apartment therapy changing the world, one room at a time

i would keep it simple... just lay down some plastic and find some great stones, either larger polished or pebbles.

if you want larger, flatter surface areas, go to a garden center for some slabs of stone, slate, etc. that match your decor and place the stones between them.

they also sell non-permanent rubber tiles in really cool colors:
http://www.kiwitile.com/products/

i know smooth tiles are also out there... they won't look industrial.

Sweet idea! For $50, give it a shot and then let us know how it turns out. I wish I'd heard of this product when I was renting.

In terms of the stones, I have to say it's an idea that may be best for magazine pictures or homes with a multiple person cleaning staff! My shower used to be one of those plastic inserts within the tiled shower stall (brilliant plumber installed it without a lead pan underneath so had to put one of those horrible inserts into it to make it (semi) leak proof. The insert was smaller than the stall itself and in the gap which was prob about 3 inches deep there were small rocks. Looked great, very 'zen spa' but it was impossible to keep clean. I had to frequently do a sort of tumble wash with the rocks in my sink and there was constantly hair and dust caught in them. Maybe it would be easier with a flat space than a hole that shouldn't have existed in the 1st place as it might not collect as much, but those rocks were a giant pain for me!

jeffnyc, those tiles look like 4-square or kickballs! They're cool though. I like those rubber tiles with the raised circles on them.

Miss, you could try the floating floor but you may have some issues. Keep in mind the difference it may create transitioning into and out of the bathroom. You also have to take into consideration how the edges are going to be finished, especially if there are baseboards.

It will also take a fair amount of cutting because the pieces need to be custom fit to your bathroom, toilet, tub, etc.

Not trying to be a buzz kill, I'm just throwing out some possible obstacles you may encounter.

There's a really great archived thread about Trafficmaster on AT:LA, with tonnes of comments from people who've used the product.

Have you considered linoleum or vinyl? There are some decent options available now. You could tack it down with some glue here and there.

I was going for a similar spa feel in my rental. ended up using a grout cover (5 bucks from the hardware store), which you paint on to the grout lines to hide old ugly stained grout. then used bamboo floor mats from BB&B to coordinate with my new bamboo potty seat. worked out really well.

This is my question that I sent in yesterday but I was a wee bit
impatient and already went to HD, bought the cherry 'wood' planks and installed it in a couple hours (while watching TV even!)..

I did a fairly sloppy job, didn't read all the directions thoroughly.. and now am laughing at how good it looks!

Cutting the boards is really easy - just score it with a blade and snap it off.

Some of my joints ended up not being as flush as others but then i look at my real wood floor and realize that those aren't perfect either....

ok, for a project that took about 5 minutes of total thought process and $52 (including blade) that has totally revamped my bathroom I would highly recommend it! Especially if you plan on putting a little more care into it than I did (i.e not watching Family Guy while scoring boards)..

I could use a new baseboard to cover up my sloppy edges but I won't bother because most of the edges are covered up with hampers, rugs, wastecan, etc...

the only negative: the box weighs 35lbs which is kinda heavy for a single girl in the city..

and thanks for all of your comments -- especially the one about how messy stone maintenance can be!

Photos please!

Don't tease us with words.

Pictures!

ok - i def. took before and after pics -- but they are on my camera at home --- please check back here tomorrow!

Post a pic! I'd love to see.

oops... waited too long to hit "submit"!
...will check back tomorrow.

"This is my question that I sent in yesterday but I was a wee bit
impatient and already went to HD..."

Ha! You sound just like me.

Yay!! I have the same issue and would love to see how this worked out. sweet. i ♥ AT

Another solution is 100% nylon 60 oz. carpet, with no pad of course. The 60 oz. carpet is so THICK and warm under your toes. Use double sided tape to keep it in place. As it ages, you won't need the the tape to keep it in place.

If it gets soaking wet, pull it up to let it dry. But 100% nylon can't rot, and with just normal moisture, it will work fine. I have done this many times. I like warm bathroom floors. You can buy a remnant, or a few linear feet of carpet if you want to select the color. It is easy to cut, and the edges are unseen against the wall, and threshold.

Carpet might be cozy, but I find it's best to keep it away from toilet bowls.

Depending on the tiles themselves, you can also consider simply regrouting. It's a bit of elbow work, but not a long project, and probably comes in far under $50.

I'm back and with pictures..

1. the ugly 'before' floor
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2320/1898146900_9965130fbc.jpg

2. easily laying down the 'planks'
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2087/1897199333_00f9448c8f.jpg

3. the 'after' floor (with some last bits i need to get to...)
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2289/1898058600_4b83f97981.jpg

4. a shot of the texture and seams
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2181/1897222971_d2fe6923ab.jpg

So how does it work with those "little bits you need to get to"? My bathroom has an old school radiator, pedestal sink and a lot of other little twists and turns. How does this work with laying the plank?

trafficMASTER (at The Home Depot) also makes Tiles that are great for bathrooms. Thet are called Garage and Drain Tiles. I used them in my laundry room and love them!!

http://www.tmflooring.com/images/email/UtilityRoomwDrainTiles%20copy.jpg

for the 'little bits i need to get to'.. i just have to somehow cut some scraps to fit -- the gray parts of the plank that are visible are very tacky/sticky so that's my 'glue' for the 'bit's.

[ps. just noticed the title of this post is misspelled - that might need to be corrected so it can be a searchable resource]

Looks like it will turn out really great for you, but do be careful. If any water collects under the wood, you could be setting yourself for a major mold problem.

These are the types of posts that get me excited about this site.

Many pats on the back Miss. You did a great job.

You should be able to whittle some pieces to fit around the toilet, yeah? Best case would be to remove the toilet and put the wood down, but that comes with some potential hassles. I removed a toilet in my last rental with no problems and my floor was just about rotted through. You've got tile, shouldn't be a problem.

I wonder if you could caulk some matching silicone around the edges where the floor meets the molding. When and if you eventually remove the floor the caulking should peel off without much trouble. I would tape nice straight lines on the floor though if you do caulk.

Again, great job. What a great way to make your home look and feel a lot more comfortable.

LRP,

Those tiles are killer.

What a great floor! The texture looks great. I am glad to know it's so easy to install as well, especially in a place with crazy angles like a bathroom.

I want to use the slate version for my kitchen, but HD only sells it online. Does anyone know a way to get a sample before purchasing?

Thanks for sharing this. I'm determined to put even a cheapo floor in my bedroom and guestroom this winter....though what I'd *really* like to do is do something like this through the whole house (1000 sq ft) just because I know any additional work on our house is still a year away and I am SO SICK of my floors. I want new floors and a new couch. SERIOUSLY.