Creative ways to hide 1 row of textured tiles in bathroom?

last year

Trying to affordably de-90s our bathroom. Looking for creative ways to hide the row of textured/patterned tile throughout:

I thought we could replace the single row of tiles throughout, but turns out it's still $$$, and there's a high risk of chipping adjacent tiles, for which we don't have replacements. I'd sticker over them, but they're raised/textured.

Am I out of luck, or do you have any creative budget-friendly ideas??

(And yes, I know the counters and windows are bad too, but we bought at the pandemic peak, so trying not to blow the budget).

Thank you!!

Featured Answer

kandrewspa

last year

Since the accent row is the same color as the surrounding tile it really isn't that bad. Also it's white, so really, it could be so much worse. You probably saw worse while you were house hunting. Make a list of things you want to change in the house as a whole, group together like items and prioritize. You will figure out how much this bathroom is really bothering you once you think about how much it will cost to remodel it. :-)

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Comments (34)

PRO
Patricia Colwell Consulting
last year
IMO they are as hidden as they will ever be without a huge expense to redo the tile work and any waterproofing. I do not think they are really all that bad I find the windows worse that the tile. It looks to be a nice clean space so add some bright color to catch your eye and leave it until you can do all the things that are needed in the space
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HU-832327864
Original Author
last year
Thanks! It's funny, I hated the windows at first, but I think they kind of add a funky vintage vibe. They just don't look intentionally vintage because the rest of the bathroom is off. I got a quote to remove the row and it was expensive, but worth it IMO. My concern was they said they might break other tiles and/or the mirrors and I don't want to wind up having to spend $10K (vs $3K) to redo everything if they break stuff. I thought about replacing the mirrors but then I realized you'd have to do drywall repair, etc... ugh!
HU-832327864
Original Author
last year
@kandrewspa - that makes me feel better, and it's true. we're remodeling the kitchen because that was BAD, and the bathroom is light and bright and clean and livable, just NOT our style. I already painted the vanities, added new knobs, changed the chandelier, and added the rugs which help a lot, but still hate the tile.
wishiwereintheup
last year
Actually, I think your bathroom is very nice as is. The patterned row of tiles adds a nice detail. Now, if the walls were mauve with a popcorn ceiling and the finishes shiny brass instead of chrome, that would be a different story.
Jennifer Hogan
last year
I am with @wishiwereintheup - This is a lovely bathroom. The windows and the trim are the details that make it not a generic flip or builders basic look and feel.

I know everyone wants minimalist, plain jane right now, but different isn't a bad thing.

I would bet if you saw the original tile invoice that the single row decorative tiles cost more than all the other tile in the room. That is why you don't see much decorative tile in most of the renos - nobody wants to spend that kind of money.

I was just looking for some knobs to match my 1960s closet door hardware - I can find the knobs, but can't find backplates anywhere - it is a thing of the past, but after 70 years of use the closet doors in my home don't have the dark marks on the wood around the handles because the oils from people's hands never got on the wood doors. The were protected. It is those details that I miss in today's world.
tfitz1006
last year
I like that trim. Compared to what you often see on this site, it's pretty and sort of understated. I gotta admit, though, that I really dislike those windows.
PRO
Debbi Washburn
last year
That is not a can of worms that I would open. There is a lot of it so you know that a tile is going to get chipped - then what? There is no back up plan. The bathroom is clean and fresh - it looks to be in great shape. Do the things in the house that are of real concern and then save your pennies to fix the bathroom at a later date.

I actually like that tile - adds interest without hitting you over the head. I'm iffy on those windows - but if you like them, that's all that matters - they do need molding though.

Good luck!
mailprocessing
last year
While the tile border and windows are not my style, the fact that everything is white makes it easier to ignore. Save your money for a complete remodel down the road. Focus on styling the bathroom with more plants and fabulous accessories.
decorpatti
last year
We chose a textured tile accent in 2013 for our hall bath...maybe we were not up on "trends," but I love how it adds very subtle interest in a white-tiled bathroom, so that it doesn't look like a public restroom. I understand it is not minimalist, but our home is more traditional, so it works for me. Granted, ours is very narrow, with 'cap' pieces above it. I think your bath is very nice.
HU-832327864
Original Author
last year
The issue with the windows is that there's a house pretty close to ours, so we need some sort of privacy there. if we close the shades, we miss out on the awesome natural light in the bathroom, and if we replace the windows, we'd need some sort of frost which I might like even less than the stained glass... and yeah, I can live with the tile and like the accent (i'd replace with an accent like simple brick marble tiles), the pattern is just sooooo not me.
pricklypearcactus
last year
I would not risk damaging the rest of the tile to remove those. And doing so in the shower would compromise any waterproofing. Honestly, they are very subtle and not really impacting the overall look and feel of the bathroom. You could completely rip out the bathroom countertops and their tile backsplash and replace them and the sinks. That would be one isolated change that wouldn't compromise the waterproofing around the tub or shower. Around the tub you could put a whole bunch of plants to hide the tile and add some interest.
HU-832327864
Original Author
last year
ooh i like the idea of a bunch of plants to hide it...
chispa
last year
Don't waste your money on band-aids that won't really update the look of the bathroom. Save your money for a future larger remodel. As far as older bathrooms go, yours is probably one of the best I have seen.

Seriously, that era had a lot of ugly sh*t-brown tile that was a lot harder to live with! Our previous house had red and green tile in all the bathrooms ... I might not have rushed to remodel if it had been white like yours.

Here is one of mine before remodeling and we had 5 like this to gut! It looked worse in person. Yours looks pretty good!
HU-832327864
Original Author
last year
haha i actually like yours!! has a cool Spanish vibe to it.
HU-832327864
Original Author
last year
and to be fair, we have the money for a full remodel, I just don't want to spend it on this, because to everyone's point it's not THAT bad, so cost/benefit isn't worth it. a full bathroom remodel (we're in socal) would be ~$35K and it's def not $35K bad, so was seeing if we could figure something out Kind of a bummer because when we bought the house (a few months ago), I though,"oh we could easily fix this by replacing that ugly row of tile."
PRO
Sabrina Alfin Interiors
last year
Save up and re-do it at a later time when you've got the $. There are no half-fixes for this bathroom; the whole thing needs to be remodeled, IMO. The windows are a matter of taste. If you like the Arts & Crafts/Tiffany style and they work with the rest of your home, then have the new bath design reflect that aesthetic, which it currently does not. The good news is, you have plenty of space to allow for different layout configurations when you're ready to re-design.
HU-832327864
Original Author
last year
what would you suggest instead of the windows? clear won't work because neighbors are right there, and i think frosted will look cheaper. it gets great light now. the rest of our home is kind MCM/boho style. Very different from this bathroom!
PRO
Sabrina Alfin Interiors
last year
If you're going to remodel, it will depend on your layout. The tub doesn't necessarily have to go there. But if it does, you can always put in clerestory windows instead which are high enough to provide privacy while still letting in plenty of light. Examples:

Mid-Century Modern home remodel · More Info

Oversized Shower · More Info

Parade of Homes Rough Hollow · More Info
la_la Girl
last year
Oh what a nice bright big bathroom! I agree to sit on it and put your money elsewhere - love the idea of some plants along the tub to break up the tile or maybe some fabulous candles if you dont have kids that use the tub. some lovely orchids would be great in that space also
Connecticut Yankeeeee
last year
So, am I reading correctly you got a bid of $3k to remove just the offending tiles? I’d live with them instead. That’s a fair chunk of change for a minor win.
margaret6557
last year
Tile doesn’t look bad. What if you changed out
The countertops and top of the tub surface to quartz?
HU-832327864
Original Author
last year
Yeah its much less than the $35k for a total remodel though, and i do think replacing them with soenthing like marble brick would look SO much better, but im too worried about breaking other tiles and the mirror. I’d do it if it werent for that risk!
PRO
Debbi Washburn
last year
For the windows you could look into some kind pf pleated shaded that drops from the top. You will get light and privacy. As as far as remodeling goes, did you look into just redoing your backsplash tiles, tops and the backsplash of the tub? Keep the deco tile in the shower since that would be problematic to change.

The floor looks nice and the white tile in the shower and on the tub deck/face loo good. That would get rid of most of the deco tile and allow you to introduce some of your taste. I would probably pull the soffits out too .

Just a thought
HU-832327864
Original Author
last year
We have pleated shades but like having the windows shade free when showering to get all the light, and would be a shame to wind up with them drawn all the time.

if we replaced with quartz, we’d have to do the entire tub sides too, which is a lot if cuts and expensive. and then it wouldn’t go with the shower, and we could break the mirrors. such a dilemma!
PRO
Debbi Washburn
last year
You can leave the tub deck alone. It matches the shower now. It does not need to match the counters on the vanities. The mirror should be ok since you can remove them from the side , one at a time , then pull the top .

I would get your other stuff done and think on this for a while...
chispa
last year
My previous house was in LA and based on what I paid for my remodels before covid and supply chain issue, I would bet that the $35K you mention would remodel a small hall bathroom and not a master bathroom.
Jennifer Hogan
last year
I spent far less on my master bath than many others may have, but I figured that I spend maybe 30 min a day in that room and no one else goes in there. Prioritized the more public spaces.
HU-832327864
Original Author
last year
Yeah so hard to stomach we‘re currently our kitchen counters and backsplash for under $15k and the difference is night and day wo cost/benefit made sense. struggling with this one though!!
Jennifer Hogan
last year
I'm in my 60s and will tell you that when I sit and reminisce with my siblings we talk about the times we spent together, how we enjoyed things we did together, the things that made us laugh till we cried and times we leaned on one another for strength. We seldom talk about what color the walls were painted or the beautiful furniture we owned. Don't forget the real importance of your home is to provide you a place to create beautiful memories.
olychick
last year
I'm sorry you don't like those tiles, but I can tell you, I would select those tiles TODAY (if they were even available) over the ubiquitous grey veined marble or marble look tile bathrooms we see here every day. It's a beautiful bathroom. The windows do not bother me at all; I much prefer them to something that has window coverings for privacy that block all the natural light. They are somewhat reminiscent of chapel windows and feel almost reverent to me, and calming. There is something natural and organic about tile over the quartz that is being used everywhere these days (plastic).
I bought a house built in the 1980's that had beautiful trim tile which looked as if it could have been hand painted. But it had kind of a pinkish beige background with simple pink flowery designs on it. I detest pink, so I couldn't wait to change it out. I finally did that in 2022, lol! I understand not loving something, but living with it sometimes is easier than we can imagine.
everdebz
last year
last modified: last year
I like that the style is different. For the sinks, other than chrome might work.

Here's a shape might go with simple mirror, and simple lines in tiles.

https://www.wayfair.com/home-improvement/pdp/luxier-widespread-bathroom-faucet-with-drain-assembly-w008056695.html?piid=1383123986

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https://www.wayfair.com/home-improvement/pdp/delta-vesna-single-hole-bathroom-faucet-with-drain-assembly-cbkb1822.html
everdebz
last year
last modified: last year
I'm looking... sculptural...an aged/ imperfect finish.

https://www.wayfair.com/home-improvement/pdp/delta-vesna-single-hole-bathroom-faucet-with-drain-assembly-cbkb1822.html
Mrs. S
last year
864, I love, love, love your bathroom. I'm not joking. I especially love: the white on white large tiles on the countertop. I love the decorative row, and I certainly do not normally love a decorative row. I love the windows, too, especially if there's a great reason to have obscured windows. Yours are pretty.

If I were to change anything, it would be the lights over the tub area: to me, those don't fit and I'd do some version of chandelier. The next thing I'd change is the hardware. I don't personally love the black hardware, but it's not terrible by any means, just not my favorite.

My house came with those exact faucets. I suppose they could be upgraded, and I bet that would be a difference you'd notice and appreciate every day. You'd probably like a taller, arched faucet.

You could add a colorful rug.

I think you're lucky to have a white, neutral bathroom.