It sounds as though you know what you want, so I would just go ahead with the ideas I had in mind. I agree that a small vanity in dark wood is going to make your room look smaller, so I would probably go with something painted, maybe a pastel beige or green.

I matched (approximately) the vanity to my bedroom furniture. Medium tones. The styles are quite different but they are linked. What color is your bedroom furniture?

My counter top is polymer. But, only because that's what came with the units. I could have had a custom top made, but I didn't want all the finger-pointing between carpenter, plumber and stone guy. I was a bit concerned about how it would wear, but after three years it is fine.

I used two different colors on the walls, a blue and a green, both pulled from the bedding. Unless you're going neutral, I think two complimentary colors are nice. If you're doing latte, I think the same color in both rooms would lessen the impact.

I think I'd do the latte in the bath and the cream in the bedroom and then pull the colors into each room with soft goods. You could also paint the bathroom walls latte and do the vanity in the cream paint from the bedroom.

Sounds like it will be gorgeous. I am happy for you that this is finally happening!

Thanks! Amy - Gorgeous, lol. From your lips to God's ears. Our oddly organized bedroom is divided by a pony wall which separates the sleep area from the sitting room area. The headboard, bureau and bed tables are pine, but aren't visible from the bathroom. Next to the bathroom is my mother's old solid maple dresser, sort of Shaker style. Also in the sitting area is the infamous Pottery Barn desk-secretary in antique white, which I love, and an RH chair upholstered in Silver Sage. SS would not be good on the walls, though. Other odds and ends as well - it's "eclectic" but simple. The problem with latte on the bedroom walls is how the various woods would show up - not too well, I think. But then a cream paint has to be dark enough to show off the secretary.

But I think I first need to address the materials in the bathroom, as that's what's had me in a quandary for so many years. How to make it pretty even if inexpensive. That's why I came here instead of to the bathroom forum. Is your polymer top cultured marble or corian? What color would look good with an off-white vanity and still be neutral? We have an excellent GC who hires great subs, so am not worried about final choices not being right, etc.

Have also thought of floral wallpaper in the bathroom - I know, I know, Eek, but it is an easy background for stained, rather than painted, wood, and it's so easy to accessorize. Well, at any rate, you've convinced me not to paint both rooms in the same color.

Maybe you should take the cue from your mother's dresser. Go for a Shaker style vanity. See what kind of "cream" colors are available. I assume you're doing this with ready-made cabs and not custom...

Start to think about paint in the bedroom and figure out how deep you need to go to get the secretary to show up. Looking at Pottery Barn catalogs, books, website, etc. for specific wall colors wouldn't hurt. Keep in mind, if the bathroom gets a lot of light, it's going to "bleach" out the paint in there, making it look closer to the bedroom color. You may have to get brave and go a bit deeper with the latte in order to get the contrast between the two rooms.

The counter I have just says "polymer" on the website. It's neither cultured marble or Corain. But, my bathroom is contemporary and carries the "plastic" look just fine, imo. It actually has a tiny bit of sparkle in it.

I think that once you find your paint colors and the cabinet color, you can look for a Corian that blends the two. Something that falls somewhere between the cream and the latte, but incorporates speckles of each in the matrix. I like a fine grain (vs. lots of chunks) in Corian or quartz surfaces. They present as a solid from afar, but hide dirt a bit better up close than a solid would. That all assumes you like Corian. (I think it's fine for bathrooms...not necessarily cheap though.)

I don't dislike wallpaper, btw. I just find it much harder to track down something I like than settling on a paint color. When I do find WP I like, it costs a bloody fortune!

I do appreciate the time you're taking with our pathetic room. I was just over at the Re: Eecks! Help - Home Office Pics thread. Scrolling way down there is a picture of jan-in-wisconsin's bathroom and IMO it's lovely. Even the floor is right. If you have time, perhaps you could take a look. I would not have the tall cab in the middle, but aside from that and some small details, it may be the answer. Our vanity will be the same size as our present one - 60", just enough room for two sinks and counterspace, with the toilet next to it. The details on jan's cabs are very nice, close to simple Shaker. I would go lighter with the counter, just better for our room. I don't whether the work will be custom or not; it depends on what's available.

No problem here with Corian for a bathroom, although our cats do walk on the counter, especially when I'm going to the bathroom (cat owners will understand the need of kitties to accompany their people if the toilet is going to be used). The idea of the surface looking solid from a distance, but spot-hiding fine grain closeup is very attractive. Come to think of it, maybe darker would be better.

I walked around the bedroom for awhile, imagining wallpaper in the bath and yikes, not a good look at all! Way too fussy. So then - might it be a good idea to simply really lighten up the latte-cocoa color on the bath walls for the bedroom? Am planning to paint all the woodwork to match the off-white secretary. Looking at jan's room and the room beyond, I can picture that. The bathroom door is open almost all the time, both for the excellent cross-ventilation and also for access to the kitty litterbox behind the open door. So the two rooms really do need to coordinate.

I have had two decorators and three GCs look at this bath over the years, and none have been as helpful as you are! And BTW, I hope it's okay to mention jan, even though she's not here!

Jan's bathroom is great. Now, I know you don't "do" photos. But, you really should have a way to save that photo of Jan's as an inspiration. I bet she would be flattered. Can you print it out?

The advantage of that darker counter is that it stands up to the strong wall color. Anything lighter than the paint might tend to look nebbish-y. I also love the ORB! It's very pretty.

You absolutely can do a lighter/darker version of the same color. Find the latte and just do a something higher on the strip for the cream, or a 25% version or whatever. Just remember to pick colors that are different enough that they'll look distinct when the sun streams into the bathroom.

Glad you're clear about the WP. One less thing to think about. Sometimes the hardest part about these jobs is staying focused. Glad I can help. :-)

Btw, for some reason, I think I've seen pics of your home. Am I imagining things? (again?) Do you really not post pictures?

Yes indeed, I saved the picture and also printed it out.

Haven't ever thought of a color as nebbish-y, but I get what you mean, lol. And have admired many darker counters, and that is probably just the punch that would make the room special. So now it's off to paint stores and remodeling centers. I know about adding white to lighten paint, we've done that in several rooms. I'll keep in mind that the sun actually does turn our bath nearly white and will be bold. Will also consider the ORB. We have black matte metal and here and there some bronze in the MBR suite, so it would work well. I do love brushed nickel, though.

No, I have never posted pictures online and it's time to learn. You may just recall my name, as I post across THS and the GW. When this project gets rolling in the next several months (we must replace the subfloor and windows in the entire MBR suite first), I'll have questions about smaller details. But today you got me to focus my mind and make some realistic decisions and you can't imagine how that has helped. A big decorating burden resolved, and the best thing is that I can visualize both rooms finished. What a relief, and you did it, Amy!

Sable, let me know what you find at the paint store.

I like brushed nickel too, but Jan's ORB makes me think that is the way to go. Deep colors will make the nickel look insubstantial I think.

Have fun!

Amy - we must stop meeting like this, lol.

Am looking at BM tabs of Roman Shade, Nutmeg, Potter's Clay and Grazing Fawn. They, along with dozens of other colors, have been taped to our bedroom walls for a year; plus I have actual large painted areas in greens and blues, just to be sure that although I like the colors, I don't want to be surrounded by them. Perhaps Grazing Fawn in the bath and a lightened version of Clementine Rose in the bedroom. But that is for later on.

Right now I must get with our GC about window replacement. Ours are old sliders, not code, and we need decent windows. He's pressing for ones with integrated blinds for the privacy and light control I need. We have handsome white shutters now, but I want curtains again. A whole other issue, but solvable.

Meanwhile, we are, God willing, going to become first-time grandparents in about three weeks, knock on wood, and that's where my mind is! Resolving the bath dilemma was huge as now I can be excited about the baby, but with a calm feeling about the whole MBR thing having been successfully tackled. When I have actual boards with these colors, I'll let you know. Am fine with ORB but it must be a durable finish.

Thanks again!