Here is a picture of the other bathroom

I'm just a creative homeowner, but here are some thoughts.

Before color comes structure. Is the current floor cracked at all? Old floors are likely to have week subfloor: If a heavy person bounces on it does it flex at all? Be prepared to put down new underlayment.

For the pink/brown,
some websites say tile can be painted. I don't think I would do it, but if it fits your resources and makes you happy, maybe.
Or color can be muted by draping, where you hang enough stuff over the tile that it only peeks out in spots. This can look cluttered. Would a few extra towel bars or mirrors help? Towels, rugs, art, curtains, inside door and such. Could you cover all/part of the tile with wainscoting or beadboard?

I think you can change the color of the grout. I'm not sure how that would work here. If you go brown, it's likely to look dirty, so you would have to go bold - black or red or pumpkin? and that grid would be so "in your face" that it would be odd. Would you consider coloring the verticals only, to get pinstripes? Hmm.

Or change the color scheme. There are some cute paris theme things in pink and black. Could you put little black vinyl stickers on the tile to get a polka dot pattern? Just leave the brown, and upstage it with an eiffel tower on the wall.
Some people like a warm red with pink. Think of the colors of a bouquet of mixed roses. But your pink may be a little pale for that.

Or for a more peaceful look, choose a pale peach color midway between the pink and the brown for the walls and vanity. And then rich terra cotta accents - rug, towels, curtains, maybe paint the vanity and window a soft warm light brown.

Personally, I don't mind the yellow.

I actually like both bathrooms in terms of the tile, and many people would try to preserve them.

The vanity in the peach bathroom is an awful color and there needs to be an actual wall color in both bathrooms. I think you could go a long way by changing the lighting and mirrors and paint colors and leaving the tile well enough alone.

The floor pattern is called "Text". These bathrooms were installed at at time when most work was still done in very sturdy workmanlike fashion. I've seen a lot of these taken out only to be replaced by something that was current, but much more cheaply done.

Here is a link that might be useful: RetroRenovations Save the Pink Bathrooms.

I actually love the yellow and gray one :)

But the pink and brown ... I agree that it needs help. Colors to work with that pink/peach color will be hard to figure out. Maybe photoshop it to try lots of different options?

If you have an iPad, there is an app called moodboard that has a free version, that might help you try different combinations most easily.

My mother had her 4x4 tile kitchen backsplash professionally painted white from its former avacado green and it was held up beautifully. It's been YEARS - at least 10-12 years. If you don't want to work with the wall colors I would try it. I don't know that it will work with the tiles in the tub surround as those get much wetter than a backsplash or wall tile.

Getting rid of the pink on the vanity changes the complexion somewhat.

{{gwi:1492744}}

The sink/vanity top not original to the house.

I'd keep the wall tile, put up some nice, subdued wallpaper above it, change the faucet and light fixtures, and replace the floor with large slates of some sort (or even vinyl tiles above the existing ceramic tile if the budget is tight). New doorknob. Maybe new vanity cabinet and sink - there's some nice stuff out there now that isn't too pricey.

I love the gray and yellow tilework, including the floor. Not so crazy about the peach combo, but look at how "custom" the tile is in both bathrooms, including the tiled-in soapdishes and such. And the floors are totally coordinated with the tile. I'm not sure I would mess with these surfaces.

For the pink room, I think a new vanity would hugely improve the space. Both rooms need some color, and I think Terriks' idea of pattern on Roman shades is really good. Those are some wonderful fabrics in yellow and gray! You could go even bolder and put some wallpaper in there to pick up on the colors. I'm posting a photo of a colorful yellow and gray bath from houzz; you have an even better foundation to work with, I think.

In the 1950's, as I understand it, these bathroom tiles were tiled onto cement/concrete. As others have said, sturdy. Removal=messy but possible.

I've never heard of painting tiles. If you filled in chips and breaks well, and worked with a tile person to get the right gloss and water tolerant paint, that might be a good alternative.

the pink bathroom reminds me of the 1940s cape I grew up in. Your yellow and gray bath colors are in right now. The most I would do is paint the vanity in the pink bath and replace the sink in the yellow bath with a pedestal. The sconce in the yellow bath is current now. I would dress them up with paint, rugs and shower curtains. They are not as bad as you think they are.

I really love the gray and yellow bathroom. The brown and pink one would do much better with the vanity painted something other than pink. I actually really like the geometric mosaic tile. Personally I would paint the pink vanity something else (maybe a beige or white) and then try living with it for a while.

For a quick cheap fix, I would remove the tile (but of course leave it in the shower area) put up wainscotting, paint it white, then choose a color for the upper half. Get an inexpensive vanity, get a rug remant for the floor to cover the tiles.

I don't mind the pink one. I've photshopped beigy pink on the walls, an expresso cabinet, some art, a valance and a new mirror.

I love the ideas for the yellow and gray bath. Perhaps you could regrout the floor? I think it is a keeper, paint a lighter shade of gray than the tile. Terriks has some fabulous ideas for the fabrics.

I don't mind the pink one. I've photshopped beigy pink on the walls, an expresso cabinet, some art, a valance and a new mirror.

I love the ideas for the yellow and gray bath. Perhaps you could regrout the floor? I think it is a keeper, paint a lighter shade of gray than the tile. Terriks has some fabulous ideas for the fabrics.

{{!gwi}}

Gmp3, that is a great remake on the brown bathroom. I really like it. I'd like to see you work with the popular gray and yellow one too :)

Here is another thought, is you really want to change the floor. I tried to pick something that wouldn't lock you into MCM in the future. I'm sure this is a decorating sin for some, but if you want something flexible for the future that will look nice now, I think it could work. Those pink tiles are tough to coordinate without locking you into pink.

Wow, that's some impressive photoshopping! Are you a designer by chance?

Looks like these rooms can be spruced up with some easy updates and not have to mess with the tile. I agree that the yellow one especially is great, those colors are popular at the moment.

Yellow bath.

wow-these are all amazing suggestions! I had no idea how different the bathrooms could look with a simple change of the vanity/mirror/curtain--and I guess i don't hate the floor tiles as much as i thought afterall!!

gmp3 what program did you use to make those photos?! They are awesome!! I would love to get whichever program you used to play around with some of the suggestions.

Thanks so much to everyone!!! I really appreciate all of your help/ideas/etc.!!! and if anyone has any other ideas bring them on!! :)

I used photoshop. I'm glad you decided not to do major rennos. You can make the bathrooms cute!

gmp, Thanks for taking my ideas and making them come to life! I think that the dark gray walls in the yellow bath really makes it look modern. I wonder how the peach/brown bath would look with darker brown walls?

Sometimes it is one thing (like that Pink vanity in the Peach bathroom) that really throws things off and makes the whole thing look awful.

I read an article by a contributor to a building magazine, how one night, (fueled by some alcohol) he took a sledge hammer to the mismatched pink bathroom. Only to find out in daylight, when he looked at the broken fixtures and tiles piled in the yard, that only the walls and trim were actually the bright, mismatched pinks: The tile and fixtures were actually a nice gentle beige color that picked up reflection from the poorly chosen paint.

Love the yellow and gray bath. As far as the peachy one goes, I would like to see it photoshopped with a latte brown paint, similar to the trim tiles but maybe a bit lighter, and with the dark vanity.
Diane

dark brown paint....

That looks great gmp. The darker paint really updates and creates a statement.

gmp - you're the queen (king?) of photoshopping! I love what you're doing with both baths.

We kept our 50's yellow tile. Attached is a link to the almost finished bathroom. Since then added a white window curtain and a white and green shower curtain. Still need some artwork for the walls.

I read the same 'pink bathroom demo' story. I often refer to it.

Here is a link that might be useful: keeping the yellow tile

You got some great suggestions here. I actually like the floors, and the gray/yellow bathroom, in particular.
Below another link.

Here is a link that might be useful: vintage tiles