If the tile is going, not replacing the tub would be silly. It's the first thing that goes into a bathroom and the last to come out during demolition. If the walls are out than taking out and replacing the tub shouldn't be too expensive. A Kohler Villager cast iron tub is less than $375. Once the tub is white you can do anything you want in the rest of the bathroom. With labor you might be $750 total and you are going to look back when you are done and regret not changing out the tub when you had the chance.

Maybe it's just me, but I kinda think it looks cool, a bit funky and mid century modern. If it's in good shape, I might be inclined to keep it and play it up as a centerpiece of your bathroom design. If you do decide to replace, consider reselling it because there's a market out there for the old pastel fixtures.

There are a ton of white tile options to work with the tub....bring in towels and/or art to tie in w the blue. Simple white subway tile on the walls with a porcelain floor in greys/whites won't be hard to find. Just bring a lot of samples home to see what clicks. Good luck!

I have the same 1950s Briggs Beautyware sky blue bathtub in my recently renovated bathroom. I designed the bathroom to go with the blue bathtub and toilet because I like colored fixtures and mine are in very good shape. White options were selected--white subway tile on walls, oyster white vinyl tile on the floor, white paint on upper walls. A liner tile with floral pattern, completely glazed Daltile 0169 Waterfall, ties the blue and white together.

Colored fixtures are meant to be the centerpiece in bathrooms. I would suggest keeping the tub, wall tiles, and floors tiles unless they are damaged beyond repair or you absolutely don't like them. If it isn't in the budget to replace the tub, perhaps the project should be postponed until the funds are available. There is definitely a market on ebay and Craigslist for the colored bathroom fixtures if you should decide to remove the bathtub.

My contractor would agree with Skydell's suggestion above. However, he also understood that I was going for a different look.

what a shame someone got rid of such a charming bathroom....