Q. Dear Jordan:
My house has pink-and-black tile (called Mamie tile, named after Mamie Eisenhower) in the main bathroom, and I was thinking of ripping it out for the purposes of resale value. But a very smart handyman told me I’d be crazy to do so, that people love vintage tile and retro bathrooms, and instead I should just work with it.
What advice do you have? Should I just go full-out vintage (with something like cherry wallpaper…if they sell steam-proof wallpapers, that is), white and pristine, or some kind of pale pastel?
Sincerely,
Francine
A. Do not rip out that tile!
I would freak out (in joy, I mean) if my house had that tile.
In fact, one of the houses that we previously had a bid on had this amazing, retro mint-and-black tile in one of the bathrooms, and it was one of the main things I loved about the place. But that’s me, of course, and while retro bathrooms are pretty trendy at the moment, they’re definitely not for everyone.
Generally speaking, here’s how I feel about “interesting” (a.k.a. “not for everyone”) touches in a house: I do think that there’s something really lovely about working to maintaining a house’s original character (within reason, of course) and honoring its history…but what it comes down to is that you’re the one who has to live there.
If you really don’t like something…change it.
Even if everyone tells you you’re crazy. It’s your home, and you have to love it.
If resale is your concern…you know, it’s a bathroom, and I think most buyers go into a house expecting to have to fix up something or other, so either you’ll find a buyer who adores it or you’ll find a buyer who goes, “eh, love the house, hate the bathroom, but I can just rip out that tile.”
Honestly, though, I think it’s really hard to tell what buyers are going to go for. Our house had tons of crazy design components (the black-and-white floors, the graphic wallpaper, the wild carpets) that were exactly what made me fall in love with it…but my broker told me that the slightly out-there decorative elements had turned off a lot of previous house-hunters. But if our place had been a townhouse sitting smack in the middle of Brooklyn, where things like leopard carpets probably fly a little better than they do in the ‘burbs…I bet you it would have been off the market in a hot second.
Now, what I think you should do: I love your idea of going for a vintage look, but personally I’d keep it on the subtler, more elegantly feminine side.
This is the kind of feel I’m talking about:
Picture that bathroom with your pink-and-black tiles on the bottom, and then cream-and-gold wallpaper on top, with all-white everything else (maybe with a hit of girly floral fabric here and there). Graham and Brown has a gorgeous selection of vintage-inspired wallpapers (I particularly like the Darcy for you).
Now, regarding your question about wallpapering a bathroom: my upstairs bathroom has wallpaper, as do my parents’ two bathrooms in their home, and I haven’t noticed any peeling or curling. Most wallpapers are made to hold up decently even in relatively humid conditions, but they also sell wallpapers specifically designed for bathrooms if you’re concerned (or if your bathroom is poorly ventilated).
Enjoy! And Save The Pink Bathrooms!
x
J
