We’re back in the bathroom, talking about ways to design your bathroom in period-appropriate style. In Part 1, we left off with creating a floor plan and inventory of vintage items you might want to incorporate.
Now let's discuss fixtures & finishes
Floor plan and inventory in hand, visit salvage warehouses. These places can be overwhelming – start with the big stuff (tubs, sinks) and make sure to bring your tape measure and wet wipes (to clean porcelain surfaces enough to see their condition). The plumber I work with gamely accompanies me to point out insurmountable defects and advise on whether items can be retrofitted. When measuring, consider not only the bathroom itself but also how the fixtures will get there. You don’t want to carry a 500-lb. cast-iron tub up a staircase (relieved that it fits) only to encounter a narrow doorway.
To tile, or not to tile?
It’s hard to say which look I love best. A wood floor gives warmth; patterned mosaic tile exudes character. To protect wood from water and other wear, I would use a Sutherland Welles tung oil product (unlike polyurethane, you can spot repair the finish), and then lay down wool rugs.
For walls and ceilings, moisture/mold/mildew-resistant drywall (the purple kind) finished with semi- or high-gloss paint can meet a wood or tile floor with a simple flat baseboard (beadboard, paneling and molded baseboard caps invite grime, so I don’t recommend). Pay attention to any place where wood or drywall comes close to water, especially around the tub/shower. The detailing here is important and will require ongoing maintenance to keep joints sealed tight. This is less of an issue if your tub is freestanding (with claw feet!).
And if you go to town with both floor and wall tile (expensive, but so worth it, and necessary if your tub is built in), choosing your grout color can be agonizing. Historically, grout was dark gray. This is my choice for subway tile or a mosaic tile floor. White grout has a jazzy, streamlined look that works for early to mid-20th-century-style tile walls (see dark the blue bathroom in Part 1).
Chrome, brushed nickel, oiled bronze, or...?
I personally like the mellow look of brushed nickel because it echoes the patina of old hardware. Metals also tend to follow trends – does anything scream “1990s!” louder than lacquered brass? Yet, it makes regular comebacks, as such things always do. Fortunately, hardware is the easiest item to update in a bathroom (or anywhere in your house, for that matter), so my advice is to choose what you like and don’t sweat it.
Again, salvage warehouses are treasure troves of historic materials that can be creatively recycled in your bathroom project. I would love to know more about using genuine vintage fittings (the plumbing parts that guide and control water). Porcelain can be chipped, tiles can be cracked, but (for obvious reasons) fittings must be in perfect condition. The old ones are so, so beautiful!
Some people may see the combination of lime-green and black tile and exclaim, “How dated!” But, really, aren’t we already saying that about ca-2010 subway tile? Kitchens and bathrooms have a way of looking out of fashion almost as soon as they’re finished. So why not lean into period style? A thoughtful, well-researched and meticulously executed design has value on so many levels – it adds the right kind of character, recycles material from other buildings, relies on skilled labor, and promises Calgon moments of old house lovers’ dreams.
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AUTHOR KATE WOOD (@worthpreserving) grew up criss-crossing the country in the family’s Volkswagen Bus, visiting house museums, battlefields, Main Streets, and national parks. Today, she is an award-winning preservationist, real estate broker and principal of the full-service historic rehabilitation consulting firm, Worth Preserving. Kate believes in the essential value of old-building stewardship to sustain community character. For her, each property is a cause and each client a fellow advocate. She specializes in matching people with properties, skilled contractors, historic tax credits and other benefits to support top-tier rehabilitation projects.
