apartment therapy changing the world, one room at a time

I think if you're going to re-do everything then don't skip the tile. It's so limiting and really needs to go.

The tile is probably the cheapest thing to change, and seriously doubt it will survive (well) the demo of other elements. I say bite the bullet and do it all.

But get rid of the wood elements first.

Don't know what your budget is, but I would keep the wall and floor tile (assuming the floor tile is in good shape -- can't really see it well.). If the tub is in good shape, I would keep that too, or have it reglazed rather than get one of the new plastic tubs.

Definitely get a new mirror, sink, toilet, and lights. I would go somewhat basic modern with the sink and mirror (nothing elaborate to compete with that fab tile!!). Also, maybe a glass door for the tub, if that's feasible?

I like the groovy wall tile, but the floor? Ick. Switch to something solid. Too many patterns in a teeny-tiny bathroom.

My 1950 bathroom has exactly the same layout. A glass door for the tub definitely gives a little more space, and a large simple mirror over the vanity gives the illusion of more space. My mirror is square, and as wide as the vanity. All white cabinetry, including one over the toilet makes for a unified visual field. I'd like to see the floor match the dove grey of the tiles.

The only thing to do with this bathroom is to embrace it's retro-ness.

Get rid of the awful 70's sink & vanity, mirror, light fixture, window treatment, shower curtain and wooden toilet seat.

Repaint the room in a pale grey. Install a chrome and white china sink console, place a pair of tall chrome vertical floursecent lightfixtures on either side of a chrome medicine cabinet, and replace the toilet seat with a simple white lid. Install a new chrome shower rod with a simple white nylon curtain - add coordinating chrome towel bars and hooks and a hotel-style towel shelf above the commode.

Use white towels - Maybe even have them monogrammed with Grey or Burgundy letters.

Voila - your new 40's retro bathroom!

If you can't afford to replace the tile, I'd recommend getting it re-glazed/professionally painted. My parents did this for dated tile and it looked great!

So many questions to ask.

Are you getting rid of the tub?

If so, just like p(too) said, that tile will not survive the demo.

As you remove the toilet, vanity and mirror you will have spots that will be a challenge when you go to fit your new fixtures.

Besides, the tile sets the tone for the color and style of your bathroom. If it were very special it would be worth saving but do you really want it to dictate your style?

I wish I could see the floor better, it looks like the tile may be interesting but it's not easy to see its condition.

Keep in mind that you can demo the bathroom yourselves, including the tile, saving yourselves mucho bucks. Then, you don't have to retile the walls like the old bathroom saving more bucks in square footage of tile and installation.

You may even be able to put down backerboard right on top of the old tile and tile right over it with no worries.

I guess my point is this:

If it is budget that is holding you back from the tile, remember, the only tile you NEED is on the floor and in the shower if you decide not to put in an acrylic tub/shower unit.

I agree that your best option would be to embrace the retro if you want to keep the tiles. Lots of chrome is good, and maybe some streamline/machine age sconce lighting around the mirror from someplace like Rejuvenation Hardware, but what would really pull the room together would be if you could actually find a tub, toilet, and pedestal sink to match the oxblood color of the accent tiles. Okay, that's not going to happen, but going with very retro-style hardware and porcelain would work very well with the existing tile.

This bathroom looks a lot like mine used to look. I had mint green tiles, with forest green accent tiles and lime green paint on the walls. Tragic. BUT, you can buy primer and paint right over those tiles, then paint them and the wall any color you like. You just can't paint the tiles in the tub. But if you buy a shower curtain you like and keep it closed, you'll be the only one who knows. I didn't have much money when I first moved in, so it was an inexpensive solution. Oh, and the toilet paper holder, toothbrush holder, soap holders etc. can be (carefully) removed, and if you are going to paint just replace them with any colored tile. Usually you can get left over tiles free from a tile store.

I agree with bepsf. I actually don't think the tile is that bad. I kind of hate burgundy, but I think I would try to paint the back wall and the wall with the mirror burgundy. Then, get an old sink and toilet at a salvage place. Put a simple mirror/cabinet in. You don't want anything to add to the business. Then maybe a retro looking print or two on the walls.

Compared to "as is" houses I saw in San Francisco when I was looking, this place is actually pretty great. At least it looks clean.

Do NOT paint the tiles!!! (sorry, dlv). I too used to have a mint green wall tile bathroom, and previous owners had painted over the wall tile on one side. It looked terrible, and was chipping and peeling. Either reglaze if you must, or remove the tile. I personally kind of like the wall tile -- at least it's unique -- and I would agree with embracing the retro-feel. If you really don't want to do that, then demo it is.

You could 'prep' and paint over the tile if you insist on leaving it.
Not all of it: just where the burgundy lines aren't wanted.
Like the perimeter ones that are chopping your room in half and drawing crazy 'lines'..
The tile color lines around the window are annoying too.
Otherwise I kind of like the random squares of burgundy.

Mount a new curtain rod outside the tub, concealing that dropped angle wall at the end.
Get rid of all the wooden stuff.
New sink taps for sure.
Include different types of lighting if you can, and don't forget dimmer switches.

Look at the pic you submitted, and 'cover' the upper tile lines with your hands.
What's left is not so bad.
You could even keep the border lines in the top area of the tub/stall.

good luck.

I like the wall tile - I think it would look really nice with the walls painted a light gray. You'd really only need a new toilet seat, sink, and mirror. Then paint and get new curtains or a bamboo shade. I don't really like to replace things unless they are very ugly or not functioning - it just seems sort of wasteful (monetarily and environmentally).

If you are okay with the tile (especially the burgundy factor), then there is no reason not to keep it, provided it does survive unharmed. My advice would be:

- remove curtain type thingy immediately - the window underneath looks pretty nice

- replace shower curtain - the dark part looks strange - a simple white, light gray or clear curtain will look much better

- remove wooden elements - i.e. toilet seat and mirror - replace with white seat and mirror with white, gray or metallic frame

- remove plastic looking soap and toothbrush holder type things above the sink, provided that removing them would not damage the tile underneath

- replace the sink/vanity with a white modern/retro looking ceramic sink

- get a nice modern/retro faucet for the new sink (and tub)

- try painting a small wall a shade of very light gray coordinating with the tile shade of gray - and continue with other walls if the result is satisfactory.

It is really not a bad bathroom and just a few little tweaks will make it look a lot better. The retro feel of the tile is a lot better than an outdated eighties feel of peachy tile, for example.

If you keep the tiles, maybe instead of the traditional tile paint you can try some of the special paints from The Alsa Corporation (http://www.alsacorp.com/). They have a huge variety of innovative paint that can be use anywhere. I've never tried them, but it seems like their product could work and last longer.

Please, please, please ignore the folks who want you to paint the tile (What are they thinking?) or rip out the tile and replace with vinyl floors and install acrylic tub/shower surrounds (if you do that, you might as well have bought a 1980's tract house...)

Those bathrooms that were installed in the 40's & 50's were incredibly well built - they used mortar instead of thinset, and those hexagonal floor tiles would cost a fortune to repliciate today.

Regrout if necessary, but please don't destroy a bathroom that will last another 50 years just because you don't like burgundy and grey (that color combo came back into style in the 80's, it will come back again...)

Chuck the tile (demo is fun!) and install a walk-in shower for your dad. I don't know if you're even considering it, butif he's planning to "age in place" (vs. assisted living, etc.), he'll need some assistance bars, too. We did this for my mom, and it saved MANY potential fall/break situations.

bepsf is right. Go retro 40's with pedestal sink, dove grey and burgundy.
But DO replace that horrid floor tile with the little white octagon tile that comes on cloth back-it's super easy to deal with and will look pitch perfect with the retro theme.
I am heartily in favor of any and all "Universal use" hacks that will make it easier for handicapped to use any room. But unless you have a closet that you can build into that shares a wall with the tub, it looks like it will be tough to find the room for a walk-in shower. Look around online and see what options there are for handrails/walk-in tubs etc. There's lots of great new stuff that's designed to increase access while not making you tear up the entire room.
And please, no tile painting.

That shower is dark with the curtain open, imagine how dark it will be with the curtain closed. It may be a big problem for an older person. You might install a light or use glass doors.

The grey and burgundy is an interesting combination - very masculine and individual. To bring out its best use chrome accessories and keep your towels and shower curtain in white. A light, very simple art deco influence in the hardware would be good.

The curtains should be sent back to the hell from whence it came, as should the "glamour" mirror.

bepsf is right.

The tile looks like it's in great shape. Painting it will look good initially, but painted tile always ends up looking like a halfway measure. I'm with bepsf - keep the wall tile, and especially the floor, lose the wood mirror & toilet seat. I'd go with a darker version of the gray tile for the wall paint, white wood-framed medicine cabinet, and a traditional white porcelain sink. Mini-blinds on the window, possibly silver, and maybe a black & white damask pattern shower curtain? The shower curtain is so easy to change out that it's a good way to add pattern.

The sink faucet with the acrylic handles needs to go, as well. I'd stick with chrome - cheaper, easy to clean, won't look dated, looks good. Some recessed ceiling lights would be a low-key way to modernize it a bit. If you want to splash out a bit, a small acrylic chandelier would be fun.

it's just so ugly to me. but i agree with those who said keep the tile and update the fixtures. i can see it coming back to style and being all 80's Risky Business.

Thank you everyone for all the great suggestions! While the budget is one thing we considered in regards to leaving the tile, the main thought was to preserve some of the resources and some of the 1940's integrity. The house was extremely well built. The tile is in good shape. I think I will investigate having the tile reglazed, however in the end we might just have to embrace it!

If you like the tile then definitely do it up in a vintage style.

You can search on "vintage plumbing" to find many different sources of new vintage style fixtures like vanities, toilets and accessories.

I think the hospital track curtain idea sounds really cool and you can't go wrong with all of the color suggestions!

I have about a half a dozen vintage wallpaper sample books that I bought on eBay and they all have NUMEROUS pattern that have both those colors in them, since they were made to match bathrooms like this one.

I say go on there, and get one, and create some stencils and do something like that in there, which is what I did with my peach-and-black bathroom from that period. You can really have fun with it.