing down the perfect piece to bring a vision to life. Every stop along the way brought me a little closer to seeing this dream bathroom take shape.

And honestly, it makes the finished product even sweeter knowing how much effort went into finding it.

It also reminded me of my mom. She loved to hunt down the perfect items, especially at thrift stores. As I was driving around for hours one day from Lowe’s to Lowe’s, I smiled thinking to myself, “This is EXACTLY something my mom would do.” ❤️

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Installing the Tile: One Box at a Time

Now, this isn’t a full tutorial (you can find plenty of those online), but I will say this: tile installation is equal parts art and patience.

We actually laid the tile on a diagonal so that the little gray piece in the middle looked like squares instead of diamonds when you walked into the room. Cy started me off to make sure that my diagonal lines were straight, and them I grouted the majority of the bathroom.

There’s something almost meditative about tiling. You can ask Cy, tiling is one of my favorite things to do! I actually laid all the tile in our Pond House bathroom earlier this year too!

But when it came time to choose the grout color, that’s where the nerves kicked in.

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The Grout Scare

I wanted a grout color that would highlight the shape of the diamond pattern without making it feel too busy or harsh. I decided to use “Warm Gray.” because it’s one of my favorite colors and looks good with almost all tiles.

At first, I worried it might be too dark. As we started applying it, my heart sank a little — it looked bolder than I expected. I kept reminding myself that grout always looks darker when it’s wet, but still… it’s hard not to panic when your brand-new tile floor looks nothing like the vision in your head. I was sick to my stomach thinking I had just ruined all of this tile that I spent HOURS getting, (not to mention a lot of money. Ouch!)

It was late when we grouted the tile, so we went home to go to bed, and I was praying with all my might that it looked lighter in the morning.

I nervously went to Four Gables the next morning, and to my delight…it was perfect!

The soft contrast brought out the diamond pattern beautifully without overpowering it. The whole floor came to life — warm, classic, and clean. Exactly what I was hoping for.

I put together my instagram stories from last month into a reel and posted it on facebook to share with you. Check it out below, and let me know what you think!

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What’s Next for the Master Bathroom

1. Finding the Perfect Vanity

I want something with a warm wood tone to bring some natural contrast to all the white. I’ve been eyeing a few options online — trying to decide on one with legs or not.

If you’ve found a vanity you love lately, tell me in the comments! I’m open to all the suggestions.

2. Installing a Freestanding Tub

This has been on my dream list forever. There’s just something so elegant about a freestanding tub — it instantly makes a bathroom feel like a spa retreat.

The funny thing is that Cy will use it more than me. Don’t tell him I told you, but he LOVES taking baths! haha! I think it feels good on all his sore muscles after doing home remodeling all day. I tease him that I am going to get him some bubble bath and candles for Christmas.

We still need to finalize the plumbing and figure out placement, but I know it’s going to be worth it.

3. Choosing Tile for the Shower

Now that I’ve fallen in love with this diamond tile, I’m trying to decide whether to continue the same tile in the shower floor, or do something different. I’m also trying to figure out a coordinating wall tile.

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Lessons from the Great Tile Hunt

Looking back, here’s what this project taught me (beyond how many boxes of tile can fit in my car):

1. Good design takes patience. Sometimes the right product is out of stock, or backordered, or only available two towns over. It’s okay to wait (or drive!) for what you really love.
2. Don’t judge grout by its color while wet. Seriously — let it dry before you panic! I also highly suggest testing it on some sample tile before spreading it all over the installed tile like I did. It will definitely cut down on making a mistake.
3. Every step tells part of your story. Whether it’s painting a wall, laying tile, or just making endless trips to Lowe’s, it all becomes part of the story of your home.

And honestly, that’s my favorite part. Every scratch, every smudge of grout, every sore muscle — it all reminds me that this house is something we’re building with our own hands and hearts.

And I can’t wait to share the next step of this journey with you.

Stay tuned, friends 💛