Before moving into their 1952 house, Craig and Mike needed to move fast to remodel the bathroom. They bought the house from flippers, who had improved some features. But, the construction job in the house’s only bathroom was lacking, and the surfaces were builder basic blah. With no time to waste, they kept their choices retro-simple, starting with 4″ tiles in colors inspired by Craig’s vintage Fiat 500 motorcar. This story underscores one of the great things about midcentury bathrooms: Usually, the most period-appropriate materials to use are unpretentious — and affordable — yet, they can be put together in delightful ways!
Craig tells us the renovation story:
Here are some pictures of the bathroom, the only bathroom, in our 1952 home. Our house was a flip, and the bathroom was done with awful big box store clearance junk tiles.
It was a good thing we decided to do the bathroom, as the flippers didn’t do a proper vapor barrier, and the floor underneath the tub was rotten! I have to say, I found some before pics of the home online from when the flippers purchased it, and it was truly trashed with nothing of any significance left to be saved. Luckily, the flippers were able to bring the hardwoods back, so I give them kudos for that at least.
We used the United States Ceramic Tile product to redo the bathroom in our 1952 home and created a mosiac in 4 colors: spring green, light taupe, yellow and white. The bad part was we didn’t order enough from a tile store, but then we found boxes upon boxes of more of the same at the ReStore!
It even inspired us to throw in the white tiles into the mosaic pattern we created, which tied in the Kohler tub and toilet nicely! Oh and my partner Mike and I are both 6 ft, so we bumped the shower head up a bit, it’s much nicer that way!
I’m not even sure how the idea for the bathroom came together, except I wanted a mosaic, but I didn’t like the glass tile mosaics (or the price). The spring green was an almost identical match to my previous car — a new Fiat 500. Since I’d heard that color was the original 50s Fiat Verde Chiaro, I went with that as the inspiration!
We were in a major crunch for time and had a month to do ALL renovations before we moved in.
The vanity is Ikea, and the lighting is new from a lighting gallery…but we’re always on the lookout for a fab vintage piece to switch out. As I said, we were crazy pressed for time, and I wanted as much of a midcentury modern feel as possible. After over a year it’s still not quite finished, as I’ve been VERY particular about accessories! I’m on the lookout for a match for the one yellow and white ceramic fish I found at Goodwill!
Resources for Craig and Mike’s retro bathroom remodel:
- Tile: United States Ceramic Tile from a local tile retailer and also ReStore in colors: spring green, yellow, taupe, and snow white.
- Lighting: ‘Retrodome’ light from a local lighting store, recessed shower lighting from Lowe’s
- Tub/toilet: Kohler from Lowe’s
- Shower doors: Home Depot (Sterling, I think) in clear and chrome
- Mirror: Lowe’s ‘style selections’ (I like that it had the look of a recessed medicine cabinet)
- Vanity and sink: Ikea GODMORGAN/ODENSVIK in black brown with RÖRSKÄR faucet (I actually love how functional these are, the storage is a welcome addition! And it floats, good for big feet)
Thank you, Craig and Mike, for sharing your story and all the photos. Great job!
- See our story: 20+ places to find 4″ x 4″ ceramic tile
Laura H. says
Nice work! I love the colour combos!
Allen says
Recessed TP holder!!! 1000% better Great Job
Craig says
One of my favorite things in our bathroom is that TP holder! It’s such a simple, efficient detail (and it was so cheap at Home Depot).
Mary Elizabeth says
Yes, we found one to replace the original one in our bath, which was all beat up. But now you need to decide which way the paper will roll. 🙂 Big decisions, big decisions.
Andi says
What a great job! I love the “retro modern” vibe, and love the color combination and random tile pattern. I noticed the original shower door had been replaced….but I really like the choice you made to replace it. It is sleek and appropriate, and why obscure all that cool tile-work?—the clear doors are perfect and virtually disappear.
I also like that long mirror over the vanity. Hard to tell whether it’s the same one as in the “before” shot (I don’t think so) but I like the way it extends down over the tiles. Also, the lighting over that mirror looks great; I wouldn’t be in a rush to replace it with vintage, unless the perfect fixture appears someday.
Wonderful job!!
Robin, NV says
The before picture just screams “flipped” to me. Those big 1 ft. x 1 ft. taupe tiles are in practically every bathroom redo I’ve seen lately. BORING!! And, if anything, they belong on the floor not the wall.
Love the new colors so much more!! Great job guys.
Mary Elizabeth says
Craig and Mike, absolutely fabulous. I’m glad you discovered the floor rot problem before you moved in. That would have been a horrible surprise some day, and after you move into a place with one bathroom you can’t exactly fix it conveniently.
What I like best besides the color combination (feels kind of 70s, in a good way!) is the randomness of the tile pattern. Then the busyness of the pattern settles down with the one-tone floor. Nice! It’s amazing that you actually found the same tile in the ReStore–love it when that happens.
Don’t you love the vanity drawers?
Elizabeh says
Love it! Love it! Love it! Yes, mid-century was unpretentious. We need to get back to that. You guys did a wonderful job! Enjoy it!
Steve says
I really love the light over the mirror. As for the shower door, I prefer clear glass over obscure (probably the result of watching “Psycho” too many times).
lynda davis says
Wonderful job using readily available materials! I think this is a fun and great look. You have super fabulous color sense.
Jenny A. says
I love how it turned-out! I would have never thought of those colors but they look awesome together along with the yellow paint on the walls. Very, very nice.
Retromodgirl says
The shower door in the before looked original, I would have kept that if it was. Also, would love to see NOS 50s sink, vanity and lighting. Otherwise, great job!
denise says
Yes, they do look original, and I like to keep that stuff if possible, too, but if they have the double tracks, which they most likely do….they are so hard to keep clean and look terrible when they are grimy. I’ll be replacing my doors just for that fact, after 10 years, I just can’t take it anymore. 🙂