If you're tired of vintage, maybe think about if you need to do vintage...After all, a real vintage bath is usually down a well worn path, rural America didn't start getting indoor plumbing until the 30s.

I'd think about using classic materials instead, even if in a more modern way, like marble, other stone, mosaics. You can always add a nod to vintage in things like lighting and accessories.

Just a thought. The chances that a 1906 house would have had 3 bathrooms are slim (unless it was a mansion). So what about thinking out of the box like bringing in some of those colorful tiles (ok, so I like my pink & green bathrooms) from the 1920's and 30's when they might have added another bathroom and would have had it up to date (sorta like using granite now).
I could see a wonderful yellow tile perked up with some vintage turquoise (can we say beachy). There are some wonderful vintage bathrooms from those decade on the web. Again, just a thought!

True that, Annie,and I am not trying to reproduce and era so much as harmonize with it.

I guess the issue is that all the bathrooms I see featured lately are either way too fancy (marble and granite I'd put in that category) or too modern (the tile shapes and the glass tile).

Maybe a painted wood floor...

I'd be combing Maine for local tile artisans to support.

Jaysmom,

I like that idea! Especially since my primary home is all in shades of off white; i kid not!

My DH says we should try to make our kitchen look like it hasnt been touched since the 40s...

ooh, Kitchen, another great idea!!

Especially since my approach to this house is to try to buy everything
1 vintage or
2. handmade or
3, local

I like Vogue Bay tiles and also Trikeenan tiles...not sure if its what you're looking for but maybe worth a look.

mt'deux, have you looked here? My in-laws small cape cod 1 bath home was identical to the green tile one, and I never thought of it as dated, it was just 'vintage'.

As for using marble, I don't see it necessarily being formal if vintage or vintage-like chrome fixtures, subway tile, and pedestal sinks are used. It gets 'fancy' if upscale expensive ornate fixtures as well as over exaggerated cabinetry is what's used, IMO. Keeping it 'mostly' white is safe, but color was definitely the trend 'back then', buy maybe more *cute* than you would probably like.

Here is a link that might be useful: Here

Penny-tile could get very busy in a larger bath. And too much grout to clean!

A simple, grid-laid floor of the right solid-color tile would be appropriate for your home -- no need to lay basket-weave or herringbone or any other pattern. Possibly 4x4s or 6x6s on the floor, with matching rectangular tile in a running-bond pattern for the wainscot.

We used Seneca Tiled handmold series for our powder room and will probably use it again for another bath remodel. It's a simple, but very rich look, very much like the local art-pottery tiles from the turn of the century, with lots of variation in the surface and glaze -- definitely not mass-produced. Good trim pieces, too. And the tile is nice and thick, for good durability.

Pewabic is also still in business, making reproduction tile. Our 1927 former home had Pewabic in all the main baths, all simple 3x3 or 4x4 squares in a grid pattern. There were some impressed accent tiles, but they were used sparingly.

I'm sure there are other small potteries out there with their own lines of reproduction tiles.

Here is a link that might be useful: Seneca site -- look at the handmold tile

What about something like this made from concrete and recycled glass.

Here is a link that might be useful: Recycled Glass Tiles

Just wondering about the final choice???