by pam kueber on January 5, 2009
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With a few clicks this will open quite large
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With a few clicks this will open quite large
Reader bsmet sent me this great link from Dal-tile showing 88 different mosaic wall and floor tile patterns. To enlarge here, click on the thumbnail here… then at the next window, click one more time.
I consider a tiled wall and tub/shower to be pretty essential in midcentury bathrooms. For the floor, you could also use VCT or linoleum. But be careful, any standing water will rot through the floor and sub-floor over time… so tile is better if the bathroom gets heavy use. And, the beauty part about retro-styled bathrooms is that you don’t have to spend a lot of money to get a great effect with tile. Use basic 1×1, 2×2 and especially 4×4 (or 4-1/4 x 4×1/4) tiles, add a little pattern zing – as suggested in these 88 options – and you a retro renovation bathroom that’s timeless, functional and appealing. Thanks, bsmet – this is a great resource!
by pam kueber on December 22, 2008
How to spice up inexpensive 4×4 wall tiles in your retro renovation bathroom? Liner tiles add expense – but they are well worth considering because of their amazing decorative punch. They are so very typical of the postwar era. Snoop in the bathrooms at estate sales and you are sure to see their perky little appearance.
Heck yeah there is more…
by pam kueber on December 11, 2008
Retro style mosaic floor tile choices — suitable for midcentury bathroom floors – easily available from major manufacturers – continue to grow. Prowling around this weekend, I spotted these two new options from Daltile: They are part of the Folio One collection and are another take on a pinwheel mosaic. Next: I’m researching hexagonal tiles suitable for a 50s 60s bathroom floor.
Related posts:
by pam kueber on December 9, 2008
This crane tile design is so similar to several others in Bungalow Bill’s 1955 Indiana Mosaic Tile Company book — it must be part of this manufacturer’s repertoire. This actual installation is in Sacramento, and comes courtesy of flickr friend sylphbranching. (Click the photo to get to her complete photostream.) Thank you sb!
Related posts:
P.S. I wonder if they had a Crane sink, tub and toilet he he.
by pam kueber on November 13, 2008
I’m always on the lookout for examples of how to use basic 4″ square tiles in ways to add flair to a retro renovation bathroom. Humblelabor, a flickr friend, has a wonderful little collection of time images going – with a few featured here today.
In this simple design, glossy 4×4s are combined to wonderful effect. But, be careful if you are cutting them in half to create a triangle, to keep the ’sharp’ cut side close to the edge of the room. Once cut, this edge will not have the same smooth finish as a normal molded tile. It will be scratchy or worse on your bare feet. Use a really good tile cutter to get the edge as smooth as you can.
This floor uses 1×1″ mosaic tiles – again, making great use of triangular-shaped pieces to create a snazzy design.
by pam kueber on November 6, 2008
by pam kueber on November 4, 2008
We interrupt our regularly scheduled programming for this truly INTENSE decorative remnant from the 50s – in Evansville, Indiana. OMG.
Heck yeah there is more…
by pam kueber on October 30, 2008
This past weekend I made my long-awaited pilgrimage to S.J. Masters Tile in Canaan, New York. Salesperson Debbie was as wonderful and helpful as can be. She tells me they do A LOT of business with New Yorkers who own 2nd homes in the area and are updating them in retro style consistent with their original design. Hurray! Heck yeah there is more…
by pam kueber on October 10, 2008
After Zep
Before ZEP
How to clean old grout in retro bathroom floor tiles? Sleeping Bee Alice plays the role of Queen of Clean. Thanks, Alice, very impressive. I do want to caution – as I have been doing cleaning research, too — to be very careful about what you use on the glazed tile itself. That glazed finish can come off, even with a scotch brite pad, so treat it very carefully. More on tile cleaning to come.
Read on for Alice’s solution (pun!) —> Heck yeah there is more…
by pam kueber on September 12, 2008
It’s coming up on the one-year anniversary of RetroRenovation.com — and what’s especially exciting, is that reader projects are coming together — you are sending in “after” photos! Yes, we all know it takes that long for the decorating gods to deliver us their solutions. Here’s an update from Lawrence Bill and his floor-tiling projects: Heck yeah there is more…
