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From Togo sofas to Sonneman lamps, vintage is taking over interiors. But your antique treasure shouldn’t be limited to your living room or bedroom. [Enter the vintage bathroom.] Whether it’s an old, free-standing cast-iron bathtub, an antique dresser repurposed as a vanity, or refurbished tiles that get a second life as floor or wall coverings, secondhand finds are wonderful to work with in this easily overlooked space.
Vintage elements can lend a room a certain warmth, opulence, and richness—something that is often needed in contemporary, hygienic, and practical bathrooms. So not only is it a more sustainable approach, it can often make for a more interesting bathroom. Convinced? If you’re ready to add a little old-world charm into your bathing area but need a little help getting started, consider these seven tips for crafting the perfect vintage bathroom.
Helping to create a cozy cocoon, an antique screen wraps around a freestanding tub in interior designer Bunny Williams’s bathroom.
Whether it’s antique tiles, old wooden floorboards, or a leftover piece of marble, a simple and surefire way to give your bathroom a charming retro aesthetic is to use reclaimed floor and wall coverings. The beauty of this strategy is that a small amount is usually all you need to create an exciting moment in the room.
“Bathrooms are typically small rooms and therefore perfect for using antique materials and remnants, which, after all, are often only available in relatively small quantities,” explains Adam Hills, who, together with his wife, Maria Speake, runs the London-based design studio and vintage store Retrouvius. “We’ve worked with everything from old misprinted sheets of paper from binderies to marble slabs from fireplaces to a variety of woods, including painted wooden boards, or iroko, in past projects. For one project we even used original subway signs, which turned out to have a glassy enamel surface that made a great shower wall!”
British design studio Retrouvius used reclaimed old wood panels to create this console.
Here, Retrouvius made use of old oak planks from a ship and installed them as benches in an onyx shower.
At the same time, Hills recommends paying close attention to the properties of a material when reusing it. “Hardwoods are more moisture resistant than softwoods, and marble is naturally less porous than other limestone,” he explains. “The advantage of recycled materials, however, is the special texture and unique story behind each recycled piece.”
This bathroom by Buchanan Studio has the atmosphere of an inviting living room.
When planning a vintage bathroom, it’s important to consider what color palette goes best with the historic materials. Neutral colors and muted tones accentuate antique elements particularly well and also create a relaxed atmosphere, which can be softened with patterned curtains or blinds. Dark colors such as green or blue, on the other hand, may create a moodier, richer touch to a vintage bathroom.
Note that a wallpaper in a retro pattern can also create a vintage look. Floral patterns and bold prints harmonize particularly well with antique furniture and traditional elements.
Retrouvius provided the antique washstand with a ceramic sink, which is also an antique find.
How about a repurposed antique dresser as a vanity, a refurbished stool as a shelf, or an old wooden ladder with an appealing patina as a towel rack? When it comes to creating a retro look quickly, opting for vintage furniture pieces is an easy step. “A variety of dressers and cabinets can be adapted in just a few steps to create a small sink,” Hills says. So can antique cabinets, which can be wonderfully integrated into a bathroom as an additional storage solution. When buying, you’ll of course want to pay special attention to the item’s condition and, if necessary, confirm the authenticity of the objects. In addition, keep humidity in mind: Untreated wood in particular can suffer from high humidity, a problem that is at its worst in heavily used, small, windowless bathrooms.
The marble sink, an old wall mirror, and retro-look fixtures give the bathroom, designed by The 1818 Collective, a cozy vintage feel.
It may seem like antique faucets are a surefire way to create a retro look in a bathroom. And while you may be right, there are a few things that you’ll want to check before installing them. “Back in the day, installers often used different thread sizes,” explains Justin Homewood, founder of The Water Monopoly, a UK bathroom supplier that offers both antique originals and elegant reproductions. “So pay attention to the dimensions and compatibility with modern sinks, showers, and the like. The spacing of the holes is also important.” Likewise, vintage faucets should be inspected for cracks and damage to make sure they won’t leak. “Cracks on the surface of a faucet can be repaired, but deeper ones are harder to [fix],” Homewood warns.
With its classic look, the Axor Montreux floor-standing bath faucet blends seamlessly with the vintage look of this bathroom.
If choosing vintage—and potentially incompatible— faucets feel daunting, consider following Hills’s lead. He prefers to buy vintage sinks or tubs and then pair them with new faucets. “Modern faucets are more economical in terms of overall water usage,” he adds. And luckily, many manufacturers offer a wonderful new alternative to antique faucets with select heritage-look collections that blend easily with a vintage aesthetic. Just remember that most vintage bathtubs require new coating or enamel, so don’t get your suds ready until that’s been completed.
In this bathroom by Buchanan Studio, shimmering antique towel racks complement the refined white pedestal sink.
If you’re not looking to invest in larger items like vanities or bathtubs, there are plenty of ways to introduce smaller antique accessories into your bathroom. Consider additions such as vintage mirrors or secondhand lights. Or shop flea markets with an eye towards antique soap dishes and jewelry boxes that can add glamour to a bathroom cabinet. Also, keep an eye open for things like vintage wall hooks and old bronze (or brass) towel racks. And how about an old, elegantly framed painting or print? You’ll be amazed at the effect some small details can have on the overall look of a bathroom.
Recently, basin skirts have been enjoying a comeback and giving bathrooms a playful look. There’s no need to feel limited to floral designs. Abstract patterned fabrics, like this one in a bathroom by The 1818 Collective, also exude a vintage vibe.
Skirted furniture has an undoubtedly old-timey feel, so why not include some in your bathroom as well? Basin skirts have been enjoying a recent resurgence, and, better yet, they’re a relatively easy DIY project.
Of course, there’s a practical benefit as well. Not only do they create a cozy atmosphere, they’re adept at concealing clutter and other bathroom essentials. While planning a basic skirt, don’t forget about curtains and blinds. Like the fabric flowing from the vanity, window treatments can channel the charm of a time long gone. Just make sure you choose moisture-repellent and quick-drying fibers such as polyester, as heavy fabrics made of natural fibers tend to dry more slowly.
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