Because we tiled the walls up to seven feet, we only needed to paint the walls above the tile and the ceiling. Instead of using paint, we used natural colored clay plaster.

The original walls from 1940 are plaster, so we kept that consistency, and plaster is actually a good choice for bathrooms because it helps control humidity. We were able to create a beautiful water-sky blue (what you see on your screen may be darker than the actual color) and we love the variation of color in the textured surface.

The plaster was just a joy for Larry to work with, instead of paint. It was a bit of a challenge to get the color mix to just where we wanted it, but eventually we got this beautiful, almost sky-blue color. And we love the variation of hues in the textured surface in contrast to the flatness of color on a painted surface. And the plaster was a lot nicer than latex paint to install because there were no fumes at all.

We did use a low-VOC primer and paint on the wood trim around the door and the door itself. Though there are more natural paints available, it was a small area and this paint was easily available to us locally.

For more details, read the ebook...

Debra's Guide to Creating a Green Bathroom
A Case Study of Her Own Remodel
by Debra Lynn Dadd & Larry Redalia

Take a full-color photo tour of Debra's new green bathroom as she and her husband explain just how they did their do-it-yourself remodel. Learn how to choose green building products and materials for bathroom construction, save money on materials costs, and how to install a water-tight bathroom that will last for years.

A detailed Introduction discusses the problem of how a poorly installed bathroom can lead to water damage and hazardous mold growth, followed by chapters which cover the shower, plumbing and fixtures, vanity and medicine cabinet, light and ventilation, towels, storage, body care products, cleaning, and connecting the bathroom to nature. A complete directory of all the green products used on the project is included. 50 pages.