Room of the Day: Classic Black and White for a Victorian Bathroom
You really can’t go wrong with a classic black and white bathroom, and for a row house built toward the end of the Victorian era, it’s hard to come up with a better way to go. “This row house wasn’t a grand Victorian, but more like a working-class Victorian,” says interior designer Breeze Giannasio of her Washington, D.C., clients’ potential-filled home. Typically these homes have just one bathroom, located on the second floor, which wasn’t the most convenient setup for this growing family.
“This family is fixing the house up piecemeal, and they have eclectic taste,” the designer says. While appreciating and honoring their home’s history (some of its original charm was wiped out by bad 1970s remodeling jobs), she is helping them infuse it with their own personalities as well. Along with renovating this bathroom, which now serves as the children’s bathroom, they have added a powder room downstairs and a modest master bathroom.
Room at a Glance
Who lives here: A couple and their young daughter, with another child on the way
Location: Washington, D.C.
Size: About 60 square feet (5½ square meters)
The bathroom had not been renovated since the 1970s and looked dated. A clunky wood vanity had taken up valuable floor space in the 6-foot by 10-foot room, making it feel closed in. Giannasio knew it was important to keep the floor as clear as possible to make the room look bigger. A pedestal sink and a claw-foot tub keep the floor open. Classic black and white tiles suit the home’s vintage.
The floor tile was handmade in Arkansas by American Restoration Tile, a company that specializes in reproducing the tiles of the past with historic accuracy. Designers are able to specify details like a Greek key border and a floret motif.
The bathtub and accompanying fixtures are from Vintage Tub & Bath. “This is a great resource for vintage-looking fixtures for those who don’t happen to have a fantastic architectural salvage place in their neighborhoods,” the designer says. “They are reasonably priced, and you don’t have to do any rehabbing.”
Randolph Morris 54-inch Cast Iron Slipper Clawfoot Tub, tub faucet and shower curtain rod: Vintage Tub & Bath; ceiling light: Niles Flush Mount, Circa Lighting; shelves over bath: Restoration Hardware
The line of black on the wall tile was determined by the baseboard tile on the bottom and the height of the windowsill at the top. Giannasio had the medicine cabinet hung at the same level as the window. This thoughtful planning makes the room pleasing to the eye, even if you can’t quite put your finger on exactly why.
Tip: Don’t concentrate on making your metal finishes a perfect match. The medicine cabinet has a well-worn patinated look that is subtly different from the antique nickel of the sconces and the brushed finish on the faucets. “By not going matchy-matchy with all of the metals, it adds dimensionality and makes the room richer,” the designer says.
Stanway Sconce: Circa Lighting; medicine cabinet: Restoration Hardware Outlet; Ceramica Tecla EDO Wide Ceramic Bathroom Sink With Overflow: Wayfair
Because she was trying to keep the floor as clear and open as possible, Giannasio had to look up for storage opportunities. When recessed storage didn’t work out, she found a hardworking piece complete with hooks and cubbies, and she added baskets. “I prefer hooks to towel bars,” she says. “It’s more casual.” By the way, a stool for the couple’s young daughter is a fixture in this bathroom; it just didn’t make it into the photos.
The items in the cubbies and hanging from the hooks are constantly changing, the designer says. “They are big travelers, so you’ll find things like this drum; other times there will be different toys,” she says.
Cubbies: Smart Furniture
As this is the only bathroom in the house with a tub, everyone in the family enjoys a soak in here. “It’s so refreshing to see vintage elements like claw-foot tubs so appreciated and prevalent these days,” Giannasio says. “And you really can’t go wrong with classic graphic black and white. It’s wonderful and timeless.”
Subway tile, border tile, base tile: Daltile; floor tile: American Restoration Tile; shower curtain: Pottery Barn
More:
Global Architecture Style: Victorian
How to Get a Claw-Foot Tub for Your Bathroom
