With such a blank slate (I agree the wainscotting should be white) you could pretty much paint it any color you want! I'd choose something that will be flattering to your average skin tone (so no green) because no one wants to look sickly in a bathroom mirror. My vote would be a pale blue.

I would say white wash the wainscothing for a perfect vintage romantic look.

Go free for the walls color, you could repaint them anytime if you don't like your "hospital green". I personally would choose a luminous vert-de-gris with a subtile hue of blue in it.
For a fresh look, blues accessories will look great with that color.

Maybe start by painting the trim white, but only white-washing the wainscoting for now. Go to your local paint store and look at the historical colour options. Choose something that flows with the rest of your house. My first thought when I saw the shower curtain, was white on the wainscoting and black above the trim (as in that bathroom shown a day or so ago), but what about a vintage yellow - or lemon yellow - just be careful to choose one that won't turn you jaundiced in the mirror.

I definitely agree that white is the way to go on the wainscoting- especially since the tile is white too. I'd go for a high gloss white to make it feel tied in with the tile (as well as for easy cleaning and water resistance)
As for the wall color you really can do anything you like. Think of the accessories you'd like to put in the space and go from there.
If it were me I'd do a flat black- but that's not for everyone. I think it's very elegant but I don't have white tile in my bathroom and I'm left drooling over people who are able to pull it off- like this recent post on AT-

http://www.apartmenttherapy.com/ny/color-cure/before-after-a-bathroom-makeover-for-the-ages-the-color-cure-154409

Or this post from a while ago on Design Sponge (scroll all the way to the end for the bathroom photo)

http://www.designsponge.com/2010/06/sneak-peek-lauren-bradshaw.html

I know it's not for everyone- but it's worth thinking about...

Ooh man, this is tough! I suppose if you want to truly recreate the vintage style, you'd have to paint the wainscoting white. In that case I'm partial to an indigo blue tone on the walls, which would complement the floor nicely. If that would make the room too dark, I'd go with a sunny yellow, which would make your shower curtain look even more fantastic!

I'd go with white wainscoting as well. And if you're working with the pictured shower curtain I think a pale blue or a pale yellow would look adorable. Best of luck!

I'd totally go with white wainscoting (along with everyone else) and a light sage or light blue for the wall. Whatver you decide, wainscoting in a bathroom is always a good idea. AND, that shower curtain is dreamy.

A few days ago there was a bathroom reno post on here (I think) where they painted the wood white and the walls above black and I thought it looked awesome. The navy blue recommendations on here could have a similar effect. Honestly, I think with white wood you could pretty much paint the walls above any color you wanted and make it work.

P.S. Please share your "after" photos too!

I'd go with a high gloss white on the trim and wainscoting, Tiffany blue on the walls, and a contrasting color on the ceiling -- perhaps Benjamin Moore's Macadamia Nut?

A pretty vintage looking bathroom with white wainscoting and blue walls: http://rosylittlethings.typepad.com/posie_gets_cozy/2010/11/the-upstairs-bathroom.html

The trend right now is black and white! You could paint the wainscoting white, definitely. Then paint the top half black for a dramatic glam effect. (After I wrote this I noticed a similar suggestion above). I think that this would be beautiful.

White wainscotting and Tiffany Blue!

the walls could be a velvety slate blue or grey, with white trim and accessories to create a vintage look... possibly with pops of wine colored accessories

I agree with those who have said paint the wainscoting white, and although I love the look of the black walls in the bathroom from a few days ago, I don't think black would be the best fit for your bathroom- because of the black tiles you have chosen (they look great by the way). I would suggest a charcoal for the walls - I know grey is very trendy right now but I think it would look great in your space and it wont cause the coloring issues that a green or yellow would.

I think you've pretty much defined the room as vintage already with the tile, sink, faucet, etc. That shower curtain is killer.

Everyone is pretty much in agreement with painting the pine white. It will tone down the country/farm vibe.

Vintage bathroom colors to me are the 4x4 square ceramic tiles that were installed in from the 1920's on--the bright yellows, muted pastels (pink, light blue, mint, peach,) and dark reds. With only black and white so far, you can pretty much pick anything though.

We have flat black walls but a light or Tiffany blue was our second choice--I think the dark black, bright white, light blue combo is a timeless, classy mix.

I also want to add that a dark charcol grey could be beautiful too, and a little lighter than black. Just my extra $.02

My pre-coffee self misinterpreted the picture as showing a finished bathroom, and it was utterly charmed by what it saw: a clear finish on the bare wood wainscoting, blush-colored paint, and black and cream accents. The effect might be a bit too delicate or precious, but the bare wainscoting is so fascinating that I mourn for its texture getting covered by white.

I think I must have cameo brooches on the brain-- these colors, along with the damask-patterned shower curtain, somehow call them to mind.

I LOVE the tile - love that you added the little black liner detail. Go with black wainscoting (everyone expects white...black will be richer and all the porcelain will pop against it.)

Accessorize with color of your choice. I'm in love with kelly green right now - but ballet pink with the black and white would be adorable too.

Great job - keep us posted!

I was thinking the exact opposite: white walls and black gloss wainscoting (white trim). It would make the fixtures and tile pop. Then soften the look with thick, puffy towels and bath mats in any color you like. Alternately, you could use white on the wainscoting and black trim.

You mentioned vintage a couple of times, but you didn't say what era. You're well on your way to Deco with the tile work, which would lend itself to lots of silver, and you could romanticize it with some softer touches like the design in your shower curtain and perhaps some other bits of glam. A small chandelier or some glass doorknobs, etc.

@rwelton, I had the same thoughts!

I'm with rwelton. I think making the waincotting gloss white wuold work, but I kind of like the 'blond wood" of the raw pine, so I'd consider just clear coating it. Then the wall color should be VERY pale, maybe a warm pale pink (and I am aghast at saying that, since I really hate pink) -- but I'm thinking of the subtle colors of sea shells... This would look lovely with your black and white accessories.

I warn against anything with a strong yellow or green cast in a small bathroom -- the colors, especially a strong yellow, reflect off the walls and make the user of the mirror look sick. Not a great way to put on makeup! (If you love those colors, just anticipate that happening. Maybe you could compensate with directional lighting...)

RED!!!

In thinking about this for a moment, it seems that the vintage style you want will be largely defined by the accessories and not necessarily the paint- so I say browse magazines and the internet and pick a color you love that isn't ultra trendy so that it will have lasting appeal. What a great blank slate you have! Enjoy!

I don't think I would like white washed wood with knots with the black and white tile by the bathtub.

It looks really good, I can see why you're baffled because you could go with any color. I would probably go with a neutral, depending on what you have in the hallway. Maybe a greige, stone, or sea shell color. I like Martha Stewart's Potter's Clay.

Make sure you use a primer that will hide the knots. I used some random Kilz on some shelves in my kitchen and the knots have bled through.

My vote would be for pink or peach for the walls; leave the wood and wainscoting the way it is now. Beautiful floors, by the way!

I would agree that white on the wainscoting is ideal...and I think that a very pale pink on the walls would be perfect! Pink has the added benifit of making everyone look glowy and amazing! Nothing too Pepto Bismol of course...and I also think it would be great with your black accents! Great work!

It's so fun to be daring and bold in a bathroom. If you want a vintage/modern, I vote for the black walls and white wains. If you want something more soothing/vintage, consider white wains & spa green/turquoise :)

For bright white, I like Pratt and Lambert's designer white. I want to try marine paint on the trim in my bathroom. I like the high gloss and durability of it, reminds me of Mackinaw Island. Otherwise, I love love love, Benjamin Moore's satin impervo. It's a fabulous paint for the hardworking areas of the house; cupboards, windowsills, etc.; and it's self leveling if applied with a brush.
I installed wainscot in my bungalow home office; I used a custom color similar to bungalow white on the chair rail and baseboard, then I used Minwax wood sheen in dove white on the paneling to whitewash. It's not everyone's style, but I like seeing the wood grain and the whitewash kept it from looking too much like a deli. https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.1035208757873.2007476.1155077215&type=1#!/photo.php?fbid=2074426657671&set=a.1035208757873.2007476.1155077215&type=1&theater

http://www.lowes.com/pd_93679-4-200510CBUNGALOWWHITE_?PL=1&productId=3323728

For a vintage wall color, I would consult the bathrooms in Old House Journal.

White wainscotting and a warm grey wall. Chrome hardware. Black/white accessories. Clean and simple.

OMG! This is my bathroom and I have have the same door! I had plank floors put down that I "white washed" a deep periwinkle then sanded and distressed and I painted the walls the same color My shower doors are clear glass though. I added a pop of color with a vintage-looking tin sign that says "keep your sunny side up"! I agree the wainscoting should be a high gloss. I wish I had done this! I also like the idea of the gray mentioned before. Have fun! It's only paint and you can always change it!

definitely high gloss white on the wainscoting and trim. and then i would pick something fun that you actually like and that makes you happy when you walk in the room. bathrooms are a great place to experiment because you can easily repaint them. be sure to live with a wall patch of it for a few days to make certain the light doesn't change the color too much. i learned that the hard way here...

http://midcenturymodernlove.com/2011/08/04/un-purpling-the-bathroom/

happy painting!

Forget-me-not blue in a super-matt finish so it looks really powdery for the walls.
white (not too super-bright) for the wainscotting and other wood trim.

White on the wainscoting and Benjamin Moore Soot on the wall. Or white on the wainscoting and the greenish-grey that Restoration Hardware uses in all their showrooms.

One more vote for white, gloss to tie into your tiles. I have the same wainscoting and sink style. My floor was already painted floorboards so I did them over in black (again gloss) and I swapped out a black seat for my toilet. my walls are a tiffany ish blue, and the underside of my claw foot is painted to match (w/silver feet). I had to paint over the hospital green that I inherited because it does make people look too sickly in the mirror. I love green and have three other green rooms, but this is a room where I'd avoid it. A sunny yellow would be amazing too.

I vote charcoal gray as well. It would be beautiful with high gloss wainscoting! Good luck! After pics please!

Oh wow, I think I would stain the wainscotting a dark cherry, maybe paint the trim black, and leave the walls white with maybe some black accents here and there, perhaps mimicking the curtain. But then I really love natural wood

Beach-glass blue (pale aqua) would complement both the floors and the white wainscoting.

My bathroom is similar (although my tub and surround aren't as nice, one day tho') and I'm painting it this weekend! I'm going to do white glossy wainscotting and trim and then a pale cool pink on the walls, inspiration taken from a pic from the "How much pink is too much" post.

black. paint the walls white, but the wainscot in a glossy black would be spiffy.

I like the idea of a soft gray for the walls, white or white-washed wainscot. The gray could tilt a little blue or lavender if you wanted, but I'm thinking a totally neutral, very pale gray would retain the softness and airiness of the room while still providing a little variation to work with and something for the black accents to pop against.

Hi Adrienne! We are from YOLO Colorhouse, the environmentally responsible paint company. We heard your cry for color help and our color experts put together some YOLO options for you on our Facebook page -- http://on.fb.me/naT7jX

We hope these help! Can't wait to see your "after" pics!

I would paint the walls in Alaskan Husky, a soft silvery pale blue/grey, and the trim/wainscoting in White Dove........both Benjamin Moore colors.........or...Gray Cashmere, a greener soft gray, or Yarmouth Blue...OR Fernwood Green, a soft yellow green..........It's gonna look gorgeous!!!!!

glossy white or antique white on the wainscotting below;
salmon/apricot on the walls -- very flattering to skin; a nice complement if you add any dark wood [side chair, hamper, etc]

Red or raspberry on the walls with white on the wainscoting. I think it would look good with your black/white decor.

I totally agree with everyone that the wainscoting should be a bright semi-gloss white. I would perhaps go for a soft dove grey on the walls. It would be light and bright, while still complimenting your tiles and shower curtain. It would also be a neutral palette that you can add pops of color in with towels and accessories. Happy painting!

When in doubt - Paint it all white.

Hi everyone! Thanks for all the suggestions, we're working on this as we speak! Got a couple of different whites to try for the wainscotting and some blues and greys to try for the walls. I love the idea of pops of color- I have a vintage yellow kitchen cart that would be handy in there. Thanks for all the compliments on the tile! adrienne

I like this color combo. http://pinterest.com/pin/15812241/. Or you could do the reverse.

http://www.decorpad.com/photo.htm?photoId=86728&index=18&currentPage=3&searchQuery=bathrooms&searchType=photos&spaceId=2

I think you could do just about any color above the white wainscotting.

white wainscotting & medium grey on the walls will b classic & stand the test of time. u can always change out ur accessories to change ur color scheme if u want... (or paint the walls a soft rosy pink if ur feeling sassy!)

I agree with rwelton & SherryBinNH; I thought the unpainted wainscoting was the final version and loved it. A coating of wax or poly would make it easy to clean. If you must paint the wood, than definitely white. I would go with white walls because they would definitely reflect an Edwardian vibe.

1. There is nothing else in this room that has any color, so paint whatever color you want.

2. More importantly, you MUST paint the wainscoting. Different woods next to each other is a no-no.

Please, no grey! That is so trendy and overdone right now. And I don’t recommend green walls in a bathroom, as they tend to make one look a bit hung over. Not a good thing when you’re putting on makeup or getting ready for work.

But you love green (me too). So, paint everything white, but paint your floors green! A few (just a few) inspiration photos:

http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-CuWknPhWPno/TgoDberzCtI/AAAAAAAAVuk/cS1bcuaI-88/s1600/green%2Bpainted%2Bfloor.jpg

http://www.housebeautiful.com/cm/housebeautiful/images/R6/library-painted-floors-hbx0610bilhuber03-de.jpg

http://www.decorpad.com/photos/2010/05/10/4c33cf467bd6.jpg

This bathroom reminds me a lot of my Grand-Daddy's house, built in 1925. Using black and white with WATER would be lively and soothing at the same time. Lots of decor choices with the pale aqua.

You may check below photos as idea for the bathroom:
http://www.houseofturquoise.com/2011/08/hazardous-design.html

http://cptnrin.smugmug.com/photos/i-jNP3R9Z/0/O/i-jNP3R9Z.jpg

I agree w/ the white high-gloss on the wains and I've seen black, charcoal and a robin's egg blue in vintage b&w tile bathrooms. It depends on if you want something a bit more sophisticated or something that makes you cheerful. Also, I second the black toilet seat, I love, love, love your sink and toilet. The re-done bathroom posted the other day got rid of theirs (I know b/c of water waste) but I'm a huge fan!

I have a bathroom similar, painted cream all over with black and white accents including this picture in a black frame http://www.icollector.com/images/1166/18768/18768_0007t_1_lg.jpg
Looks very chic and Parisienne.

I seem to be the opposite of everyone here. I live in a 100 year-old Victorian and I used to have the wainscotting in both my bathroom and water closet white. I've since painted the wainscotting in the bathroom a perky yellowish green and the top trim, walls & ceiling bright white. It makes it so light and airy! In the water closet I painted the wainscotting a cute sea green with the trim, upper walls and ceiling bright white and it makes the room look so much bigger than the tiny closet it is. I love it! My downstairs neighbor loved it so much, she painted her wainscotting in her bathroom the sea green from my water closet. (It reminds me of the crayola crayon sea foam color.)

For the paint, I recommend vintage teal--yes, the old appliance color--a shade lighter might be better. It will help bring about the look you're striving for and make your tile work stand out better than blue...just my opinion.

White wainscoting with a really vibrant teal.

I agree with rainywoods. Simple, clean, and then add plans for green, white or other colors. Then you can go antiquing for vintage pieces to decorate and not be hindered by a color scheme also. You can find a grey that is warmer, one with a litle brown in it so it is warmer even. Send pics of the finished product!

The great thing about black and white tile is you can put ANY colour with it. Just choose your fave and go for it. (In my bathroom I use yellow because I love the deco combo of black white and yellow. . . it looks GREAT. . . but other terrific possibilities include green, RED, coral, pink, turquoise, cobalt blue. . . .gotta have something that makes you happy first thing in the AM.)

yes, white wainscoting.

dark eggplant purple for the walls.

I totally agree with a few of the posters who said, leave the pine as is! Or at least apply a clear/whitewash to it so you preserve this look. It is UH-MAZING with the brocade shower curtain and it totally opens up the room with light. I would re-paint the white trim on the bottom and top of the lower half of the wall a very bright, pristine white, and then paint the top part of the wall either a beautiful garnet red or cherry red, or a lemon yellow as someone else suggested. You will have a gorgeous bathroom and it will be a place people will feel inspired. Good luck!

We went with crisp white on our beadboard with a rich, chocolate brown paint above. It's vintage-like, but has a modern edge to it. The other walls have white subway tile.

Photo here:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/k2yhe/4703584938/in/set-72157623784874757

and here:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/k2yhe/4661270957/in/set-72157623784874757

White wainscotting and black chalkboard paint, and draw a wallpaper-like pattern in white chalk.

I'm with bepsf. An all-white/black trimmed bathroom offers endless opportunities to change your look as your fancy changes. Add lots of towels/accessories in silver or chrome or gold for glam. Add bright or deep color for impact. Change to a slightly grayed pastel for a subdued sophisticated look.
Personally, I enjoy having a guest bath that is essentially plain. I use it as a mini art gallery, so it has lots of color, but nothing in the room itself fights with the art.

I'd go for white wainscoting and a colour like Benjamin Moore Santorini Blue for the walls. It's a slightly greyed-off pale blue and looks fabulous with black & white.

Electric fushcia on the chair rail. Thin it a little for the wainscoting itself. Candy-color pastel purple on the walls, periwinkle ceiling. Bring in the yellow cart and other matching (&/or brightly complementary) color pops.

You might not need your morning coffee anymore.

Maybe you could do the wainscotting white and pick up the black from the b/w tile on the trim/railing. Glossy on the trim and matte on the wainscotting. Then a very pale gray or gray-blue for the wall above the wainscotting. I think that will give you a very vintage '20s-'30s look in you bathroom. In addition, I would make a skirt for the sink from a similar toile to the shower curtain... Gives you some hide-away-storage and carries the vintage look along...

OMG! Live on the edge. Paint will not harm you. Go look in your closet and find your favorite blouse. Pick your color scheme out of that. Or, go to a vintage shop and find a piece of clothing you like and match it.

The bathroom isn't really Victorian anyway so go for a 30's or 40's look of the correct period. Search online for period wallpaper and match colors to what you love. PAPA COLOR KICK!

glossy white on wainscotting, and peach on the walls

I vote glossy white trim and wainscoting, and ballet pink walls if you are set on paint. Otherwise, have you thought about wallpapering or stenciling the walls? My first thought was wallpapering with a newsprint (is it possible to wall paper with actual newspaper? Because that would look soooo cool). I also agree with previous posters about accenting with lots of silver. Have fun!!

For the paint treatment on the wall, whatever color you choose, try frottage. It will make them look like old Parisian plaster.

@Laura Jayne -

Yes, you can wallpaper with actual newspaper. It tears a lot, and yellows over time, and generally isn't very good quality wallpaper; but you can do it. My mother grew up in rural Kansas during the Depression, and worked her way through to her 8th-grade graduation using newspaper to wallpaper other sharecropping families' shacks. (The shacks were sometimes so flimsy that her wallpapering could improve their structural integrity).

i love the wainscotting as is, i would leave it and whitewash the floors. leave the walls white or paint a plucky gray. love it.

Ugh, so many people wanting to paint it white or pastel colors.
Leave the paint as is (the faded off white)and stain the wainscoting to match the floor.

I love the wood, as is. I think it is a gorgeous touch of rustic to balance the damask of the curtain. I also think white painted wood is very in fashion right now, and thus won't look "vintage" at all, instead trendy and unoriginal. I think sometime this decade the paint all wood semi-gloss white trend is going to dye and then you'll be stuck wanting to redo everything again. So my vote is keep the wood au natural, and paint the trim white and the walls a navy color like BM's "racoon fur".

Wow, this bathroom would look great with something in the teal / aqua family with white wainscot. I've used Ralph Lauren's Coos Bay SS62 this way; and then in another home, I used a lighter brighter one (can't remember the name) with bright yellow towels.
Other options in the aqua/tea family:
(1) Sico 6160-41 Lazuli Bunting - nice with Benjamin Moore Papaya (French Vanilla) CC-248
or (2) ACE Hardware colour Glendora B38-5 nice with Benj Moore Vellum or Summer Harvest
or for a more vintage feel and a hint of grey, see BEHR Gulf Winds 500F-5p

WAINSCOT - could also use "American White 2112-70 from Benj Moore with teal - "BLUE LAGOON 2054-40" and cork "2153-40". Grey "Stormy Monday" also fits with this scheme.

Yup! I am crazy for aqua!
Benjamin Moore

Another option would be to use greens or yellow-greens inspired by nature from the Benjamin Moore collection -

See 2150, 2149, and 2146, 2147
Timothy Straw and Pale Avacado would be my choice with the black accents.
A great accent colour is Brookside Moss!

Leave it the way it is...it's vintage & a little bit of a suprise. I like black as the accent & I'd use sage or Olive green for the linens.

I'd keep the top as is and paint the paneling a jewel tone.

Personally, I love the pine with the white walls. It just looks clean and fresh. Maybe just add anything translucent blue or sheer blue. Maybe some clear glass decor as well.

This may not be your style, but I really like the look of the wood just wood with a clear coat. When I saw the photo, I really thought the wood stood out and looked nice. Definitely white trim though. As for paint, I was thinking a slate gray, navy blue, or even black.

Dirty white, grey or black like ButterfluyBleus advice.
(English is not my mother tongue,sorry my redaction)

I might paint the wainscoting white and the upper wall gloss black. But check out Benjamin Moore's color called Beach Glass, for the upper wall. Sort of retro color, goes great with black and white.

http://www.colourlovers.com/palette/1746490/soothing

this a pallet i made specially for your bathroom.

I would paint the wood white, and the wall a light dove blue.