Yes, this is how it’s done. The salt-and-pepper tile bathroom in Amanda’s 1942 house needed a complete renovation. She wanted to keep the bathroom remodel in the sweetheart midcentury modest style of the house. So, she used basic ceramic bathroom tiles — available right now in American Olean’s tile portfolio. The 4×4″ field tiles are Spearmint, and the bullnose and liner tiles are in Antique Rose. The floor got simple square mosaic tile in white. This bathroom design is simply wonderful! Amanda sends us additional, inspirational photos of her small bathroom remodel, which suits the history of the house to a tee. Amanda writes:
We bought our home from the original owner… a little over 11 years ago…. The existing salt and pepper tile was failing. To save money we had originally planned to repair the walls and salvage the salt and pepper tile.
I wanted something more in keeping to our 1942 home, and given the work that was going to be involved in cleaning up the tile, my husband agreed. I was also able to convince him that tiling the wall around the room instead of just the shower would be worth the added investment of time and money.
This bath room is primarily our daughter’s, so the pink and green combo works gloriously. (My husband would not go along with this combo for ours. It’s being done in blue.) We demoed the shower area down to the studs. After tearing out the old tile, we found drywall over plaster which was covered in plastic simulated tile.
We installed national gypsum tile backer and American Olean field tile in spearmint and liner and cap in rose.
I referred to your website several times for info and inspiration. Thank you soooo much for what you do!
Amanda
So on top of making these “daring” color choices, you did the tiling yourself? All the more impressive, you go, Amanda and DH! It looks fantastic. Yay on you. I love love love your bathroom.
Christy says
Luv, Luv, Luv your bathroom! I am also planning a restoration of a 1950’s bathroom and will be using a 4.25 x 4.25 square wall tile. I think the style, shape and size of the bullnose trim you used would be perfect for my project. BUT! All the different types of bullnose trim is confusing, can you provide the size and name of the shape or pretty please the shape number from American Olean?
Ellen says
I don’t know if it is too late to ask more questions about this post, but here goes. We have a 1949/50 house and it has blue and white/cream tile. We are redecorating and I’d like to get back to the era it was made. Where did you get the lighting and how about medicine cabinet? I’m thinking of going with beveled mirror unless a metal rim is more vintage. But I’m not sure about lighting. And, of course, it would be great if we could use LED bulbs but I guess depends on the fixture. Thanks for the post. It really looks wonderful.
pam kueber says
Ellen — please see our Bathroom category — LOTS of resources identified there.
Lighting is in Decorate category.
Amanda says
The medicine cabinet in the picture has been replaced by a cabinet found at the Habitat Restore. The lighting, we found on etsy.
Maribeth says
Help! I need 4 of those rose colored bullhead tiles to complete my bathroom where do I get them. Mine look maroon but I think there actually what you have.
Mb
pam kueber says
See our stories on World of Tile, Springfield, Mass.
Niv says
Imagine my surprise when I saw your remodeled bath. Looks very much like the original in my ‘new’ home–built in 1954.
Joe Felice says
Ah, yes, plastic faux tiles–the bane of ’60s & ’70s tackiness. Once the process for extruding plastic was discovered, there was no end to the number of items that were simulated and imitated.
Jordanna says
That is such an incredibly pretty and soothing shade of green. I could live with that forever, it’s not bland but its not demanding.
Well, look what you’ve done, I had a black and white reno half planned and now I want green! 😛
amanda dimock-lemond says
it is very soothing. even with the pink paint this bath does not feel too sweet.
Carolyn says
Great job! Did you use the original sink cabinet or find/make your own? I scored a fab pink sink w/hudee ring at the Restore but we are having a heck of a time finding a cabinet that will work with it.
amanda dimock-lemond says
it is the original cabinet. we could not use the original sink with hudee:(…it was in terrible condition and after tiling the countter top it would not properly fit.
Jan says
This is such a beautiful bathroom! I love that color of green and could live with it forever!