Design ideas for basement bath

11 years ago

We are down to designing the last bath out of 4.5 in our remodel/addition and I need some design inspiration and help. What would a "rathskeller" or "Gothic" bathroom look like? This is what DH wants. The sink is the biggest hold up to finishing.

The bath is a wet room, with a 3/4 curbless shower in an old limestone-faced house with black wrought iron railings. Upstairs interiors are mix of white painted and dark stained woodwork, stained red oak and limestone floors. We added a two story addition on the back of the house and a new deeper (10.5' ceiling) finished basement area with stone floors, fireplace and dark oak wet bar under the addition (in the Midwest these spaces see a lot of use).

To keep down costs, I'm planning to use some wall tile we purchased for another project but did not use from The Tile Shop, 12" polished Fiorito, so this bath will have beige walls. May get the tile guy to cut it into brick shapes. Wish it weren't polished but I am sure it can work. Any ideas for decorative wall treatment and flooring are also appreciated.

Because this is a wet room (no curtain or door) and I'm worried about moisture in spite of the fan system, I have nixed doing a wood vanity for the sink. An antique stone or cast or metal sink really seems called for, maybe with a wall mount faucet.

DH liked this one but not the price:

Here is a link that might be useful: Marble sink on Gothic iron stand

Sort by:Oldest

Comments (11)

californiagirl
Original Author
11 years ago
I don't post photos often enough to remember how to do it without going back to the instructions. Hope this works.

Here is a link that might be useful: sink idea
californiagirl
Original Author
11 years ago
Really bad at this photo posting.
Related Discussions
Design ideas for walkout basement
Q
Comments (1)
If the grade slopes at a building face, it offers a look of instability. If you could use plantings to compensate for that slope you can create a stable "look." One way is by using a clipped hedge that covers the foundation walls. You could also create the same general effect in loose, casual plantings if you select plants with proper heights and shapes that would interface similarly as does the hedge. Or you could do it with vines on wires or sprawling plants, like roses, on a trellis(es). Part of the reason of why you would choose one solution over the other depends on the level of maintenance you're interested in committing to. The space lacks purpose. Part of the reason it doesn't look good is because there seems to be no "destination" other than the door itself. There's no real patio or a place to do something. Adding some type of outdoor "floor" would, at least, make it look like the space has purpose. Even using lawn as the floor would be better than trying to make do with the undersized slab. Certainly, don't plant shrubs that separate the slab from the lawn... unless to DON'T want the entrance to look inviting. A full or partial arbor covering the "patio" area would help define the space. It could provide shade and an opportunity to grow flowering vines. Presently, only tired looking mulch is what connects and unifies the plantings. Why not change that to a nice looking groundcover that grows less than 12" tall? It would be like looking at nice upholstery on a pieces of furniture vs. looking at the stuffing underneath. Improving the condition of the grass would much improve the whole picture. When the river birch (if that's what it is) gets some size on it, the picture will also improve.
...See More
Where can I find design ideas for basement?
Q
Comments (5)
We are in the process of doing our basement in a lodge/cabin theme. The flooring is a wood-scraped look laminate in, if I remember correctly, a teak tone. The walls are outside log siding and pine siding. We the few more things to finish up - the fireplace is not complete, etc. We looked at sites that featured log cabins for ideas. If you send me an email on here, I can send you pictures. I have not had luck with posting pics as yet.
...See More
Help! Is 1/2 bath in basement a good idea?
Q
Comments (11)
Wheneve one is considering the feasibility of putting a bathroom in the basement the first thing you have to check is where your existing main drain/sewer exit the structure. If your main drain is under the basement floor it is usually not a big deal to add a 1/2, 3/4 or even a full bathroom in the basement, but if your main drain is at any level which is higher than the basement floor you then need a pump to lift the discharge from the toilet up to the drain line. You stated that your washer and dryer are in the basement so in all probability your main drain is under the floor, however it is possible that the washer standpipe is connected on a horizontal pipe that ties into the drain above the floor. Whether or not it is practical is really dependant upon your lifestyle. At my house I have a small workshop, my ham radio room and my computer room in the basement so I spend a lot of time in the basement and running up & down the stairs to use a bathroom gets old very quickly, especially when I have two or three of my ham radio buddies over to the house and we are all sitting around drinking coffee. Fortunately I have a walk in basement with an outside door so even though I often have guys over to play with my radios or the work shop, the 1/2 bath is not only convenient, it saves bothering my wife with all that traffic through the house.
...See More
Tricky Basement Bath Design?
Q
Comments (1)
I suggest the vertical vent through the roof be no further than 10' from the furthest drain. Consult with your local building codes. If no local codes, go with state or provincial codes. As well pull a permit.
...See More
jessicaml
11 years ago
That sink is incredible! Do you know anyone who welds? That looks like old iron fence or window grates. If you can find something similar at Habitat for Humanity ReStore or an estate sale or salvage yard or something, perhaps you could have it welded together into a custom base for less money.

This wall decal is cool, and even better would be an actual window grate or mirror in that shape.

I didn't have much luck getting images when I googled "gothic bathroom", but then I thought of steam punk, which as been popular recently and shares some elements. "steam punk bathroom" got many more useful images, and has elements that seem likely to appeal to a man. www.kellyskitchensync.com has Steampunk Sunday posts with some cool bathroom fixtures.

How about getting a few decorative tiles to intersperse with your on-hand tile?

Here is a link that might be useful: Cool bronze accent tiles
maddielee
11 years ago
Cool looking sink in your last post.

But, How do you clean under it? inside the iron grate?

ML
teacats
11 years ago
Perhaps this one? Not as fancy as the other one -- but not as expensive ....

Here is a link that might be useful: Possible sink
writersblock (9b/10a)
11 years ago
I dunno, maybe I'm not understanding something, but to me iron + wet room = rust stains on floor.
juliekcmo
11 years ago
Suggest you research outdoor patio fountains as a source, and then convert to a sink. This would allow you to find something in cast concrete with a stone look that would likely be OK in the wet environment.

Here is a link that might be useful: Van Liew's of Kansas City
californiagirl
Original Author
11 years ago
Thanks so much for all the suggestions! Great ideas and insight into problems like cleaning and rusting. Last night DH responded to all the photos and links I've been bombarding him with and said this "sink" in this photo might be okay. I still hate the price ($1200 w/o shipping), but would love forum feedback on whether it seems like it would work in the design parameters.

Here is a link that might be useful: Rustica House website
californiagirl
Original Author
11 years ago
Are these too rustic? Suspect they are too expensive.

Here is a link that might be useful: Marble sinks from old stone from Italy
4boys2
11 years ago
Can you post a pic of the room ?

Price wise how about something like this ?

Here is a link that might be useful: http://www.overstock.com/Home-Garden/Imperial-Vintage-Oil-Rubbed-Bronze-Pedestal-Bathroom-Sink/6573328/product.html?cid=123620
californiagirl
Original Author
11 years ago
Sorry, no pics as this is raw space right now, just the concrete floor, some framing and the stubs for the plumbing. Designing from the ground up.

I'm including a link the to the Tile Shop's polished fiorito that I'm trying to work with as the wall tile. I have a lot of 12" x 12" and enough skirting to the do the whole room. It's very beige.

My husband is trying really hard to avoid a white sink like we have everywhere else in the house, even though I like the ones people have suggested. I appreciate all the suggestions and hope people will be kind enough to keep them coming.

Here is a link that might be useful: Tile Shop fiorito

Design ideas for basement bath

Comments (11)

californiagirl
Original Author

californiagirl
Original Author

Related Discussions

jessicaml

maddielee

teacats

writersblock (9b/10a)

juliekcmo

californiagirl
Original Author

californiagirl
Original Author

4boys2

californiagirl
Original Author

COMPANY

BUSINESS SERVICES

GET HELP

CONNECT WITH US

Design ideas for basement bath

Comments (11)

californiagirlOriginal Author

californiagirlOriginal Author

Related Discussions

jessicaml

maddielee

teacats

writersblock (9b/10a)

juliekcmo

californiagirlOriginal Author

californiagirlOriginal Author

4boys2

californiagirlOriginal Author

COMPANY

BUSINESS SERVICES

GET HELP

CONNECT WITH US

californiagirl
Original Author

californiagirl
Original Author

californiagirl
Original Author

californiagirl
Original Author

californiagirl
Original Author