Before and After: 3 Bathroom Remodels With Vintage Vibes
See how designers expertly blend modern amenities and classic style in these bathrooms
Bryan Anthony
October 21, 2022
Getting the perks of a bathroom renovation, like sparkling new fixtures, a chic freestanding tub and an airy walk-in shower, doesn’t mean you have to sacrifice timeless style and character. The designers of the following bathroom remodels took inspiration from the historic architecture of the buildings and houses that the rooms are located in.
Check out the before-and-after photos to see how these pros blended modern amenities and classic style, then let us know which one has your favorite vintage vibe.
Check out the before-and-after photos to see how these pros blended modern amenities and classic style, then let us know which one has your favorite vintage vibe.
Before Photo
1. Classic Charm in Chicago
Bathroom at a Glance
Who lives here: A woman and her cat
Location: Chicago
Size: 98 square feet (9.1 square meters)
Interior designer: Susan Klimala of The Kitchen Studio of Glen Ellyn
Contractor: Arkwright Construction
Before: This Chicago homeowner was inspired by the architectural style of her 1920s building for her bathroom renovation. She hired kitchen-and-bathroom designer Susan Klimala to give the space an updated traditional look that would fit in beautifully with the rest of the condo.
The previous bathroom, which had sage green walls and beige tile, felt closed in. “The room was pretty dark, so we wanted to brighten it up,” Klimala says. “Plus, it just didn’t have any pizazz.” Other issues included a small shower stall and a shallow tub.
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Bathroom at a Glance
Who lives here: A woman and her cat
Location: Chicago
Size: 98 square feet (9.1 square meters)
Interior designer: Susan Klimala of The Kitchen Studio of Glen Ellyn
Contractor: Arkwright Construction
Before: This Chicago homeowner was inspired by the architectural style of her 1920s building for her bathroom renovation. She hired kitchen-and-bathroom designer Susan Klimala to give the space an updated traditional look that would fit in beautifully with the rest of the condo.
The previous bathroom, which had sage green walls and beige tile, felt closed in. “The room was pretty dark, so we wanted to brighten it up,” Klimala says. “Plus, it just didn’t have any pizazz.” Other issues included a small shower stall and a shallow tub.
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After: Klimala selected elements — including subway tiles, marble mosaic basket-weave tiles, Shaker-style cabinets and polished nickel fixtures — with traditional silhouettes that nod to the era. “The building is very vintage in flavor, and my client wanted to play off that with updated traditional style,” she says.
To fit in a larger shower stall and a freestanding tub, Klimala used a wet-room strategy, with the shower open to the tub. A wall radiator was removed in favor of electric in-floor heating. A partial wall and clear glass now separate the stall from the rest of the bathroom and allow in more light.
The wet area and the half walls are covered in classic white subway tile, and the floor is clad in a marble mosaic basket-weave tile. All the plumbing fixtures have vintage silhouettes to fit the 1920s look.
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To fit in a larger shower stall and a freestanding tub, Klimala used a wet-room strategy, with the shower open to the tub. A wall radiator was removed in favor of electric in-floor heating. A partial wall and clear glass now separate the stall from the rest of the bathroom and allow in more light.
The wet area and the half walls are covered in classic white subway tile, and the floor is clad in a marble mosaic basket-weave tile. All the plumbing fixtures have vintage silhouettes to fit the 1920s look.
Shop for a bathtub on Houzz
Before Photo
Before: The former vanity had a white cabinet base and a beige granite countertop. A white vanity mirror had a light fixture above it that gave off a lot of glare.
A linen closet was located next to the toilet; the homeowner kept her cat’s litter box there.
A linen closet was located next to the toilet; the homeowner kept her cat’s litter box there.
After: The designer anchored the room with a dark gray vanity that contrasts all the light colors. The vanity is topped with classic white marble.
The new vanity mirror has a curved, beaded brass frame that adds a vintage touch. The classic sconces are in keeping with the room’s traditional style and cut down on overhead glare.
The revamped linen closet can be seen on the left, painted the same color as the vanity.
Having a litter box out on the bathroom floor, or having to leave a closet door open all the time, is less than ideal. Klimala installed a large drawer with an opening in a cute cat head shape to conceal the litter box. The cat can go in and out of the opening anytime to use the litter box, which stays tucked away out of sight. And the drawer is easy to pull out for cleaning and changing the litter. Klimala had the front of the drawer tiled to blend in with the wall.
Read more about this bathroom remodel
The new vanity mirror has a curved, beaded brass frame that adds a vintage touch. The classic sconces are in keeping with the room’s traditional style and cut down on overhead glare.
The revamped linen closet can be seen on the left, painted the same color as the vanity.
Having a litter box out on the bathroom floor, or having to leave a closet door open all the time, is less than ideal. Klimala installed a large drawer with an opening in a cute cat head shape to conceal the litter box. The cat can go in and out of the opening anytime to use the litter box, which stays tucked away out of sight. And the drawer is easy to pull out for cleaning and changing the litter. Klimala had the front of the drawer tiled to blend in with the wall.
Read more about this bathroom remodel
2. Alluring Art Deco in Salt Lake City
Bathroom at a Glance
Who lives here: A couple
Location: Salt Lake City
Size: 62 square feet (5.8 square meters)
Designer: Rachel Hutchens of Maven Home Interiors
Builder: Jared Reesor of Briarglen Construction
Before: When this empty-nest couple purchased a one-bedroom condo in a 1919 Art Deco-style building in downtown Salt Lake City, they knew they needed to up its generic design. That included the unit’s only bathroom, whose cream-colored walls, basic white vanity, aging shower-tub and carpeted floor couldn’t have been further from luxury.
They reached out to designer Rachel Hutchens and builder Jared Reesor for help. The team tore everything out and incorporated space from a nearby closet to create a roomier layout with a low-curb shower. They also leaned into a glamorous Art Deco style with all-black walls, different kinds of marble tile and lots of gold finishes.
Bathroom at a Glance
Who lives here: A couple
Location: Salt Lake City
Size: 62 square feet (5.8 square meters)
Designer: Rachel Hutchens of Maven Home Interiors
Builder: Jared Reesor of Briarglen Construction
Before: When this empty-nest couple purchased a one-bedroom condo in a 1919 Art Deco-style building in downtown Salt Lake City, they knew they needed to up its generic design. That included the unit’s only bathroom, whose cream-colored walls, basic white vanity, aging shower-tub and carpeted floor couldn’t have been further from luxury.
They reached out to designer Rachel Hutchens and builder Jared Reesor for help. The team tore everything out and incorporated space from a nearby closet to create a roomier layout with a low-curb shower. They also leaned into a glamorous Art Deco style with all-black walls, different kinds of marble tile and lots of gold finishes.
After: The former bathroom was knocked back to the studs, and a portion of the closet was incorporated into the new space. Those changes, along with a frameless glass low-curb shower and an open washstand, help the 62-square-foot space feel roomy.
Brass and gold details pop against the black walls and millwork (painted in Tricorn Black by Sherwin-Williams) and the 3-by-6-inch honed black marble tiles, creating an elegant look. The homeowners “were open to a dramatic bathroom, and they wanted an Art Deco vibe,” Hutchens says.
A custom marble washstand countertop coordinates with mosaic marble floor tile in a basket-weave pattern. “We chose black-and-white marble for their entry,” Hutchens says. “We felt selecting black-and-white marble for the bathroom helped tie everything together.”
Brass and gold details pop against the black walls and millwork (painted in Tricorn Black by Sherwin-Williams) and the 3-by-6-inch honed black marble tiles, creating an elegant look. The homeowners “were open to a dramatic bathroom, and they wanted an Art Deco vibe,” Hutchens says.
A custom marble washstand countertop coordinates with mosaic marble floor tile in a basket-weave pattern. “We chose black-and-white marble for their entry,” Hutchens says. “We felt selecting black-and-white marble for the bathroom helped tie everything together.”
Before: The former bathroom was so cramped and poorly laid out that the toilet had been angled into a corner, with part of its tank recessed into the wall.
After: The square footage gained by taking over the former closet allowed enough space for the toilet to be positioned perpendicular to the back wall.
A black makeup cabinet with brass pulls and a custom marble top that matches the washstand top sits across from the toilet. A 24-by-36-inch mirror with LED lights hangs above. “That is something I put into my own bathroom and love, because it’s so great for putting on makeup,” Hutchens says.
Read more about this bathroom remodel
A black makeup cabinet with brass pulls and a custom marble top that matches the washstand top sits across from the toilet. A 24-by-36-inch mirror with LED lights hangs above. “That is something I put into my own bathroom and love, because it’s so great for putting on makeup,” Hutchens says.
Read more about this bathroom remodel
Before Photo
3. Cool Character in Southern California
Bathroom at a Glance
Who lives here: A homeowner who wanted vintage charm
Location: Long Beach, California
Size: 140 square feet (13 square meters)
Designer: Tamara McLaughlin of Tamara Marie Designs
Before: This Long Beach, California, owner wanted the only bathroom in her 1937 Spanish-style home to keep its vintage charm, but she didn’t want it to feel so dark and dated. That meant, in part, ditching the former yellow walls and yellow-and-rust-colored tile scheme that was creating a drab atmosphere, and replacing a foreboding walled-in shower.
The homeowner, Ginette Moorhead, hired designer Tamara McLaughlin to take the room down to the studs and remove walls to create a more open layout. A glass-enclosed shower and white-and-gray palette lighten things up, while a mosaic tile floor and claw-foot tub give the desired vintage vibe.
Bathroom at a Glance
Who lives here: A homeowner who wanted vintage charm
Location: Long Beach, California
Size: 140 square feet (13 square meters)
Designer: Tamara McLaughlin of Tamara Marie Designs
Before: This Long Beach, California, owner wanted the only bathroom in her 1937 Spanish-style home to keep its vintage charm, but she didn’t want it to feel so dark and dated. That meant, in part, ditching the former yellow walls and yellow-and-rust-colored tile scheme that was creating a drab atmosphere, and replacing a foreboding walled-in shower.
The homeowner, Ginette Moorhead, hired designer Tamara McLaughlin to take the room down to the studs and remove walls to create a more open layout. A glass-enclosed shower and white-and-gray palette lighten things up, while a mosaic tile floor and claw-foot tub give the desired vintage vibe.
After: McLaughlin took the space down to the studs, removed the angled wall, eliminated the shower and donated the bathtub to a local charity organization. She redid the subfloor, addressed some mold issues and evened out the ceiling.
A new frameless glass-enclosed shower adds to the light and airy feel, as does the updated color scheme. The walls are a blue-green-gray (Silvermist by Sherwin-Williams), and the trim, wainscoting and ceiling are white. The homeowners “likes greens and blues, and this color on the walls was a nice marriage between both,” McLaughlin says. “It’s not too light or too dark.”
Black, white and gray hexagonal marble mosaic tiles add an eye-catching pattern. “It’s classy, and I love the almost vintage aspect of the design,” Moorhead says. “And the hexagon shape is seen elsewhere in my house.”
Shop for bathroom vanities on Houzz
A new frameless glass-enclosed shower adds to the light and airy feel, as does the updated color scheme. The walls are a blue-green-gray (Silvermist by Sherwin-Williams), and the trim, wainscoting and ceiling are white. The homeowners “likes greens and blues, and this color on the walls was a nice marriage between both,” McLaughlin says. “It’s not too light or too dark.”
Black, white and gray hexagonal marble mosaic tiles add an eye-catching pattern. “It’s classy, and I love the almost vintage aspect of the design,” Moorhead says. “And the hexagon shape is seen elsewhere in my house.”
Shop for bathroom vanities on Houzz
Before Photo
Before: The previous built-in white bathtub and tile deck had seen better days and didn’t create the elegant, classic vibe the homeowner was craving.
Before and After: 5 Bathroom Remodels That Free the Tub
Before and After: 5 Bathroom Remodels That Free the Tub
After: A new high-gloss-acrylic freestanding claw-foot tub offers a lot of vintage charm. The tub filler stands in the center so Moorhead can relax at either end of the tub. “I wanted this tub to look deep and luxurious,” McLaughlin says. “The feet were also important, because [the tub] stands off the floor and lets the floor shine.”
Read more about this bathroom remodel
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Absolutely love #3, classic and timeless.
Although #2 is quite lovely, I think the best over all was #1 followed by #3. Only one of the pictures on #2 actually shows the interior of the original bathroom.
I am normally not a fan of black bathrooms but these two black bathroom remodels are so beautiful! I’d love them in my home. Stunning and elegant redesigns.