I’ve toured a couple dozen brand new bathrooms over the past couple of weeks. The Huntsville/Madison County Builders Association’s Parade of Homes gives renovating rubberneckers carte blanche to take a look at the latest and greatest in home design and decor, without that awkward “We’re not really looking to buy a house” moment that invariably occurs during the average Sunday open house.
I currently have a deconstructed master bathroom awaiting further action, so I need inspiration. If only beige inspired me, I’d be in business.
The color: Every Bathroom in Town Beige. Nice tiles, and excellent installation, but so incredibly beige.
There seems to be an “offend no one” movement in the home decor business, with beige being the No. 1 non-offending element. I’ve never purchased a brand new house, so I’ve never had the opportunity to turn up my nose at walls that are just the wrong hue of olive, or kitchen cabinets that are too shiny. With any house over, say, 10 years old, you’re pretty sure you’re going to be redecorating anyway.
Which brings me to the tile dilemma.
I like color. Lots and lots of color. Tile is reasonably permanent – it’s not like paint, which can and should be changed on a whim. So I stand the chance of picking out something that will offend the delicate sensibilities of some beige-loving potential buyer down the road.
But in the end, how much of my decor should be dictated by some imaginary future buyer, especially when I have no idea how long I’ll be living in this house? Do I have to live with beige because it’ll make it easy to sell the house in three years? Five? Ten?
I’m looking at glass tiles now. They shimmer in the light, and the color spectrum is endless. I found two bathrooms on the tour that featured some fantastic examples of glass tile use.
Still working the beige tiles, but a glass-tile design in the middle really gives it some flair.
These blue circular tiles are more vibrant than they appear in this photograph.
There are plumbing and window-installation problems to be solved before I have to worry about the final tile decision, so I have plenty of time to stew over it. It’s going to be one heck of a shower when it’s all done, whatever the final color scheme turns out to be.
Entirely Adequate 
Our shower is beige, but the walls are a brilliant turquoise with little speckles of black and white. Looks very Mediterranean.
Sounds pretty.
You know how they say the hardest thing a couple will ever do is build a house? Yeah, will I think remodeling is harder!
First you have to find something you can both compromise and accept because few and far between are the couples that can completely agree on the right shade, shape, alignment, finish, grout… etc. If you guys can, my congratulations!
Then there’s always the “resale value” argument looming somewhere in the background!
Do it yourself or hire someone?
The list is long.
I’m of the opinion that you should find what you like and make it yours. If someone buys the house later, they can deal with their own remodel issues!
Best of luck!
Moving may have been the hardest thing we’ve ever done as a couple, but remodeling is a close (very close) second. The problem isn’t always the aesthetics, it’s the fact that we both do way too much research on the construction possibilities.
Breakfast at Denny’s with your 1st cousin, with whom you had drunken threesome the night before, is actually the most difficult moment to overcome as a couple.
I’m going to start a new blog called Inspired by Beige.