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
Chris says
This is just wonderful! Great story, great job! It is so sleek and modern! The Tacky Grandma-Style Princess in me would have to make it all gaudy and kitschy — LOL! The minimal style will make it nice and easy to clean though! Just beautiful!
Craig says
We haven’t forgotten the kitsch! We are searching for the perfect ceramic fish ‘mate’ to our thrift store find. Over the years I have taught myself how to edit- it’s super difficult at times!
Mary Elizabeth says
Craig, that is so true. I have a box of ceramic knick-knacks, soap dishes, etc. that I’ve bought for bathrooms and weeded out over the years. Not to speak of the rest of the house, with DH’s turned bowl collection, my angel collection, the antique flat iron collection, the antique bean pots and crocks. And I have filled an entire basement closet with candles. You get the idea! I have a new rule, learned from our real estate agent when we were staging our old place. “Look around the room. Get rid of half of the decorative stuff in there, box it up and store it or give it away. Then do it again!” I’ve added my own corollary to that rule. “For every perfect find in Goodwill, go back to your house and find two things to bring back to them.” Another corollary: “Two items are a pair; three items are a collection; four items are the beginning of a hoard.”
Laurie Louise says
I love the warmth of the colors…and the auto-inspiration. Think I’ll NOT mention that to DH! 🙂 Great job–thanks for showing that retro + modern = LOVE! And that integrity can include a mix of decades. Well done!
oh holland says
Wham! Fast, affordable … and totally wonderful. The vintage Fiat color palette is inspired and unique.
Cynthia says
Very well done, attractive color combination, captures the feeling of the era without being an exact duplicate. I also like the tile going to the ceiling and behind the toilet. Great job.
Jackie says
Love it, looks just great. Isn’t it funny that so many flips are just boring these days?
Janice says
Craig and Mike, I applaud your tiling choices – I love the colors and randomness. Having done my share of tiling, I couldn’t imagine having to lay tile AND be purposefully random at the same time! Someone made the comment about the TP holder so I had to go back to see where it was before because it looked so natural in its current location. Yes, much better choice! Bathroom looks marvelous – well done!
virginia says
Beautiful! A real jewel box — love the colors, the proportions, the lighting, and the sink. The tile work is something to be super proud of. Great colors and pristine execution.
Floor is gorgeous also. Always so nice to have windows in the shower area itself and it’s great how they just pop now. Interesting too that the entire space looks so much roomier. A lovely, calming bathroom.
Craig says
It definitely feels more roomy now! The floating vanity really helps, and in the before bathroom you actually leaned against the wall when you were seated on the throne. It was very odd!
Sara says
Wow, nice job! What a great improvement! I really love the colors too. My bathroom has that same white vanity from the “before” pics…it’s the cheapest vanity you can get from a certain big box store with the initials H.D.. It’s just atrocious! I can’t wait to replace mine! Glad to see IKEA carries something that fits in with the retro style. This post is absolutely going on my bathroom inspiration list!
Angela says
You guys did an amazing job!!! It’s wonderful to see such a bold use of color, and you did it so well! Love the mirror and the light (even though it’s new, it’s a great complement to the space).
Kelly M says
I want to see the Fiat!