I can't help but be amazed at the excellent condition of the tub, tile, and floor (and the grout) in your bathroom. It's well over 50 years old, it looks practically new. That's really impressive, if you stop and think what things installed now would look that good in 50 years? It's another example of excellent workmanship and quality products from another era. I just really appreciate things like that.

I would get a white low flow toilet in the same style as the sink (Toto Guinivere, for example), and soft white accents and walls.

A crisp white shower curtain will neutralize the green tub and tile. Add a cabinet over the toilet for needed storage, and do replace the toilet to match your pretty pedestal sink.

Bathroom Renovation · More Info

I like the bathroom, but not so much the floor.

my bathroom like this is 85 years old and in perfect condition, the mud-set tiles would make a good air raid shelter.

my 15 year old bathroom is the one that needs to be replaced, so yeah. built to last.

As others have suggested, swap out the toilet for a low-flow white one. I think you could go bigger/bolder with your art, and frame out your mirror.

Fantastic Bathrooms · More Info

You have many options for shower curtains, to give whatever mood you want.

You're in p[retty good shape because the green is just in the shower and not on the walls everywhere. I'd change the toilet and the floor tile, and then it's just the tub, which can hide behind a light-colored shower curtain. If it's still too much when you're inside the shower, then the only answer is either to paint the tiles or replace them -- all white with a stripe of the blue and green mosaic from havingfun would be gorgeous and bring the green tub into the modern age, and you could even run a little bit of that tile between your sink and mirror if you wanted to.

Hi sorry, had sleepy time. I too, love the idea of the zen or a tropical theme that would make the bathroom really zing. What I meant is that you use the tiles I gave as a border or use a mural, or even, come to think of it a cool shower curtain. What ever you use will use some of the green, but involve other colors which you like more, then you can decorate in one of those colors.

Zen Shower Curtain

Wow!! So many great ideas and beautiful pictures, thanks so much!

Loving this site and this was my first post, so happy I stumble upon this site.

Excuse my ignorance but is this bathroom considered mid century modern design?

I like the suggestion of the new white toilet, for some reason I thought I had to keep the green toilet to stick with the theme but if so many of you are saying ok to get rid of it, out it goes!

So I'll get rid of toilet, get rid of the green floor and green tiles and get a new cabinet to go over the toilet and stay with the green bath since it's in nice condition and I already have a white shower curtain.

I'm just afraid of gray because there's no window so no natural light in the bathroom and I wonder if gray would make it too dark. I don't know much of design but one thing I hate is dark rooms and design.

Another idea I had was maybe to replace the little mirror cabinet for a big mirror cabinet so more storage. Can we install any size mirror cabinet in a bathroom as far as the wall goes or are there limitations? Would a big mirror be incompatible in design with the pedestal sink?

Should I tile all the way to this wall by the sink as well? Maybe with the border idea all around the bathroom?

You don't want to tile the whole room or you'll end up hating the new tile as much as the old. Probably just in the shower is fine. A bigger medicine cabinet is fine too, as long as it clears the faucet, towel ring, and anything else nearby.

(p.s.) you can probably match your sink faucet with your shower/but set, if so inclined. I like those white handles.

Paint the tiles? I didn't know you could do that. Is that something I could do myself? Does it look good?

For extra storage, you can cut out the wallboard between studs and put in shelves.

Santa Monica Beach House · More Info

Here are a couple example of shower curtains you could use. I am sure you can find some that beat the $89, but on the other hand if it is one of only a couple things, it is not so much.

very modern ombre

Madison Park Chester Pieced Faux Silk Shower Curtain · More Info

Set Sail Shower Curtain · More Info

Aspen Grove Shower Curtain · More Info

lili, once again i would ask about that painting. I know someone said theirs came out good, but i have heard a lot of negatives.

I love that ombre!

Why don't you replace the toilet and add the crisp white shower curtain and fluffy white towels and see how you feel about the green tile above the tub. You might find that you like it. I wouldn't change it.

Thanks for the suggestions.

I'll do some research on tile painting but I think I want that green tile out (either painted or removed).

I will take some time to follow Lila's advice and see if I can live with it but I think I know I can't, I like light colors and white.

I did look into Toto Guinivere toilet and it looks very nice and easy to clean but it had some mixed reviews, one reviewer said it keeps clogging. That would be a big no no, functionality over looks (maybe that's why I'm so clueless about design).

Acm, you mentioned I could change my shower/but set, the shower doesn't bother me much but I'd love to change the bath faucet and parts. Is that something that can be done without changing the bathtub?

Thanks a bunch

Yes, if you are going to change the tile to another tile you will demo the tile and the wall board behind it. That will expose the valve and water supply lines for the tub. Call a plumber to install the new valve. (Also it would be good to inspect the trip level/overflow for the bath drain and possibly get that replaced at the same time. Remember most plumbing companies charge a trip fee per visit and then hourly so try to get them to do all the work they can on the same visit. This will save a lot of money. Also have them change out the angle stops (water supply valve) for the toilet and hot/cold sink because they are usually nasty and if they are old they tend not to shut off all they way when you disconnect the line to change fixtures)

After they do the plumbing work then the new cement board can go up, waterproofing applied and tiling can begin. After the tile work is done then you have to put the finished trim for the plumbing on. This isn't too hard if you are handy and you could probably do yourself to save a few $ or call the plumber back to to the trim out.

Even though the tub is green, these are great tubs and will probably last many more decades. Back when american made really meant quality. cheers!

I believe you could tone down everything by painting the walls white to match the white sink. However, the little alcove around the sink would look nice if painted a very pale green or even a pale pink. In addition, you could install a shower curtain, tub mat, and bath mat all in solid white. Towels in a very light pink could look nice in this room. For variety, you might add green rick-rack to the borders of white towels to complete the color scheme. If you decide to part with the green tub, toilet, and tiles, please have them removed carefully and then donate them to ReStore or a reliable second-hand shop. Some people do want vintage fixtures in colors, and who knows when something old will be in style again?

Ok, i think you two were talking about different things. If you just want to change the bath fixtures (faucet, handles, maybe the drain plug) lili, you just go to the store, get them, any plumbing guy will answer any questions you have, go home put them on. you don't have to do all the behind the scenes work. Now when you change out the tile, that is a great time to do what Big Rock is talking about.

Oh funny. I thought my bathroom walls were white!! I just went back to double check. I guess they are not but they are almost white, the light doesn't help in the photos, it make it look darker.

sheilaskb thanks for the advice of donating. I didn't know they would even want the tiles. But yes, I do not like trashing something totally functional just because of the looks so it would be better if I can use it by making changes around or donate it instead of trashing it.

Havingfun, are you sure changing the faucet and handles is that simple? I looked at the faucet and it seems totally stuck to the tiles, I don't see anything to remove it, would something show up after I remove the very thin calk around it?

I do want to do some stuff by myself just to try it out, learn, have a bit of adventure, like install a cabinet, paint the walls or change the faucet and handles if those are simple things that I can do.

I've just rented my whole life and never touched anything so that would be totally new and fun thing to do if not too risky or costly.

I was also thinking if this painting the tiles is something cheap, I could do it just to play with colors, paint white and maybe paint some borders and see what I like before having them actually replaced by professionals. Have some fun before making a decision?

Imagine that, maybe in 10 years I'll be posting here giving advice to others!! Wohoo

Add black to it

Vintage apothecary bathroom · More Info

My cousin installed this recessed cabinet in her condo and loved it. I would install the biggest possible. I would start by replacing the toilet seat. Look up the model online. Keep the accessories minimal. This towel rack is from Crate & Barrel:

I love the green tiles and fixtures! It's a real nice green. I love modern, hip design and honestly I wouldn't change a thing. It's cool. I would get a custom green toilet seat to match the toilet and then put a green wall behind the sink to pull the color over there behind the white pedestal. Also I would put large art over the toilet, the small framed picture makes the room feel small. I would fill most of the space behind the toilet with some neat stretched fabric.

I've seen painted tiles in person and they look, well, painted. I would embrace the original (preferred) or replace.

Wow, it's amazing what you guys can do with my photos, very cool, thanks.

er612, what software do you use? I do like the medicine cabinet a lot, thanks. I think I'll go ahead and buy it.

I do like the same color on the toilet seat, it's less green for some reason, which is weird, probably less contrast. Maybe I'll look online to see if I can find a match.

crelan thanks for saying you like the green, I do know some people like this retro look. Maybe because I was never exposed to it growing up . I do have a second bathroom which is pink but that has a lot more white so I can deal with it later. I do think the previous owners were keeping the retro look in the bathrooms. They completely remodeled the 3rd bathroom which is beautiful.

Genevieve, the wall paper with the leaves are so nice, very beautiful. I just don't have the guts to go that bold but I imagine if you can design a bathroom with that wall paper it would be really impressive.

lili, check this out for your pink bathroom! http://savethepinkbathrooms.com/

I think I found the matching toilet seat!! Do you think it's sea-green?

https://www.plumbingsupply.com/images/colored-toilet-seat-round-sea-green.jpg

generally, there is a screw right behind the caps on the handles. I would have to double check with hubby, but i think you actually just unscrew the faucet fixture. Like i said anyone in plumbing can tell you. I know you do not have to remove the wall to do that. It is not hard. both exe and current hubby have done and it takes them like 20 minutes. Current hubby has only just started to become a plumber. Old never had any training at all.

And I agree with everyone else. There are many simple fixes that may well mean living comfortably with your bathroom. I hate pink, and once I did what i did, it was quite pretty, you have to just expand a little bit. One of the reasons I come here. mind expansion. and a little blowing once in a while. brew haha

looks it to me.

Orangecamera, my bathroom is not the pink in toilets and sink, it's just pink in a weird way in the border tiles and shower stall wall made with some material looking like pink marble or plastic, I'm not sure. So I'm not too worried about just getting rid of the entire shower stall and putting a new glass one in place. But I'll open a new post for that one. Thanks!

There are so many ideas on Houzz. Just look up pedestal sink with sconces and you wil find any number of possibilities for your bathroom. Change the toilet to match the sink then put in WOW sconces and a mirror.

Bathrooms · More Info

Swallow Drive · More Info

Transitional Bathroom · More Info

Childrens Bathroom · More Info

Lindy Donnelly · More Info

Carmadillo Bathrooms · More Info

Any of these could work because you really do not 'see' the tub until you are actually in the room with the door closed! So killer walls and sconces and a mirror will lift the room substantially I think.

If money is an issue have the tile and tub professionally refinished to get you by for a few years.

Thanks for all advice and help.

Here's what I've decided so far:

• Keep the tub but try to replace the handles and faucet of the tub.
• Get a new framed mirror cabinet to go over the sink like the PB one
• Paint bathroom walls white
• Try to get an inside the wall shelves installed over the toilet for more storage or if not, buy cabinets and install
• Buy white bathroom rugs
• Buy some other shower curtains to change them around and have fun with it

Then a bit later on:

• Replace the toilet with a white one. I think that will be good for water savings and will be prettier too. I will research a way to donate or pass it on without trashing it.
• Replace the green tiles with some other tiles, maybe use the border idea with those pretty colors
• Paint with some different color the area behind the sink like examples that soosun2 gave.

For now I just put a white rug, ran and grabbed a bigger photo frame I have of my son and replaced the small art. It's not ideal but that's all I have in that size at home. But I think it looks a bit better already.

I'll post photos once I finish my bathroom renovation. This is actually really fun.

Ha, ha, bathroom reno, fun, lol!

Thanks for the update, this has been fun to follow.

Much better already, and I think your list makes sense.

Much better. Do you have enough light from that fixture? Looks a bit dim as if the light hardly reaches the sink.

Looks spectacular! So fresh and inviting. The cabinet above the toilet was a great solution to putting something larger in that nook, and who doesn't love more storage. Good job!

Yeah!!

Great job! Love what you did

I think there's enough light, the way I took the photo came out dark. And the paint color doesn't help. I'll paint the walls white when I have a chance. Or green if I feel brave.

I wanted to get rid of the tub but as casandra said, it's really good quality cast iron tub and taking a bath in it is really nice. I talked to my neighbor who is a contractor and he told me the tiles on the wall and on the floor are so well done, they are from 1960 and they look perfect today. He said nobody does this high quality work anymore. I just wish they had picked a different color!

I might still change it in the future, maybe lay new tiles on top of the existing one on the floor.

But I'm happy with my bathroom for now.

LOL... my circa 1956 bathroom is your "twin sister bathroom!" Embrace her for who she is. This was my solution to allow that retro green to take back stage. My "cheaper" investments - heightened shower curt. rod with a customized longer shower curtain, Liner: Bed, Bath & Beyond's xtra long, replaced vanity with Euro style - drk. brown, white sink, dark brown framed mirror (Home Depot), replaced toilet with comfort height white one, replaced shower head with adjustable rain shower head, + 2 dark brown rugs. Money I saved used to build a 15' x 20' trek deck Good luck! I don't know how to load my pics into this tag yet.