1. No wallpaper. Do you have a vent in the space, or just a window on the ceiling that opens? If no vent, then definitely no wallpaper - it will peel right off with the moisture from the shower.

2. Remove the two bath mats. Get a bathmat that you hang in the shower after use for drying. Leaving them on the floor wet will not help with the age of the tile.

3. Get a proper shower curtain that adds some neutral color and/pattern.

4. STORAGE. You need storage in this bathroom. Add some shelves above the toilet with baskets to store things, or get a custom made cabinet that goes around pedestal sinks.

5. Color. Add in some color - I know you want to, since you mentioned it above. Are the wall tiles yellow and the floor tiles green and red? Your pictures make it difficult to determine actual colors, which leads me to my next point...

6. Lighting. Since this room seems like it has very little natural light, if any, use LED lights for true white light instead of yellow light.

apaquin25, thanks so much.

1. The vent is the original glass vent in the ceiling which opens to a screened skylight. We pop it open while using the shower.

2. Good to note for the tile protection. Would you suggest one large rug, and then just the bathmat that is removed in/out of the shower?

3. I've been waiting on a shower curtain after determining what colors to incorporate.

4. Shelves or a cabinet would work above toilet. I don't like storing items on the back of the toilet.

5. The floor tiles are dark/light brown or beige and the wall tile is a light peach.

6. I will check if the current bulbs are LED, that's a good point. It would reduce the orange tint in the space that then also bounces off the peach tiles.

I would match the walls to the floor tiles (dark/light brown or beige - whichever looks best with the wall tile). Then add matching towels and shower curtain. I would also raise the shower rod so it's hidden behind the arch.

er612, thanks so much for these suggestions and the visuals!

First I'd get proper storage. Mount a glass/stainless shelf beneath the outlet. I'd keep the things on your wall to a minimum. Maybe add a little picture above the shelf/toilet. Consider mounting storage on the back of your door. I'd get a larger vintage looking mirror and a light above it. I'd try to incorporate black and stainless finishes. Then find a shower curtain you like. Then find coordinating rug (one rug) and bathmat that can hang on your tub when not in use. Last get coordinating paint for your walls. Here are some suggestions. Mirror:

Lights:

Over door Storage:

Shelf for shaver:

Shower Curtain:

Rugs and paint can go a beige/gray found in your shower curtain. Good Luck!

The floor is NOT original and doesn't really go with the wall tile which is beautiful. Wallpaper won't peel off and would be consistent with this era of bathroom.

Here you go. These are from Bradbury.

Love the wall tile. I was going to say the same thing about the floor tile. If you plan on changing it, you could do something more of a black and white that was standard during that time. get some glass shelving (with black hardware) for over toilet. New lights and mirror would go a long way.

or something like this basketweave. they make it in porcelain.

Here is a vintage bathroom with very similar coloring to yours:

here is one w/wallpaper

Beth H. :, thanks for your thoughts! I don't plan on changing the tile, only because it's in great shape, no chipping, and I could work with the color. I love the bottom picture of wallpaper you shared and wanted to go with this initially until I thought more about not applying wallpaper. So now trying to figure out what type of pictures to hang on the wall across from sink. Perhaps maybe five "vintage" photos in various frame sizes. I think I'll look into adding glass shelves above the toilet, and painting the metal black (like on the light and the shower rod).

Barbara Almandarz, thank you for your ideas! I like the thought of glass shelves. I would like to add some extra color in the space aside from peach so that it isn't so orange looking. Trying to find a good color that would compliment. And actually during the day, the skylight puts off a lot of natural light which is nice, so that the orange isn't so concentrated.

Any thoughts on just adding wall paper on the arch above shower to accent it?

I don't think putting paper in the one spot would look right. If you want to jazz up the walls, why don't you look into stenciling? It does take some work, but it's inexpensive and easy to change out when you tire of it. I think if you got those glass shelves, a new fixture and mirror, and some black and white towels and accessories, it would look 10x better

here are examples of similar bathrooms where they've stenciled instead of paper.

this first pic has the shelving/lighting/mirror that you could use.

You need storage, and badly. As much as I love these bathrooms....where did people put stuff?

Is your medicine cabinet recessed? If not, it probably was. If it is, you'll have to get one with a much bigger mirror that fits in that spot as I think that one is too small.

Really, the only way you can add storage is on the walls. But a bunch of cabinets will look like a bunch of cabinets unless you can unify them in some way....perhaps add related art to the cabinet fronts???

I'll poke around online and see if I can see the idea to give you a visual of what I'm thinking.

http://www.houzz.com/pro/pokerliz/beth-h, thanks for your input! Stenciling could be an option I'll have to explore. While I don't have a steady hand I could see what it entails. :) I would like a cabinet with a small shelf (one unit-similar to pic below) above the toilet especially to store things like my husband's electric razor. I would also like to paint the metal black.

http://www.houzz.com/user/pennydesign, yes the mirror is recessed. And you're right, where did people store things in these bathrooms?! ;) I'm trying to find the exact cabinet for above the toilet (that would be helpful). I thought about glass shelves but still there are things I don't want to display (like my husband's electric razor plugged into the one outlet in the bathroom!)

Stencilling doesn't take a steady hand as much as patience and a meticulous attention to detail. As long as you take the time to properly off-load your roller and level your stencil each time, it's quite easy. If you choose a pattern that is more organic (swirls, floral) than geometric (Moroccan, chevron) any unevenness or overlap is much less obvious. Doing tone-on-tone with either two shades of the same strip or different finishes of the same colour also makes any mistakes disappear.

Is the mirror not a medicine cabinet?

http://www.houzz.com/user/lindsey-forstbauer, that's good to note. I'll have to look into it. The mirror is also a medicine cabinet built into the wall.

This may sound simplistic, but is there anything in the medicine cabinet that is not used on a day-to-day basis? Maybe you could remove it to another area of the house and put the daily use stuff in the cabinet.

You could remove the existing cabinet and drywall over the space (or not if you don't mind) and get 2 identical bigger surface mount cabinets. Then center over the toilet and sink and bridge them with glass shelves...I know you're not crazy about shelves, but you could use them for decorative things or vintage containers.

I think I would put frosted film over the one over the toilet so that they look related.

As far as color....I love peach. I would paint the walls a lighter shade of the tile.

Is there space right outside the door for a tall shallow cabinet to store things close by?

http://www.houzz.com/user/lindsey-forstbauer, yea it's everyday stuff we use in the cabinet (toothbrush, makeup, etc). It sets into the wall about 3" or so. Not sure if these photos help. Don't mind the cosmetics. ;)

http://www.houzz.com/user/pennydesign, that is a thought to remove the existing and get two identical. I'm trying to find something for over the toilet that goes with the existing if I wanted to leave it. When you open the cabinet, you can see some leftover color from the walls before becoming white. Looks like a light peach ;)

http://www.houzz.com/user/kaymiller88, no, unfortunately there is no space in the hallway to put a small piece. We do have a half-size closet that currently houses linens, medicine, toilet paper, etc. (photo taken from bathroom door)

pennydesign, thanks so much for these visuals! I would like to keep the mirror over the sink, add another cabinet over the toilet, and then some frosted shelves in between-I'm liking this look. This weekend I actually bought the first piece of art for the bathroom (thanks IKEA!), although the colors in the picture are more vibrant.

Nice choice! You will have to find a related picture for above that one...

It looks like retro fashion photography? Goes well.

Have you been considering paint colors?

You may have to give in and yank the existing cabinet in order to get two the same...Fortunately it's an easy and an inexpensive upgrade.

Also your light could be changed out at some point....again an easy thing to do (and have them facing down but make sure it clears your cabinet, obviously). Something simple with a nod to the past.

Modern/Abstract Shower curtain from Zazzle to help tie in the colors.

Photoshopped black grasscloth wallpaper to give the wall a little texture and helps blend the black tile border too.

Nice black bath mat to match.

Buy two shower curtains and cover arch with black grass cloth.

pennydesign, I've thought about a few paint colors, but haven't committed on one because the floor has shades of brown in it. My question is would I lean more to compliment those colors or lean more to one that compliments the black accents? And you're right, perhaps I will end up yanking the cabinet and the light. ;)

suzchaps & Houzz Pros

What are your thoughts on painting the bathroom tiles?

http://lindsayandandrew.blogspot.com/2012/11/painting-tile-who-knew.html

Esmaili Rugs and Antiques, Inc., Good question! I've thought about doing this, and researched the method, but I don't know if I can commit. Ha. There is something endearing about the original color and simply the fact that I don't mind it too much (it would be a different story if it was turquoise green!).

suzchaps

Painting is a huge undertaking. Embrace your space :) I think the tiles are being ripped out of 1940's & 1950's houses way too hastily. The reality is these bathrooms are a wonderful part of the home design heritage. There is no doubt in my mind whatsoever that they are poised for a comeback.

Blue was used to counter act orange.

I recommend it for accessories, not wall paint. I do think the white walls are too stark, a creamy off white would be better with the tile.

I love your tile! I hope you keep it.

My home was built in 1937 and I am the second owner. My bathroom tiles are in mint condition. I really couldn't justify spending a fortune on a remodel. I love my big, beautiful tub. I have learned that less is more. I painted the walls white and accent with white or black, depending on the season. Most of my friends can't believe this bathroom is 70 years old and not a tile is cracked or missing.

nmp19 LOVE LOVE LOVE!

nmp19, yes, thanks for sharing! There is only one small crack in our bathroom tile. I too love our large, porcelain tub. The shower has its corks, but that's with any house that has original pipes. Our neighbors actually took the charge and remodeled their bathroom. They said there were 4 inches of cement they had to demolish that held together the wall tile! And they said the removing the tub took a few bodies. Hearing that was enough for me to just embrace the peach tile. I also feel tile work like this nowadays can only be found few and far between.

My late father-in-law, who was a Master plasterer (yes there were such titles back in the 1930's) told us when we bought the house 35 years ago that our home was built with the highest quality materials in 1937. The bathroom and kitchen tiles were inset in lime based cement six to eight inches thick. Our tub is porcelain and there is an eight inch drain pan underneath and a zinc liner. We have never had any plumbing leaks. We certainly appreciate the craftsmen that built our home. We have been extremely fortunate that it has been almost a maintenance free home. Other than a new roof and gutters, we have not had to replace or repair anything. Luckily, the original owner was a City contractor in the 1930's and used the best tradesman and building materials.

What warm color paint would go with my sea foam green tile in my 1940s bathroom

An inspiration photo for a lovely black and yellow tile.