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alexandra_norwood

Need ideas for a cheap bathroom refresh/update

13 years ago
I am currently selling my house and looking for rather cheap/easy things I can do to make it more desirable. It's an old brick Tudor home that was built in 1937. All of the homes in my area have similar bathrooms, just different colors usually. It's a rather small bathroom and the only one on the main floor. I personally like it just fine because it's old and unique, but it seems as if the modern home buyer is not too interested in it. I've had people tell me I can sand the tile down, prime it, and paint it white. Possibly leave the black tile. Other ideas have been to leave the tiles on the walls and just retile the floor. I heard steam master vinyl tile is cheap and easy. I'd consider both, but I'd like some feedback as I've never painted tile or retiled a floor. Thank you!

Comments (22)

  • 13 years ago
    Actually, I like the black trim and your tile. Don't paint it. You might try updating the faucets and the mirror (unseen in this photo you posted). Here is one that is very similar to your bath but it is green tile. Look at how updated it looks with just a different mirror, lighting and faucets. Accentuate what you have ....

    Helena 1 · More Info
    Alexandra Norwood thanked Denita
  • PRO
    13 years ago
    You've done good with what you have.
    Alexandra Norwood thanked Dytecture
  • 13 years ago
    I would only replace the floor. How about a hex tile? Doesn't have to have the black accents. Just white would freshen it up nicely. I like the black/pink and I think the buyers will too!
    Victorian Bathroom · More Info
    Alexandra Norwood thanked Darzy
  • PRO
    13 years ago
    If your bathroom is in good condition and does not need to be replaced, don't bother. The room fits the age and style of the home and is comparable with others in your neighborhood. I'm a vintage home lover and I would be thoroughly disgusted if I knew that you renovated such an interesting, authentic bathroom to try to sell the house. I would rather see an original 1937 bathroom in great shape than a new bathroom which will be dated in another 5-10 years.

    Fix any leaks, missing grout, cracked plaster, sticking doors, and peeling paint and give everything a thorough cleaning.
    Alexandra Norwood thanked Linda
  • 13 years ago
    I agree with Linda. It's just fine. If you have already done what she says, spend your time and attention on the front landscaping, the kitchen, and the master bathroom. I assume the house is newly painted inside and out and it is already clean as a whistle everywhere.
    Alexandra Norwood thanked apple_pie_order
  • 13 years ago
    HI -- The only tiles that were added after the fact are the ones in the bath tub area above the first black trim tiles . Those were probably added in the 70's or 80's . If you can remove those and the very top black tile. Then paint the rest of the bathroom a bright white . Then only have white for all the accessories like the shower curtain ,towels and bath matt and so on. Just have the black tiles and the picture frame as the only black in the room. If the room is in good shape , then leave it . If I was looking to buy , I would not want the original tiles painted or the floor changed . As long as the room is clean and bright and smells good and has lots of white ,-- it should sell . I wouldn't put a lot of time and money into big changes if your selling. The new owners will have their own ideas for the room.
    Alexandra Norwood thanked lefty47
  • 13 years ago
    I love the bathroom! It fits the age of the house. As long as it is clean and in working order, I wouldn't touch anything. Maybe the shiny things - the mirror, faucets, towel rails. Otherwise it's great how it is.
    Alexandra Norwood thanked Allison .
  • 13 years ago
    last modified: 13 years ago
    It would be criminal to paint or replace those tiles.
    http://savethepinkbathrooms.com/
    Alexandra Norwood thanked groveraxle
  • 13 years ago
    groveraxle, that's great! My mom had the 70's version: pink toilet, bathtub and sink, brown wood panelling on the walls.
    Alexandra Norwood thanked Allison .
  • 13 years ago
    Darling! Vintage is in. Steam clean the tile and brighten up with highest watt bulbs you can. Use all white towels, shower curtain and accessories to make it seem as light/large clutter free as possible (no rug, no picture, just towels and shower curtain, I might even remove those too) and the shiny tile will be the star. Seriously it is cute.

    I know these are not the colors of your room but they show a sparkling clean vintage tile bath with nothing in it and it looks like a place you would want to take a shower, and feels bigger without the accessories. Bake pumpkin bread or spice cake before a showing and you will get offers! Good luck.
    Alexandra Norwood thanked Rawketgrl
  • PRO
    13 years ago
    in my idea it can be cheap if you just change Bathtub to a small stand shower cabin.
    by doing this you would have more space and your bathroom have a good view,
    it would be better if put high quality pic under your window that pic should show jungle our a corn farm. it can be fantastic isn't it? something like This :
    Alexandra Norwood thanked Sky Pack Company
  • PRO
    13 years ago
    My take on it: your walls look pale lemon and contrast with the white shower curtain. This may be the camera. If not, just paint the walls a warm white and sell. The new owners are going to do what they do with it anyway.Perhaps play up its Art Deco theme a bit more. Add a roman blind instead of the venetian blinds, more polished chrome accessories, and even some aubrey beardsley ( http://www.wikipaintings.org/en/aubrey-beardsley/the-black-cape-1894) framed prints in black frames. Finally, a lot of sins can be covered with an extra large black bath mat.
    Alexandra Norwood thanked ASVInteriors
  • 13 years ago
    That floor IS pretty bossy. But a large bath mat wouldn't hurt. Like the advice of clean and sparkling. Would hate to see the desirable, authentic vintage disrupted. (Don't like the black towels.) I hate everything the previous owners of my house had the contractor do to 'update'....stuck unless I update my husband! ;/
    Alexandra Norwood thanked Diane G
  • 13 years ago
    Could you do some peel and stick white tiles over the current flooring. Like the room also.
    Alexandra Norwood thanked Angel 18432
  • 13 years ago
    Thank you all so much for your thoughts and ideas. I appreciate it more than you know! The mirror and light fixtures are not shown, but I'm going to update those and paint the walls white. I'm glad to hear that the tile can stay. I just wish more people appreciated these older bathrooms. I do like the idea of possibly doing something with the floors as well.
  • 13 years ago
    I would remove all the black items (towel, rug, curtain and picture). White items will give you a simple look that will play up the rest of the room. Make sure your grout is also clean otherwise redo.
    Alexandra Norwood thanked sugaapple
  • 12 years ago
    Nothing seriously wrong with that bathroom if you ask me. Like many of the folks who've commented, I'm into the pink tile w/ black trim. I have a tuxedo shirt that I never wear kinda like that. It's not that it doesn't look good, it just never suits the occasion. It reminds me of my grandmothers place. She drove 85 miles an hour on back roads and would take all your money playing poker while she told stories about bootleggers. But I digress. If you're bored and just aching to do something, take a look at the mirror and see if it makes the same sort of kitschy statement as the rest of the room. Disagree with the white towels comment, stick with the pink and black unapologetically.
    Alexandra Norwood thanked Noah Modie
  • 12 years ago
    What a great grandma! Agreed, go with vintage look.
    Alexandra Norwood thanked User
  • 8 years ago

    honeycomb mosaic floor tile in white with border of black that forms concentric ring just inside of outer perimeter.

  • PRO
    7 years ago

    You don't know the buyer will be. Maybe they'll knock it down or maybe its charm will make them smile. Stay true to the house. Clean it up and let its real vintage face shine through.