This Bathroom Didn't Fight Its 1950s Tile - It Finally Let It Shine

"The hue of her bathroom's original 1950s tile was a spearmint green, and it's just about the only thing she liked in the 40-square-foot space. "The good: The wall tiles were in great shape, and the original medicine cabinet with etched flowers was left unscathed," April says. The bad? "The walls were painted an unbecoming pale yellow, and there was a light fixture and cabinet added circa 2000, that both looked ... bleh.""

"April says there were practical considerations that went into remodeling the bathroom, too; it's a high-trafficked room on the main level for her family and guests, and she desperately wanted a larger vanity with a door that opened on the correct side, unlike what was there before. "But really?," she says, "I was in love with the green and black tiles ... I wanted to spotlight them and honor the incredible craft that went into building our bathroom.""

"They started by replacing the light fixture with a black one from Schoolhouse, and they replaced the vanity with an IKEA cabinet base, a Semihandmade walnut front, a new sink, and new faucet. Then, April painted over the yellow walls with crisp white paint. "I also made a plan with my dad, a retired bricklayer and mason, to replace the tile floor with something more period-appropriate," she says."

The bathroom's original 1950s tile is spearmint green and is the only favored element in the compact 40-square-foot space. The wall tiles and original etched-flower medicine cabinet were in good condition, while pale yellow walls, a circa-2000 light fixture, and an added cabinet created a dated clash. Practical goals included accommodating heavy main-level use and installing a larger vanity with a door that opened correctly. Updates replaced the fixture with a black Schoolhouse light, swapped in an IKEA base with a Semihandmade walnut front, added a new sink and faucet, and repainted walls crisp white. Plans called for a period-appropriate tile floor with help from a retired bricklayer, but plumbers were hard to schedule and the pandemic delayed work.

Read at Apartment Therapy