White is a good idea, but I'd match it to the white tile.

Thank you, Carolyn. Yes, I've learned that there are many more shades of white than I ever imagined!

If the walls are all white, would some kind of fabric window topper in a green and white print be a good idea?

lord have mercy. 1990 was a bad year.

Those tiles are probably bright white. You can pick out any white base paint and tell them you DO NOT want it tinted. (otherwise they tint w/yellows, or blacks or reds, etc). This way you'll get a true white.

why do you need a window topper??? you have glass blocks. no one can see anything and those aren't meant to have curtains.

you can change out the hardware on the cabinets easy enough. just match the hole width. The light over the mirror is an easy change out as well. Plenty of inexpensive options. As for the towel ring, just remove it and place a hook there. It's dated looking.

as for the gold shower surround, you can always get a Rustoleum metallic spray paint and paint it. Lot of prep taping, but doing it in an oil rubbed bronze or a silver metallic would be an easy fix. Although the gold is making a comeback, so you may want to wait!

Beth, thanks for the the heads-up about white paint. The topper certainly isn't needed; just wondered if some color above the window (not over it) would be a good idea. I really want some vertical LED lighting, with no over mirror light, so I guess I'll have to replace that mirror, too. I have wondered if, in time, I might embrace that gold. But, gosh, there sure is a lot of it!

Looks like someone was trying for a "southwestern" look. Be glad the tiling is in good shape. It's your master, no one will see it unless you invite them to.

chiflipper, so true - the tiling in both bathrooms is pristine and looks brand new. Just for kicks, here's the guest bath. Lotsa brass, but at least no pink!

We would recommend giving the entire bathroom a face lift. White or light grey walls would look great with medium to dark tiles to accent. Here is an example of a bathroom we just remodeled to give you a visual.

Get the white up on the wall(s) and I think when you eye does not have to fight the color, you will begin to see what other small changes are needed. While I do not have the brass, I have toyed with the idea of painting the silver in my bathrooms to a dark bronze to go with the faucets and metal window frames. For now, we just hung a print shower curtain over the area and removed the sliding door.

20 years ago would be 1996 but those colors and styles look far older.

That's one of the perils of accent tiles : ) what's in today is out tomorrow.

Don't half way do this. If you can't afford it now wait and do it all at once--not in stages. You'll have more continuity and it won't be so drawn out.

leelee, yes - I think the owner must have been very old-fashioned. I believe she was an older widow, living alone - but she did maintain it all amazingly well. We are a retired couple ourselves, and this is the last house we will live in, so we're not worried about resale (let kids worry about that!). I think I can live with the tub, tile and floor, but for some reason, the walls really bother me. I'll get the walls, mirror, lighting, and cabinets the way I'd like, then live with the shower for a while before making any change there. Thanks, everyone!

For now I'd just paint the walls white and use all white accessories. Then I'd do a reno when I was in a postion to correct all the things I didn't appreciate.

Thanks, Anne - that's probably the way to start.

However....I think I really may like a rich green around the tub walls, at least. I'd want to keep the green away from my face while at the vanity, but a green towel, with some art above it could work. Now I think the pink/green of the tub looks sort of pretty, and somehow I don't even mind the the beigey-pink walls so much. Darker cabinets would help balance out the richness of the green, I think.

I'd either do a white as suggested, or if you want to pick up the color from the tile, make it a light shade of the same color for all the walls, not just around the tub.

HI -- If this is your forever house I think you would be wasting money and time trying to up date this bathroom . It is so dated and a style that is not done anymore so... I think it needs a total re-do . Gut it for new ... free standing white tub and a seamless glass shower ,new vanity or new top and sinks etc. all in whites and creams . The tile that is there is not very attractive and not fixable . Just painting out that paint color will not be enough of a change .

Great choice on the green paint. It's perfect on the walls you've chosen. I'm also a firm believer in "if you can't beat 'em, join 'em". That said, might as well embrace the pink (with restraint). This hand towel would work:

Take your time and live in the house before major renovations.

Thank you all for giving me your honest opinions. I've finally settled on the last one; just live in it for a while - because frankly, it may take a good while to convince my husband it needs any major changing. Though I really may have to paint that brass.

Will you use the tub? I think you can have it reglazed white too.

bellburgmaggie and suzyq: I'd never heard about etching and reglazing tile before. The tub is a spa tub, and it's large; it would be a shame to not use it, though we do have a hot tub there also. I think I've used my current spa tub once in ten years; so nice just to go out to the hot tub and not have to wipe it clean!

That Hillwood room is amazing! You've all certainly given me a lot to think about.

bellburgmaggie, you pricked my curiosity, and I just spent an hour on the Hillwood Museum website, reading and looking at pictures of that fabulous mansion. Now I'll probably spend the rest of my evening Googling about Marjorie Post and her family!