Old meets new bathroom

13 years ago

We're re-doing our master bathroom. We live in a 1912 Bungalow in Chicago, and I would like to go for a 'new meets old' look. We fell in love with this tile from Ann Sacks - thinking to use it for the shower floor, and possibly as a trim/detail in the shower as well. And I'd like to do a claw foot tub or tub on a plinth. But now I'm struggling with modern or classic faucets / shower trim and on the rest of the tile for the walls of the shower and floor of the rest of the bathroom. Our initial thoughts on the tile was white subway for the shower walls and white hex on the floor, but is that too boring? And does it make this beautiful Ann Sacks tile look completely out of place? Thanks for your help and insights!

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MHI Interiors

13 years ago

This tile is beautiful. Is it glass? Circles can be tricky to cut (best to use style of tile in whole sheets.) Without seeing your bathroom, could you use this tile on the wall that you hang your mirrors(s)? Instead of have just a 4" backsplash, you can use this tile from counter to ceiling. For the rest of the bath, using white subway is classic and find another tile in same color as this tile but in a linear style that can be used a deco strip tile in the shower area. We recently remodeled a small 1930's bungalow bath. Below are some pictures of what we did. We did use white subway tile in their bath/shower area and a glass/stone mosaic (a more modern tile) as a deco strip and in an inset. The main floor is a hexagon and the cabinetry had a beadboard door style. The faucet is "Delta" Leland with "Cambria" quartz - Whitney Color - this quartz has tiny silver reflective pieces throughout (I wish the picture shows how pretty it is). Good Luck - hope you find a way to use this tile.

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Comments (15)

aniluap2
13 years ago
How about doing a trim on your floor with this tile. You might even consider a faux mat with this on the bathroom floor with tha trim 3"-4" in from the edge instead of isolating it on the shower floor. I love the color and look of the tile and think it I'll go very well with subway tile. I would go with the classic nickel faucets in a1912 home. I think you're on the right track and it will look amazing. Good luck.
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Emily Domingo
Original Author
13 years ago
Thanks, MHI Interiors - this is really helpful. Glad we're not too far off base trying to combine the classic with this modern look. And yes, the tile is glass. I'm going to let my contractor figure out how best to install - they seem very capable! I really like your faucet - and it's similar to what I've been looking at. Is that 1x1 hex or something larger? Thanks again!
PRO
MHI Interiors
13 years ago
The floor tile we used is "Olympia" tile and I believe it is 2" x 2".
aniluap2
13 years ago
I like MHI Interiors ideas. I'm not sure about the circles but I have created many borders with black and white marble tiles that are very economical. The circles seem to be arranged in a linear fashion so I think a professional could use the lines in the mesh on th back to cut straight lines. Waterworks which has a showroom in Chicago carries Annie Sachs tiles and I have seen them use that mint with white subway and hex tiles and they also paired it with a mint quartz countertop which looked amazing. You might want to see if you can go to their showroom, they always have an interesting display of vignettes. Great for unusual ideas.
victorianbungalowranch
13 years ago
That style of tile is called pennyround and it was used quite a lot around 1912. I would consider grey grout because it can be hard to keep pristine, and it would give it a traditional "mud job" look. Annie Sachs tile is expensive, so it may be best to use it as an accent, as suggested above, and a more plain or cheaper tile for the shower floor and such.
Judy M
13 years ago
I love your choices and believe you're on the right track. Using the Ann Sacks as accents with the subway and hex tiles sounds perfect for your home.

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Emily Domingo
Original Author
13 years ago
Judy, what color is the grout in the Ann Sacks floor picture you have shown? Did you go with white - or grey like VBR suggested?
PRO
Ironwood Builders
13 years ago
Way to talk history victorianbungalowranch! Use it or lose it! For a lavatory, going console or pedestal works with the style, less. storage though
Judy M
13 years ago
sorry, i don;t know. If you search under the bath photos on this site typing Ann Sacks in the search you might find an answer. That's how i found those photos. Ask your tile person if they use a product called or similiar to "Grout Once". That should help keep the grout clean or so I am told. I plan on using it in my bathroom remodel that will begin soon. I'm also using white subway tile. :)
User
13 years ago
What are your thoughts on mixing in a more contemporary large scale tile? I am thinking something larger for the floor (12 x 24), using your penny round tiles as a border on the floor, and doing your shower with the white subway tiles and shower floor with hexagons. I am personally not a huge fan of the border in the shower or doing backsplash behind the sink, but I really like the look of a border around the floor or the faux bath mat someone mentioned. Are you going to tile the walls of the bathroom as well or paint? If tiling, I would consider the larger scale tiles for the floor as well. I think that's a way to mix in a contemporary look. We just redid two bathrooms in a Victorian and one of them is a mix of contemporary and old - we used light grey 12 x 24 tiles on walls and floor, and marble subway tiles in the shower with marble hexagons for shower floor.
michigammemom
13 years ago
Love your penny tile selection. Take a look at this bath that creatively uses penny tile as a shower accent and border with a beveled subway tile.
Audrey H · More Info
Judy M
13 years ago
Modern Bathroom · More Info

Tamara Mack Design - Interiors · More Info

Here's a couple design ideas for using the penny round tiles as accents
PRO
Minium Dick Construction
13 years ago
For inspiration, take a look at Bungalow Bathrooms by Jane Powell. I've also done a lot of research on vintage tile bathrooms, so check out my Pinterest board titled Spanish Revival Bathroom - Jackie Moss
You really can't go wrong with the beautiful tile you have chosen.
PRO
nFORMAL design
13 years ago
One option is to do what Judy M. suggested above. Using the glass penny tile as an accent and shower floor would work well...plus the shower floor would feel great under bare feet. There are many ways to marry old/new, but would have to see the rest of the space to give some opinion. I personally like the older style tile, etc., paired with modern fixtures. It creates a very clean look. The reverse works to a degree, but I find that unless you pick the fixtures very carefully, historically inspired ones can clash with modern tile.