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Help Make This Pink Bathroom Masculine

12 years ago
last modified: 12 years ago
I'm moving into my grandmother's old house that has an original 1954 Pink and green bathroom which is in excellent condition. How can I make it more masculine without altering the tile or fixtures? All I can do is Paint the walls and accessorize. So far all i can think of is to use gray because the vanity cabinet is gray but even then i'm having a hard time finding a nice gray that works with both the pink and the green. I definitely want a white ceiling. The gray and white shower curtain in the first photo is staying but will not be tied back like it is in the photo. All the accessories in the other photos were my grandmother's decorations. Please Help!

Comments (231)

  • 12 years ago
    You are doing fine. You've put a lot of time, energy and thought into the bathroom and your bedroom. Stay on course. Take a break if you need to, but don't start second guessing yourself now. Don't wallpaper - that's a disaster waiting to happen. Find the lighting you like. THEN go on to the paint. Stop worrying!!! :)
  • 12 years ago
    I can understand your hesitations considering all the input on this project. I think happyasaclam is right. Forgive the pun but time to get off the pot..... Sorry. You can always get more paint,. No worries.
  • 12 years ago
    last modified: 12 years ago
    Those daylight bulbs are nasty. I bought them then gave them away because I couldn't stand them. You definitely can't assess your paint color without seeing it in the light your room will have. I love your grandma, her exuberance shows through the whole house. Next time hide the receipts and packaging from her as she will get excited. That's what keeps her young.
  • PRO
    12 years ago
    I bought new shower curtains and a matching rug today. I'll put the old ones in the new packaging and sell them on eBay.
  • 12 years ago
    The only way to fix this to take away the emphasize from the pink, and that would be add black accents everywhere: towels, curtain, accessories.
  • 12 years ago
    Good idea, after all they are new.
  • 12 years ago
    Stay on course, Jay! You're doing a great job. :)
  • 12 years ago
    The pink/salmon is never going to look good. If you can't change the pink out, maybe this isn't the best place for you.
  • PRO
    12 years ago
    last modified: 12 years ago
    Hale Navy - HC154 paint from Benjamin Moore is a nice shade and will go very well with your salmon. You can accessorize with shades of green from the attached inspiration picture.
  • 12 years ago
    When we moved into a 1960's era house, our pink bathroom didn't have green to contend with but I'll throw in my 2c. We painted the walls a very pale gray (Sherwin Williams Snowy Owl #8064) and painted the cabinets very dark brown (Sherwin Williams Black Truffle #8394). Using a simple white shower curtain and replacing the door and drawer pulls really helped as well.

    The original toilet was replaced about a year after we moved in (It wasn't working right and had about a 5 gal tank on it). Ultimately we'll remove all the pink, but there are other priorities in this house so this really helped me be able to live with it while we work on other things.
  • 12 years ago
    Oops, forgot the shower side pix showing shower curtain
  • PRO
    12 years ago
    I had considered the navy
    http://kikis-list.com/2013/12/19/trending-navy-coral/
    but i wasn't sure how it would look with the green tiles.
  • 12 years ago
    Nope to the navy and coral. Stick with the gray, pink and green. Love the art in that pic, though! http://ddguk0flhriw7.cloudfront.net/blog/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/Screen-Shot-2013-12-16-at-2.35.46-PM.png
  • 12 years ago
    last modified: 12 years ago
    The green and white shower curtains weren't so bad. Maybe something like this except verticle stripes. Very masculine.
    Fabric Shower Curtain, Stripes · More Info
    This one might be too dark.
    DENY Designs Heather Dutton Gray Entangled Shower Curtain · More Info
    This one is cool, but the scale is probably off.
    Stripe Shower Curtain, Feather Gray · More Info
    Prints may not be right...
    2-Piece Arbor Shower Curtain and Angel Hair Rug Gift Set CB2 · More Info
    Chevron Shower Curtain · More Info
    Your fall back position :
    SpongeBob SquarePants shower curtain · More Info
  • PRO
    12 years ago
    Love that last one!

    I actually got the ones you originally suggested way up earlier in the thread. Hotel white and gray stripe.

    m.sears.com/index-g.html#/productdetails/09623066000P?partnumber=09623066000P&sid=IDx01192011x000001
  • 12 years ago
    Was something wrong with the hotel stripe?
  • 12 years ago
    That one is still my favorite. I don't think having white in the body of the curtain makes it look out of place - i.e., I don't consider the white as a fourth color added to the mix. :)
  • PRO
    12 years ago
    Not at all. I really fell in love with the simplicity of them but they still had the gray in it. There's too much going on in the room for the bold print of the ones I have and I'm glad you pointed them out to me.
  • 12 years ago
    Ok! :)
  • 12 years ago
    You're really doing a great job. By the time you're finished with your Grandmother's house, you'll pretty much be an expert in the '50's styles. Keep your blog going - get advertising revenue - make money! :)
    Bobby's Powder Room thanked User
  • 12 years ago
    Looking good:)
  • PRO
    12 years ago
    I haven't been able to get much done lately. The northeast has been getting slammed with snowstorm after snowstorm and now my car is out of commission.
  • 12 years ago
    Sorry about that. This has been an awful winter. Even for those of us in Texas. I'm looking forward to spring! :)
  • PRO
    12 years ago
    Nothing new with the bathroom yet but 2 new blog posts are up about the bedroom.

    http://bungalowtobe.blogspot.com/
  • 12 years ago
    Have you checked out this Retro Renovation pink bathroom remodel, with source list? Has a source for a new pink toilet seat!
    http://retrorenovation.com/2013/12/04/pink-bathroom-tile-decor/

    This was a total bathroom remodel that I would have sworn was original except for the shower fixtures. It was a perfect and lovingly collected match of vintage and new.
  • 12 years ago
    Jay, would your grandmother let you paint the green tile trim white to match the wood trim?
  • 12 years ago
    I hope you have a little book chronicling this process. ( cabin fever, maybe too much wine and Olympics) hope you all are staying warm.
  • PRO
    12 years ago
    New bedroom blog post is up. I painted the bathroom the revere pewter one coat so far and we both are happier with it. I'm close to starting to write blog posts about the bathroom.
  • 12 years ago
    I would paint the tiles around the tub and also the green floor tiles a neutral mid to dark tone brown. It's hard to tell from the picture what the true color of the tub is, but choose a brown that plays down any pink tones. Invest in a beautiful shower curtain in a long length in whatever color you would like for accessories. There are some interesting new geometric prints that would make for a more masculine setting. Enjoy!
  • 12 years ago
    janie, before you leave a comment on a discussion, read all the comments starting from tne top :)
  • 12 years ago
    Love how your bedroom is coming along, the blue looks wonderful. Those outlets were scary. I think Revere Pewter will be a good choice.
    Bobby's Powder Room thanked saratogaswizzlestick
  • PRO
    12 years ago
    last modified: 12 years ago
    New post is up. http://bungalowtobe.blogspot.com/2014/03/bedroom-furnishings.html

    My next blog posts will finally be about the bathroom so stay tuned!
  • 12 years ago
    I would paint the walls a dark charcoal gray, I know it sounds drastic, but it won't be, it will be dramatic! It will certainly make it more masculine. Black and dark charcoal make a great contrast with your shade of green, which is harder to balance than the pink. Paint cabinets, trim and ect. the exact shade of gray as in the shower curtain. It is important not to have too many shades going on since you already have so much color. For a fresh look keep accessories to a minimum, when budget allows change fixtures to polished nickel with a more modern profile. Anything reflective in the space will help balance all the colors, the more modern or transitional fixtures will compliment the design of the shower curtain. Also make sure when you are choosing your paint colors choose them in the room where them are to be used, existing light is important, as it effects the way our eye perceives color. Good luck! Grandmothers are great, aren't they!
  • 12 years ago
    Great post, Jay. You're very creative and resourceful!
  • 12 years ago
    GOOD LUCK WITH YOUR BATHROOM

    I AM PLANNING ON BUYING A HOUSE WITH A PINK BATHROOM TOO. THE TOILET IS GREY AND SO IS THE TUB. THE WALLS ARE PINK.

    I PLAN ON USING A CREAMY WHITE ON THE WALLS. DON'T WANT THE HIGH CONTRAST OF THE WHITE WHITE AND PINK. I MAY EVEN CONSIDER USING A VERY, VERY LIGHT PINK FOR THE WALLS. ALMOST WHITE BUT A HINT OF PINK. IT WILL TONE THE PINK TILE DOWN. I WILL ALSO PAINT THE CABINET THE SAME COLOR. THE PAINT IS CASSIA 210 LAURA ASHLEY, THEY SELL IT AT LOWES. I USE IT ALL THE TIME FOR BATHROOMS.

    I AM A HOME STAGER.


    I PLAN ON DOING AN ASIAN SORT OF DECOR. BAMBOO WALL TOWEL RACK, BAMBOO SOAP DISPENSER FOR THE COUNTER. ASIAN WALL ART THAT HAS GREY AND PINKS IN IT. BAMBOO RUG. I MAY EVEN USE AN WAFFLE OR VERY TEXTURED SHOWER CURTAIN. I ALSO PLAN ON GETTING A BAMBOO TOILET SEAT. THEY HAVE THEM AT LOWES. DEEP PLUM VASE WITH LIVE BAMBOO PLANTS FOR THE COUNTER OR BACK OF THE TOILET.

    I WANT THE ROOM TO LOOK LIKE THE COLOR WAS PLANNED.

    I JUST REDESIGNED MY BOYFRIENDS BATHROOM, AGAIN IT IS PINK, USED THE CASSIA FOR THE WALLS, PAINTED THE WOOD TRIM WHITE. BAMBOO TOILET SEAT, WE PUT IN A CABINET FROM LOWES THAT HAS SORT OF A CHERRY OR REDISH BROWN LOOK TO IT WITH SATIN FINISH FAUCET. IT TURNED OUT VERY NICE. I WALLPAPERED THE INSIDE OF THE CABINET WITH A TILE PRINT PAPER. ( IT WAS A LEFT OVER FROM ANOTHER JOB) FOR WHEN THE CABINET DOOR IS OPEN. LOOKS VERY MASCULINE.
  • 12 years ago
    I think white walls, white trim, white vanity, brushed nickel vanity pulls. And black as accent color, white towels with black letters, black soap dispenser/ tooth brush holder, black rugs And black toilet seat cover.
    White/ black shower curtain.
  • 10 years ago
    last modified: 10 years ago

    Presume you have made headway since you posted. Since there are so many great suggestions, I really don't have anything to add except I think the 'tub' is the coolest and will admit regardless of my age, I never seen one like it .... ☺. It also IMO looks extremely functional compared to the old/new freestanding soaker tubs.

  • PRO
    10 years ago
    last modified: 10 years ago

    It's been 2 years and i never posted pictures of the bathroom finished!

    I finally decided on Revere Pewter for the walls and Simply White on the trim and ceiling both by Benjamin Moore

    I did remove those blue placemats on the vanity and swapped out the blue floor mat for a similar white and gray one

    I'd still like to frame out the mirror and have the built in cabinets color matched to the same color as the vanity but for now its fine as is.

  • PRO
    10 years ago
    last modified: 10 years ago

    I switched to these shower curtains and matching rug

    This is the photo above the toilet

  • 10 years ago

    Your bathroom looks great. I especially like those vintage ads.

  • PRO
    10 years ago
    Thanks!
  • 10 years ago
    I suggest put a grey carpet in all floor, paint the walls in a soft grey, no flowers and paint the green frame in a more strong grey.
  • PRO
    10 years ago

    To be more masculine....paint the molding black ( or very dark grey) and custom order a geometric designed art deco style stained glass panel to tie in with the current theme - (it can hang in front of the window or replace the glass that is there) that is not floral. Options include : utilize beveled glass, various clear textures, and incorporate as needed the colors you want to include.. Then decorate around that feature panel. We can help.

  • PRO
    6 years ago

    Well 4 years later I decided the grey and white wasn’t working for me. I left the ceiling white, had paint color-matched to the floor tile for the trim (BM Spruce Green) and for the walls I chose the lightest color from that same card (BM Italian Ice Green), I also installed crown molding, a new light fixture and got new hookless shower curtains that in a greenish-grey. I brought in either black/charcoal or seafoam green accents -‘d custom ordered a matching toilet seat. It really simplified the decor to tone down the business. I do plan to replace the doors with 5-panel horizontal ones someday and I’ll maybe custom build a new vanity that uses the same pink sink but for the time being I’m finally satisfied with this room. Just need to find and hang my framed advertisements again. The Thomas Kinkade pictures are temporary placeholders.

  • PRO
    6 years ago

    More pics

  • PRO
    6 years ago

    More pics

  • PRO
    6 years ago

    And yes, I’m aware I basically painted back the way it was to begin with 😂
    what a journey!

  • 6 years ago

    Good job! Thanks for the update. It is always nice to see what someone did.

  • 6 years ago

    @Bobby's Powder Room Thanks for the updates and inspiration! I have thee original bathrooms I am working with, and one is pink as well. I love the new wall color that you picked.

  • 6 years ago

    This is better. The Simply White was blinding. Thank you for the update. I like the new lighting.