Three Bathrooms, One Historic Home

The article explores a peculiar bathroom feature found in homes built in the 1950s and 1960s: a miniature, faucet-less, and drain-less tub often situated next to a regular bathtub. This unique element frequently puzzles homeowners and visitors, with common guesses ranging from a foot bath or pet spa to a holder for cold beverages or dry towels. Reddit users have also contributed creative theories, including a baby-cradling station or an ice and Champagne holder for bath time. Interior designer Magda Callery notes the humor and confusion this feature typically evokes among those who encounter it. The true purpose of these mini tubs, according to experts like Magda Callery, was to house artificial plants. During the mid-century period, faux greenery was highly fashionable, and these tubs provided a dedicated space to bring the 'outdoors in' without the maintenance associated with real plants, such as watering or dealing with dirt indoors. Elizabeth Vergara, a designer and lead project manager for Vergara Homes, confirms that decorative greenery was a popular trend during this era, and bathrooms, particularly primary bathrooms, were often experimental spaces for unique design features. Therefore, encountering such a tub today would predominantly be in a mid-century or retro home, though its presence is becoming increasingly rare due to modern renovations. For homeowners who discover one of these unusual tubs, several contemporary uses are suggested. It can be repurposed as a built-in planter for either faux or real greenery, or filled with decorative stones and a mini water fountain to create a Zen ambiance. Other creative ideas include transforming it into a quirky dog bath, an open bar for chilled drinks, or a decorative storage bin. Even simply leaving it as is can make it an interesting conversation starter. If a homeowner decides to remove the feature, experts like Alan Berman, president of Archetype Architecture, assure that it is a relatively simple process, as these tubs are not connected to plumbing and lack a drain. The removal typically involves minor demolition and then tiling over the area to achieve a modern, updated bathroom aesthetic, though matching existing tiles might pose a challenge for a seamless finish. #MidCenturyHome #BathroomDesign #HomeFeatures #VintageHome #InteriorDesign #HomeRenovation #ArchitecturalHistory #RetroDecor #UniqueHome

In 2025, bathroom design trends emphasize transformation into wellness retreats, balancing serenity, sophistication, and smart design. This year's focus is on sculptural fixtures, natural materials, bold tiles, and ambient lighting to elevate daily routines into moments of calm indulgence. The goal is to create spa-like layouts, integrate sustainable finishes, and incorporate decor details that merge beauty with functionality, catering to a range of styles and sizes for full renovations or simple refreshes. Several design aesthetics are explored, starting with "Vintage Glam Meets Modern Touch," which combines classic elements like subway tiles and patterned flooring with brass accents and vintage-inspired details for a curated, lived-in feel. "Sleek & Simple Sanctuary" focuses on minimalist design with crisp lines, matte finishes, and a calming color palette, incorporating floating fixtures and matte black hardware for modern serenity. "Bold & Beautiful Contrast" embraces dramatic navy herringbone walls, natural wood vanities with rough-edge stone countertops, and strategic lighting to create a luxurious boutique hotel atmosphere. "Tiles to Make You Smile" highlights the use of vibrant, handcrafted-style teal wall tiles alongside striking black-and-white checkered floors, showcasing playful yet controlled design with practical elements like built-in storage. "Marble Dreams in Minimalism" presents a sculptural approach to marble, featuring soft earthy walls, angular mirrors, and stone sinks, creating a timeless, weightless feel through floating vanities and hidden lighting. "Chic Spa Retreat" achieves a home spa ambiance with soft green herringbone tiles, brushed gold fixtures, and deep soaking tubs, emphasizing harmonious shapes and luxurious daily preparations. "Rustic Retreat" brings the outdoors in with earthy textures, weathered wood, and stone basins, complemented by large plants and unfinished concrete walls for a grounded, authentic feel. "Statement Style for Days" offers high drama with arch mirrors, floor-to-ceiling marble, and freestanding tubs, balanced by deep navy herringbone floors and elegant chandeliers. "Cozy Farmhouse Vibes" combines shiplap walls, open shelving, and rustic wood with whimsical details like copper bowl sinks and festive decor, making small spaces feel warm and inviting. "Outdoor Zen Escape" reimagines the bathroom as a jungle retreat with olive green walls, pink concrete tubs, rainfall showers, and leafy greens, designed for immersive self-care. "Earthy + Elevated Spa" features warm greige shiplap, creamy Roman shades, and checkerboard floors, creating a gentle, balanced space with light oak vanities and subtle greenery. "Bold Modern Zen" presents a luxury retreat aesthetic with creamy microcement walls, jet-black tubs, and wild-veined marble, relying on strategic lighting to define the dramatic yet controlled environment. "Sweet Southern Charm" blends scalloped shower curtains and blush cabinetry with charming accents like ribbon-style sconces and bubble hardware, creating a whimsical yet sophisticated space for children. "Understated Luxe" captures a clean, symmetrical aesthetic with crisp marble, gold fixtures, and fluted vanity details, offering a peaceful and tailored spa experience. "Tropical Deco Drama" introduces botanical wallpaper and rich green cabinetry with slimline sconces and brass mirrors, creating an escapist, Old Hollywood ambiance. "Coastal Minimal Warmth" emphasizes serenity with creamy stone tiles, ribbed vertical walls, and marble hex floors, incorporating golden fixtures and warm wood for a spa-like retreat. "Parisian Marble Dream" evokes quiet grandeur with soft gold fixtures, dove-gray marble, and paneled walls, offering an intimate yet expansive space for rituals. "Contemporary Deco Elegance" transports users to a luxury Milan suite with glossy black marble, champagne accents, and ribbed wood vanities, creating a refined and cinematic experience. "Classic with a Twist" balances creamy walls and brass accents with curved shower glass and delicate built-ins, creating a timeless yet personal feel. "Statement Suite Glam" showcases pure drama with gleaming chandeliers, rich marble veining, and sculptural vanities, combining dazzling aesthetics with grounding elements. "Timeless & Tailored Blue" presents sharp, classic blue shaker-style cabinetry with brass and matte black fixtures, offering a fresh take on cottage style. "Golden Hour Opulence" provides a cinematic experience with marble floors, chandeliers, and plush rugs, emphasizing dual vanities and soaking tubs for luxurious leisure. "Warm Minimalist Retreat" features a subdued palette of sand, stone, and putty, with a skylight and sculptural freestanding tub for a calm, intentional space. "Dramatic Deco Mood" creates a five-star hotel suite feel with deep charcoal marble, a custom scalloped sink, and antique brass sconces, balancing sharpness with richness. "Refined Farmhouse Elegance" combines paneled walls, herringbone floors, and freestanding tubs with rustic stools and potted olive trees for a lived-in yet polished look. "Light & Layered Neutrals" offers a soft dreamscape with tonal neutrals, glossy zellige tiles, and warm wood vanities, evoking a mindful, coastal elegance. "Rustic Marble Escape" contrasts rough-hewn timber beams with polished marble, creating a luxurious yet grounded space rooted in history. "Rosy Luxe Romance" elevates blush pink with herringbone zellige tiles, marble countertops, and gold fixtures, creating a feminine yet sophisticated vanity vignette. "Verdant Modern Zen" merges olive plaster walls, a modern freestanding tub, and deep green marble with natural light, offering a meditative and intentional design. Finally, "Bold Rustic Edge" combines warm wood planks, black fixtures, and a charcoal vanity with marble-look counters and cane front cabinets for a rugged yet refined mountain cabin aesthetic. #BathroomDesign #InteriorDesign #HomeDecor #WellnessRetreat #LuxuryBathrooms #ModernDesign #FarmhouseStyle #SpaLikeBathrooms #SustainableDesign

This article highlights a bathroom renovation project in a Milton home, focusing on maximizing storage and updating the space while maintaining consistency with the house's 1895 architectural style. Roisin Giese, the principal designer at Twelve Chairs Interiors, spearheaded the project, aiming for a design that is neither strictly period-specific nor overtly modern. The original bathroom lacked sufficient storage and featured a nondescript design with a pedestal sink and a tub enclosed by a two-sided shower curtain. One of the key design elements implemented was a shower alcove. This feature was meticulously framed with the same trim used for the window casing, creating a cohesive and historically appropriate aesthetic. The addition of a front panel and crown molding further enhanced the sense of original architecture within the newly designed space. This approach ensured that the bathroom, while updated, would seamlessly integrate with the historical character of the house. Another significant detail is the choice of the shower curtain. A striped curtain was selected to contrast with the botanical wallpaper, adding visual interest. This curtain is mounted on a rod cleverly tucked inside the alcove, a design choice that not only provides a clean look but also conceals integrated niches for toiletries like shampoo. This functional aspect addresses the initial lack of storage in the old bathroom layout. The upper half of the room features Zak+Fox wallpaper with a medium-scale botanical pattern. The decision to use a medium-scale pattern was deliberate, as Giese explained that a larger pattern would have lost much of its design impact due to the presence of the alcove, window, and mirror. A smaller scale allowed for a more comprehensive display of the botanical design throughout the room. Traditional tile wainscoting was incorporated, drawing a direct link to the home's historical origins. The celadon color of the wainscoting was chosen to complement and echo the hues present in the botanical wallpaper, creating a harmonious color scheme. The flooring consists of two-inch tumbled marble hex tiles. This specific size was chosen to avoid a 'busy' appearance that smaller tiles might have created. A classic border was also added to the floor, contributing to the traditional aesthetic. Lighting fixtures were carefully chosen to provide style without being overly prominent. The Currey & Company light features a tassel design and a white gesso finish, offering an elegant touch. Visual Comfort & Company sconces, adorned with leaves, were installed to complement the botanical theme of the wallpaper, subtly enhancing the overall design. These fixtures contribute to the romantic sensibility Giese aimed to achieve. Finally, the addition of a natural oak vanity introduces warmth and texture to the bathroom. This vanity is a crucial component in resolving the bathroom's original storage deficiency, offering ample space for various items. Complementing the vanity, a Glass Crafters medicine cabinet was installed, which also provides significant storage. Giese highlighted the practical benefit of the medicine cabinet's mirrored interior, noting its utility for tasks such as makeup application. These elements collectively transform a formerly utilitarian space into a functional, aesthetically pleasing, and historically sensitive bathroom.

The concept of a wet room, a style of bathroom where all surfaces are designed to get wet without specific separation, is gaining traction among American homeowners seeking a spa-like experience. Unlike traditional bathrooms, wet rooms integrate the shower and other fixtures within a single, fully waterproofed space, often featuring a floor drain in the center of the room. While common in Europe, wet rooms in the U.S. typically combine the bathtub and shower, sometimes separated by a glass pane or wrapped glass, with all surfaces meticulously tiled to handle constant moisture. A key distinction between a wet room and a walk-in shower lies in the extent of waterproofing and the absence of clear divisions. In a wet room, the entire area is intended to be hosed down, meaning the tub is not typically hidden in an alcove, and the shower is not confined to a separate stall. A central floor drain, rather than one isolated in the shower area, ensures efficient water drainage from the entire room. This design philosophy creates a seamless and open aesthetic. The benefits of incorporating a wet room into a home are multifaceted. They offer enhanced accessibility for individuals with mobility challenges, as the entire space is on one plane with a curbless shower. The ease of cleaning is often cited, though this can depend on the design; while everything can get wet and be hosed down, fixtures like toilets and sinks might require more frequent wiping if they are consistently splashed during showering. Wet rooms also contribute to a luxurious and relaxing bathing experience, transforming a functional space into a personal retreat. Experts suggest that a well-designed wet room with quality fixtures can increase a home's value. However, there are also considerations and potential drawbacks. The open nature of wet rooms can lead to a lack of privacy, especially if the toilet is exposed. This can be addressed by incorporating a toilet closet, a separate small room for the toilet, which is a popular solution, particularly in certain regions. Wet rooms also generally require more space than conventional primary bathrooms, potentially necessitating an enlargement of the existing bathroom footprint, which adds to the overall cost. The high up-front cost is another significant factor, as extensive waterproofing, large-format tiling, custom glasswork, and specialized fixtures demand a substantial investment. Every element within the wet room area must be fully waterproof, often involving a larger shower pan kit and more elaborate tiling than a standard bathroom. Successful wet room installation requires careful planning and design. Designers emphasize understanding the client's lifestyle to inform choices regarding tile styles, wood finishes, and plumbing and lighting fixtures. When space is limited, maintaining consistent flooring throughout the bathroom can visually blur the lines between the wet area and drier zones, making the space feel larger. For more expansive areas, designers enjoy the creative freedom to introduce varied lighting and tile treatments within different sections of the wet room to enhance its perceived size and create distinct zones. Practical design tips include considering the room's purpose and functionality, creating an effective layout for plumbing fixtures, integrating biophilic design elements like plants (with careful attention to their needs), and selecting appropriate wall cladding for waterproofing and thermal performance, such as large format porcelain or natural stone slabs. #WetRoom #BathroomDesign #HomeRenovation #SpaBathroom #InteriorDesign #HomeImprovement #Accessibility #LuxuryHome