OT, but in the circumstances you describe, I'd suggest to the condo board that their crappy venting was presenting a health risk, and opening them to massive liability. If they fix the vents NOW, they may avoid having to gut the entire building to address mold issues. If that didn't have the desired effect, I'd design a room that could accomodate an electric de-humidifier. It will be tough in a room that small, but completely worth it. Until you have healthy air, the design of the bath is a bandaid on a tumor.

Wow!!! I'm so impressed with all of these ideas - keep them coming! I think each would work, but would make for a very different look - high contrast, traditional, MCM, etc. I shared all of these ideas with my husband and I think we're both leaning towards subway tiles in the shower - either light gray or white - and probably oversized as Nancy in Mich suggested. Each hex pattern is about 6 inches in diameter so they're quite large and we agree a larger subway would balance it out. Any ideas for grout color if we go with white subway? A light gray grout? My husband loves the idea of accenting the shower tile with black or graphite-colored trim and bullnose pieces to tie in the dark accents in the floor tile, so we'll likely do that, as well. Pricklypearcactus, we definitely want frameless glass for the shower but still waiting on our quote... scared to open that email. :) And I think brushed nickel is the winner in the fixture department, though I may throw in a little gold by way of accessories to warm things up a bit. We're still trying to decide between a few things: - Pickled wood, white or dark gray painted vanity and either floating or shaker-style - Solid white or marble-type (quartzite?) countertop - Light gray or gray-blue on the walls, but I think this depends on the other finishes. And jrueter - thanks so much for including photos. That really helped us visualize how the gray subway would look. We'd never even considered anything other than white! Williamsem - I'll be sure to post pictures of the finished product, but you'll have to be patient with us. We're buying everything now, but not installing until after Christmas. :) Thanks again all! And please do chime in with any other ideas/suggestions - you've been SO helpful!

Thank you everyone for all of your replies! Sorry for the absence...I have no internet here at the house yet. In response to questions/comments: kudzu9: There are areas of the grout that are missing, and the remainder has turned yellow. I would like to replace the missing grout and whiten the yellowed. We hope to rent out the home, so I don't trust tenants to wipe down painted walls. I'm hoping to find a complementary alternative. benjesbride: Unfortunately, the reason I have little budget now is that most of the original plumbing has to be redone. The drains are all old cast iron, and have degraded...there are lead pipes too. So, since they are replacing them, I figure that now would be the time to relocate. Thank you for your advice on "embracing the retro" and your link! nosoccermom: I cant really remove the shower head, as its the only bath in the home. I LOVE your idea of glass, and will research it. Have to figure out how to seal it from moisture and how to make area where it meets tile waterproof. Fori is not pleased: LOL!!!! I'm not pleased either! Thanks for the laugh and suggestion. I will def head over there once I have internet at the house, and am ready to make all the decorating decisions.polly929: I had considered having a company reglaze the tub & tile white, but the many opinions of keeping the original intact have made me reconsider. I am keeping the home, but am trying to fix it up to rent out for now. bpathome: Thanks for sharing your experience. I was considering adding 4x4 tile above the existing, but someone else said it wouldn't look good and hearing your experience too really gives me pause. I agree that the glass sounds like a cool possibility, but I need to research the installation issues. Would wallpaper hold up in a shower??? Yes, I absolutely need to redo the floor. Its a pier and beam home, so I am avoiding any real tile. However, I have looked at black & white LVT alternatives in both the hex and penny. jesshs: That is amazing! I cannot believe someone on here has actually had this tile! And its funny you mentioned grey....that is exactly the color I was thinking of going with on the walls! As far as paint on the shower walls, as I said above to kudzu9, we are planning to rent the home out and I worry about tenants taking the time to do that sort of maintenance. I want to go with something I don't have to worry about them taking care of. cpartist: Another retro vote! I'm coming around :) The grout is yellowed, and missing in a few areas. I'm hoping there is a way to bring it back to white. I agree with you, and everyone else, about the grab bars, as well as the shower head. And so glad to get another grey vote! I am absolutely redoing the floor. Just haven't decided what would go best. Again, THANK YOU everyone for your opinions and suggestions. Please, keep the ideas coming!

HELP! MY SHOWER IS LEAKING! Many times, a leaking tiled shower can be the result of an unqualified person performing the work. A leaking shower can damage other areas of the bathroom or even the room below the shower. There are multiple reasons why this could happen. Your first line of defense should be to have your plumber check for leaks in the: · shower control valve and/or pipe to the shower head · water supply lines · drain and trap Your second line of defense should be to have your shower door installer check for leaks in: · the door track mounted on the curb (if present) · the vinyl sweep on the bottom of the door · between the vertical metal frame and the tiled wall · between the door and the metal frame attached to the tiled wall What evidence do you see of a leaking shower? 1. The ceiling in the room below my shower has water stains and/or water is dripping from the ceiling Potential Causes · Hole or leak in the pan liner under the tile · Clogged weep holes in the drain assembly · No or incorrectly applied waterproofing on the curb, walls, niches, and seats · Post-tile installation: installed grab bars, soap dishes, or other screw-attached items – not properly sealed 2. The floor tile just outside my shower is wet, damp, and/or discolored Potential Causes · Shower curb is not sloped properly toward the drain and water is running onto outside floor · Shower pan membrane/liner not properly installed over the entire curb and continuing to the floor outside the shower · Pan liner pierced during shower door installation 3. The tile on the inside of my shower walls, floor or curb is loose, the grout is cracking or there is a mineral deposit build up at grout/caulk lines Potential Causes · Blocked weep holes at drain · Breach or incorrect installation of shower pan membrane/liner · Improper or lack of waterproofing at wall to curb and/or other changes in plane · Improper materials used under the tile · Lack of proper ventilation (ceiling fan) 4. The tile on the curb is cracked and/or loose and/or the walls next to the curb are deteriorating. Potential Causes · The curb was not properly constructed and/or waterproofed · Backer board was nailed or screwed through the shower pan liner and into the curb. No waterproofing was applied · The curb does not have the proper slope toward the drain · The shower door was improperly installed (door installer error) o Holes drilled into the curb or the floor on a barrier free shower o Holes drilled into the wall and not properly sealed 5. The walls outside my shower are damp and spongy, drywall is bubbling, or damaged. There is evidence of moisture damage and mold/mildew on the wall(s) on the other side of the shower. Potential Causes · The shower pan liner was not correctly installed · The shower drain was not properly installed · The shower drain weep holes are clogged · Improper or lack of waterproofing on walls up to the shower head · Fasteners were placed through the tiled surface and not sealed 6. My shower has a terrible odor Potential Causes · Incorrect drain installed · The floor under the shower pan liner was not properly sloped toward the drain · The shower drain weep holes are clogged · The lower part of the drain body (below the tile surface) was incorrectly installed higher than the surrounding floor and will not drain · Stagnant water and organic shower products (soap, shampoo, body wash, and body oil are trapped below the tile allowing mold to grow Unless otherwise indicated (such as plumber or glass installer), it is important that you seek the help of an industry QUALIFIED tile professional who uses tile industry standards and approved best practices for shower installations and strictly follows the material manufacturer’s specifications and instructions. It’s helpful to understand this about showers: A properly constructed shower manages and directs all the water that flows through it to the drain, and nowhere else. The shower “fixture” needs to be water tight, utilizing one of the two basic types of showers: a "Water In, Water Out" shower system, which is constructed with a clamping ring drain and waterproof shower pan liner or a "Sealed System" which employs a bonding flange drain and a waterproofing membrane that extends to the shower head. Both systems require that the walls, seats, ledges, niches, and curbs be treated with the appropriate waterproofing product. If the waterproofing, drain components, or any part of the shower system is not installed properly, is damaged, punctured, or compromised during installation, a leak can and will result in failure. PLEASE NOTE: Beware of the claims that a leaking shower can be eliminated by using grout or caulking repairs/replacement or the application of a sealer or coating. These actions will, at best, provide only a temporary fix. Beware of individuals and companies who are NOT insured, licensed where required, or certified by the tile industry. Wisely consider, interview, and hire dedicated tile professionals who have received proper training and have experience in the process of providing a long-lasting and trouble-free shower installation. A qualified tile professional will perform work in accordance with the Tile Council of North America (TCNA) HandbookMethods, American National Standards Institute (ANSI) Standards, and the manufacturer’s written instructions.