Beautiful, Diane! Even though Alberta is a long way from northern MN, the painting reminds me of all the lakes (large and small) in the area where I grew up. Neat! Your bathroom looks wonderful! In the picture, it comes across almost like a metallic treatment, but that's probably just the light. It's very nice either way. (I had done the study in blue and white, but had to paint it over as we changed a few things & tore out a little rock.) I bet sage and white looks great, too! You mentioned painting over a cabinet -- I want to ask you for advice on that. Our master bath was kind of Art Deco with black lacquer vanity cabinet (our only painted cabinetry in the whole house). There are a few nicks and spots, and I want to do something else with it-- not sure what color yet, but something lighter as I'm going to be going darker with the flooring. The original paint was sprayed on...can you get a decently even coat with a brush? What kind of paint did you use, and are you happy with the coverage and durability? If I use an oil-based paint, I'll probably wait until summer and do at least the doors and drawers out in the garage. If you have any advice, I could sure use it! Thanks!

I would offset the pinkness with taupe brown shower curtains, then do the walls a palladian blue which is so mesmerizing that no one will notice the blush in the tan tile. You could even use a darker towel in the browns too. On a wall opposite the tile put an artwork which has beautiful colors. The human eye will go directly to color before it looks at anything else in the room so don't put anything colorful near the tile but pop it around the rest of the room.

You're right, everyone IS watching you. Just to be sure, this forum has a volunteer committee that takes note of where you live and sends a team to stand in your yard and look in all your windows. :) In reality, most likely none of your neighbors cares one whit what you do in your house. Normal people are busy with their own lives. Besides, during the daytime, if you keep your lights off inside and stay away from the window, it's almost impossible to see you from outside anyway. Stand halfway across the yard and try to look in a window, and you'll see what I mean. It's another story at night, of course. But there's no sunshine at night, so you don't need to open your window then.

I agree with justerrilynn about the wall color The previous owner picked the wrong shade..a cooler lilac. Throws everything off. Warm cream, slightly peach-y undertone will make this mistake go away. Bonus: we people tend to look good when surrounded by these types of colors..:) We don't always like them, but oh boy, do they love us:) Now. I realized when people say "modern" they often mean different things when you say "modern" you mean "modern" as in style (cleaner lines, colors either more muted or more bright but with a lot of presence so to say..florals -if one loves florals-tend to be big, love for geometry..lots of natural materials but also not shying away from plastic etc)..or do you mean "modern" as in "more updated"? Because for example light fixtures-what you choose will depend on it. Oh you can mix and match these of course-but if you like more modern as in modern, you need to take it there ever so slightly with light fixtures since the bath is not modern in its nature. Mirrors-if you decide to go for different ones-will depend on it. Accessories..you're freer there..as well as with art..you can be reserved in both, in some as justerilynn suggests, or go to town so to say, when you figure out what speaks to you of course. I'm personally fine with the vanity and countertop..these are also bigger items so to say in terms of budget so will depend on how far you're willing to take it. Then you'll see how you'll want new sinks..:) and then you might like less your tub surround..in short won't stop there If you want to keep it simpler I'd choose a) paint b) lights c) new faucets? and maybe adding handles of your preferred style to the vanity? d) accessories(towels, storage thingies etc) and art-never underestimate art..it has the ability to transport you places like very few things do Ah, and I wouldn't be true to myself if I didn't say "and a plant", lol If you want a bigger change-then I'd look into changing the countertop etc knowing that's the "creeping elegance" waits to jump on you ..like a puma hiding in a tree..:) Unless you really hate the vanity Otherwise I'd let it be, make small changes, work around it