Consider white beadboard wainscoting rather than tile.

Then get a rug for the floor.

Half-wall beadboard and large (18X18) porcelain tiles in a bluestone hue. You should be able to fill in the existing tile and lay new porcelain without messy demo. The larger tiles with fewer and less noticeable grout lines will make the room look fresher, larger and it will be far easier to maintain.

It looks like there WAS tile on the walls and someone removed it, judging by the area around the toilet. Maybe you could somehow smooth them out to an even texture and paint them. If not, beadboard could work, though I'd go for cream instead of white with the earth tone tiles. I personally wouldn't add more tile. I love both the floor and the vanity, but not necessarily together. I'd definitely change the mirror for one that's not so large and heavy looking. The shower area looks like it would be pretty dark with the curtain closed. You might consider adding a light fixture (unless it's there and just not turned on).

I would apply new thin sheet rock over the old walls and be done with it. Yes, you will lose a few inches of space, but you will have smooth walls you can paint. I actually like the floor tile. I do think new lighting is a necessity in this room.

my first reaction is the workmanship of what has been done to the bathroom in the past makes me think that it should be gutted and redone. If choose to keep the floor tile and the tile surround of the bath shower combo, I would stick with pastel earth tones. Think beige . I think a solid white porcelain tile would be stark and not look good with the existing tile. I would be concerned about the substrate on which the existing tile was installed.

I'd redo the tile you have, but just paint the walls crisp white. Put down white hex with black grout on the floor, and white subway in the shower. Bright, monochrome, and period appropriate.

Make very sure your shower tile is completely intact & there is no mildew or mold in the area. this would be my 1st concern. If you add more tile to the walls you would need to put up concrete board 1st, I think. If you have a light in the shower make sure it is water proof. I suggest bead board & if the walls are wonky you may need a real bead board instead of 4 x 8 panels, you use actual strips so they can fit better. It's a job. I think with a creamy white paint as suggested it will look great. Given the size of the bath I would go with a white shower curtain. Good luck I have lived in a 1920's house for 32 years.

Oh, and get an exhaust fan in there. Maybe fan/light combo.

I agree with Kelley Dockrey that the quality of past work is questionable. Just looking at the floor pic and how the tile and wall meet in the second pic is evidence of that.

If you were to redo completely, I do agree with ehanback's idea for tiles or black and white basket weave tile on the floor.

Not sure if it makes a difference but there was trim where the floor met the wall. It has been removed, as I originally have planned to sand lightly and repaint.

The style and size of the vanity does not go with the style of the house. Change it to a bigger, simpler design with a regular sink.

If it were mine, I would do a board and batten treatment on the wall all the way up to where the tile ends at the top of the shower. Paint it the very lightest of the cream shades in the tile and paint the top and the ceiling a couple shades darker. Stick with the same color vanity but get it in clean lines and as large as you possibly can with a top in the same shades as the shower tile. Make the mirror an the light fixture as wide as the vanity. If you can swing it use oiled bronze fixtures. Now load that sucker up with clear glass accents (maybe one or two in slate blue) and plush white linens. It will feel like a spa!

If you have skills or patience the cheapest option will be to skim the walls smooth with joint compound, then sand and paint and replace the baseboard. This room is so tiny I wouldn't add a third tile or beadboard, too many notes.

The mix of colors is in keeping with the period of your home. It has and Arts and Crafts feel, like the tiles produced by the Moravian Tile works. I'd invite you to check out Cottage Craft Tile's site. There are pics of finished projects that might give you some good ideas. Good luck with your project!

The stark white walls really don't coordinate with the floor or shower. Pick a color from your floor. You have many options golds & yellows, greens & grays. The floor is lovely.

Thanks everyone for the helpful ideas! Really appreciate them all!

Congratulations on your new house. I actually like your floor and shower tiles.

I would go with the suggestion of the beadboard taking it to 3/4 of the way.
make sure you add some nice moldings on top. I would paint the beadboard in a creamy white and use a color from your floor to the walls on top. maybe a terra-cotta such as masada from BM.
Next stop a new vanity. you have space there, go bigger.
next stop: lighting.

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lighting fixtures:

beadboard examples

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I think it really depends on what styles you like and how much time/money/effort you want to put into the space for now. If you want to do a full renovation, save a ton of spaces you love in an ideabook and consider gutting all the tile/cabinetry etc., for a completely new look overall.
But, if you are looking for something to make the space feel a bit more cohesive, and more liveable for now, you could pick out a base color from the flooring that is there and use that to help pull the space together. Add a fresh shower curtain rod, and simple curtain, and the space will feel a lot more put-together.
As far as tackling storage in the space you can look for a corner shelving unit or an over-the-john cabinet, and if you don't want to change the cabinetry all together, you could pain them to match.
Good Luck!

I like the vanity, it's just that the mirror is too large and heavy for it--get an oval mirror in a frame that matches the wood of the vanity. Simple molding on the frame. Since the sink is white, I would change out the toilet to a white low-flush to save water. The shower surround looks nice, but like others suggested, make sure the wall behind it is sound. The most noticeable place to check this is to push on the wall just above where the tub joins. If there is any movement at all, there is moisture behind those tiles, and it will need to be ripped out. Then you could do a white subway tile instead. I would also get the tub reglazed to a white. There are manycompanies that do this--cost approx. $400. Cheaper than ripping out and putting a new tub in.

I like the idea of the beadboard paneling, too. Cover up that crappy wall, Then paint it white, along with window and door trim. You will be surprised by how much just doing those few things will lighten up the room. Then you could paint the upper wall in a beige and it would tie in the floor and the shower tile.

Seems like a soft gray/green would be a good choice for the walls. White seems just so wrong.

I will try to attach first before I type ..it's not being cooperative lately

This is at a franchise store called'The Tile Shop"...I have done my bathroom through themand ordered over the phone, had shipped by frieght etc. I think they can certainly give you some ideas of what would look good with what you have. You can email them a photo of what you have. I would definitely keep it. It's gorgeous, especially if it is original. Jewel!
Google "The Tile Shop" for best contact location (they often have 40% off and will discount if you ask them ; ) ) Best of luck. I think you will love it and find such pride in your treasure.

The floor is not bad at all. I would change the tile in the shower though for sure. I think a Grey/Beige color would look very nice in your bathroom. Then add another color if you would like. Touches of black and gold are very classy in a small bathroom.

Also, you could go with the older look of black & white checks.

I Love the tile. It has age and history! If this were my bathroom I would add the wainscoting and paint in a warm creamy white then paint the walls above in a soft golden yellow. Once you get the trim back in it will look beautiful.

If everything is sound---I would
___Keep the floor, replace the baseboards,
___Beadboard isn't a bad idea., and is period appropriate.and would disguise the nasty texture,
___Keep the baseboards, beadboard and fixtures all in the same shade.
___The vessel sink should probably be replaceed by a pedestal.
___A couple of light colored neutral baskets to hold miscellany.
___Shower curtain in border strepe ior White on whiite (or cream on cream, depending on what color you choose to paint the beadboard.
___Simple white or cream towels with an earthtone stripe
___Simple white (or cream) rugs if the room seems dark.
___Spend some money on good loighting, and change the hardware to oil rubbed bronze to tie in the earth tones.
____white or cream framed mirror (significant frame) and center it over the sink. The off-center mirror trips my OCD triggers.
___Consider artwork in wooden frames-- sepia toned photoss with wide mats. TAke your own of local features, your hobbies, etcs. OR .If you need period photos, consider the Library of Congress collection on lime

But all bets are off if the existing floor and shower are not sound. I owned a 1919 Arts and Crafts house at one time and lived in it for about 10 years. If the existing construction is bad, it will be cheaper in the long run to gut and start over.

To keep budget in check you might consider keeping the sink and vanity but replace the countertop with one that extends to the right wall (and to left a bit if room). That would leave space under the counter for storage - baskets, boxes, rolling rustic cart, hamper etc. You could paint the mirror frame and hang it sideways.