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droomgoole

Trying to update bathroom on a budget

10 years ago
Older retired couple (70's) needs advice on updating 1950's bathroom on very limited budget, which doesn't include a contractor. Less than $2k budget. Toilet and 24inch vanity combo needed replacement, cracked and broken. We have sourced new white toilet and 24in glacier bay white vanity combo from Home Depot my husband is doing work himself and currently working on bathtub fittings and replacing some cracked and missing tiles. Any decorating advice is welcome? Do we replace the peach tub now? Objective is clean and functional while looking as good as possible

Comments (14)

  • PRO
    10 years ago

    I would not put a white toilet or a white sink here. If anything, I would go to a salvage yard and get pink or gray vintage for this style or if you can find new gray. The cheap home depot stuff will stick out like a sore thumb and no decorating advice can conceal that. I am sorry, hope you kept your receipts.

    Embrace the design/ freshen up walls, get rid of the god awful acrylic enclosure and repair the tile as it is. Replace the light fixtures with an appropriate mid century selection.

    Work with what you have not against it, if on a budget.





  • PRO
    10 years ago

    agree with sjb2814 100%

  • 10 years ago

    Agree with Aggie re. quality of vanities from Home Depot -- read the reviews on their site and you'll see people are not happy with them. sorry


  • PRO
    10 years ago

    Check in Yellow Pages or on line and have your tub and tile reglazed white. Least expensive way to go to get a brand new look.

    Then if you are close to IKEA, check out their vanities that come with sinks. They may fit your budget.

    http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/categories/departments/bathroom/20719/



  • 10 years ago
    I agree that the sconces are out of place. You may not realize how in fashion your original bathroom is and it's a real asset for resale purposes. The problem with that is the difficulty in restoring it to its original glory. So you're stuck between go forward or go back. What I really dislike is the bathtub surround that has obviously replaced (or covered the original bathtub tile). I can't really tell what kind of shape the tub's in. If it's pretty good, leave it. What I do like are the colors. Pink and green are a great combination. Find some green paint and paint the walls to match the tile and then find some great green or pink towels and do it up big. Good luck. There are a lot of people who would love to have that bathroom.
  • 10 years ago
    Hi thanks for response. Trying to order replacement tiles online and both of us are color blind and having discussions with son about colors. Can you identify the colors of the tiles? I think it is peach and warm grey. Husband thinks pink and blue. I'm not kidding you. Thanks
  • 10 years ago

    Men are notoriously more likely to be colorblind. Peach and gray. (Or maybe it's like that damn dress photo from the Internet last year -- I still swear it was blue and black, hah). And crazy about all of our monitors! classy sass sees green, I see gray, your husband sees blue! Good luck with the tile match. And totally agree with classysass about the tub surround.

  • 10 years ago

    You have a wonderful mid-century bathroom that, as others have pointed out, adds value to your house. Please visit RetroRenovation for loads of great information on this bathroom style, tile and fixtures sources, etc.

  • 10 years ago

    Tiles are pink and blue. Tub is peach & clashes with the pink. I think the reglazing rec. is a very good idea. I highly recommend an ADA height toilet - we LOVE ours!

    I'd have the floor professionally cleaned. Also, the calking around the tub needs to be pulled out & redone. Agree 100% with sconce comments. A good-looking shower curtain that ties in with the tiles will help a lot.

    I'd upgrade the doorknob too.

  • 10 years ago
    last modified: 10 years ago

    Sjb2814:. Are you kidding? It was gold and white!!! What? You like the "white" acrylic bathtub surround? It's pink and green.

  • 10 years ago

    P.S. and I didn't call it "God awful" like the poster before me. Ha!

  • 10 years ago
    Thank you so much for advice. The old pink/peach sink is salvageable and in backyard waiting to go to dump. The base cabinet was damaged. The old peach toilet is salvageable but the tank cover is cracked/broken. We have all the parts. We could put it back and find what's missing online or local. Agree about wall sconces and tub surround. Husband, bill is looking on clay squared right now for replacement tiles. Keep the recommendations coming. Many thanks
  • 10 years ago

    Oh please salvage the old sink and just do a new base cabinet. Hope you can salvage the toilet too --