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.
My husband and I did the job together and I can’t tell you how long we agonized over the layout of that niche!
I found the soap dish, towel bar, and tooth brush holder on e-bay. We are awaiting the rewiring of a vintage light.
We installed a white mosaic tile — from American Olean — on the floor and grouted it in white. I wish we had chosen a different grout color for the floor, but other then that I am super, super pleased with our new old bathroom!
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.
Jay says
What a beautiful job, congratulations on a job well done! I love the name of the tile – spearmint, sounds delicious. The color looks very soothing. Hey and Pam is back, yea!
Lynne says
We just completed a tile floor in our “triangle room” re-do. There is a sealer product at the Home Depot that you mix right in with the grout. You add the bottle of this liquid stuff INSTEAD of the water called for on the bag of grout mix. Thus, you are grouting and sealing in one step.
amanda says
oh, i forgot, we also used a tool rental service for the wet saw.
amanda says
Thank you all for your kind words. It took us a couple of months to finish. At one point we took a couple of weeks off. We were both over it, and at the point it’s a good idea to stop. We had laid floor tile before, but never wall tile. U-tube, the book store, and this website were all helpful to us in preparing for this remodel. We had to stop alot and discuss, second guess, and make sure we were laying the tile out poperly. We mixed the thinset in small quantites forcing us to take our time. We used a Tec brand “power grout.” They claim the tile will never need sealed….we shall see. We can’t wait to bring our kitchen and master bath back to the forties!
duki says
And when you do… please show us!
Wendy M. says
It’s just lovely! Your daughter is very lucky to have such a charming bathroom (I know my little girl would love it!)
duki says
I know “I” would LoVe it! Simply gorgeous.
Lauryn says
Adorable! I love the niche, it’s perfect, so your agonizing was worth it. I would love to see before pictures. I’m so impressed that you did the tiling yourself. How long did it take to do? Did you have experience doing something like that prior? Our bathroom is going to need some serious attention in the not so distant future, but it’s the only one in the house, so it’s a scary proposition.
AtomcHipster says
It’s looks wonderful and you did it yourselves, that’s amazing. Do either of you have tiling experience? How long would you say it took to complete the makeover? My bathroom sorely needs the same thing as the previous owner removed all the original tile and put up faux marble wallboard that looks atrocious!!
Thanks, John
Morgen says
That is so beautiful! Love it! You guys did a great job!
Stacey says
Very, very beautiful. I can’t believe you did that yourself – nice work!
ChrisH says
Very nice. The liner at the bottom is a nice touch.