apartment therapy changing the world, one room at a time

Semi-gloss white. Perhaps a very light grey.

white! or light yellow in the same tone as the tiles. I think these are super saturated colors and you probably won't find a color that goes with the yellow and burgundy.

i feel your dilemma - we've been living with green tiles in our bathroom and originally went for a green & burgundy & pink scheme with a japanese-style flower shower curtain, but recently changed it to green & yellow with a more botanical, garden shower curtain.

i prefer our second scheme much because the first felt like it could easily wander into a "country" color scheme, which i would like to avoid as much as possible.

you can also try http://kuler.adobe.com and see what other colors work with yellow, burgundy and white.

What about a lighter shade of yellow, like a buttery colour

I like it the way it is - it's a classic French Provencal color combination - perhaps it was inspired by the artwork of the French Riviera you have on your wall?

You could even take it farther down that road with French Country accessories, small rug, roman shade and shower surtain - say in a lively toile such as this from Pierre Deux?

http://www.pierredeux.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=StoreDisplay.ShowProductInfo&ProductID=2261

http://www.pierredeux.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=StoreDisplay.ShowProductInfo&ProductID=1349

I think the blue looks nice, but have you considered wallpaper? A curtain/shower curtain in a bold print would like nice also. The white is crisp, but seems more like a "last resort."

i think yellow for the paint. the white fabric isn't doing anything for the colors in there. i really like bepsf's fabric choices, above!

i would go with a nice white...keep it very clean and simple looking. maybe replace that billowy curtain with blinds?

Was there a run on yellow and maroon tile back when apartment buildings were being built in back in the day? Not only did my old apartment in Brentwood have those tiles in the kitchen, my guest bath in my house had the same. Seems like 1/2 my friends in LA have had the same tiles in their apts too.

i vote white!for sure.
i would remove that extra curtain. makes it feel crowded in there

I'd go with a pale yellow paint colour, but would tie the two colours together with a patterned shower curtain, and perhaps burgundy linens.

I'd go yellow... Either the same color as the tile (if you can stand it) or a slightly more white yellow. I'd get rid of the white curtains and replace them with brown rolling ones.. you know the kind that look like they are made of twigs.... =)

My bathroom is currently painted all yellow by the previous tenant. It is not my favorite color, but is very cheery so I've kept it.

Oh yeah, and a yellow fabric shower curtain with a brown pattern! It will add interest, but not break up the room so much like the current white curtains. =)

If you like the rustic look, you could take inspiration from italian country colors (ochre washes, faux finishes), and replace with oiled bronze fixtures.

I'd actually prefer burgundy, although it would make the room a bit smaller. Counteract that with a much smaller window cover. Or I'd vote white as well.

Go neutral with the paint - very light grey, very light matching yellow, or white. Lose the ginormous window curtain and get something that fits within the opening, like blinds or a smaller shade/curtain.

i'd go white or a very light yellow.

I actually like the colors you have, I'd just try to find a shower curtain that will pull all the colors together - perhaps a pinstripe? Then go with a basic neutral window treatment like bamboo roman or roll-up shades, or perhaps blinds or shutters.

I think a darker taupe (like between the yellow and burgundy in value) could make this room look sophisticated.

pale pink..

It's a classic French Provencal combination (hence the blue looks nice) and also a Chinese one, if that's any help.

I'd paint the walls in a burgundy that matches the burgundy tile. Leave the ceiling white to keep it from being too oppresive.

Then find a different window treatment and shower curtain. Right now they just look like white sheets tacked up. For the shower curtain it would be great to find a burgundy/yellow or burgundy/taupe or burgundy/white striped curtain. For the window, I'd suggest a Roman shade that coordinates but doesn't match.

pale grey would look great.

I second the idea of a fun wallpaper pattern complementing the tile.


I just looked at some fabrics - but I'll bet there would be some great wallpapers along those lines.

look here: http://purlsoho.com/purl/products/fabricdetail/4032
and look at Teal Bumblebees and/or Green Bumblebees.

That pattern might be too dense but it will give you the idea.

I'm trying to get what's nice about the supposed French Provencal look. I'm afraid I'll be no help and suggest maybe a different shade of blue would be closer? I'm no expert in this field, but I've never seen this exact combination, think you'd hit it real good with another blue.

I am kind of stumped, have to say. Do you like it or are you trying to live with it? If it were my room and I weren't trying to go with the gimmick that everyone suggests with the French, I'd be steering straight to a rough beige and/or buttery yellow with probably trees and bark browns, and some leafy color, as in a plant or possibly minor minor detail in a very natural green with yellow in it. That would soften the room without turning it into a powder puff, baby floral rose print room.

If you really want to be outrageous, I had in mind a very rich reddy orange, and then again, instead, a deep aqua. And when you do this or the above, or whatever you end up choosing, please put more effort into your accessories/details. I happen to think your blue must be (reminder, I'm not the historical details expert) a few shades off the ideal, but when you do go there, don't lame out on the tame curtains and one nice picture hanging there. Push it all the way out there, and people will be intrigued and give you compliments on your weird weird bathroom.

Dark burgundy to match the tiles - that would make it look sophisticated and crisp against the white elements. And I would also replace the window curtain. If you think burgundy is too dark then I would match the yellow tile. I think it's better to not introduce any more colours into the bathroom, as it's a small room and too many colours will look cluttered.
I suggest playing around with photoshop for the colours:
see here

I would consider gray; I have very similar tile in gray and went for yellow walls and really like the look of yellow and gray together. I would also suggest a neutral gray or tan for the fabric in the room - something a little more soothing than the white.

Pale yellow for the walls. If you want to do the southern France look, I would add some ceramic accessories in mustard yellow with splashes of burgundy, kelly green or cornflower blue to go with the theme. You can check out this look at www.pierredeux.com

I'd say tangerine with possibly a light green tea color in the shower inset and some foliage based art to tie it together. I think that the architecture lends itself to a rich warm middle eastern feel.

You rule! You can't do anything other than respect the insane craftsmanship that went into these old places.

Find a vintage printed scarf, fabric, or wallpaper from the 40s (late 30s-early 50s should do) that has your colors.

It will have your wall color in it. Use the scarf as a reference to help you figure out the missing wall color.

Seriously, it worked for me.

I had an early 40s bathroom with 4 different colors of green tile in the shower alone. More green, 2 shades of peach and a light pink counter tile around the sink, tub and toilet which were white. TP holder, soap and towel holders were deep rose and set in like tile.

I found an old silk twill floral scarf that clued me into what would be the best wall color.

The right color turned out to be a weird pink I found in the tan/beiges at Dunn Edwards.

It was truly an "a ha" moment.

It won't look "period", I promise.

I used my white towels and modern artwork...the hand towel holder was a mounted antler, even.

It worked because the tile and the wall color were all of the same period.

Dunn Edwards has good old fashioned colors and will give you 25% off if you show your AAA card.

I have similar tiles in my bathroom in LA, only the yellow is much more muted. My walls are a light, neutral grey, and it's fine (not my choice - the landlord insisted). But I'm wondering if anyone has towel color suggestions. I've been using my old chocolate brown rug and towels and they actually work OK, but I'm ready for better than OK. Thanks.

gray. gray. gray. Not only is gray very versatile, it's also very hot right now (especially paired with yellow).

Gray or white. And I would emphasis that arch more...very cool! (maybe a light gray outside and a dark gray in the shower to highlight the shape..or white walls outside and gray inside the shower)

Gray could work, though buttermilk might work better. Burgundy would also be ok if you have good lighting.

I like minpin's idea to find your missing color - and I 3rd the wallpaper idea. With the tile so far up the wall, I think a stylized, viney paper would give a great 'cap' to the room. And I also echo changing the window treatment to something more streamlined and lower-profile.

Oh, please be sure to show us the after when you're done. I'm intrigued!

I have similar yellow tiles in my bathroom with black tiles for the trim and some burgandy tiles on the floor. I love it and embraced the yellow. At Restoration Hardware I found a shower curtain that had the same tone, but lighter, yellow. I also painted my vanity cabinet a matching yellow paint from the same store. So if you want a more monochromatic look see links below.
http://www.restorationhardware.com/rh/catalog/product/product.jsp?productId=prod1233152&navAction=jump&navCount=1

http://www.restorationhardware.com/rh/catalog/product/product.jsp?productId=prod1048005&navAction=jump

i vote for white walls, a colorful, patterned shower curtain (a la Josef Frank) and a more simplified window treatment -- white roman shade possibly?

I vote gray. My parents have a bathroom with vintage yellow tile with gray accents, and black and white subway tile flooring, and a medium gray wall paper: it really works. Sorry, I don't have any pictures to share.

Some folks don't like the vintage, colored bathroom tile look, but I definitely prefer it over the standard, beige faux marble look that I keep seeing in every "modern" hotel and on home renovation shows.

A rich yellowy cream. White's going to look too hospital, yellow's going to look too crazy.

I'd pick up the burgundy, but lighter, and I'd paint the ceiling and tub nook with it as well. Maybe a tan, something sandy? I think the current window treatment is a bit overwhelming for such a small space. I'd find a shower curtain that doesn't contrast as much as the white one.

White is so boring. What's the deal with all the "vintage" key term bull. Just deal with yellow or burgundy, why add so many more colours?

Why doesn't some textile company come up with a line to go specifically with the deco tile bathroom?

Green and black. Yellow and Burgandy. Yellow and black. Aqua and Yellow. Pink and Black.

One would think they'd have plenty of interest from renters and condo owners alike - people who don't want to blow out the original tile just because it's hard to match.