My sister-in-law Amy has a lovely 1930s Tudor house — and exquisite design sensibilities to go with. She recently remodeled the guest bathroom — and it turned out beautifully.
As you can see, Amy wanted to keep the tile light and elegant looking. She chose subway tile for the walls and honed marble for the floor. Then, she added some zing with the green subway tile and black liner tiles as trim. This particular shade of green is prominent throughout Amy’s house, including on her kitchen cabinets, so it was very pleasing and harmonious to see this color carried into the nearby bathroom. Amy told me it was difficult to find colored subway tiles in ceramic, rather than glass. She landed on Ann Sacks Tile for the best selection of possible colors.
- Amy’s source for this tile: Ann Sacks Tile Earthenware Elements — White 4 “x 6 in Kohler White Gloss, green 2″ x 4” in Deep Sea Gloss…. Black liner tiles are are called “flat liner” 1/2 x 6. She purchased the tile from Best Plumbing Tile & Stone in Scarsdale, New York: “They were really helpful and accommodating,” Amy said.
Ummm, I didn’t pry as to price — but Ann Sacks Tiles can get quite pricey. This is not a “budget” bathroom like I often show, but hey, I never said I’d only write about cheap and cheerful solutions — I can write about expensive and fabulous remodels sometimes, too!
- Pam’s Lux for Less idea: I actually think you can get close to these colors — in subways and similar trim — using B&W tile purchased from B&W Tile or from Clay Squared (which carries B&W Tile). Also possible additional money savings: Buy the white subway field tile from your local big box store — and the colored trim subway — 2″ x 8″ — and black liners from B&W. I can’t imagine that B&W tiles are as thick and juicy as Ann Sacks, but I am sure that difference is reflected in the price. For the floor tiles: Also head to the big box store. Marble is hot right now, and I’ve seen tiles in this vein (punny!) in — in real marble and faux ceramic — at my local Home Depot.
The toilet, sink, faucet and shower fixtures are all from Waterworks, I believe.
I really like how she used smaller pieces of the honed marble for the inside of the shower pan. I presume you would want to do this anyway, for grippiness. (Precautionary Pam reminds: When you’re planning floors in bathrooms, consider how slippery-dangerous they will become when wet — on this issue, I believe there are industry standards — consult with a pro.)
Hey, I also think there’s radiant heat under that marble floor (I spy a thermostat up by the closet.) Nom nom nom, toastie tootsies. We put an electric-web heated floor under the ceramic in our basement bathroom, which sits on the slab — we like it a lot, it made the bathroom more usable on cold winter mornings — it was well worth the spend, we think.
Amy is super detail oriented. Note how she ensured that available wall cavities were used to create recessed storage. Literally, this bathroom was completed The Day Before We Arrived To Visit for the Weekend. On day two of our visit: The plumbing on this floor of the house backed up — including into this shower. Oh my! It turned out that the culprit was tree roots growing into pipes outside. Seriously, there are days when you just want to Curse Those Decorating Gods. Will they ever let us stay one step ahead of the curve?
Josie says
I adore ’30s style. I think I came up as that on your “retro personality test” and I’ve been dying for examples of the era.
I love this. It’s also rather encouraging for those of us who have to stick with white bathroom fixtures we have, too. The use of white is rather soothing and I think flexible-classic here, in that doesn’t shriek one particular decade as much as many colours would?
Is glass tile never period? I had been ogling some. 🙁 It’s so glossy and Streamline maybe I was kidding myself. I was entranced with the cool sea-glass shades and the recycled glass aspect. I was gonna pretend it was Vitrolite.
pam kueber says
An entire wall of large format glass tiles would be period appropriate!
Marly says
I love this! My house was built in the 20s, so I always enjoy seeing home designs in a style from the 20s or 30s.
Fox and Finch says
This is such an intelligent bathroom. It doesn’t adhere to trends or fads, like everyone else said, it is timeless and classic. The green tiles will always be in style. Lovely.
Shambie says
Absolutely Fab!
Jeannie says
This is a lovely remodel, yes, please let’s see pics of the kitchen.
Incidentally, here’s a source of subway tile in colors:
http://www.mosaictilesupplies.com/lyric-now-ceramic-subway-tiles-collection-2.aspx
pam kueber says
Okay… but I’m having a bad time with that website… I can’t see their colors of just 3 x 6 subways in one place. But then, other sites have their issues, too….
Marsha says
Love this remodel, so crisp and clean looking, non-clutter!
Carole says
Beautiful! And so my style. 🙂
We live in a 1973 one story ranch. We remodeled the kitchen in the Craftsman style (cabinetry, floors, woodwork), and have added other Craftsman detailing and elements inside and out. The bathrooms are the next big project.
We’ve been considering putting a corner shower in one of our small (standard sized for the day) bathrooms when we remodel. It’s nice to see one installed.
sprayfaint says
Lovely lovely lovely. I recently renovated our 1931 bathroom and although I used only black & white tile, we painted the walls a bright seafoam to get in a little of that Art Deco coloring. Absolutely every person who has seen it has thought it was the original bath, which to me is a success.
Kirsten says
I love this bathroom! What a perfect design aesthetic! But I had to laugh at this: “Nom nom nom, toastie tootsies.”
You’re chewing on toes? I’m pretty sure that “nom nom nom” means something tastes good, doesn’t it? 😉 But, I could be wrong.
pam kueber says
Well, I use the nom nom figuratively not literally!
Kirsten says
I do hope you don’t think I was being rude! I was just good-naturedly teasing you. Written verbiage can be so easily misconstrued sometimes. I honestly, didn’t intend for it to sound snotty.
pam kueber says
no, i didn’t think that at all!!!!
Dietz says
Gorgeous! Wow!