Coloured glass perhaps. Large sheets of granite, marble or Caeserstone. Stainless steel or Aluminium. Timber boards. None are ideal or cheap really. There are many other alternatives but like everything, have pro's and con's.

Update:. I have continued on with the same tiler. however, feel like he is not honest. fitting me up wherever he can. Apparemtly he has on,y quoted me for stainless steel suorround around my niche and if i want white i have to pay for it. he would not put the architrave back on the door, as he is not a carpenter. this cost me anextra $100.00. although my quote says tiling to the ceiling, he had not quoted to put wall board to the ceiling, this cost extra. i feel a little jaded. He contacted an abstetos removalist, when he was shocked to find it, only for the quote to be double the subsequent quote i obtained from an abstetos removalist was half. his grout lines are way above the 1.5mm specified. i am a novice at this, i thought a quote included everything. How i am to know the little extras.

thanks to everyone for your helpful comments! I was going to have to pay around $190 for 6 more, but will order them from Beaumont who have a 25% sale on at the moment. I agree that I need to just live with the cost and finish the job properly, but your shortcut suggestions were all really interesting and much appreciated. And archimondo, I'd say it's like having a kangaroo loose in the top paddock.

Rose, wall paper in bathrooms not a good idea as steam from shower or a very hot bath removes them. Powder room okay just don’t overwhelm the room with too much of a bold pattern. To save costs paint is cheapest. You also don’t need to tile or paper all walls. My new bathroom has floor tiles going up one wall, a textured subway up to the window sill on another with paint above, and paint above skirting tile on another, last wall is glass doors hiding laundry. I have another bathroom fully tiled and I hate it as it feels like a public restroom, tiles do not induce cosiness.