When Pam saw a tantalizing photo of Nanette and Jim’s bathroom remodel on Facebook — posted by rockin’ retro Portland realtor Alyssa Starelli — she knew that we had to feature their fantastic space. So we chased after, with AlyStar making the fairy godmother connection, we get to see Nanette and Jim’s vintage blue bathroom — built from scratch. Using vintage salvaged fixtures, vintage wallpaper and and other era-appropriate choices for tile and flooring, this visionary couple transformed an empty portion of their basement into a beautiful blue bathroom that suits their 1945 transitional ranch home. Seriously, though. Why are we even bothering with this wordy introduction. When we could just say:
WOW!
We live in a 1945 transitional ranch in Portland, Oregon.
- Goal was to create a second bathroom that looked like it could have been there / was original to the house (in the basement, no small chore).
- House did not have a laundry room.
- Discovered we could do so inexpensively without digging in new plumbing lines from the street down under the house (used a pump we affectionately call the sh*t pump).
- Found vintage/era sink, toilet and medicine cabinet all in MINT working condition which cost way less than buying new and are way more gorgeous. (There’s a bit of a story about getting it all to be code but we managed it, this project was done to code btw).
- Used vintage / era wallpaper from Hannahs Treasures, love it!
- Used lots of glass block, it comes in hunks already put together!
- Varnished knotty pine to match existing pine from the 1940s going down stairwell into the basement. (No small task).
It took a lot more time than we thought it would but it’s so good!!!
Here it is before the demo. It was a storage area that we could access through an large opening at the bottom of the stairwell. We kept a curtain across this hole (which many a person fell through on their way down to the bar).
This storage rack is where the shower ended up, the water heater was moved (and we upgraded to gas).
In the beginning I did a drawing of the space to use as a guide for build out/installation etc. (I’m a graphic designer but have never done anything like this before). It has turned out pretty much identical to the drawing.
Vintage wallpaper from Hannahs Treasures and tile decisions (this was a hard decision!)?We chose 2 shades of aqua/blue tile from Dal Tile and the white is actually from Home Depot (it’s Dal white).
We hired a tile setter to install the tile, he did an amazing job, he was painstakingly detail oriented. For the flooring we went with Congoleum VCT, it is very vintage looking and polishes up to a gorgeous sheen not to mention really inexpensive. It’s from the Congoleum “value” line, it really was a great value. Our white floor is the berry blossom and the blue is aqua spring. The Congoleum VCT is laid with the pattern going in the same direction (I can’t remember what they call that, not parquet).
We considered trying to use vintage glass block but after doing some research we found that new glass block was the way to go. It all matched and it came in already put together sections so we didn’t have to mortar them in. Not to mention it was not super spendy.
You can see here there is now a wall at the bottom of the stairs. The replacement knotty pine was painstakingly varnished to match the existing knotty pink that flanks the entire basement.
We scored this amazing pre-war Crane sink with all it’s original hardware including mounting brackets and the 1940s American Standard uni-body toilet at Hippo Hardware, it was in perfect working condition. Ended up being WAY cheaper than buying new not to mention — GORGEOUS!
The medicine cabinet seen above the sink is also a vintage score from Hippo Hardware, it was absolutely Mint. I literally stood guard over it when I found it to stake claim as there was anther couple drooling over my shoulder hoping I wouldn’t take it.
This mirror was sitting in a corner of our basement collecting dust for at least 12 years in need of rehab. I finally restored it as much as possible and found it a home!!! Also the window, there is no natural light/windows in this area of the basement, we decided to add a glass block window into the laundry room to give it a warmer feel as if it had a window.
I also found this hamper in our basement collecting dust. It was waiting for a home for over 12 years as well. (Vintage wallpaper from Hannah’s Treasures!)
One other thing that was super hard to find was the square recessed light fixtures in the ceiling. We have a number of those in our house we wanted to match not to mention the clearance is low so we needed recessed lighting. I just can’t remember where they came from. [Pam suggests – see this story about recessed square lighting.]
`Our plumber went to the trouble of finding vintage chrome handles for the hot water valves as well and other chrome parts so that the exposed pipes under the sink would also look stunning.
We also learned that cabinet makers are not hungry for work in Portland Oregon, it was a painstaking task to find one to make our cabinetry at a reasonable price. We many had bids ranging from $8,000 to $700 for two small pieces of paint grade cabinetry.
Also I used your website a ton for reference whenever I needed to make a decision about how something should look or find a part I started with Retro Renovation!The laundry room sink is a Thermocast Kensington acrylic drop in laundry sink. We found this washboard style utility sink online from Home Depot. It’s an Acrylic sink available in a large variety of colors with free shipping
Again, the word of the day, Nanette and Jim, is: WOW. Being in the middle of a bathroom remodel myself, I understand just how much work goes into building a vintage bathroom from scratch. You two did a simply amazing job. Thanks so much for sharing the results of all your hard work and sources with all of us. And thanks to AlyStar for the hot tip!!!
Lauryn says
Wow, what an absolutely fantastic job you two did. Blown away. We are looking at restoring our original (and only) blue and white bathroom in our 1939 house, but I would also love to add a proper 2nd bath in the currently unfinished basement. This story is just incredibly inspiring … thank you so much for sharing with the Retro Renovation crew!
Nanette says
Yes it is custom and yes indeed, that’s spendy! But it was our big splurge. Not to mention it took 3 quotes/companies coming out to look at it to get someone to install the glass. The glass block is not structural so they couldn’t mount the glass to the glass block. We ended up using people that our glass block company recommended. Everyone else said it couldn’t be done or weren’t willing to think about a solution since they’d never done a glass shower door install exactly like this one. Totally worked out much to all the skepticism. You just have to keep asking until you find someone who is willing to think about it / work with you.
RetoSandie says
Fantastic! Absolutely fantastic!!
Anna says
Where did you purchase the glass shower enclosure and door? Did you have it custom cut?
Great use of materials-truly an inspiration
Nanette says
Yes it’s custom… I meant to respond to your post. See the thread below for more details.
Andi says
This is SO fabulous!! Two of my favorite things—aqua tile and flamingos! The entire space is amazing, what a beautiful job you have done. I can see why anyone would want to linger in that lovely bathroom—congratulations!
Jan Hare says
I love everything about your gorgeous bathroom, but the thing I have to comment on is you having all those exciting things in the basement “just gathering dust.” 🙂 May I come over and go through your basement?
I REALLY wanted to comment on your use of the Turner flamingos and the other Turner artwork I saw hung. I have been selling on eBay for a number of years and I absolutely LOVE the Turner art. I’m so thrilled to see that someone else does too.
Nanette says
Thanks Jan! I have to admit that I didn’t know the flamingo mirror was a Turner until the fine ladies at Retro Renovation pointed that out, there is a signature on the print but it’s real small and hard to read. And color me tickled that yes indeed I have two more Turners in my laundry room, again no idea they were related until you pointed that out. (I went searching for the additional Turners after reading your post). I guess I have an eye for / am drawn to Turners. I picked those two prints up at a garage sale recently. I am a sucker for vintage “junk” and projects / thus the dust covered basement gems!
Trisha says
Love love love the Turners too! Got my first at an estate sale in 1976 for $5. Ah the good old days! Your blue bathroom makes me green with envy, wonderful job!
Joe Felice says
You’re kidding–right? Turner mirrors are the bomb! I snagged one via my sis. It hung in grandma’s house next to the front door for 27 years. I never gave it a thought until I got the MCM “bug,” then had to have it. Traded her 2 Italian ceramic plaques for it, and we had to cross ship Florida-Colorado. The mirror arrived fine, but the pieces of the frame had come loose. (The dried glue gave way.) Not to worry. I was managing a building with artists, and one of the glass workers fixed it up for me. It is the “cornerstone of my MCM dining room, which, hopefully, some day will be a diner.
Joe Felice says
You’ve got to be kidding! EVERYBODY loves Turner mirrors, don’t they? This one is particularly beautiful. I scored an original from 1956, that hung next to the front door in grandma’s house for 30 years before she died. (What a wonderful woman!) My sister originally had taken it, but I obtained it in a trade a few years ago. It is the prize of all my mid-century items. I also have a crouching black panther, and a Lane Siamese TV lamp, which I remember as iconic from my childhood. Oh, the memories!
Ethan says
Fun! A lot of effort went into this project. I have found one of those medicine cabinets too, but, minus the light bulbs. Any suggestions on bulbs? Neat glass block for the shower.
Kimmy @ AfterGlobe says
Nanette and Jim- Looks great! Even better than when I saw it last. Can’t wait to see how your other bathroom all comes together.
Tonya says
Amazing, amazing job!! The space is absolutely gorgeous. A full house tour would be enjoyed:)
Sarah g (roundhouse) says
Absolutely stunning! It looks better than authentic because you have the priveledge of it all being newly done. No funky grout, no cracked tiles, no 50 years of someone else’s gunk to scrape off!! Lol. The design and color scheme are perfect! Truely a work of art.