Old fixer-uppers often require two competing levels of priorities from their new homeowners. First and foremost is the need to immediately attend to those repairs that ensure the continued functioning and general well being of the house’s structure. By nature, these usually demand “house on fire!” status, especially when compared to other types of remodeling work that simply enhances aesthetics and general comfort. In the case of a Delaware couple, a structural issue with the front of their 125 year old Victorian (it was sinking!), along with some other more pressing challenges, put a 13 year long hold on getting the bathroom for which they had long dreamed. The shower enclosure features a base of hexagon patterned tile, bordered by marble subway tiles. The shower enclosure features a base of hexagon patterned tile, bordered by marble subway tiles. By the time Dave Fox Design Build Remodelers was hired to handle the construction, the couple certainly had put plenty of thought into converting a spare second-floor bedroom into the master bath. Courtney Burnett, Fox’s Interior Design Manager on the project, credits the owners for “having great creative minds, with lots of ideas to contribute.” By the time it came to put a formal design plan into place, the client “drove the look while we devised how the space would function.” It’s worth noting that there are drawbacks in being given too much time for advance planning. Owners’ tastes in design may change, while a steady stream of new fixtures and building products always demand consideration up to the last minute. “We had been collecting ideas for a while…pictures of what we liked, but as it turned out, when it came time to select fixtures, tile, etc., we used little from those pictures,” the owners admit. A framed herringbone pattern of subway tiles provides a perfect focal point for the shower. A framed herringbone pattern of subway tiles provides a perfect focal point for the shower. The finished bath exudes an art deco spirit that isn’t true to the home’s Victorian origins, which Burnett attributes to being more of a reflection of the homeowners’ preferences than the actual era of the structure. Despite that incongruity, everyone feels that they have remained true to the house by selecting vintage style elements, including subway tiles for the walls, hexagonal tile for the floors, and a pedestal sink that served as the focal point for the entire room. But as with all dreams, once one is achieved, a new one soon beckons. With the bathroom’s strikingly beautiful turquoise paint barely dry, the completion of that long-awaited project has served to kick-start plans for finishing off the remainder of the Victorian’s second floor.

Bathroom tile wainscoting at shower
Photo of a traditional bathroom in Seattle with an undermount sink, white cabinets, a freestanding tub, an alcove shower, white tile and subway tile.

Building Design, Plans (in collaboration with Orfield Drafting), and Interior Finishes by: Fluidesign Studio I Builder & Creative Collaborator : Anchor Builders I Photographer: sethbennphoto.com

Paul Dyer Photography
Traditional bathroom in San Francisco with an undermount sink, white cabinets, white tile, subway tile, mosaic tile floors and recessed-panel cabinets.

This formidable turn-of-the-century home sits on a large lot overlooking a prominent lake in Minneapolis. The architecturally significant home was altered to create a connected kitchen/family space, an informal powder room, mudroom, and functional connection to the garage. Additionally, the kitchen and children’s bath were renovated and a new nursery was created. A new home gym, complete with an indoor resistance pool, now occupies a portion of the home’s lower level space. Troy Thies Photography - Joe Metzler, SALA Architects

Traditional bathroom in Philadelphia with a pedestal sink.

The bathroom layout was changed, opening up and simplifying the space. New fixtures were chosen to blend well with the vintage aesthetic. The tile flows seamlessly from the hand-set 1" hex pattern in the floor to the cove base, subway, and picture rail, all in a matte-finish ceramic tile. We built the medicine cabinet to match the windows of the house as well as the cabinets George Ramos Woodworking built for the kitchen and sunroom. Photo: Jeff Schwilk

This Master Bathroom showcases fabulous blue millwork, a mosaic backsplash that goes right ot the ceiling, crown moulding and a gorgeous, shower with a bench and soap niche.

New bath room includes the expanded bedroom
This is an example of a traditional bathroom in Minneapolis with a wall-mount sink, an alcove tub, a shower/bathtub combo, subway tile, gray tile and white tile.

Photography by Richard Mandelkorn
This is an example of a traditional bathroom in Boston with mosaic tile.

Traditional bathroom in Minneapolis with recessed-panel cabinets, white cabinets and an undermount sink.

The main bathroom was recreated in an authentic Californian bungalow style featuring tessellated tiles, subway tiles in a brick pattern with capping tiles, Shaker-style framed mirrored cabinet, pedestal vanity, older-style toilet with timber toilet seat and older-style accessories. The original stained glass window was maintained. The only modern variation was the streamlined glass shower wall.

Rob Karosis Photography www.robkarosis.com
Traditional bathroom in Burlington with marble benchtops.

Inspiration for a small traditional bathroom in Seattle with a pedestal sink and subway tile.

Design ideas for a traditional bathroom in Los Angeles with a wall-mount sink, open cabinets and subway tile.

Martinkovic Milford Architects - Eric Rorer Photography
Photo of a traditional bathroom in San Francisco with an undermount sink, medium wood cabinets, a claw-foot tub, a shower/bathtub combo, green tile, subway tile, flat-panel cabinets and grey benchtops.

Garage Level Remodel-Sunset District
Inspiration for a traditional bathroom in San Francisco with a pedestal sink, a curbless shower, white tile, subway tile, white walls and mosaic tile floors.

Bathroom with mosaic tile floor
Photo of a traditional bathroom in Toronto with a pedestal sink.

Wonderful handmade tile and block print wallpaper
Design ideas for a traditional bathroom in Santa Barbara with mosaic tile and a pedestal sink.