1885 Shingle style bathroom redo

12 years ago

Our new home is an 1885 shingle style. The two bathrooms on the 2nd floor were done in a typical 1990's what the hell were they thinking format.

We are going to be expanding out the two full bathrooms and creating more suite like experiences. If my budget for the total projects is 75-80k, is that reasonable if the two bathrooms will be taking over a bedroom that currently is in between them?

If I am looking to see what type of bathrooms I should be looking for, should I be looking for Queen Anne or Victorian for inspiration?

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Comments (6)

sombreuil_mongrel
12 years ago
The expense in a bathroom come from the cost of the fixtures, the amount of plumber's time, and then the cost of the surface finishes. Carpentry, paint, etc. is minimal in most cases. Unless you provide a fixture and finish schedule, we really can't help. $40K per bathroom seems generous, but it won't buy you slab marble walls and Sherle Wagner fittings.
Casey
palimpsest
12 years ago
Generally speaking, the houses that I have seen that have bathrooms of the period of your house tended to be pretty spartan, with a cast iron clawfoot tub, an undermount sink in a marble counter and and 11 gal per flush toilet (or something like that).The floors were wood or linoleum. The oldest bathroom I've seen actually had a zinc bathtub, a toilet in a box seat almost like an outhouse seat, and taps that were brass, and the whole think was dark shellacked beadboard.

I think you would probably want to go for a more Edwardian Style bath which would be a couple decades later, and this is the era I associate with ceramic and porcelain surfaces and nickel fittings. Like Casey says, $40K seems generous, but if you wanted the full on historical materials of field and decorative tiles, and hex, rectified mosaic or encaustic tile floors, you be at that budget or above.

The link has some really nice, period appropriate tile

Here is a link that might be useful: Tile Source
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sombreuil_mongrel
12 years ago
The co. I work for did an all-marble master bath, with slab carrara shower walls, custom marble coping, frameless glass surround, extra thick 6' carrara vanity top, cast iron slipper tub, all the goodies. Since I wasn't very involved in it (as a trim carpenter, it being mostly marble, I was cut out until the trim & crown molding) I really was surprised that it cost $65,000.
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Stacey Collins
12 years ago
I grew up in an 1880's shingle style Victorian in Cape Elizabeth, Maine. My bathroom was the original "main bath" and it had:
A large ceramic pedestal sink
A beautiful, big, deep porcelain corner-tub (skirted on 2 sides)
White hex floor tile
Some type of white wall tile, I can't remember the shape.
Nickel hardware in typical period style (not overly ornate, but Victorian)
glsreads
12 years ago
I'm getting ready to redo the main bath in my 1892 shingle style house. The room is 6'x 10'9" with 9' ceiling. I'm going with white subway tile walls and 2" white hex floor. If budget allows I hope to use nickle fixtures. I'm using a recycled pedestal sink and just a shower, no tub. This site has been a big help as I sort thru choices and I really appreciate all the suggestions. Please post pictures of your project -- I love shingle style!
ntruro
12 years ago
Take a look at the photographs of the bathrooms in this listing.

http://www.trulia.com/property/3038208140-65-Prospect-St-Fitchburg-MA-01420

1885 Shingle style bathroom redo

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sombreuil_mongrel

palimpsest

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