Decorating and Design - Need design help for a bathroom makeover

My home is a 1035 square foot 2 BR 2 bath condo. My style is pretty traditional.

My main bathroom is off the hall, one door away from the living room and would serve the second bedroom (although I currently use that bedroom as a media room) and as a powder room for visitors (not overnight guests). It is a full bath 5' x 8' with no windows. The tub is along the 5' east wall leaving 5 x 5. The entrance door is on the 5' west wall almost all the way to the south. Along the north wall from the west corner is a 36 inch vanity (black with a faux marble one piece sink and top - white with a slight grey cast) then the stool sits between the vanity and the tub. Above the vanity is a 22x28 inch mirror with a plain black frame. It is hung with the long sides on the verticle.

I need to tile the floor and tile around the tub. I want to keep the vanity and the white sink, stool and tub. When I redo the tub area I could convert it to a tub/shower but am not sure it's necessary. I have a light fixture box directly above the vanity mirror and wonder what I should do for lighting. I am willing to move the electrical box(es).

I want advice on floor tile type, size and color and the tub surround.

Also with the tub surround if I add a shower how high should I take the tile? If I add a shower should I get a shower door or curtains?

How high if I don't add the shower?

I could also use advice on paint color. All trim throughout the condo is white. The living room and hall are a blue green (it's close to Sherman Williams 6757 Tame Teal - Sherwin Williams CVT (http://www.sherwin.com/visualizer/) ). The kitchen (farther away) is chamois. I like the chamois more than the blue/green. The hall, living room and kitchen floors are Pergo natural maple.

Thanks!

Hi omahan,

Sure, I will be glad to help. :D
can you post some pictures? and additional sketch will be great

I'm sorry I have no pictures and no digital camera. Can I describe something better for you? The room is a 5' x 8 foot rectangle, a tub along one 5 ft wall, a door opposite the tub. Between the tub and the wall with the door is a stool and a 36 inch vanity. I tried some CAD software but can't figure it out.

The only color in the room so far is the white tub and stool, the white (with gray cast) vanity top and sink and the black vanity and mirror. I need to select floor tile and tub surround tile - any color.

John

John

With the info provided I'd suggest the tan / beige family

Tiles (ref. Daltile catalog)-->
Baja Cream (T720)
Mediterranean Ivory (T730)
Livorno Beige (PA30)

Paint (ref. Sherwin Williams catalog)
Realistic Beige (SW 6078)
Familiar Beige (SW 6093)

Those are nice colors. I assume you are recommending Baja Cream (T720) for the floor. Would you suggest the 12 X 12 tiles?

Then were the other choices - Mediterranean Ivory (T730) or Livorno Beige (PA30) - for the tub surround? Would I mix them or just choose one? 4 x 4 or something bigger? How high up the wall would you tile?

Do you have a suggestion for the lighting? I was wondering if I should use sconces on either side of the mirror or something up on the ceiling where the box is now. It is directly above the mirrow and just a few inches out from the wall. Orginally it has two 1970s lights on chains that went from the box to hooks and then hung down on each side of the mirror. I hated it.

Sorry for so many questions but I am lost. I'm a widower and alone with no feminine decorating help. At Home Depot the like anything I ask about. I think if I will buy it that's all they care about.

Since the room will be all neutrals would that allow me to use any accent color for towells and other small item? I was thinking about maroon.

Thank you
John

bath room layout picture by johnbauder - Photobucket (http://s662.photobucket.com/albums/uu343/johnbauder/?action=view&current=bathroomlayout.jpg)


bathroom mirror picture by johnbauder - Photobucket (http://s662.photobucket.com/albums/uu343/johnbauder/?action=view&current=Mirror.jpg)

sink/counter top picture by johnbauder - Photobucket (http://s662.photobucket.com/albums/uu343/johnbauder/?action=view&current=sinktop.jpg)

CabinetDoors.jpg picture by johnbauder - Photobucket (http://s662.photobucket.com/albums/uu343/johnbauder/?action=view&current=CabinetDoors.jpg&t=1237270450226)




This is my bathroom layout and some photos I found online that are similar to my sink, vanity and mirror. I hope I did it right.

John

Hi John,


I'm a widower and alone with no feminine decorating help.

Good design is not related with femininity, there are lots of good designers, both males and females ;)


Since the room will be all neutrals would that allow me to use any accent color for towells and other small item? I was thinking about maroon.

The color towels to contrast with neutral colors is a good idea

Yes, regarding the size of the tiles :D

Do you have a suggestion for the lighting? I was wondering if I should use sconces on either side of the mirror or something up on the ceiling where the box is now. It is directly above the mirror and just a few inches out from the wall. Originally it has two 1970s lights on chains that went from the box to hooks and then hung down on each side of the mirror. I hated it.

Were you able to see the pictures in photobucket that I linked to above and were they helpful?

Thanks
John

You can submit your questions about lighting in the Lighting Forum