Had a bathroom almost exactly like this when I graduated from High School in 1961! I painted the tiles PURPLE with auto paint and so far as I know the bath is STILL there and still purple. The lights on each side of the mirror were wonderful for putting on makeup that my mother wouldn't notice.

Play up vintage character until you can remodel. For now, replace the wall paper with a paint color a few shades lighter than the tile. (Make sure you add mildew-resist additive to your paint) Place a picture above the commode that has a touch of the coral color. Filling this space will mitigate the choppy 90 degree angle the tile takes. If you can replace the floor with some inexpensive vinyl that is a lighter shade, that would help.

Hi there! I agree with Lux Construction. I would remove the wallpaper, paint the room a crisp white (such as Benjamin Moore Chantilly Lace or another good white to match the sink and w/c), change out the pink shower curtain rod to either stainless or white, and add a shower curtain in either a simple white cotton waffle pattern with liner or in a wonderful vintage print on a white cotton or linen ground with liner. Finally, add a crisp white cotton rug or a cotton rug in fun colors (try Garnet Hill) and a framed vintage print above the w/c and then post the "After" pictures! It will look great for very little money. Please feel free to be in touch if you have any other questions. Good luck! Cynthia Wright

If you aren't ready to tackle the whole bathroom right now, I think the wall paper is a great place to start! Maybe a new mirror too?
When you get into the tile work it is always best to do it all at once, so wait until you're ready and it will save you on cost.
I would also consider painting the base molding a matching white. I think that would do a lot to brighten up the room! Hope this helps and good luck!

You should check out retrorenovation.com. They have a pink bathroom redo featured today that retains the vintage quality but adds a modern feel.

The wallpaper has to GO!!! If you don't want to get into remodel to much, I recomend painting it a blue or pale green color. Then, since the sink has in under-coverings, if you can, hang a shelf, then hang curtains around the side of the sink with a curtain with a funky pattern that matches the blue/green and pink.

I have to say, I think the bath is pretty cool! You might be best served to go / stay vintage? If you totally hate it, perhaps strip the wall paper and keep the walls a simple white. The fixtures are also pretty cool! But, again, if you dont like the look, perhaps change them out as well (Lighting, hardware, faucets etc.) Without a total remodel though, I am afraid you will be throwing money at a project that you will never quite be happy with....

Thanks to all--these suggestions are really helpful!

Hi debbeth -- Congrats on your new home. I'm not suggesting all of these at once, but one of these papers or the shower curtain might take you in a direction you could live with for now.

http://www.americanblinds.com/wallpaper/productid,19745
http://www.americanblinds.com/wallpaper/productid,21141
http://www.americanblinds.com/wallpaper/productid,60267

http://www.bedbathandbeyond.com/product.asp?SKU=41166611

Take down the paper, paint white, I think the pink shower rod should be replaced with a metal to match fixtures, and then totally play the vintage card your shower curtain perhaps you could even pull the black in by getting a vintage looking black and white curtain- perhaps something as simple as this: http://townhouselinens.com/products/Hotel-White-and-Black-Shower-Curtain.html?utm_medium=shoppingengine&utm_source=shopzilla&utm_term=&utm_campaign=Crib%20Bedding%3ERoom%20Accessories&utm_content=JO-ShowerCurtain-Hotel-WH-BK- the space above the toilet would be a good spot for a shelf with some glass bottles to hold bath accessories- I love the vintage look of white ruffle shower curtains too- http://www.bedbathstore.com/rushwhfashcu.html

Paint the ceramic tiles with rustolium apoxy paint found at Home Depot and checkout the vinyl floors from Allure they are waterproof at Home Depot $1.99 per sq. ft.

oooh, that townhouse linens curtains is great! Thanks Amy!

HI again! Here are a few shower curtain ideas:

and

C Wright all of your ideas have been terrific, thanks! And thanks for the John Robshaw link-those are beautiful

So glad you like them! John Robshaw is one of our favorites.

change the sink fixture, put bar across sink legs for nice towel, yes naturally paint over the candy stripe paper, not a lighter melon color though, stick in white linens and maybe a stencil with some grey in it.. keep that black accent going with the floor.
don't forget that women are buying that same sink on a high end budget so celebrate the vintage classic look.

I immediately thought RetroRenovation too (love that site), also because of today's post: http://retrorenovation.com/2013/03/12/pink-black-bathroom-makeover/

You could paint the walls gold instead of the silver: http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-RaqWqGwn4i0/TfczYqXNKvI/AAAAAAAAD3Y/_dWUaegJCBw/s1600/a.jpg

But of course white or lightgrey is the easiest and least risky ;)

If you are truly on a budget you can go for a vintage/modern glam look. The coral makes it easy to girly with no excuses. Change the curtain rod to silver or find a silver cover for it, find a shower curtain that has black & white or white and grey with a pop of coral or red- no big/bold patterns keep them soft, get a window dressing to match the curtain. Paint the wall a light cream color (it's a lot of work to remove wall paper when you do not know your final design yet). Put a picture above the toilet that has black and grays in it along with a short towel bar or towel ring for a hand towel. Add a rug to the floor to break up the marble pattern on the floor. Then with more time, change the shower fixtures- the shower head at least and the faucet.

But if you go for a remodel and decide to keep the bathroom as is for less work-paint the titles white, the walls a medium to dark gray, keep the sink (change the faucet), keep the toilet, you can opt for a claw foot tub or just keep the one you have, get a pedestal sink, round mirror, light sconces with the little shades on them, black and white or black and grey pattern floor tiles and a sheer roman shade for the window, nice linen white shower curtain and change the shower fixtures. Add pops of any color -red, teal, blue yellows on the towels, soaps and accessories. You can always make it fresh that way. Hope this helps.b Congrats, I just bought a home as well. Have soo much fun.

If you could find an old bark cloth patterned fabric with the black & pink in it for a shower curtain & then a small pattern to do a sink skirt it would be so cute. Then a black framed print for over the toilet.

40s style bark cloth.

Play up the vintage, but clean it up! Wallpaper is GONE! Send the pink shower curtain rod with it. Look for bold art of the period including advertising type posters, nostalgic Coppertone ad, Rosie the Riveter, Old Hawaii etc. Keep lines clean, rounded. Chrome and faceting are your friends. Tile is special and must stay.

You are very fortunate, this is a pretty tile color and your fixtures are awesome period style and nice and fresh and white. This will be a beautiful and character-filled room, please let me know when I can come over and "wash that man right outta my hair"!

Just found savethepinkbathroom.com thought you might enjoy.

5 Panels Bark Cloth Drapes Curtains Fabric 36x57 Retro Flower Geometric Oriental
This is more 50s & lighter color

It's running amuck. Trying to post pic of 5 panels. Won't let me delete the above. May try tomorrow.

Totally love the vintage take. Remove the wallpaper. Paint white walls. Go mod...with white shower curtain with geo metric metalic design following lines on tub and sink or tile shape. Then add in the softness by skirting the sink in white polka dot color of tile. Purchase white fabric and colored fabric of tiles...iron on circles. Then take Square and round and oval frames... spray paint tile color...and hang on wall. Put in geometric prints...as simple as shapes printed on copy paper...pages from books...construction paper in geometric shapes glued to white paper. Add some super plush or furry bath rugs in white. Kil the mini-blind..frost the windows...buy on roll at hardware store...cut to fit. Let's in great light...keeps shower private. Good luck...lots of great choices here.

Love the vintage tiles+ linoleum floors! You could go with white walls and just a few splashes of black and medium dark green or look for 50's retro fabric like this one for a shower curtain.
Is it possible to replace the mini-blinds with just a half curtain so light would come in and you could see out when you're showering?

If the tiles are in good shape but you hate the color, you can get them professionally recoated. Our bath went from a color of brown I can't adequately describe to lovely white. They added a bit of sand or something to the bottom of the tub, so it's non-slip. The whole room was about $1500, and people can't believe it's not new. Going the professional route you end up with an extremely smooth finish, and no brush strokes.

Have used both methods on a similar bathroom. For myself I used a fabulous wallpaper in complex compliments that muted the tile. When I sold the house, realtor asked me to have the tile all coated in a mono-chromatic color. As for durability, the original tile will wear better if you can find a way to enjoy it. Have fun.

A nice tile job will completely change the look of the bathroom! Tiling the wall will help reduce mold! :)

Ebay

I say keep it all except the wallpaper....and the curtain rod.......Love this bathroom....