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And now back to the bathroom update…
If you missed the earlier post where we started removing the dated tree border that ran around our bathroom (yes, the one that made us sing that song from The Lion King), you can find more background in the original post. For a quick refresher, Exhibit A shows the repeating tree-tile border that wrapped all four walls.
Exhibit B shows the wall after a bit of Dremel work and some prying with a screwdriver.
Exhibit C: the new clear glass subway tile we chose to replace the border with. These are “Glass Snow” tiles from The Tile Shop, and we bought about $50 worth for the job.
This wasn’t our first tiling project, so it felt pretty straightforward. We already had most of the tools, so our main purchases were thinset mortar and a thinset admixture (about $28 total from The Tile Shop) to mix the adhesive that holds the tiles to the wall.
We mixed a small batch of thinset in a bucket with a trowel until it reached a spackle-like consistency — similar to thick pancake batter. The photo shows it a bit thicker than ideal because we took the picture early, but we kept mixing until it was right.
Because the area we were tiling was narrow, we used the same trowel we mixed with to spread the thinset on the wall.
Then we went over it with the grooved end of a small notched trowel (the smallest one Home Depot sold, around $3) to create the ridged surface that helps the tile adhere.
Placing the tiles was easy since we didn’t need any special leveling. We pressed them into the thinset and used 1/8″ rubber spacers to keep consistent grout joints. Some glass tiles are totally translucent and show the thinset underneath, but these tiles are backed with an opaque film so the thinset doesn’t show through while the tiles still look clear and glossy.
We repeated the process around all four walls, mixing more thinset as needed.
Here you can see one section tiled and the next side spread with thinset and ready for tile.
We did need to cut a few tiles in the corners, so we used the tile cutter we’ve used on past subway tile projects. You score the glass along the platform’s ridge and then press with the angled pad to snap the tile along the line. It’s fast and gives a clean straight cut for these tiles.
For a small corner notch around the light switch we had to use a wet saw. It was a bit of extra setup for just a couple of small cuts, but necessary for that precise shape.
The wet-sawn pieces aren’t perfect at the corners, but the light switch cover hides any imperfections.
From pulling supplies out to tiling and cleaning up, the entire process fit into two of Clara’s naps: one for demo and one for tiling. Not bad — this was a perfect nap-sized project.
We left the new tile to cure overnight before grouting and sealing.
The next day we mixed grout. We considered several grout colors but ended up using leftover grout the previous owners had left in the basement. It was “Antique White,” which isn’t our first choice for glass tiles, but it matched the existing grout in the rest of the room so it made sense to keep it consistent.
We mixed the grout with a bit of grout admixture we had on hand and spread it into the joints with a grout float. After a few minutes we wiped the excess off with a damp sponge. The grouting took about 45 minutes.
Once the grout cured, we sealed the grout lines the following day to protect them from moisture and staining. We used leftover sealer from the kitchen and applied it with a sponge, wiping any excess shortly after. This step was quick enough to do while Clara was awake and playing in the next room.
Sealing the grout and adding some caulk in the shower corners completed the job. From start to finish this refresh took roughly 2.5 Clara naps (about six hours) to demo, tile, grout, and seal. The glass border now reflects light and gives the bathroom a fresher, more updated feel.
We don’t usually do border tile, but the modern glass subway tile is a big improvement over the tree pattern. For the cost, it was a worthwhile update. Note: the light switch shown in some photos isn’t inside the shower — it’s just the camera angle without the shower curtain that makes it look that way.
Photos don’t capture the tile perfectly, so we joked that readers are welcome to stop by and see it in person.
The new border simplifies the look and removes the visual busyness of the tree motif.
It’s a dramatic improvement from the original condition of the room before any updates.
Although the new tiles are clear, they pick up subtle colors in the room — from the nearby art and the blue glass pendant — which adds a cool tone to what used to be a very warm, beige space. That contrast helps balance the overall palette.
Using the same grout color that the previous owners used helped the new border blend in so it looks like it has always been there, rather than a new strip added to old tiles.
The glass looks especially sleek when wet — small droplets collect on the surface and create a pretty reflective effect.
Here you can see how the tiles pick up neighboring colors and take on a subtle blue-green cast from the artwork above.
Budget breakdown:
- Glass Snow clear subway tile from The Tile Shop: $50
- Thinset mortar and thinset admixture from The Tile Shop: $28
- Small trowel and tile spacers from Home Depot: $6
- TOTAL COST: $84
We also bought a Dremel Multi-Max with a grout head for about $130, which brings the grand total to $214 if you include tools. The Dremel has already proven useful on other projects, so it feels like a worthwhile addition to the toolbox.
We took on this smaller bathroom update during Clara’s naps because our deck project requires longer blocks of time and moves more slowly. Tackling nap-friendly projects like this lets us make progress in other rooms without waiting weeks between work sessions. What about you — any tiling or bathroom projects underway at your house?
To follow the full timeline of this bathroom overhaul, check out the earlier planning, painting, lighting, art and trim, toilet update, window frosting, door trimming, and pre-tiling posts in our project archive.