Here is a picture of the current tub/shower

I am in love with mid century ranches, especially since I moved out of mine and into new construction...I love the era and loved restoring my bathrooms in my 1966 one, but it had a lot more tile and function. First and foremost, a bathroom (and kitchen) must be functional.

What's your budget? If you are replacing the walls, floors, tub (basically everything but the vanity) you may want to at that point not try to keep the vanity and take most of the bathroom down to the studs. I know in my bathrooms we had tile set in a mud on both the walls and the subfloor that is much different from the backer board and thinset used today. I'm assuming your shower is going to be the same. So, be prepared for ripping all that out and update the plumbing while you are at it. Also be prepared that you will probably find rot somewhere (under the shower, around the toilet, under the vanity) and factor that into the budget. As I said, while you are doing it, update the plumbing in the walls, nothing worse than a complete remodel ruined 3 months later by a leaky pipe that could have easily been fixed in the Reno.

For design ideas check out retrorenovation.com

Thanks for the compliment Stuck in Lodi, it was at the top of our budget and needs a lot of work, but seems like it will be worth it! We fixed up our last 1955 ranch over 4 years, but it wasn't modern at all (and was half the size!) I wish there was more to save in the bathroom. My husband is a big bath taker and we have a 1 year old, and this is the only bathroom with room for a bathtub, so we'll be working one in. I think there is room for a small walk in shower in the corner and then a built in tub.

I trust my own design sense for almost everything, but I think there is real wisdom in running your tentative plans by a certified bath designer. There are codes and clearances, and even better ideas they have access to. It shouldn't cost very much for an hour consultation...

I, too, wish there was more to salvage from the original bath. Looking at the photo, makes me wonder if it's indeed all that "original". Seems changes have been made over the years and definitely the wallpaper added from another era. I strongly agree with the advice to look on retrorenovation.com - they'll have ample inspiration. Old ads from the 50s/60s for baths are another good source of ideas. Also, there is a line of wall tile at Dal Tile called Natural Hues by Quarry Tile Co; it comes in numerous colors and there is a "3 x 9 oval" that has a mod shape. I'll post a pic below if I can find one.

It's possible to have a thoroughly modern bath with a mid mod sensibility. The key is thoughtful attention to detail.

I would gut the room, but keep the same footprint. For the window, any local glass shop will have scores of options to choose from. But this gem of a house deserves a fab main bath, so I wouldn't skimp on the fixtures, floor, or vanity. It'll pay off in the end.

Lots of MCM style in this house. Much as I am usually in favor of reusing unique features, I don't think it would work well in the bathroom. Putting in a new shower, new bathtub, new toilet and new window will make the vanity look quite odd, not retro or quaint. Perhaps you can sell the old bathtub and vanity on line (not sure if there is much of a market for that kind of thing in the Sierra foothills).

Please post more photos as you go along.

This is the correct product, oddly, I can't find a photo even on their own website!
There are 59 color options (yay!) including a few whites.

Schess1, congratulations! Your house is amazing and you are going to have so much fun restoring it!

You may want to post a link to your discussion on this discussion for MCM enthusiasts. Also, it's a great place to post ideas for MCM furniture and decorative items when you get there.

http://houzz.com/discussions/651666

Too bad the tub is too small. I actually like it and would get it refinished, but if it's not practical, then it has to go.

I also like the vanity and sinks. Maybe repaint the vanity and get better quality faucets. Play off the sink colors in the rest of the bathroom. No need to throw the baby out with the bath! (Tee hee!)

Thank you everyone for the advice. I apologize if I'm not responding quickly, or to individual responses. It's really hard to use a computer with a one year old around! And we're in the process of moving over the next two weeks. jen046, I wish we could keep the tub, we were excited when we saw it online before we looked at the house, but it is seriously teeny. No way an adult would fit in there. I'm not in love with the color of the sinks, but if they are in good condition we'll probably keep them. The vanity is really nice, all the drawers work well and it seems sad to toss it for a newer one in the same place. paintcolorhelpdallas.com, I liked those tiles previously, my husband isn't too keen on them though.

From South Africa and having just gutted 80% of the interior of a 50 year old townhouse, my advice would be to gut the bathroom and don't look back...find other places for savings, everyone looks at your bathroom!

Check out retrorenovation.com. It is a wonderful source for inspiration and information for midcentury style.

If you are keeping your cabinet in the bathroom, Rockler Hardware carries an invisible cabinet door hinge for 3/8 inch lip doors. I used them in my 1963 kitchen and liked the clean look it gave my cabinets.

Your living areas are beautiful, lovely finishes and materials. I would replace the entry light fixture with a hanging white opaque globe and live with the area for awhile to see what direction you want to move. The fun thing about refurbishing/remodeling is you can go as midcentury as you want or don't want.

As for your kitchen, are you planning on using the original oven? If not, I would definitely sell, not junk it. There are many midcentury enthusiasts who would love to purchase, refurbish and use it.

Good luck! What a great journey you are on. A new house and a young family! Enjoy the ride!

Thanks for the encouragement joy5390! Great minds think alike- we had just received a large globe pendant for the entryway as a gift, we had been thinking of buying one from Rejuvanation by my inlaws found a vintage one at a lighting store. It has ridges and will look so much better there. I've been to retro renovation, will check it out some more before we purchase materials. We chose aluminum Milgard windows for the house, with a cross reed pattern in the bathroom for privacy (tiny squares) that I think will look great. The paneling in the house is all walnut! I love the oven, it's funny we were comped $1,000 in the sale of the house becasue the right oven was not working for the inspector, but I fixed it by reading the manual and turning the automatic cook timer from "off" to "man". It wasn't broken at all! I'm really hoping we can find a way to keep the cabinets in the kitchen, maybe reconfigure them. I'd like to take out the wall between the kitchen and dining room, and put in an island with a range, then I would have a view as I cooked! We've ripped up all the shag carpeting- beautiful pristine wood floors underneath! I'm so excited we found this house! Here's a picture of the layout from an old newspaper article:

Oh, does anyone collect old intercom systems? There is a "nutone" system in the house, I haven't been able to get it to work and don't think it will serve much function for us....

Hi, Schess1. How goes the war? Love seeing the floor plan. It looks like a very functional flow.

First off....congrats on your MCM house! I agree that the bath needs a gut & redo. It's certainly not original to the house, so there aren't any retro or significant pieces in there worth saving for the re-do.

What I would suggest is....try not to make the new bath *too* modern looking. I'd take a look at other mid-mod baths for inspiration. You can get new toilets that save water, sure. But you could also do things to keep that retro vibe going as well. When I did my bath (1916) I kept my old toilet. But to save water because it had a large tank...I put bricks in the tank to displace some water. Raised the tank height just a touch to let gravity assist in the "flow". Works great!

Can't wait to see how your plans work out...this place has great bones & potential flowing everywhere!! :0)

It's going well Jen046. We've been dealing mostly with functional stuff so far, deck repair, garage doors, windows, inserts for the fireplaces. The bathroom is still waiting for attention. My husband is painting the walls in the wet bar a light silvery sage (eucalyptus?) as we speak. We've been trying to pic an exterior color for the house, we're leaning toward Navajo white since the deck and some wood is painted brown.

Thanks for the advice, bungalowmo. I'm pretty sure the vanity, toilet, and bathtub are original to the house, but the wall paper, floor and crazy light up ceiling might have been a remodel. I've heard the old brick in the toilet trick before. Here in CA it is a law (takes effect in a year or two) that all toilets must be 1.6 gpf or less before the house can get a remodeling permit or be sold. They are wall mount, so there is only really one exterior tank wall mount tank for us to choose from, the American Standard Glenwall, just a plain white toilet. The tub is proving really functional for toddler baths, it has two built in parent seats, but the faded linoleum floor is driving me nuts.

bath looks about 7x12', is that close?

Oh yeah...that linoleum floor looks like it's seen better days! You can see the outer areas have more "color" to them & the high traffic center is pretty much walked down to nothing!

I went for 6 months with nothing but a sub floor....I get it!! Feelin your pain!

I had to take baths in here...brush my teeth at the kitchen sink & use the toilet in the basement. I nearly cried the day I could do it all in 1 room again!

Sounds like a lot of progress. If the floor drives you nuts, you can spend a bit less than $100 on cut to fit machine washable bath carpet (check amazon or jcpenney.com). Sometimes there's a temporary solution that works just fine. I'd never recommend real carpet for a bathroom, but this stuff is great for covering up floors that are cracked or otherwise unbearable. 5 by 8 feet : http://www.amazon.com/Mohawk-Duets-Bath-Carpet-Pewter/dp/B008H3RM7G/

What's the lighting situation?

Schess1, I know the functional stuff isn't that satisfying, but has to be done! I'm glad the tub may be a redeemable feature. I really like it!

jen046 love to see an update to progress and how you solved them - if posted elsewhere just provide link?

lovely bathroom . find style you like. keep it modern. Have fun

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Well, it's 4 years later and we're about to start the remodel on this bathroom. The tub is going, we're going to do a tiled walk in shower in the corner and then a tub. Black slate rectangles for the floor, a custom floating walnut cabinet, and white cesarstone (I think) countertop. Any suggestions on sinks? We picked these tiles for the shower but I haven't ordered yet. Thinking we'll do either vertical or horizontal but not bricked, https://www.homedepot.com/p/Merola-Tile-Chester-Sage-3-in-x-12-in-Ceramic-Wall-Tile-1-sq-ft-pack-WNU32CSG/300341310

Lights above the sink will stay as will the mirror. The cabinet guy asked if we wanted a matching walnut frame around the mirror, what do y ou think? Just keep it simple?

It's four years later and you have no ideabooks. Start one for mid century modern bathrooms before you go any further. Let me get you started.

Thanks for the pictures Groveraxle. I do have some pictures saved to a lookbook, I had the lookbook set to private but have changed it to public.

We're stuck on wall tile now. We don't want to spend much more than $10 a square foot, I didn't like the samples of the tile I listed above. I love the look of glazed ceramic tiles like Heath, but they are so pricey! Is there another affordable type of tile that would work well with a mid century style?

By not bricked, do you mean you want to stack the tile like this?

That's a good look.

Yes! I was hoping the tile samples I sent for were going to be a similar green to that, but they were more grey than green. It does not look like the tiles are identified in that photo or in the questions asked, I love them though. Any advice on how to find an affordable tile similar to these?

tilebar has these for under 10,,,in 3x6 and 3x12 (1.99 per tile)

https://tilebar.com/lancaster-3x12-open-seas-ceramic-tile.html

and these celery colored 3x12 are 7.99

https://tilebar.com/lancaster-3x12-celery-ceramic-tile.html

cletile has some beautiful hand glazed options. about $9 a sq foot. these work well w/mcm look. plus, these tiles are gorgeous. you could also do it in the 4x4, but they do come in a 3" hex and 2x6 subways.

two different green tones.

the 4x4's look like this installed (again,,subways are also avail.)

they have a brighter green as well. this color looks amazing w/walnut.

maybe do a lime green pennyround? (tilebar)

they also have a sale on these cement tiles at $8 sf

Thanks! I had not come across those two brands before. I'm ordering a couple samples of from tilebar, still don't see the sage green color I was trying to find like in the pic above.

Milgard offers several privacy glass options, view them all atmilgard.com under any operating style.

That house is beautiful please I beg of you try to keep as much MCM feel to the house as you can. It's so disappointing when people buy these beautiful houses and make them look like every other house that's already available today.

I'm so jealous! Good luck :)