How To Create A Vintage Look
It seems we’re still in love with vintage-style bathrooms. Our appetite for claw-foot tubs, pedestal basins and crosshead taps has not faded with time, along with our continuing penchant for period properties – and for a reason. These classic details look lovely in bathrooms, summing up luxury, indulgence and elegance from another era. Here are some ideas for achieving that enviable period look in your own scheme.
Choose a claw-foot tub
If you have the space, a Victorian-style freestanding claw-foot bath is one of those indulgences you’ll never regret. No longer confined to boutique hotels, these days there’s a period-look bath for every budget and spec. A double-ended roll-top, as seen here, is a classic choice. For extra authenticity, go for one made of cast iron, as they were in Victorian times, and paint the outside to match your scheme.
If you’re worried about weight (and there’s no doubt these babies can be heavy), you can also buy lighter – and generally cheaper – acrylic versions. However, cast iron will keep your bubble bath hotter for longer. Alternatively, if you insist on original vintage, hunt around in salvage yards for reclaimed beauties.
Go for wonderful washstands
Stand-mounted basins add elegance and a sense of space to a period bathroom, and are a stylish alternative to porcelain pedestals. Here, twin basins on chrome stands have been placed on opposite sides of the room for a chic, symmetrical look.
In the days before modern plumbing, washstands were simply wooden tables or cabinets for a bowl and a jug of water. To re-create an authentic look, seek pieces in Victorian, Edwardian or Georgian styles to match the period of your home.
Have pedestal pride
Much-maligned and misunderstood in the past, the pedestal can look elegant and timeless, so banish all thoughts of the one from aunt Betty’s 1970s avocado suite. What’s more, pedestals hide a multitude of ugly pipework and can be a good option if you don’t want to shrink the space you have with a boxy vanity unit. However, sacrificing storage possibilities under your basin will mean fitting them in somewhere else.
This room also proves that classic tongue and groove, here painted a heritage smoky grey, looks fabulous matched with period features.
Invest in vanity units
Available in all shapes and sizes, a basin-topped unit can totally change the look and feel of your bathroom. Choose your cabinet carefully to reflect the period you’re going for. The beaded vintage designs in this restored Victorian villa have been painted in a soft heritage taupe and work beautifully with the freestanding bath and polished floorboards.
Opt for crosshead taps
They’re not flashy and they might not feature super-smart mixers, but a pair of traditional crosshead taps are easy to handle, pleasing to look at and are a staple of any period bathroom. And, treated well, should last you a lifetime, too and look beautiful fitted on a freestanding tub, as seen here.
Always try out taps in the showroom to make sure that they feel pleasant to use – a traditional curved design is generally more comfortable to handle than a more angular modern one.
Return to mahogany
It may have moved in and out of fashion over the years, but this dark glossy wood is a bona fide authentic choice for a period bathroom – as seen here in the WC seat and towel rail (the very first domestic WCs often had mahogany seats). And, if you want to go the whole hog, you can still buy replica antique-look mahogany throne designs.
Meanwhile, you might not associate traditional wooden panelling with bathrooms, but this scheme proves that it can most definitely ramp up that splendid period-home feel.
Fit a shower ring
There’s something so pleasingly retro about a circular or oval shower rail over a bath paired with a plain white curtain, as seen here. Don’t assume it should be in silvery-steel either. This gold number adds a dose of glamour without descending into gaudiness.
Soak in a slipper
A twist on the freestanding tub, the classic slipper bath has a curved shape that supports your neck, and so is sublimely comfortable if you want to soak for longer. Planning to bathe à deux? Then remember to plump for a super-indulgent double slipper – where both ends are raised – or be prepared to fight it out for who gets the end without the taps. If the antique claw-foot look isn’t for you, go for a pedestal number like this one instead.
Shimmer with copper
A shiny copper slipper tub is one of those luxurious investment pieces that can run into thousands of pounds. However, if you fall in love with one, it should be a love that lasts a lifetime. The first baths – following the advent of running water in the early 19th century – were often made of copper, and they certainly bring to mind period dramas and lush stately homes. A beauty like this is definitely one to treasure.
Lay a monochrome floor
A black and white chequerboard floor adds a classic Victorian vibe to a bathroom, while simultaneously feeling fresh and modern. Running the squares diagonally across the floor, as seen here, can help stop a room feeling too ordered and much more relaxed and spacious.
Opt for vintage radiators
Chunky Victorian-style radiators (whether original reclaimed designs or convincing copies) look lovely in period bathrooms, as shown here in this indulgent space. Positioned beneath the windows, they’ll ensure you stay warm while you soak. This room also ramps up the luxury factor with a freestanding tub and a gorgeous glittering chandelier.
Experiment with wallpaper
Don’t assume walls have to be tiled or plain. The Victorians were notorious fans of patterned wallpaper – just think of all those gorgeous William Morris botanical prints – and this luxurious bathing retreat proves it can work perfectly in a bathroom. The beautiful green floral design adds a subtle touch of colour to a neutral scheme.
Invest in marble
Marble tiles can look stunning in a period bathroom, as seen here with this smart basin, clawfoot bathtub and toilet. Marble may not be the cheapest option, so this is where marble effect tiles come in. They are both easy to clean and have that special kind of timelessness that brings to mind a luxurious five-star hotel. This room also proves that you can mix traditional elements, such as the fittings and Victorian ribbed glass ceiling pendant.
