I am going to yet another tile store. I have no more enthusiasm for this slogging around.
UPDATE: here is my tile installed and grouted!
I want a vintage-style bath, but with a sleek, clean modern design. Trying to marry these two aesthetics seems to hinge on the choice of floor tile. At this point, I am thinking I am going to need to compromise. My least favorite idea.
This is Pilar Guzman’s bath, (Martha Stewart’s editor). Her home was featured in one of last summer’s magazines. And is worth checking out for some really gorgeous design. (Her kitchen is outstanding.)
What I love about her bath is the authentic, Victorian feel—subway tile, claw foot tub… but it’s clean and modern at the same time. However, she has small floor-tile. And, I assume a cleaning lady to go with it.
Home Tours: Home Tour: A Family-Oriented Brownstone in Brooklyn – Martha Stewart.
This is the Dunsmuir-Hellman Estate in California. My other favorite bath. I love everything about it. But I don’t think it’s practical. Like most authentic baths, the sink counter is non-existent, the medicine cabinet is tiny, and the lighting isn’t direct enough to do anything but wash your hands.
Other Victorian bath photos Subway Ceramics.
And finally, this bath. Which I love for an entirely different set of reasons. I love all the mirrors, the chrome, the marble, the blinding whiteness…
I got it from Houzz… but put it on my computer to lighten it up, (the original was really dark), and now I have no idea what the link might be.
This looks nothing like my bath, or anything I’ll be able to replicate, but wow do I love it!
Possibly my favorite shower ever.
Love the oversized blue hexagon floor tile. If I hadn’t already chosen a tile, I would be tempted to seek this out.
Also, blue subway tile… so charming!
Related Posts
- Finished bathroom!
- Bath Index - everything from what we started with… to the fixtures we chose.
I am in the same boat as you (tired), and I am after the same look for our bath,
but we are no where near the time ready to do the work on the bath.
Collecting ideas is relaxing, so thank you for the great photos and your insight.
We have a tub-but instead of the claw feet it has a pedestal,which I don’t like as well. Don’t know what we do there. We also have the small octagon tiles but they are damaged.
So, I will be following your progress with a vested interest. Cheers.
I love small tile. But loathe the grout. Especially for a bath that gets a lot of use. At this point though, I’m ready to install linoleum—at least it’s easy to clean.
We had a pedestal tub in another home… we ended up replacing it with an option that allowed us to use the space differently… but the architectural salvage company who bought it said that the pedestal tubs were rarer, and harder to come by. So, at least you’re more special than the claw-foot owners.
That’s nice to know….I’ll look at it with new “positive” eyes.
I know you’re teasing about the linoleum…you seem like a person who knows what they want and WILL find it. But I agree… the running around looking for the “right” thing is maddening. Bathrooms and kitchens are so hard and so expensive. You spend so much time in them that you should get exactly what you want. Hang in there…
I brought home a tile sample yesterday, that I think I’m pleased with. (It would be nice to be certain.) I’ve stared at it all day while counseling myself not to over think it. The possibility of being able to move forward is trumping my natural inclination to second guess everything…
I know that feeling all too well. When I get to that point and I feel like.. THAT’S IT… I’ve had enough… This is what i’m going with! Its time to move on… And it usually ends up to be just right. I hope this is your “just right” tile. I suspect you have excellent taste and it’s really beautiful.
You joke about putting in linoleum, but when we purchased our home two years ago, that’s all there was – except for some carpet in the living room. Every room (bedrooms included) had a different pattern and some areas had the peel and stick ones with patches of yet another pattern – it was BEYOND hideous.
I love the pic of Pilar’s bathroom. What about a 12 x 24 porcelain tile in charcoal, laid in a brick pattern to mimic the walls? Simple, classic, yet adds a modern touch. Best of luck and try not to get overwhelmed. It really does come together in the end.
Wow. Linoleum in every room. It doesn’t get much better than that.
I’m pretty much planning to come back as Pilar in my next life, so that’s really going to simplify things for me…