I will admit to being a bit of an arts and crafts purist as I live in a historical home built in 1928 with many original details. We have a proud preservation society here. I don't love ripping out original details simply because 'houses evolve' and 'no one wants to live in a museum' Because I think there is value in preserving as much is possible and honestly a lot of old details are perfectly suited for modern living once they've been restored/maintained.

But, BUT! I guess here's the thing, if the space you have doesn't have those original details, then evolving it to something else that is acceptable to your locale is suitable.

At least here in our Chicago-style craftsman bungalows that have been preserved, we see some original bathrooms, but nearly all the kitchens were updated in the 50s. So what is common for your area? Do you have one of just a few historical homes? Or are there others you can peek to see what's been done? What are you tearing out to replace with the MCM look? An original bathroom with mudset tile? Or an 80's reno?

Photos please?

Kats said it best here:

But, BUT! I guess here's the thing, if the space you have doesn't have those original details, then evolving it to something else that is acceptable to your locale is suitable.

If your bathroom currently is craftsman, then it truly is a crime to rip it out to get a MCM vibe. If the bathroom had been redone sometime in the 50's/60's, then heck if you want to still play up the MCM vibe, i can see it working to some degree.

Now having said that, my first choice would be instead to "mix" the two styles as they can work well together. Maybe a 50's vanity, with a 20's tub along with a 50's mirror but 20's style lighting?

True 50's floor tile would work beautifully in either era.

Instead of horizontal tiles, I'd do square tiles as both were common in the 20's and the 50's.

Caveat: if you still have original tiles from either the 20's or 50's, unless they're in poor condition, I would NEVER remove them! They are what sell houses nowadays. Not generic HGTV MCM tiles which is actually what you're considering.

I have two thoughts on this:

1. it's ok to have a newer design in an older home, it seems natural to me since homes get updated all the time, and often happens one room at a time.

2. if you were really worried about it, then consider finishes that align with the period of your home, but choose ones that are super simple (like all-white subway tile with no fancy borders, for example). then for the accessories, go ahead and sprinkle in fun mid century items. lighting, mirror, etc. since these are more easily swapped out, you can change them whenever.

I know I'm always plugging my favorite blogger here, but I really love her style. so many of her homes were older and she decorated them with modern/scandanavian items. dig through her history-- she's lived in so many different homes and apartments, it's ridiculous. below is an example of how she decorated an old living room with midcentury items. www.doorsixteen.com

If you're asking if it's ok to mix, the answer is yes. But without any photos of your home, or what you're considering, it's a shot in the dark from our end.

post pictures.

Can you show pictures of the bathroom?

I think there are ways to make it work, depending on various things, for example —

Instead of this vanity, picture an MCM dresser and mod fixtures with more Craftsman influenced tiles and stained woodwork, like this:

The powder room:

Two articles about this couple who bought a Craftsman, and added MCM decor:

https://la.curbed.com/2017/1/23/13182852/in-pasadena-a-craftsman-that-mixes-midcentury-modern-and-preppy

https://www.cottagesandbungalowsmag.com/design-ideas/merry-midcentury-modern-craftsman/

I don’t know if they went overboard, as there are no “before” pictures. I’m just mainly sharing it for the bathroom ideas.

I lean more purist, but think it’s possible. As mentioned — it’s how a lot of houses evolve over time. I also agree, though, with not tearing original features in workable conditions out to completely change the history and integrity of the house. Once it’s gone, it‘s gone forever. Kats really stated it perfectly.

Agree that photos would help a lot! I live in a 1915 Craftsman bungalow. I love MCM furniture, and have a few vintage MCM pieces in my living room, and I think they look great with the original architectural details.
Check out the vanities from Room and Board- very MCM.
That said, I would not like to feel like I’m in a bathroom built 50+ years later than the rest of the house. That might feel jarring. Honor the architecture of your existing home, go very simple a la MCM, and perhaps nod to MCM with some of the (easily replaceable) details, perhaps, as suggested above.

Thanks everyone for sharing your thoughts!
Although I can’t say I’m a purist when it comes to keeping the styles of era that was originally built age, I’d like to consider myself an enthusiast :)

These are the materials I’ve got so far.
Daltile 2x2 unglazed porcelain ( originally considered 1x1 but schuluter Ditra heat won’t allow anything smaller than 2x2) in white.
Axor montreux valve and diverter in polished nickel and some other plumbing’s in kohler/ phylrich all in polished nickel
Kohler tea for two tub in 5ft

I really liked tile from Crosville retroactive 2.0 line in amor( in pattern, has skinny ribbed look to it) for tub apron and I would love to use their 3x12 in whites for the tub/shower surroundings. Which will make the room more close to mid century along with walnut vanity that old like to turn it into.

The bathroom thankfully ( in a way) had 80-90’s very poorly done ( 8x8 builder grading looking tile and floor( peeling linoleum) so I disinterested feel guilty about ripping them out. Only regret was ripping plaster wall on the window side wall. Other walls were drywall and I surely thought that that wall was the same, oh well, too late now...

This is a view from living room facing dining room and hallway on your right then all bedrooms and bathrooms

I need to take some times to read everyone’s comments and let that really sink in. Deep down, I guess Ive always known that I’d go for more traditional route. I’m liking the saqure tile suggestion but I also need to remind myself I’m not opting alternative just because I’m tired of looking at the same images, classic is classic, right?

Oh, that swing door is fabulous! And chandelier!

Yes, maybe look around for some other articles/pictures of people who have successfully united these two styles. You’re the keeper of this treasure now. :)

As you can, my living room and the dining room are heavily adorned with coiffer ceiling and wainscotting and built ins but unfortunately they are painted before me( very poorly I might add, I've never seen this bad paint job , I was able to take strip a back room that has similar wainscotting like a dining room. when I first started the project, I was, Oh I can do this, 10 weeks later, althought I was very happy with an outcome on the one room, Ive backed out on taking rest of the room and decided to leave as is. I 'm sure my life expectancy got shortened few years doing that project :)

With agreeing most of you, subway installed in most conventional manner is suitabe for mine then. with this changes, does anybody still think not a good idea to have crossville ribbed tile on the tub apron? with charcoal grout, it will be really subtle.

As far as subwaytile goes, I prefer off white/ivory. I'll pick up some ADEX bone 3x6 and EMSER 3x6. I'm littel bit relieived. . Thank you again all of you for great advices and encouragements!

I won't go true to arts/crafts 1909 interior. I think having subway tiles with pearl liner etc will really tie the room close to the era and I feel likte that works for the house and me( hope someone will notice that I'm putting her first than me,. :)

What city are you in? Are there any old mansions or larger homes still with original fixtures in your town? I live near Detroit, where racism and a failing economy meant that our Detroit older homes were not remodeled during the “spiff up” booms in the 70 s, 80s, and 90s. We have tons of original bathrooms from the 1910s -1930s. I love looking at the house listings to see them. Here, bathrooms of that era were tiled with 5x5 to 6x6 inch square tiles. Either to the ceiling around much of the room, or most of the way to the ceiling. A lot have that Art Deco style with black border tiles accentuating architectural features, but even in the plain (more like the craftsman style) homes, square wall tiles with a color theme for each bathroom was the norm. Wall field tiles had a slight variation in color that gave the expanses of tile a beautiful mottled look. Floor tiles were a close match, or had a darker shade of the same color mixed in. The only place I ever saw any subway tiles in an original home here was in a basement laundry and a basement second (summer?) kitchen meant only for servant use. So check more in your area and see if subways were used early in the last century in homes. In Detroit, they were not. Here, colorful square tiles were the norm early in the 1900s. Usually in light shades of greens, blues, peach, pinks, and pearly beige. The MCM tiles here were a bit smaller and their colors were more uniform. Plumbing fixtures early in the century were white. A tone of the wall color was used for tubs, toilets, and sinks in the MCM homes.

Thanks Nancy, I’m in Southern California. I used to go to old house for sale website( I forget the name ) and used drool All the houses they have. Your post got me thinking I should go back to Redfin in some other city like yours to get some clue.

Hmmm, few things that I don’t consider in my bathroom will be pedestal sink( most of reproduction I’ve see, it doesn’t have milky hue that I like and it just my feeling but I just don’t see much of appeal and they don’t look “genuine” but then I’ve never been to any really high end showroom they might carry upscale version although the local showroom carry pretty much any high end plumbing line one can think of. The other one was 4x4 or any square tile.. but... i love the simple beauty from by gone era and they definitely knew less is more. Although I don’t want to take things too seriously that I’m bound to go with one era and shuts down anything else, thanksfully I like craftsman/ bungalow masculine with just enough feminine taste naturally so it won’t like pulling a teeth if I stick with that era. I found below image. Is this what you are talking about?

They are almost never white here. Your tiles are too small. The 1970s had 4x4 tile. To get the feeling of an old bathroom, you need a 5x5 or 6x6 inch tile. Here is a variegated tile wall like I saw in older tile bathrooms here.

Country Bungalow · More Info

Ignore the glass block, please.

Here is one with the feeling of Craftsman. The tiles are not variegated, but the rest looks like an early 1900s bathroom here. All it needs is a corner tub with a rounded end and a tub faucet coming out of the center of the back wall.

Vintage apothecary bathroom · More Info

I have loved this bathroom for years and would have copied it if hubby had not vetoed it.

If you must go white and subway, this one shows features that speak “Craftsman” to me. See how the tile goes around the room? And it is high, up over the bottom of the window and the med cab. Then the black pencil trim absolutely makes it. That is the expensive part, though.

Elegant Queen Anne Craftsman · More Info

I am not a decorator, just someone who loves old tile. I would send you to Seneca tile in Ohio to look at their larger squares, but they had a fire and are temporarily closed.

There is a tile company on the west coast, I believe in California, that makes handmade tile, but I forget the name of the company. Maybe Beth H. : knows.

On the east coast, there is a company that make beautiful handmade tile in a wide range of colors and a variety of sizes, including 4 1/4" by 4 1/4" and 6" by 6".

Here is the link: Complete Tile - Vermeere

Sonoma tile, I believe. $$$$

Sonoma Tilemakers, Pratt & Larson, and Encore Ceramics are a few tile companies who make beautiful handmade tile that might work well in your bathroom.