Help on blue bathroom coloring & design

12 years ago

last modified: 12 years ago

I please need help on budget friendly bathroom changes in a house we're moving into next month.
What coloring would work with the blue bath & basin? And should I remove the existing tiles?
The single bathroom is directly next door - do I need to use complimentary coloring or can I make both different?
My idea to save costs on single loo was to remove all tiles & paint with a skirting only (see final picture shown)
Would this work for both bathrooms?
Budget is minimal!

Featured Answer

Rina

12 years ago

I agree with Acm_redfox that if you switched to white walls for the blue bathroom -- even if only as an interim measure -- it would make a major difference. I'm wondering what colour the second bathroom is now? Even if it is a different colour, giving it the same treatment with white walls etc would help make them work together if they are currently in a similar style.

I think your inspiration pic for loo is great. With these blue tiles, however, that colour might look as though it comes from another house (very different eras). Would you consider taking the tiles off and painting white for the meanwhile, until you can get the budget together to transform all three rooms?

I would not take tiles -- or some other form of waterproof wall treatment -- entirely out of bathrooms. Tiles can be replaced in time, of course, but they can also be painted, with the correct preparation and paint,. However, I've never seen the result so I would recommend researching that. Some baths, at least, can be resurfaced to change colour -- not so sure about the wash basin and stand, though.

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Comments (8)

apple_pie_order
12 years ago
Congratulations on your new house. Please explain what advice you want. It helps to ask specific questions and indicate your budget range. You can upload more photos, too.
ellejaym thanked apple_pie_order
acm
12 years ago
The half bath should be easy -- your dream photo seems like a fine outcome to aim for.

The larger bath is trickier -- for my part, I wouldn't want to live with all that blue, but it's hard to remove just part of the tile without running into trouble -- e..g., where the wall joins the tub surround, or since the shower is the same tile. Either you'd want to replace everything (including the blue fixtures, I would think) or it's going to be pretty tricky to excise part and leave the rest.

Meantime, I'd switch the peach paint to something like white or very light grey, which will be less jarring. Then maybe you can decide what you want for a more substantial overhaul.
ellejaym thanked acm
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lucidos
12 years ago
last modified: 12 years ago
Oh the joys of home ownership. A wise person told me, when I purchased my first home, is to live with it for a bit. Best advice ever as when you get into the home and add your touches it will take on a different plan and more important things hit the budget list.

The blue may not be your first choice but it isn't a terrible blue. Much of the tub area can be covered with a sheer shower curtain. From there you could easily make a spa type or Tiffany look with the rest. Changing the sink to a dark wood or white vanity would be the major expense along with a larger mirror.

Savvy shopping can find the items for almost nothing if you look in the local buy/sell used ads. Or wait a bit for clearance and year end sales.
modtiki
12 years ago
I would suggest checking out RetroRenovation.com. They have tons of ideas for working with original colors and fixtures, on small budgets. Here is one post dedicated to images of blue bathrooms: http://retrorenovation.com/2009/06/25/scenes-from-22-blue-midcentury-bathrooms/
ellejaym thanked modtiki
Libbmom
12 years ago
If everything is in great shape...can't you have them re glazed?
sonjaxxx
12 years ago
I second the recommendation of RetroRenovation.com. You could even submit your pics to them and ask for advice from their readers. I also agree with the suggestion to paint the walls white. Geranium red is a nice contrast colour with that shade of blue - you could try towels that colour. Jade green is another. No criticism of others' suggestions but in the blue bathroom I would err on the side of keeping the existing vintage fixtures and working with the vintage look. Updating just one or two fixtures while the old tiles are still there can be hard to pull off...at least how it is now it is stylistically unified.
ellejaym thanked sonjaxxx
ellejaym
Original Author
12 years ago
Thanks so much for all the great advice. Love the link and will look into it!