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The Old House Design Dilemma Bathrooms

Vanity counter and flooring to go with talavera sink

Kate Macnaughton

3 years ago

Hi all. We purchased this sink almost 20 years ago and it's been sitting in our basement, waiting for us to re-do our main bathroom. And now is the time! The bathroom is pretty much a blank slate at this poing and I'd love to know your recommendations for vanity counter top and flooring.

Vanity counter - I would like to stay away from tile on the counter. I'm torn between a white counter to make the sink really pop and wood (but not sure how practical that is - thoughts?). We have no storage in our house so the vanity will have cupboards/drawers.

The flooring is currently very well worn pine plank with large gaps between (the house is 150 years old) and we are not sure yet on whether it can be kept (it has already been sanded many times). If we went tile flooring, what kind of pattern could we go for that wouldn't clash with the sink?

I'd say I'm looking for ideas on the timeless/rustic/farmhouse side of things rather than formal or modern.

Looking forward to reading your ideas. Thank you!

Featured Answer

RedRyder

3 years ago

Using classic black and white will honor your old house and complement your beautiful sink. I would get a white vanity with a “color proof” top. For the floor, a white tile (laid in a herringbone pattern) with a black border would honor your home’s age. Yes, you could do a colorful hexagon floor (go to Tile Bar and get samples) or keep the sink as the star of the show and the rest of the bathroom b&w.

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Comments (10)

Jesse Fay
3 years ago
For the vanity top: it depends on how you use your bathroom. my partner "doesn't" (wink wink) dye his hair. And when he "doesn't, he gets it on the sink countertops. If stains are your concern, do wood. seal with a marine grade poly. It's the same thing used on boats. And if it stains, you can lightly sand and add a little more (it won't stain past the poly).

If staining isn't your concern, you can use quartz or a white quartzite. Quartzite is said to need to be revealed every 4 months but if you use a cleaner that contains a little of the sealer in there, plus it's a bathroom, it's a once a year at most task. Quartz will has less pattern or none, but due make sure to bring all a sample home because they are all slightly grey or yellow.

As for the floor, I'd go with a rustic stone. it doesn't need to have a bold design, but can still add texture. wood in a bathroom sounds nice till water gets on it. plus with stone, you can have it tiled into the shower for a seamless look.

just keep the rest a little more neutral and add in the pops of color with your sink, accessories, and even lights. That was those colors and the sink you've been waiting to use are in centerstage.

I included a few images for inspiration below:
Kate Macnaughton thanked Jesse Fay
cpartist
3 years ago
Quartzite mostly needs nothing if it's real quartzite and not marble labeled as quartzite.

I would do the wood and seal it as suggested.

As for the floor, I'd pick up one of the "neutral" colors in the sink and do a hexagon floor tile. I'm thinking either that grayed darker green or the grayed bluish color.
Kate Macnaughton thanked cpartist
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Kate Macnaughton
Original Author
3 years ago
Jesse Fay - thank you for the info, particularly the key for those that "don't dye" their hair. Good point that I was not aware of. I don't dye my hair at the salon. Your message said that you included a few images but I'm not seeing any. Can you possibly repost?
Kate Macnaughton
Original Author
3 years ago
cpartist - thank you for the tile idea. Are you thinking all the tiles would all be the neutral color or mostly one color with another color added (similar to the white with black that's common in a lot of bathrooms). AND would you suggest 1" hexagons or something bigger?
Kate Macnaughton
Original Author
3 years ago
Thanks Beverly. While I like those they're a bit more rustic and busy than what will suit this old old house.
Jesse Fay
3 years ago
@kate macnaughton
Kate Macnaughton thanked Jesse Fay
cpartist
3 years ago
cpartist - thank you for the tile idea. Are you thinking all the tiles would all be the neutral color or mostly one color with another color added (similar to the white with black that's common in a lot of bathrooms). AND would you suggest 1" hexagons or something bigger?

I was thinking not of the small hexagon's but the much larger ones and all in a solid color so the sink stays the star of the room. The sink is gorgeous. Something like THIS
Kate Macnaughton thanked cpartist
Kate Macnaughton
Original Author
3 years ago
RedRyder - I love herringbone pattern.Thank you for the input.
crcollins1_gw
3 years ago
How are you mounting the sink in/on the top?

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