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what to do with this 1950s washroom

6 years ago

On a budget so I have to keep the tiles and the cabinets. Any paint, wallpaper, staining ideas? Shower curtain, rugs?

Comments (25)

  • PRO
    6 years ago
    last modified: 6 years ago

    Can you change countertop/sink & mirror?

  • PRO
    6 years ago


    Fairfax · More Info

    I don't know if this helps but this is basically your tile, when we started the project the cabinets were painted to match the tile (almost) but we painted them black to match the accent. In your case I might paint the cabinets white. I don't think the stained cabinets work well with the bandaid colored tile...

  • 6 years ago

    Really like the useful simplicity of the room as is.


    Do use a thick clear or semi-clear shower curtain liner intended to minimize any mold. You don't NEED more than that but If you want more of a shower curtain than that, you could add a valance attached to the same rod outside that -- something that adds your favorite color(s) to the room without crowding it (as a lot of fabric would). You could also add a washable bath runner rug or, if your floor is cold in winter, a gel mat in the same or coordinating color.

  • 6 years ago

    I agree that I don't think the dark stained wood does much for the flesh colored tile. I would paint the vanity and medicine cabinet white and change out the counter/sink/faucet if budget allows. You can probably get a white quartz remnant to fit. I'd lose the section of counter above the toilet, as it's dated now. Replace the inexpensive white shower rod. Even a silver looking tension rod will look better than the white one. Fluffy white towels and a larger rug to cover as much of the floor as possible. A fun color could be a light teal - Go to the other side of the color wheel from the flesh color for some fun, or pick a shower curtain and then pull a paint color from there. There are some great pictures on www.retrorenovation.com for some great inspiration.

  • PRO
    6 years ago

    Would make shower curtain the "star" of the room by doing a double curtain style (examples below), choosing a pattern you love, that includes at least a little of the color of the tile. This can help draw attention away from less desirable elements of the room.

  • 6 years ago

    If you add a full length shower curtain outside that tub (between tub and toilet), make sure you close the lid every time before you flush the toilet and hope visitors have clean hands when they're handling the fabric to move it out of the way.

  • PRO
    6 years ago
    last modified: 6 years ago

    Schumacher wallpaper




  • 6 years ago

    The vanity, as is, with wood finish, looks more "upscale" than a white painted one will.

  • PRO
    6 years ago





  • PRO
    6 years ago
    last modified: 6 years ago







  • 6 years ago

    Embrace the tile and be happy it’s not a fiberglass surround. That’s all I have. Look above and below for decorating options.

  • 6 years ago

    Thanks everyone! I guess the consensus is to paint the cabinet white. I’ll put on some white peel and stick paper on the countertop to make it similar to these photos. Should I also paint the medicine cabinet white?

    I love the shower curtain designs recommended here so I’ll incorporate one of those.

  • 6 years ago

    I like the idea of adding a cool blue and white to the warm color of the tiles. I think the contrast will be nice. If you can, find a reasonably priced faucet to replace the gold. You won't see the tub handles behind a shower curtain, so you could ignore those. Add a tray with a pretty soap and lotion pump to the counter top. Lots of clean, fluffy white towels as mentioned. At least it's nice and clean and well maintained. Please post pics as you go along!

  • 6 years ago

    PLEEEZE, no peel and stick paper on the countertops!!!

  • 6 years ago

    Is there something wrong with peel and stick?

  • 6 years ago

    @suezbell slum? I’m not creating slum so I don’t know what you’re taking about

  • 6 years ago

    If you’re keeping the countertop, I don’t think you should paint the vanity white.

  • 6 years ago

    @User - If I'm reading the above comment from suezbell correctly, it seems to imply that putting peel and stick on your counters would be like living in a slum, (not nice if that's what was meant). I am assuming there is a formica/laminate counter on the vanity now. If it is in decent shape, and the budget does not allow you to replace it with stone/quartz/solid surface, then keep the formica. If it's in bad shape, then you should just replace it with formica again. Peel and stick will not improve the bath in any way, will not hold up and is quite unsanitary. Formica is very budget friendly and you could then remove the section of countertop above the toilet for a more up to date look.

  • 6 years ago

    thanks @design girl :)

  • 6 years ago

    If your tile is in good shape with no issues other that the color, let it be! Don't disturb that tile unless you are prepared to invest a lot of money or time.

    Just changing out the vanity and sink will be good as long as it does not disturb the tile

    My daughter and her husband have a house of that era, same type of tile. They decided to tear it out and replace the tile and that floor tile was on a bed of cement even though it is not of a slab floor. They got into way more work than they had bargained for! Way more!

    If the tile is good leave it be! It will need to be redone at some point because it will leak eventually.

  • 6 years ago
    last modified: 6 years ago

    2twin2 No offense intended.

    I actually a tile surround -- though not a huge fan of the color.

    Prefer the wood look to paint. Anything painted will, inevitably need to be painted again and can get to looking awful as it gets to that point.

    Strong yes to replacing Formica with Formica in accord with tight budget; strong no to contact paper on any budget.

    Meant only that you should make any changes for appearance only at least be an improvement rather than a downgrade and that if you were not upgrading, then, unless damaged and change required, leave it.

    "I'm not the only one that read that "peel and stick" as contact paper or something that looks cheap to replace what, from the pic, doesn't currently look worn out.

    redoredone

    also noted "PLEEEZE, no peel and stick paper on the countertops!!!"

  • 6 years ago
    last modified: 6 years ago

    Something else you might consider instead of a full shower curtain is a SWAG valance - that could let the light from the window thru the clear of semi-clear shower curtain liner and not put as much fabric against the toilet.


    Good luck with your project. Do let us know how it turns out.

  • PRO
    6 years ago

    You have nice tile and solid looking cabinet. You say you can't replace those, so good that they look solid.

    Don't do peel and stick on the counters- it can be harder than it looks to do nicely, and extra hard to look nice on a countertop regardless. I would also say before someone suggests it to not do peel and stick for your walls to backsplash or glam up or whatever- from what I've seen of those, though nice, probably won't mesh well with your current tile and cabinet. The ones I've seen so far are a bit too fussy/modern and not just plain ole nice.

    If it's in the budget to replace the countertop, do so. Out of all the big things in the bathroom, that one might be the one most worth it to put the bucks into replacing.

    And.. is that gold tone on the sink and tub spigots, but a silver showerhead? Depending on budget, either get the showerhead into the gold family, or get the gold stuff into the silver family.

    What's up in the niche in the ceiling? Lights or skylight? It looks like a light/fan combo in the reflection in the mirror, but kind of hard to tell. You might have room to play with a lighting/fan changeout.


  • 6 years ago

    I’d focus on towels, shower curtain and rug(s) for now. And don’t put contact paper on the Formica! You’ll be really sorry if you do that!