So all week, it has looked like this.
And this.
The problem is, I'm torn. I pictured the room with black walls and white framed colorful art or black and white photos - thinking that this would keep the room from being too dark. There is only one window and it is in the shower. The room is on the north end of the house, so there is never bright light.
Now I am thinking about grays and wondering if I should try to match a gray to the gray in the tile. By the way, this floor is 70 years old - there ain't no way to get it to look clean. Just as a side note, wouldn't marble tile look good? OK, I'll tell Mr. you said so.
As a complete diversion from all of this, I made a little tray for the back of the toilet for less than $6. I will try to post the tutorial next week.
If you have any thoughts about my bathroom, please send them my way.
What's going on this weekend? We might watch a high school football game. These cooler nights make me want to be outside. Also, this weekend is the Greek Festival - one of my favorite fall events.
Happy weekend!
I use Behr Black Suede. It's in the regular colors, but they will mix it for you in the plus primer. It's the only black I ever use. It's a true black, ask Thrifty Decor Chick, she uses it too! I love the tile by the way!
ReplyDeleteJust my opinion but I think I'd go with a gray. That tray is so cute! I have a tray that I need to make over and that is kind of what I had in mind.
ReplyDeleteIs Behr your only choice? You should be able to find a Benjamin Moore black that works with your tile. I've seen a lot of black bathrooms lately and they're gorgeous so don't give up yet.
ReplyDeleteNo, it isn't my only color choice. I really like BM black. I'm afraid the room will be too dark, but at the same time, I like it. Totally sitting on the fence here.
ReplyDelete-Rene
Rene, I think the darkest gray would look fine. I love your old floor tiles, but yes tell him you need marble.
ReplyDeleteMy daughter just remodeled a bath with no windows using Black, white and gray. It's so bright and sharp looking. You have so much white tile in there that the black would just sharpen and clean it up.
ReplyDeleteI love the shower curtain. Is it staying? I'd try the two grays on the right. The one on the left is reading green to me. I have a sample of the black suede Kirsty mentioned. I haven't tried it yet, want to borrow some?
ReplyDeleteI really like the black. If you can find a good black you can brighten it up with you pictures and other things. I like the Martha Stewart black. It seems to be true black but I have only painted small things with it. I do like the first gray as well.
ReplyDeleteHave a great weekend and fun at all your festivities!!!
i'd go gray i think black will just be way to dark
ReplyDeleteHi Rene. I truly like the idea of the black walls with the black & white artwork. Check out a Benjamin Moore paint like some of the other gals have suggested (their paint is much thicker which will add depth), but use a high gloss. The light will reflect off of the gloss giving the room a clean and polished feel, and the black tile is glossy so there will be less of a divide. Good Luck!
ReplyDeleteok, i wish i had pictures to show you of my bathroom in one of my previous houses to show you to boost you forward with the black. I had that bathroom, but with gray and dark maroon - i couldn't even call it burgundy it was so dark. I had one small window as well. No light. The painter painting the rest of the house said go dark and dramatic, it's only paint, you can do it again if you don't like it. I LOVED IT. i was scared when it was going on but oh.my.word. i got more compliments on the potty than i did any other parts of my house. Plus i got a really cute twinkly chandy to bring in more light and sparkle. GO BLACK.
ReplyDeleteI love a photo I took out of a magazine years ago. It is a grey/beige wall with black trim (wood/tile) and white accents (fixtures). Simple white shower curtain.
ReplyDeleteWow, that is too funny that your asking this question since yesterday my husband has been painting my bathroom gray. I just love the way it looks!
ReplyDeleteI would go with gray. Gray will match the floors, and tiled wall. It will still give you the opportunity to use black and white.
Best of luck. I want to see the finished product. lol.
I don't know about you but my biggest dilema is finding the shower curtain I want.
your friend,
Jessica
i think since it's drama you want (i assume from the choice of black) i would maybe go with a charcoal gray from one of the tiles. you can still do b/w photo art. is the curtain staying the same? if the curtain is staying the same i think a lighter gray would be better, but if you go darker, i think would go with something in a bold yellow or green to add a pop to the room. just a thought. can't wait to see what you do!
ReplyDeleteThat tile does NOT look 70 years old. I think the middle grey would be good. Liking the tray...nothing like a little distraction! Have a great weekend. --Gretchen O.
ReplyDeleteYeah, I'd be afraid of black, but that's just me. That first grey is looking mighty nice, at least in the pic. And marble tiles, mmmm. Yes!
ReplyDeleteI think black would elegant, glam and tres chic whereas gray would be more sophisticated and comfortable, so I guess it just depends on what you are looking for.
ReplyDeleteOK so far it's six for black and 8 for gray - and I don't feel any better. Yes, the shower curtain is staying. We have had a white curtain until now and once I started this project I wanted to liven the room a bit. I have really been liking blue and black together - very clean.
ReplyDeleteHere's my 2 cents, for months now you've been showing us drool worthy photos of bathrooms with black walls. It is the look you have in your head and I think that if you don't at least "try" the black walls...(you can always repaint them gray if you don't like the look)...you will always wonder if you should have gone with black!
ReplyDeleteSure it will be a little dark, but it will be dramatic too and I "think" that is what you love about the whole black bathroom concept. And you just need to find the right black that will work. When I painted a cabinet black a few years ago, I was mulling over all the pretty black paint chips in the paint store and the guy who has owned the store for years said...umm don't look at those, they all have undertones to them and won't read as true black. So he directed me to simple black paint which has no undertones...I can look in my garage to try and find the name if you want.
Grays can often have their own undertones, like brown or purple, so you may find that you are having the same issue with a gray. But I also think a gray could be beautiful, I'm just not sure it will have the wow factor you were looking for with the black.
Hmm I seem to be writing books on everyone's blogs today...I'll be quiet now! Keep us posted and have a wonderful weekend!
Kat :)
Kat, you won the trophy for the day. Yes, I have been showing pretty pictures of black bathrooms for too long so you are probably right. Try it and it can always be reversed, right? Now, the question is, should I go back to the old white shower curtain or stick with the new blue & white?
ReplyDeleteYou must go BLACK! I think you'll be dissapointed if you do the gray. It's way safe and that's no fun! : ) Have you seen the ADORABLE black bathroom on Lonny? I'm sure you have...I put a pic of it on my blog yesterday because I adore it and I will be oh so happy if you go for it!
ReplyDeleteGood thinkin with the paint samples, it would be rather dissapointing if you got comepletely done and it wasn't a true jet black.
It can be tricky to find a black that doesn't read blue or gray -- but I think you should stick with black (so dramatic!!) and just try another paint. Farrow & Ball's Pitch is a nice option...it's a sooty black that reads as a really deep charcoal, which I think would work well with your tiles.
ReplyDeleteOh and I love that tray you made -- darling!
I would so go with the grey! I love the first grey swatch you have.
ReplyDeleteis this the same bathroom that you did the black stencil on the walls? i thought that looked so pretty!
ReplyDeleteelizabeth
Impressed by your tray, love your shower curtain and would love to find a place in my house to paint some black!
ReplyDeleteYes, Elizabeth. This is the stenciled bathroom. It grew old soon after I did it and I have always wanted to try black in there.
ReplyDeleteOne more vote for black! I have a huge black island in my kitchen and went back and forth whether it would be too dark, can't tell you how glad I am that I finally just went for it. I think you'll love it!
ReplyDeleteI also have old original tile in my home and fortunately my husband is able to purchase muriatic acid. My tile and grout looks brand new despite being 64 years old. We dilute the acid with water before using and then scrub with a rough brush.
ReplyDeleteI like the black, and I think you'd have even more trouble with gray. Especially if you match it to the tile. If you do choose a gray, focus on choosing a true gray with no hint of color, instead of choosing on that matches the tile. We had "gray" walls once that were periwinkle. :) Now, our new "gray" bathroom is kind of greenish. They are very hard!!!
ReplyDeleteBehr Black Suede is the best black i've found. i painted all the trim and door in my basement with a different black. then i found suede and wished i had had it when i did the basement. i have several friends who also only use black suede. good luck. i love black so much better than gray.
ReplyDeleteLow Tide High Style is right on with her advice IMO. I cannot say enough good things about using Benjamin Moore paint. I bought a Behr black paint one time, OMG, it was "bear/behr" no pun! Averill probably knows her F & B Pitch, so I would look at that if you can't find a Benjamin Moore paint that you like. If this was my bathroom and I wanted that dramatic look I would get a white shower curtain or price a glass shower door. If that was not in my pocketbook, then it would be a white shower curtain or maybe a white shower curtain that had a black edge or trim. Personally I love your tile floor. Grays, blacks and whites = wonderful
ReplyDeleteMary
I vote for black. It will look great! Have fun at the Greek Festival....sure hope I can get by sometime this weekend. Always a favorite thing to do and you always see everybody there!
ReplyDeleteI am really liking the dark grey..but if you can find the right black paint you should go black! It makes such a statement! And I LOVE your floors how they are now!I have the original 1930 tile floors in my bathroom and agree with you that they never look fully clean though..I guess thats the trade off for vintage charm. Have a great weekend,:)Rachel
ReplyDeleteHello Rene,
ReplyDeleteMy son's bedroom is in black, gray and white. His furniture is black so I painted his walls a nice grey. His linens are also black and gray. When he first said what colors he wanted his room I instantly though dark and depressing, but when it was finished, it looked great. All that to say my vote is for gray walls.
BUT
Kat so eloquently stated my interpretation of your dilemma so I will not repeat it. You should get a true black and just do it. If you decide later you do not like, then it can always be primed and repainted. That is the problem I was having when I decided to paint my LR, DR & K several months ago. I had one thing on my mind but kept trying something different and it took me forever to finally decide to go with my first choice. Now I am happy that I did.
I hope you have a great weekend!
~ Tracy
Rene,
ReplyDeleteTotally random....Maybe a dark kelley green??? Or Porter Paints: 507-6 submarine [really dark gray] or 517 armory [another dark gray]. 3 good dark BM grays are: HC 166, HC167 and Iron Mountain 2134-30
Sherry
I say go with your gut! Go black!
ReplyDeleteI LOVE your new blog design. Looks fabulous.
Thank you so much for your kind comment on my house. I so appreciate you stopping by! Abby
I just painted my Hubb's bathroom.... I bought a lovely gray that actually turned out to be green too! WHAT??? I wish I'd been smart enough to get a sample...but the room's all finished now.... I can live with it.
ReplyDeleteI love the idea of black. I've had quite a bit of black paint color-matched and have never had any trouble. Hopefully you could find another brand sample that you like??
Warm blessings,
Spencer
I love that you might take a very big step and try the black! Ask someone at the store to help you because the chips all have undertones. I wish I could remember the black I used because it was wonderful. If you don't like black then you can always prime and go gray. I once painted a room gray and in daylight it looked very nice but at night it looked moss green...not what I was going for.
ReplyDeleteGood for you for being so brave...painting your floors and now painting walls black! You are an inspiration to us all to take some chances and be creative! Thanks!!!
Thank you thank you! You all have helped me more than you know! The decision has been made to go with BM black. I purchased a can yesterday. Also, the shower curtain has been returned because it just wasn't working. For now I will go back to the white monogrammed one we were using before.
ReplyDeleteThanks!!
Isn't is strange the blacks and whites can be so difficult to get just the right shade? I think I drove hubs nuts trying to find just the right shade of white - and I know black would have been just as hard! I love your tile and think a gray would be lovely though I love the idea of painting it black. I'm sure whatever you decide it going to be lovely!
ReplyDeleteI have been looking for a perfect black too , my mom wants to paint her kitchen chairs. I also love the fact we can get the samples for 3 dollars!
ReplyDeleteI can't wait to see how your bathroom turns out!
Have a pretty day!
Kristin
Hooray for the black! (Cheers you on!!) Can't wait to see it!
ReplyDeleteI love the old tile. Re-grout it! It is SO pretty. I had marble on my bathroom floor in San Diego and it was slippery when wet... and it was often wet.
ReplyDeleteI like the idea of black with the white framed art. I'd stick with your original idea. I've never painted a wall black, so I have no idea about the black paint.