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ashley_green43

Help me update this builder grade bathroom!

last year

Going to start updating 1 of 3 bathrooms in our house. For now, I’m going to leave the floor tile, vanity, and toilet. I’m going to change the countertop to a white or gray quartz, new pulls, faucet, and light fixture. And also paint the walls!
Should I frame the mirror? If so, would a natural wood color look good?
Should I go with black or gold/brass faucet and pulls? Thinking I’ll do mixed metals - so if I go with brass faucet, I’ll do a black light fixture or vice versa.
Should I paint the walls a nicer shade of green or just creamy white?
Should the new sink be rectangular or round?

I can’t find many inspiration pictures with the green/brown slate tile!

Comments (28)

  • last year
    last modified: last year

    Here you go: light tan walls (maybe Benjamin Moore Manchester Tan); white countertop, a shade of green for vanity base, wood trimmed mirror, copper/bronze light fixture, and bronze hardware and knobs. Add a bamboo shade for the window.



  • PRO
    last year

    The floor is the boss here. You need to select colors that work with it. Maybe show a better photo of the floor?

    I wouldn't mix metals--use chrome for faucets and light fixtures. In addition to them being classic, they are the least expensive and most widely available.

    An oval sink would be my recommendation.

  • last year
    last modified: last year

    fresh and light would be my suggestion. the green is too drab (If you want a green undertone, try SW Reserved White)


    White countertop, rectangular undermount sink. simple long light bar, Light colored walls. Chrome hardware, classic.

  • PRO
    last year

    We cannot see the floor, is this what it looks like?



  • last year

    It's not a bad bathroom, but -- as you say -- it's builder-basic. The only thing I see "wrong" right now is that everything leans a little country, while the floor is rustic-Craftsman -- and that's a mis-match. Here's what I'd do:


    - I agree with another poster: The floor is the boss. It's nice but not generic, and changing it would be expensive. I'd work around it.

    - In a perfect world, the floor and the countertop "coordinate". Not necessarily match. This ties your hands a bit, but I'd go with something dark-ish.

    - While you're changing the countertop, lose the little shorty backsplash. It brings nothing to the table.

    - Definitely frame the mirror, probably with a darkish frame to tie into the floor and countertop -- and that's the last dark thing you should do.

    - Absolutely paint the walls and remove that strip of wallpaper border at the ceiling. A pale slate-y blue comes to my mind first, but any number of options would work.

    - The light fixture brings nothing to the table. I'd like to see it replaced with something a little fancier -- the floor makes me say try something Craftsman-type, maybe with squarish globes? If this is the only light in the room, go with 5-6 bulbs.

    - On the other hand, if you have a ceiling light, I'd like to see something like a simple chandy. Take a look at the first picture I'm sharing below.

    - Definitely ditch that not-so-functional faucet, which we all endured in our childhood. Choose a wide-spread faucet, which is so much easier to clean. Again, I'd like to see you go with something chunky /Craftsman-type -- if that fits into your whole house's look.

    - I lean away from the mixed metals idea but don't feel strongly about it. I'd go with simple Chrome fixtures. They're simple and match everything. When (not if) you need to replace something, it'll be easy. And no one really notices the difference between Chrome and Nickle (or whatever else) once the whole room's done.

    - Now the shower: Lose the Target-basic shower curtain and get a really nice floor-to-ceiling shower curtain. I'd choose something with an all-over floral pattern, and it needs to have a touch of the flooring's colors -- or a solid white /off-white would do. I'm attaching a couple pictures at the end so you can see how good a floor-to-ceiling curtain looks. Don't be skimpy with the fullness, and don't expect this shower curtain to be cheap. Try Etsy.

    - Then add a coordinated valance to the window -- not something so big that it'll block your light, but something so the window doesn't look naked.

    - Then bring in two nice floor mats (solid color to coordinate with the shower curtain) -- one in front of the sink, one in front of the shower. And lovely towels to complete your linens.

    - Add artwork at least to the left of the sink and above the towel bar.

    - Every room needs something organic and something alive (or that looks alive). I'd go with a woven basket trash can and a small plant or flowers on the vanity.







  • last year

    Just take a clear, well-lit daytime photo of the tile since that's the "boss" of the space as Diana Bier says. Otherwise, we're half color blind.

  • last year

    I'm seeing designers on YouTube warn about calcium buildup on black faucets making them look pretty terrible pretty quickly. They gave another vote for chrome, or polished nickel. A caution about putting a white top on the vanity: it would have to work with the white of the toilet plus the white of the cabinet, which is hard to do.

  • last year

    Here are more photos of the floor. Our Floors in the house are white oak. Lights and accents are black in the house just for reference.

  • last year

    Thank you for the photos. To pick a color for the walls, match the color deck to the lightest tan/gold/cream and go way up the deck for your paint. Your samples are all too intense. If you paint the vanity green, look for a sage on the gray end of sage. Then order some Samplize sheets https://samplize.com/

    Because your floor is so busy, everything else you paint should be soft like this and no darker. This vanity green leans a bit gray/tan, which is just right. leNote the wood accents.


  • last year

    And these are the quartz counter samples I am choosing between. I’m thinking one of the ones with flecks of glass as they have a slightly green tone to them and might tie in with the floor.

  • last year
    last modified: last year

    Yes, those are nice. Put them against the floor tiles to see if they play well together. Also found this palette that has beige tiles, green vanity, tan wall paint, all in balance.Check out window shade as well.

  • last year

    Stay away from greens in here and don’t try to match flecks in a countertop with the floor. It is too literal and not going to translate to the overall look of the room.


    Place your countertop selections on the floor and take pictures. Then select the correct countertop and paint the vanity to match.


    Your floor is quite busy and having a big visual block of two different colors - one on your counter, one on the vanity - adds even more visual disarray. Make the vanity and top the same color to calm things down in there. I’d also paint the walls the same color as the vanity. This will make a simple relaxing back drop. Let new light fixture and faucet be the starts of the show.


    I agree black faucet can be hard to keep clean.



  • PRO
    last year

    The wall color you have now is WAY better than any of those little paint samples in the photo. the bright emerald greens would look awful with your floor.

    I would paint the vanity sage green, use one of the flecked quartz counter tops (white), and the same sage green on the walls and trim. A white sink and chrome faucet.

  • last year

    The vanity is melamine and not wood. I think painting it would be super difficult.

  • last year

    Oh, okay, melamine. Then no vanity paint, but yes to one of your tan flecked countertops. Match the wall paint to the background beige color or possibly go darker as below. The key is picking a wall paint shade that harmonizes with the lightest background tan/brown of the floor tile. Get wonderful lights and mirror for over the sink and a great, rich looking shower curtain.

  • last year

    This option seems the most do-able.

  • last year

    Now that I’m trying to visualize everything, I just can’t get past the floor! I think the all white option allows me to keep them and once we replace them, I can always repaint the walls.

  • PRO
    last year

    Well, if you like the all white option, go ahead with it, you might surprise yourself and like the floor. I did suggest some green for the shower curtain and roman shade so that's some colour in the room and you can also have some wall art to coordinate.

    If eventually you do replace the floor tiles, then you can deal with a new decor at that time.

  • PRO
    last year

    "Love the plan! Slate tile's your anchor – lean into its earthy vibe. Frame that mirror in natural wood (warm contrast!). Go brass faucet/pulls + black light fixture for intentional mixed metals. Paint walls creamy white to avoid clashing with busy tile. Rectangular sink for clean lines. Don't fight the slate – make it a moody feature!"

  • last year

    I thought melamine could be painted but it needed primed first? Google says cleaning, light sanding and preimer will do it.

  • PRO
    last year

    @RNmomof2 zone 5

    Yes you can paint melamine but it's a lot of work (lots of prep) and has to be very well done to last.

  • PRO
    last year

    Would suggest you consider replacing the floors as well. The color and texture overpower everything else.

  • last year

    I am getting a quote for the floors shortly. Yes eventually they will be done. Just not sure when exactly…

  • PRO
    last year

    If you're planning on replacing the floors, then wait and do them first. If the bathroom is usable at present, then I think it's better to work from the ground up. I wouldn't spend the money on new counter tops if you're going to change the floors eventually anyway. It's very disruptive to break up tile, and you run the risk of damaging the vanity and counter top.

    Just paint and make small cosmetic changes and do the flooring and counter top later. JMHO.

  • last year

    We took up that same flooring downstairs and it was really difficult but it was adhered to concrete and in this bathroom it will be a wood subfloor. But I was thinking you may be right. I may see if I can get it done first.

  • last year

    Since you have 3 bathrooms to do it would be wise to get a big picture plan in place. Have all 3 thought out and decide scope, budget and timing. Also deciding if you are being consistent with finishes or not.

  • last year

    The floor is the most eye catching element and will make the biggest impact. Not changing that for now. I would replace the light fixture and paint the walls a neutral that fits with the floor. Add a piece of art and be done until floor replacement is in the budget.

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