Vintage Style Gets an Update in a Historic Home’s Guest Bath
A stunning hand-cut mosaic tile floor and a balance of old and new make for a welcoming bathroom
Layout. While the finishes of the 1980s renovation were dated, the existing layout was functional in the compact space and maintained the nice view to the backyard. Frank was able to complete the renovation without having to move any of the plumbing around. The modern option of a frameless, clear glass shower surround makes the room feel light and open.
Toilet. One of the homeowners leans toward more modern style than her spouse does, and she chose this modern toilet with the low tank from Waterworks.
Toilet. One of the homeowners leans toward more modern style than her spouse does, and she chose this modern toilet with the low tank from Waterworks.
Vanity. “The vanity references the old and is clean and modern,” Frank says. “The inset fabrication on the drawers and doors is typical of the era. We freshened it up with a nice white, and the hardware has a clean vintage look.” He also extended the center point to give the vanity depth and make it more interesting. Its measurements are 54 inches wide by 21 inches deep by 34 inches high.
Counter. The counter is Thassos quartz, which suited the client’s desire for low-maintenance, easy-to-clean elements. Frank saved some money and added an architectural detail underneath the counter. “Instead of a typical beefy edge like you’d see in a kitchen, we used the three-quarter-inch quartz slab and added a piece of decorative molding underneath to dress it up,” he says.
Vanity, millwork and ceiling paint: Super White, Benjamin Moore; Thassos quartz: PentalQuartz; bistro knobs and pulls: Restoration Hardware; see more chrome vanity hardware
Counter. The counter is Thassos quartz, which suited the client’s desire for low-maintenance, easy-to-clean elements. Frank saved some money and added an architectural detail underneath the counter. “Instead of a typical beefy edge like you’d see in a kitchen, we used the three-quarter-inch quartz slab and added a piece of decorative molding underneath to dress it up,” he says.
Vanity, millwork and ceiling paint: Super White, Benjamin Moore; Thassos quartz: PentalQuartz; bistro knobs and pulls: Restoration Hardware; see more chrome vanity hardware
Flooring. This hand-cut stone mosaic tile floor is the star of the bathroom. It was a splurge, but its impact was worth it. All of the other tile colors in the room are pulled from this pattern. The mosaic fits in with the early-1900s style of the home.
Tile: Galileo in polished Thassos, Botticino, Blue Macauba and Celeste Blue marble, New Ravenna
Tile: Galileo in polished Thassos, Botticino, Blue Macauba and Celeste Blue marble, New Ravenna
The shower floor tile is a hand-cut stone from the same company that made the floor tile, but it’s in a 1-inch-square format. The grout is bright white. The shower curb, seen here, and the threshold into the room are the same Thassos quartz as the vanity counter.
Shower floor: New Ravenna
Shower floor: New Ravenna
Shower. The 3-by-6-inch subway tile is in keeping with the vintage look, but its light gray color updates things. The shower’s dimensions are 60 by 38 inches.
Tile: Stellar in Mystic Blue, Sonoma Tilemakers
Tile: Stellar in Mystic Blue, Sonoma Tilemakers
Medicine cabinet. The medicine cabinet is framed in chrome to match the faucets. It’s heated to prevent it from fogging during steamy showers.
This cabinet choice meant Frank could prevent the visual clutter of outlets breaking up the wainscoting or sticking out on the wall, because the cabinet has outlets inside.
Sconces. “The sconces reference the shape of knobs from vintage knob-and-tube electrical wiring,” Frank says. They’re handblown glass and chrome.
Sconces: Waterworks; wall paint: Shoreline, Benjamin Moore; medicine cabinet: Bryn Mawr, Robern; browse medicine cabinets
This cabinet choice meant Frank could prevent the visual clutter of outlets breaking up the wainscoting or sticking out on the wall, because the cabinet has outlets inside.
Sconces. “The sconces reference the shape of knobs from vintage knob-and-tube electrical wiring,” Frank says. They’re handblown glass and chrome.
Sconces: Waterworks; wall paint: Shoreline, Benjamin Moore; medicine cabinet: Bryn Mawr, Robern; browse medicine cabinets
Faucets. For the hardware and faucets, the homeowner chose chrome. “She wanted something low-maintenance, and chrome resists the water spots you get with other finishes like polished nickel,” Frank says. “It’s also appropriate for the era.” The profile of the faucets nods to vintage but is subtly streamlined in a more modern style.
Sink and Roadster faucet: Waterworks
Sink and Roadster faucet: Waterworks
Window treatment. Not wanting to detract from the floor tile pattern, Frank went with a simple Roman shade and then plucked a blue hue from the tile for the tape trim detail.
Takeaways
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Takeaways
- You can save money on a bathroom renovation if your plumbing stays in the same place.
- Eliminate the clutter of outlets and cords around a vanity with a medicine cabinet that integrates them.
- You can play with the look of your countertop edges by applying decorative molding underneath it.
- In a small space, let one element be the star and keep everything else simple.
- If you want a low-maintenance room, research which finishes and materials are easiest to keep clean. Here, water-spot-resistant chrome and durable quartz suited the homeowner’s desire for easy cleaning and maintenance.
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Bathroom at a Glance
Who uses it: This is a couple’s guest bathroom
Location: Pasadena, California
Size: 56 square feet (5.2 square meters); 7 by 8 feet
Designer: Robert Frank Interiors
“Our goal with this guest bathroom renovation was to reference vintage details that were in keeping with this historic, early-1900s home while updating it in a way that was fresh and more modern,” interior designer Robert Frank says. None of the original details remained in the existing bathroom in Pasadena, California, as it had been remodeled in the 1980s with laminate flooring and stained wood cabinets that made it dark. The footprint was tight at 7 by 8 feet, so keeping it open and light was also a priority.
Scope of work. This was a complete renovation.
Style. In addition to a vintage yet modern feeling for the room, the homeowners wanted low-maintenance finishes and were drawn to light colors, including steely gray-blues.