Thanks Pennyd!! I'm going to do a brushed nickle for all the fixtures. the door knobs are rubbed bronze. What would you think about getting a professional refinishing (like "miracle method") and otherwise leaving the bathtub and tile alone and just getting new hardware??? I know a soaking tub is really the way to go, but honestly we're trying to get out of the house at this point. I want to move on with my life haha.

To be honest, and just my own opinion here, if I purchased that house I would much rather "see" what I was dealing with from the get-go than discover later on down the road. In the first case, I could budget for it. In the second it would be an unwelcome surprise.

Oh and by "fixtures" I meant the colors of the tub, toilet and sink. If they match and you simply don't care for the color, don't try to change it. Plain tile is cheap...just redo the tile (sorry but that tile is hideous)

I think the goal here is to make it clean and "okay" enough to sell potential buyers on the house.

Habitat for Humanity is a great resource. Also I saw some perfectly acceptable lighting at my local Goodwill. And, of course, Craigslist...there are practically free tubs on there all the time (location dependent).

Hey Penny...

Yeah... I'm reluctant to do anything too drastic at this point in the living room. Because any change at this point with the paneling or floor would be another $5000, a week worth of time, or both. BUT for this bathroom, we've got to do something. We thought about it and we're actually going to do the soaking tub. Going to take out one of the closets to make room. And then retile stuff.

Thanks for your input!

As long as you don't put different color fixtures in there it will be a big improvement.

And I would just paint the paneling then...any kind of stain will further clash with the floor IMHO. It will be fine with a rug (which you'll take with you to then next place anyway).

Also, oil rubbed bronze fixtures may be less expensive at this point (we just got through replacing ours and I found that nickel was more because it's more popular.) Can't go wrong with chrome, too, but for continuity, orb would be best, no?

You could also use beadboard as an alternative to tile...it's classic and people love it. If you decide to tile, I would use plain white subway tile. Popular and inexpensive.

Good luck on your project! It seems tough now, but it will come together much better soon.

My dad used to do this but he did it without hiring outside help....So I totally understand the necessity of doing it quickly and how it can really cost when there's a delay caused by stuff not in your control.

You can do it!