apartment therapy changing the world, one room at a time

I think you could get away with a Tiffany blue color--it would add a fresh element to the bathroom and because it's bright would distract from the lightness of the pink theme. Adding a few bright-white elements and some modern colorful artwork could also help!

Ashley
rainycitystyle.blogspot.com

Wow... don't even think about throwing good money after bad; save every penny for the gut renovation fund. This is a hopeless cause.

Black!

You could very easily (and cheaply) do a 50s retro thing, with the pink, black, white and silver/gold.

This shower curtain from Target would be great: http://www.target.com/Contemporary-Home-Dot-Shower-Curtain/dp/B00160LCUA/qid=1235589630/ref=br_1_23/182-1557027-0808321?ie=UTF8&node=12968221&frombrowse=1&pricerange=&index=tgt-mf-mv&field-browse=12968221&rank=pmrank&rh=&page=1

Or this one: http://www.target.com/BLACK-GRAY-CONTEMPORARY-BLOCKS-VINYL/dp/B00023DMJ6/qid=1235589630/ref=br_1_52/182-1557027-0808321?ie=UTF8&node=12968221&frombrowse=1&pricerange=&index=tgt-mf-mv&field-browse=12968221&rank=pmrank&rh=&page=1

did someone massacre the pink panther in your house? I might want to get that investigated...

I would go for a lot of black and chrome. Go a bit Hollywood Regency in there. I think anything lighter than black or silver/grey would make it waaaaay too easter eggish.

I would add alot of black and white.

I'd try painting in a warm brown to help mitigate the pink until you can gut and move on.

I agree with Ashley...a Tiffany blue would look wonderful...plus, I would get rid of the toilet seat since it clashes with the rest of the room.

I think black would help a bit to make it a bit more modern feeling in the meantime.

strong mustardy yellow
brown, khaki
olive
blue-grey
60's mercedes and volkswagen colors

http://happymundane.blogspot.com/2008/08/make-it-work.html

There's a pink bathroom featured there that was updated with cheerful yellow. I think the Tiffany blue idea is...not the best: it'll end up looking like cotton candy bubblegum, and the contrast could end up making the pink look even more pink.

I agree with helgel. Brown would be a great color for the walls.

And, for the record, I really don't think this bathroom is so bad. True, it won't be winning awards anytime soon, but I have seen waaaay worse. But, the one thing I would do ASAP is change that nasty toilet seat.

Do you happen to be a first time home buyer? Because if ever there was a use for the tax credit, that bathroom is it!

I kinda agree with not throwing away a lot of money to fix bad pink tile. I would save money to remodel. But until you do save enough money, i would go with a pink and brown color scheme. paint the walls a chocolate brown color, get a regency brown and white shower curtain (with a great geometric pattern), Add a new mirror/light fixtures (that dont cost a lot of money, and add some cheap LACK shelves above the toilet...

good luck with what you decide!

Oooh, I take back what I said and totally agree with Helgel. I would add in browns and creams and go for a more Parisian look.

I have the exact bathroom. I was also perplexed as to what to, especially since I rent. I added fabrics in a reddish-coral print, and that helped pull everything together I think.

http://someoneelsehaslmcwethy.blogspot.com/2008/12/attack-of-pink-tile.html

everything black.

I would actually try adding more pink. There is already so much strong color with the pink that I would not introduce another color, and the white seems bare next to all the strong pink, so I'd embrace it with a really soft pink (almost white even) for the walls. And then make EVERYTHING else white (replace that toilet seat cover, consistent accessories, white shower curtain). So, in the end its a lot of admittedly pink tile softened by a nicer pink-white walls and everything else clean white.

I would paint the walls a silver gray, replace the toilet seat to black, and stain the grout gray. Get a black textured shower curtain.

Then save all of you money to renovate

black & white with silver accents.

Sara,

This may help--an entire website devoted to bathrooms like yours!

http://savethepinkbathrooms.com

Meanwhile, ignore the naysayers. Not everyone has the resources or the inclination to justify a "gut reno" just because something isn't exactly to their taste.

And, to make yourself feel better about your bathroom and the possibilities you have, let me describe mine: floor to ceiling tiles. The floor is a nice slate tile (and the sink, toilet, etc are all new), but the walls are large white tiles (all the way to the roof). No possibility to hang nice art, painting, shelves, etc.

In fact, I think I envy your terrible pink tiles a little bit...

My first thought was chocolate brown and raspberry red. But whoa, Seraph, who would have thunk it, that yellow is absolutely great with the pink. I'm astounded. It really cuts the pink.

I don't think the fixtures are that bad but the addition of the different pink tile and purple(?) flooring is bad. I would start with a chocolate brown walls like helgel suggests to soften the pink. And then brown and tan accents. If you possibly can rip off the tile at least outside the shower, even better.

Wow, I'd try to save up as much as possible to remodel this bathroom.

Until then, maybe do everything in either black or white...might actually make the pink seem okay.

My first thought was taupy-brown. Replace toilet seat, shower curtain, and rug, and get rid of all the junk, paint, and it won't be nearly so bad.

It's interesting that so many people say black. Seems to me that black has to be absolute perfect or it doesn't work at all. But maybe that's purely a personal taste thing.

The pink porcelain fittings actually don't bother me as much as the clashing cadaverous wall tile and bruise coloured floor. Not only is the wall tile foogly, it looks dirty and needs to be regrouted and recaulked at the very least. But don't waste the effort if you can rip it out entirely instead. Replacing the tile with plain Home Depot ceramic in white with black borders shouldn't break the bank.

If you must keep that tile, distract, distract, distract! Cover the painted walls with a highly textured grasscloth and put outdoor fake grass (in a mossy colour, not the standard fluorescent green) down over the floor. Get a busy jungle patterned shower curtain (which you will keep closed as much as possible) and put as many plants as will fit in the room everywhere. I'm not a fan of silk plants, but in this case drastic measures are called for. Mix real with fake for a fuller look.

Finish with a large cheap photo poster of a rainforest or something peaceful and far away in a bamboo frame over the toilet. The tile will still be hideous, but if you can make it recede into the background and give yourself other things to look at, maybe it will be easier to live with until you can redo the whole room.

Holy Gawd, that is truly heinous. I am so sorry- and I feel your pain. I rented an apartment with a "no paint policy" that combined pink floral wallpaper with forest green shag.

I am with the many others who suggested black. Painting the walls some cutesy color is only going to make this feel more like a 5-year-old girl decorated it.

Choose a shower curtain that is very opaque... and keep it closed at all times.

The part that really bugs me is the floral tiles mixed in. Though I think you could play down the pink with black and sophisticated, geometric decor... those are going to clash unless you give them a nod in some way (no matter how much it hurts). Maybe find a similar floral image (with a little pink and blue in it) and put it in a frame with a strong, angular presence.

I would go with chocolate brown or a nice gray.

And I would try to figure out how to keep that shower curtain rod from cutting across the window the way it does in the picture. It's a nice feature that's kind of getting lost.

Whoooaaaah... put the brakes on for a second...

The tub, toilet and sink are certainly pink -- but they're also original art deco fixtures and could be fabulous!

The problem is the tiles and floor. The floor looks like 50s linoleum, and the tiles look like a 70s or 80s addition. They both need to go, eventually, as you know. But, I would REALLY reconsider ripping out the toilet, sink and tub!

In the meantime, I wouldn't do much. Just wait it out and save your money. Paint on the walls will only make those tiles look more ugly. In the future, I'd pair it with black, jade green, and chrome. It would look fabulous.

Just be patient and save your money!

I have nearly the same bathroom..but my toilet is white..which helps a little bit.

I went with a pink on white theme..I have white towels, white accessories, white rug, white shower curtain. It really cleaned up the look. I also throw in a couple of dark grey accessories and towels occasionaly, which gives a nice contrast.

If you're up for a minor home improvement project - try taking down the wall tiles behind the toilet and vanity. I think the tile is a lot worse than the fixtures and less tile will only help the bathroom out.

You could renovate this bathroom cost-effectively if you're willing to do the work yourself. Small bathrooms are one of the least expensive and high-impact renovations you can do.

If you're not ready to dive in yet, then I'd at least swap out the toilet and sink for white porcelain versions. That'll help tone down the pink a bit (especially if you put up a white/solid shower curtain to hide the pink tile surround and bathtub).

black, black, black...with a little white thrown in for good measure.

Black and white. Don't fight the power. You do NOT want another color in that room.

If you have any kind of budget at all, do something about the floor--cheap Home Depot tile, or peel 'n' stick, or a nice rubber mat like one ATer did. And use some kind of decal/tile paint/something on the tiles with the charming roses on them.

If you do decide to go retro, there are a lot of ideas here:
http://retrorenovation.com/category/bathroom/pink-pink-bathrooms/

sorry, this is dreadful.
my first thought was "no, get rid of it", but the second had to do with a strong warm gray.

My first thought was maroon or brown, but agree with pmaher, that yellow/pink bathroom is really nice. And, with spring coming up, just the right colours. Think a big bunch of pink and yellow tulips, and work from there.

Another vote for brown. or gray or silver. I really think dark is your best bet here. black and white vertical stripes - wide, like 8 inches or a foot - could also work.
no cute or easter egg colors. You are, by definition, going to be embracing the pink, but that doesn't mean you should make it worse.

Totally sympathize. I have a tile problem in my bathroom, too, and I've spent hours obsessing about it.

If this were my bathoom, I'd paint the walls a nice grey and cover the tile on the lower wall with beadboard painted white, so that only the shower had visible tiles. I'd add some touches of black - like black picture frames, black trim on a white waffle weave shower curtain. And I'd look for a stronger, nicer pink that complemented the pepto-bismol, to incorporate in art and accessories.

Definitely, I'd change the toilet seat, and also think about doing something cheap and temporary with the floor - stick on tiles or even epoxy paint. I think the floor is completely dire and is making the whole thing even worse.

Good luck.

BLACK OR BEIGE OR PALE GRAY.

I imagine you're planning on getting rid of the pink tile eventually. What about just spray painting over the pink that's there now on the wall tiles.

I think pretty much any of the colors mentioned here could work. I was going to suggest grey or even a grey with a slight touch of purple (think storm clouds), because that is what I'm going to try in my old bathroom with beigeish-pink tile. But Sassyladie's reddish-coral actually worked quite well, as did someone's suggestion of yellow.

While renovating the bathroom is a good idea in the long run, it is incredibly expensive, and I'm not sure if it is the best return on investment compared to other improvements you might make. A contractor quoted me a price of $15,000 for a down-to-the-studs reno of my tiny bathroom since the plumbing in this old house (c. 1947) is all interconnected.

Anyway, good luck, and let us know what you decide.

I rented an apt with a retro 60s bathroom too. I went with crisp white and rich brown here and there (layer in bathtowels and accessories) It sounds strange, but a touch of aqua blue in a candle holder pulled it all together!

... retro 60s PALE PINK bathroom too!

I definitely think a new floor would help you live with the pink for the time being. Depending on the size of your bathroom, you can find inexpensive vinyl flooring remnants at big box stores- a couple of weeks ago my local Home Depot had some that was mostly white with scattered small black diamonds for under $50 for a 10x12 roll and under $30 for a 8x5 roll.

You are either going to have to embrace the pink and go seriously retro or wear dark glasses when you're in there.

If you can replace whatever that is on the floor, it will make the rest of the room far more tolerable.

I would do a gray, black, white theme, see the color palette here: http://snippetandink.blogspot.com/2009/02/board-349-black-shell.html

The only thing that really bothers me in that bathroom is the toilet seat. Goodness.

I totally agree with seraph's post, & the picture in the link they provided is great!

Sometimes trying to disguise something only makes it more obvious. If this were my bathroom I would just go balls to the wall and decorate it in the style of this San Francisco bar called, how fitting, pink. They have the most gorgeous shade of hot pink on the walls and tons of crystal chandeliers and white accessories to bring light to it. I mean, you only get to have an ultimately girly pink bathroom once, right? might as well live it up

My suggestion for paint is a gray-- a warm grey (meaning it has brown undertones). A quick pick was Benjamin Moore's "Ashley gray" (HC-87). I'd go with white accents...towels, shower curtain, etc. Change out the toilet seat asap. And keep the shower curtain completely closed...no need to see more pink than you need to! Ultimately, whatever color combo you choose, I think you should really try to get a nice accent rug that contains all the colors as well as a piece of artwork that features some of the colors. And the artwork needs to be larger in size or hung lower than what's shown in the picture.

I don't really mind the fixtures-- as someone else mentioned they're very Deco...it's the pink wall tiles that bug me out. Especially because they're a different shade of pink than the porcelain fixtures..and have flowers on them (why???).

Though the bathroom someone else linked to looked cute in yellow, I couldn't do it... It'd be like living in a package of Starburst candy. And Tiffany blue, pink and white makes me think of stereotypical baby colors. :-/

Good luck!

the apartment i just moved out of had this problem. all the fixtures (minus the toilet) and the countertops were this weird pink color (the kitchen too, but that's another story). anyway, at first I did the black and white thing, but after a while it started to bore me, so I went to Ikea and got a bathmat in a really awesome turquoise, as well as a shower curtain with the same color blue, green, and white. I accented with some wood shelves and a turquoise punch lantern. Sounds kinda weird, but it actually turned out really nice looking and I got lots compliments. The blue complimented the pink but also muted it because it was so much brighter.

I love pink. But the tile surround is hideous.

My friend painted her vinyl bathroom floor black and it looks good. I like the black and white/cream ideas. I would hang a large ornate mirror and a chandelier type light fixture.

pale gray

Beware of adding too much contrasting color--it will only play up the pink. Black will work only if you actually like black and pink. I agree with the commenter above who recommended a paler pink. Or at least something relatively close to pink on the color wheel, and not too intense. That way you can take a lot of the punch out of the pink and make it easier to live with until you can change the whole thing.

I knew a couple of guys in college who had a dorm room the color of a '40s kitchen and hated it. The way they dealt with it was to put up as many orange posters as possible, and it only made it worse.

(Sorry--'40s kitchen meaning that pale copy-paper green.)

Hands down, play up a lot of black, white and silver. The room is small and even considering another color makes me ill, and I love color! Definitely replace the toilet seat cover and keep out clutter. A multi-color palette will not work in this size bathroom. It will be way too overwhelming, like a skittles commercial or something. Although I did like the link provided with the other pink bathroom repainted in yellow.... It just won't work in your case.

But yeah, you think this is bad? When I was a kid and my parents bought their first home it had two full bathrooms similar to this. One was in pink and one was in baby blue. Our entire family rejoiced when my dad finally remodeled.

Seriously, the fixtures are fine--if the tile and floor can be dealt with, it'll be fine. I like someone's idea to paint the tile.

I agree with Helgel! Chocolate Brown walls, and run on the pink/ chocolate feeling. Only, be sure to retire the toilet seat! :)

Good luck. :)

Gut it. However, if you have to make do for now, I say a gray paint and some plants to sort of detract your eye.

Also, there are plenty of paints available that are made for painting over ceramic tile. Do that, then just redo the grout between the tiles. Simple and easy without all the smashing and re-tiling.

You could also take inspiration from a Kari Herer print and and introduce navy blue.

http://kariherer.com/

I agree with amt30. We did something similar with the pink fixtures we inherited.

Eventually retiled floor and walls with white, though kept the pink tub. Pale almost white, pink walls. Pale pink and pale yellow towels. Antique oak medicine cabinet.

I vote for the yellow accents too. Pink is generally thought of as Light-Red but in instances like this is really much closer to purple. The compliment to purple is yellow. This will bring out the softer purple side of the pink rather than the redness which IMHO is what make it look so Peto-Dismal

Another vote for BLACK! Back in the 70's my parent's home had pink fixutres and even then my Mom did all black accents and it looked great. I think black and white stripes on the walls would be fun.

That color is abosolutely godwaful. Black might save it though. Still, things aren't that bad. I have an orange kitchen which is absolutely hideous...

http://twasthebrillig.blogspot.com/

I'd keep a crisp white throughout to offset all the pink without trying to be cutesy and matchy. If you do spend a little in good quality shower curtain (like a matelasse or something substantial), bathmat and towels, it'll upgrade the look more than you expect and you don't have to worry about them not working with the renovated style you eventually create.

I agree with arroyo - the fixtures are original art deco and look fabulous. Much more interesting than modern stuff. Could you come to love them? Obviously eventually get rid of the non-original tiles. Then go with black, white and chrome to carry the theme. I really dislike pink too but in this case I'd make an exception to replacing it all.

I think black would be a great help. Maybe some silver additions and make it a holleywood regency look. At least it would help!

http://www.makemineeclectic.wordpress.com

Personally, I'd go with black and white/silver... like the old Saks Fifth Avenue packaging. But if you want to just have fun with it until you can do a remodel, how about the colors in this preppy backpack:

http://www.pureandhonestkids.com/browse.cfm/4,4070,341.html

You could go all Lilly Pulitzer/C.K Bradley in there and just have fun with it.

But definitely get rid of that toilet seat, and get the carpet off of the floor.

Here is a pink bathroom with some black accent tiles:

http://huntgrunt.blogspot.com/2009/01/pink-n-black.htm

Imagine that with a crisp white shower curtain with black piping, and broad, white and gray, vertical stripes painted on the walls.

... and it is possible to paint tiles, or you could just retile the walls with inexpensive field tiles with a black accent line.

Green plants, white linens, and natural bamboo/wood accessories where you need them.

Paint the walls either chocolate brown or gray (any tone from medium to charcoal, not silver). Use stainless steel, pewter, chrome, or bronze metal accents depending upon the color you choose above. Also, if you can afford it, switch out the toilet and sink to white ones that you would keep after the full renovation (the tub is covered by the curtain until it too is replaced). Painted tiles can start to peel in high humidity so beware of doing that.

SAVE THE PINK BATHROOMS! However, if you JUST. CAN'T. STAND. IT. - then at least donate the pink fixtures to Habitat's reStore or even sell them. I'm telling your right now, there are a TON of us retrophiles out there who would gladly snap up a complete set of pink bathroom fixtures. That includes the tub.

Don't trash them. Please please PLEASE don't trash them. They're valuable.

http://savethepinkbathrooms.com/
http://retrorenovation.com/re2-basics/bathroom-hardware/

When you do get around to renovating, when removing the fixtures, please do not wreck them. Pink is sought after stuff. Maybe you can't make the buck, but someone out there wants this stuff more badly than you do.

That said, the pink problem bathroom comes up every so often, as it was popular at some period of time. I think the tile is weird, it's not the same color. Last time this came up, the toilet and I think the sink were powder blue in a pink bathroom, so count your blessings. I also disagree with the retro idea. It is one way to go, but if it isn't your style, a pink bathroom doesn't marry you to a period style - it is merely pink. Also, nothing will disguise or distract from so much pink. Pink and white looks fine, but it will not make your bathroom seem white with hints of pink. Fighting against it with a neutral makes the pink more prominent, and fighting against it with another color you like, to pretend there's no pink anywhere at all will come out kind of clowny. We want the colors and neutrals to get along.

Also, pink is associated with, among the retro 40s/50s look, and also tropical sunsets, it is highly associated with femininity. If you avoid pink just because it seems frilly, again, it's just a color you can work with in a style that suits you.

The toilet seat - has got to go. The walls can be painted, you can put up a little curtain in the window, or blinds, and get a super shower curtain. None of these details needs to cave in to the seeming demands of preciousness for it to work well with pink. I think people have come up with some great suggestions so far. I would be careful with the paint on the walls, it would be so easy to clash, if it is too yellow for example, but it needs something. I like the ideas of white and gray. I think brown and pink reminds me too much of Neapolitan ice cream, and don't combine happily to me. I like a lot of white, some black or gray detail, and a deep strawberry red detail, or possibly a leafy green, but small. If you can't replace the floor, you can get some kind of rug that's easy to clean that's bigger than a bathmat and it will mostly be concealed.

Other than that, I think that picture over the toilet is too high and random. If possible replace it with something larger or get something in a pair, and relate it to the room - eye height rules really only apply on a blank wall, not a wall adjacent to some seating, even if it's in the office. It actually looks even higher, it needs to participate in the room.

Black and white!

YELLOW!!! yellow yellow yellow. The link that seraph gave has a wonderful pink and yellow bathroom.

gulp....well, i would just use lots of white....white rug, white shower curtain, white walls, white accessories....There is not much else you can do...just make it look as clean as possible and remind everyone that you will be redoing it as soon as possible.
I dont understand what is on the toilet seat, but I would definitely try and replace it with a matching one.

What color is TNT?

Embrace the pink.

The problem is that the pink tiles and lino are all-wrong and are later renos. It wouldn't take much to fix the problem. As others have posted, check out:

www.savethepinkbathrooms.com

Find the right wall tiles, floor tiles and toilet seat cover here: www.retrorenovation.com

Here is the info on where to find the right pink wall tiles (no one else has the right colour):

http://retrorenovation.com/2007/12/14/where-to-find-retro-vintage-pink-bathroom-til/

Retiling the bathroom walls is a weekend job, and not that expensive, and will yield huge results.

The floor is a different story, but check those sites for good ideas.

It can be a great look if done right! And it won't require a huge renovation.

I second gray... or is it grey? I'm all confused!

Spend not a penny until you can gut it.

When thinking of color combinations, I always look towards fabric designers for a quick look at how the colors will play off each other. Fabric designer Alexander Henry was the first to spring to mind. A number of his designs have this pink matched with other vibrant colors. Here are just a couple I found on Ebay that might inspire you.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ALEXANDER-HENRY-VERONIQUE-PINK-RETRO-MOD-COTTON-FABRIC_W0QQitemZ220308363483QQcmdZViewItem

http://cgi.ebay.com/ALEXANDER-HENRY-KLEO-IN-SAGE-RETRO-FLORAL-COTTON-FABRIC_W0QQitemZ200287142513QQcmdZViewItem

Good luck & save, save, save so you can have a bathroom you love as soon as possible.

I love two of the suggestions above: jade green or tiffany blue walls and artwork that nods to the floral motif. I'd go for art with lots of white ground or a big white matte, as well as a white shower curtain and, yeah, lose that heinous toilet seat with a plain white one---or even metallic if you want to bring in more chrome.

You could also try something on the charcoal/gray-blue/navy continuum and a lot of white. The tiles are the true criminals in this bathroom. If you have them sprayed you will hardly need to remodel.

Although pink and brown is a great combination in general, I think brown paint in a bathroom is kind of gross---plus with so much pink it could end up looking like an 80's Baskin Robbins in there! And black paint will look too severe natural light.

Not sure if anyone mention this idea yet or not, but Flor Tiles...I think it was mentioned in a different AT post. Carpet in the bathroom is better than that color of flooring. Plus, they're cheap, easily replaced and you can get them in any color. It will help neutralize the pink.

I would go with brown, like chocolate milk brown. That's the only way I personally can tolerate pink. White accents (towels, rug, toothbrush holder, what have you) would be nice, as well as some tiffany blue. I found a shower curtian at target that I personally like, not sure if it's your taste or not, but would def. be a focal point, taking the eyes off the pink. Target shower curtain

Here's your room as I envision it : PhotobucketBathroom I threw it together real quick, so it's a bit sloppy, but you get the idea.

Good luck! I feel your pain with the pink. I've turned down a couple of apartments for the very reason of pink bathrooms that I could not live with.

You've gotten a lot of great advice regarding colors. I especially agree with the black and white, which is how I've solved my pink (with blue tub) bathroom dilemma. My accessories are silver and my rugs and shower curtain are white ground with black details. I'd like to add that for artwork, you should consider some large black and white photos, which will cut the preciousness of the pink fixtures. I've also played up the quirkiness of the room by installing my small collection of Eiffel towers on the window sill. A similar trick could work on the high sill in the tub or on the back of the toilet. All in all, I sort of treat the pink like a neutral and it works.

That's nice bettierrockett. I would consider a natural wood toilet seat instead of white, thought. Also, vinyl flooring might be easier to clean than carpet.

Paint. Everything. (The walls, including tile, at the very least)

Invest in a white sink and toilet. You would surprised how little they cost at Home Depot. Glaze the bathtub white.
Then enjoy the flexibility of what color to go with.

I like the idea of a contrasting, dramatic, attention-getting shower curtain - there seem to be a lot of bold black & white patterns out there now. Might help distract from the pink.

chocolate brown
navy
aqua

i had an all-pink bathroom when i lived in my first place in Toronto and painted it aqua/turquoise which is opposite pink on a colour wheel.

these days, if that's what i was stuck with, i'd do brown.

grey for canada!!

grab some gold paint and GO CRAZY! i love pink and gold. it's girly, it's glam, it's got a vintage feel. Accessories with ivory and tiffany and plue plates, frames, etc.

i second the crisp white, chocolate brown & aqua blue combo.

Seraph is a genius. Go with yellow! The whole retro black/pink/white thing will kill you day after day! Unless you're super into trends, or maybe just perhaps you're Lucille Ball reincarnated. Don't kill your bathroom with black! I vote yellow all the way! Good luck to you!

Sara,
That is a challenge!

While yellow is chearfull I think it would read very femminine - as in - almost to femminine for a sorority house feminine.

I sugest something prehaps a bit less gender specific ...

I would go for a medium chocolate on the walls and ultra dark chocolate towels. (Restoration Hardware has tows in "Expresso" that would look great in your bathroom.)

I would then tie together the pink in the fixtures with the brown on the walls with art work that uses both colors.

The other altenative is reglasing the tub, toilet, sink and tiles. It would probably cost you a few hundred dollars, and it would only last a few years but they will be shiny and white (or any other color you chose).

Let us know what you do and send pics!!

Black. White.

And change the toilet. Not just the seat. A simple white $200 toilet will go a loooong way in many directions. You can also just re-use it when you gut renovate down the road.
Then, just for a little happy touch, change the handles on the sink to white porcelain-y looking ones. like these
http://tinyurl.com/bawvlj

Those little changes will make the whole bathroom feel fresher and clean when you move in.

Celebrate the Pink with shades from fuschia to pink lemonade.

Or go galm with black and silvers

Modkins would add chocolate and teal.

No need to remodel. Be green and use what you have. A good decorator can decorate around any color.

There has to be some sort of award we can give tabithacat for proper use of the phrase "balls to the wall" in discussion of home decor.

Oh, and black & white regency/graphic FTW.

Oh wow. I normally do not like anything pink, but now I really want a retro 60's pink and chocolate brown bathroom. With tiny aqua accents.

..hmm..

Wow, what an amazing response!!! Thank you to everyone - really appreciate it! Good to know about the retro beauty of the fixtures... Would not have known! Pink really just isn't our colour but we'll be sure, when we eventually do renovate, to be very very careful and find them a loving home :)

Right now i'm inclined to try the chocolate brown and cream idea... Will do some swatch testing and see. Thanks muchly!

I'm thinking about old Hollywood glam - black & white with silver accents. I would go with crisp white walls with black trim. If possible paint/glaze the existing tiles in the shower and the floor. Remove the tiles outside of the shower/tub area. Hang an opaque shower curtain (black/white). You could also opt to add some black border tiles. To stay away from a juvenile appearance (with the pink toilet and sink) I'd style everything else glamorous yet simple with clean lines. Another somewhat inexpensive option would be to change out the mirror to something more elegant. And definitely do something about that toilet seat - even a matching pink seat would be better than what's currently there!

What the hell is that toilet seat? Perhaps it is just a bad picture, but it looks like some kind of mold! Ick!

I had a similar situation with an avocado green bathroom suite and matching green tiles and to be honest the only way to really make a difference was to replace the tiles - and it did make a significant difference.

I think if you replaced the pink tiles with cheapo white ones it would be the best money you ever spent. Then accessorise with black towels, yes a black toilet seat, and if your budget will stretch to it a black tiled border around the white tile.

If you just spend a little then you'll be able to live with it long enough to save up to do a total eradication job on it.

I suggest either black or a chocolate brown.

Replace the toilet seat! They aren't that expensive.

Two ideas spring to mind. 1: aqua mutes pink. I have an inherited living room rug (Kashmiri) with nearly 2 dozen colors in it, the dominant color is a salmon pink, and I've been decorating with a deep brown and aqua... both colors balance the pink but the aqua really does the trick. 2: I had a similar problem with a bathroom, in a home I leased, but everything was in great shape (sink, toilet, bathtub, tile, grout) so I asked the homeowner if I could have everything recoated (re-glazed) and a local company did the entire job for only $700. The homeowner was so impressed that she reimbursed me for the full amount.

First, I think it's important to consider the grout (which you could change) and the tiles w/ pictures. I have those in my kitchen, they're very limiting - I should probably get some AT advice on what to do about that...

Maybe it's just me dreaming of spring, but I think yellow, green, floral colors? with plenty of white. plants, the window above the shower is dying for some green.

Good luck, look forward to seeing what you make of it! :D

BTW, to mute the color, you have to find the same hue in another color... then the color balances out... and then you can decorate with fresh white Everything (shower curtain, sink skirt, towels, curtains) and it'll feel more like a modern spa bath.

I 33rd the black & white theme. I've had that old shade of pink in two rentals now. The first had pink tile on sink & shower walls, so I just went with a black shower curtain, white linens, white cabinetry & painted the walls an optic white. This made the tiny bathroom so bright & always clean.

The second time around was harder--pink sink & tub, beige tiles, hideous beige vinyl flooring, and dark wood cabinetry.I figured that there was so much going on that the less I added, the better. So I stuck with white linens & walls, and added a clear shower curtain & clear acrylic accessories. The result is, again, very clean & bright. However, I am of the philosophy that the less that is going on in my bathroom, the better so this may be too spare. Hope this helps!

Also, you must--must--replace the toliet seat & cover. Easy fix that will quickly remove the worst eyesore.

I did a quick-fix makeover on my pink tiled bathroom last summer that might interest you.

http://mabelshouse.blogspot.com/2008/07/pink-tiled-50s-bathroom-mini-makeover.html

@Rucy is right. This is exactly the same as my bathroom. I bought my house even with the P!NK bathroom: toilet, tub, paper holder, towel holders, everything. I painted the walls sandy-ivory to a chin level and pale blush pink above, and use all-white linens and shower curtain to hid the P!NK tub. I added low light-loving plants in terra cotta pots and kept everything as plain as possible. It's pretty, and slightly spa-like in it's simplicity. Now, if I only had pictures to show...

Move.

The tile and floor have to go, one way or another. Here's what I'd do: Rehang the shower rod up at the ceiling. Find patterned cotton (maybe a vintage print or stripes, but be sure it has some porcelain-pink) to make an extra-long, floor-length, curtain. Keep it closed at all times.

Paint the tile (I hear it can be done!) and the walls in colors from the fabric: I'm thinking cream tiles and soft jadeite green walls to go with those pretty vintage fixtures. (You could also make a tailored skirt for the sink if you like that look.)

Cover the floor with inexpensive cream or green vinyl. Get a big, striking, chrome-framed vintage poster for above the toilet, and a plush matching rug.

Burn the toilet seat. Even lucite with fishing lures would be better! Get a matching one; it's gotta be out there somewhere, no fuzzy cover! And replace whatever is on the tank with one nice piece of jadeite, maybe a planter.

I vote for brown walls and this shower curtain: http://tinyurl.com/dxj36p
We've used it to great effect in our ugly beigy-pink 70s bathroom.

BUY SOME TILE PAINT! the colour of the bath/sink/toilet is not as hideous as those tiles. you can get tile paint tinted any colour and it works well. you'll need a can of tile paint primer and tile paint.

the brand in australia is called white knight tile paint - not sure if it's in the US too.

you have to clean the tiles thoroughly before you prime them and give them a light sand.

i would go for a black and white colour scheme.

good luck.

I'd go with grey as suggested above. I have recently painted my bathroom bright pink. I chose this colour because there is pale grey tile-effect laminate to four feet up the walls which I couldn't change. (We're talking minimal budget here.) I then painted the separate toilet the same pink, floor to ceiling and the effect is startling to say the least. It looks a different colour to the bathroom because the colour reflects off each wall and increases the intensity.

So I think you will find that the right shade of grey will make all the difference.

Could you temporarily install wainscotting over the tiles? White wainscott would go a long way to diminishing the pink.

I also love black-and-white linoleum square floors. They're easy to install (peel and stick) and super cheap.

Then I'd add white towels and shower curtain.