Creating a period bathroom
Pic: Getty
Modern bathrooms come complete with every possible comfort, from power showers to soft-close toilet seats, but if your home is a Victorian or Edwardian property, a period-style bathroom can be beautiful.
These days you don't have to fit out your bathroom with antique baths and temperamental plumbing, however, so here are a few tips on getting the look.
Related Searches
The bath
A freestanding roll-top bath will probably be top of your period bathroom wishlist, and rightly so. A Victorian style bath with claw feet can be a real statement feature, but you can also add a little practical modernity.
There are plenty of replica period baths on the market, from slipper baths to double-ended roll-tops, in both cast iron and modern acrylic. Go for a traditional chrome mixer tap with a shower handset for the Victorian look - you can always hide the pipework in the wall for a cleaner finish. Coloured versions are also available to buy, or if you have managed to get your hands on an original, why not try painting the outer of the bath to co-ordinate with your chosen colour scheme.
The basin
Forget your stylish, modern wall-mounted variety - a pedestal basin is the way to give your bathroom that Victorian edge. Once again, brand new traditionally styled pedestal basins are widely available from the big names like B&Q and Wickes, but more specialist firms such as Oldfashioned Bathrooms offer a range of beautiful basin units and washstands, though they do come at a hefty price. The Burlington style basin, reminiscent of public bathrooms, is another fitting choice.
The toilet
If you have plenty of space, there is really only one toilet choice befitting a Victorian-style bathroom - a high level cistern with pull chain. Victorian Bathrooms offer a range that combine the Victorian look with modern touches such as a soft-close toilet seat, and can accommodate those lacking in space with a vintage style, low-level loo.
%VIRTUAL-AFCSponserAds%
The décor
Black and white was the bathroom style of the Victorian era, and checkerboard tiles will certainly add that traditional effect. You can always add in some colour here and there if black and white feels too stark. Bare floorboards also hark back to Victorian times, and a dark stain will set off your feature bath beautifully. For those that aren't fortunate enough to have fabulous floorboards, go for a high quality laminate to recreate the look.
And for that little extra period styling, consider reclamation yards or antiques fairs for authentic bathroom furniture, whether it be a cabinet for that alcove, or a cast iron radiator.
Have you created your perfect period bathroom? What tips would you give to others? Leave your comments below...
