Heritage style

Choose a combination of traditional fittings and old-style elegance to give your bathroom a classic yet timeless look

Packed with character, period-style bathrooms continue to be in vogue, and work just as well in a modern new-build as in a Victorian or Edwardian home. Looking to history will provide you with endless inspiration – there’s beautifully sculpted sanitaryware, elegant ironwork and the freestanding roll-top bath, which is just as popular as ever.

PICK YOUR ERA The first to wholeheartedly adopt indoor bathing were the late Victorians and the Edwardians, and products in those styles are hugely popular. They’re also a breeze to source, as most manufacturers feature at least one range with period accents. In the Twenties and Thirties, Art Deco interiors were known for their glamorous and glitzy style, which can be recreated using mirrored furniture, black gloss and lacquer details and crystal lighting. Slavishly following a particular style could result in a forced re-creation, though, so try to be relaxed in your choices to achieve the overall feel of a period rather than an exact replica of one.

CHOOSE THE REAL THING Salvage yards and reclamation and restoration specialists are fabulous sources of both design inspiration and products, particularly if you’re prepared to do a little restoration work yourself. Do be aware, though, that real antiques will carry a price tag to match and some antique fittings won’t suit modern plumbing and water pressure. Vintage baths can always be re-enamelled

– at a cost – but taps and showers are likely to be more difficult to incorporate into a modern bathroom. MODERN TAKE There are plenty of replicas on the market, allowing you to enjoy traditional style while still having all the benefits of modern technology, such as power showers and eco-efficient taps and loos. Many makers have products that create a perfect blend of old and new. FINISHING TOUCHES As well as the sanitary- and brassware, pay attention to the details that will complete your scheme. Raised pencil borders, dado rails and decorative botanical motifs work well in Victorian designs, while mirrored finishes, geometric patterns and monochrome surfaces are more reminiscent of the Twenties and Thirties.

“Statement baths are meant for long, luxurious soaks, so it’s important to ensure the one you buy is comfortable”

▼ ACE OF BASE ORIGINAL PAINTED WOODEN BOARDS ARE AN ATTRACTIVE ALTERNATIVE TO A TILED FLOOR. WITH WHITE WOODWORK AND TOUCHES OF CHIC GREY ELSEWHERE, THEY’LL GIVE A RELAXED AIR TO ANY ROOM. Aquanatural Notting Hill bath, Frontline

NEAT AND TIDY STOP FAMILY BATHROOMS LOOKING CLUTTERED WITH LOTS OF STORAGE OPTIONS, SUCH AS VANITY UNITS, TALLBOYS AND WICKER BASKETS. Cobblestone vanity units; mirrors, all Marlborough range, Laura Ashley

NATIVE TONGUE IF YOUR ROOM DOESN’T ALREADY HAVE IT, TONGUEAND-GROOVE PANELLING CAN BE EASILY ADDED TO GIVE A CLASSIC EDWARDIAN BATHROOM FEEL. PAINT IT IN THIS YEAR’S MUST-HAVE COLOUR, LILAC, AND THE WALLS IN A NEUTRAL SHADE FOR MAXIMUM EFFECT. Abbey Traditional bathroom suite with freestanding bath, Bathroom Takeaway