Period charm

A vintage-inspired bathroom is luxurious, practical and will stand the test of time

How to design a vintage-inspired bathroom that will stand the test of time

If you love to fill your home with vintage finds, you’ll want a bathroom that’s designed to reflect the past, with classic fixtures and fittings. A major benefit of opting for a traditional look is that it doesn’t date, and will still suit the room five or ten years from now. The basics are a roll-top tub – either new or an original, though it may need work – a pedestal basin or washstand, and a WC, radiator and brassware that are in keeping with the rest of the room.

Surface style

‘To achieve a vintage bathroom look, paint the walls with heritage colours and rich tones and combine with dark wall panelling to create a timeless backdrop for statement pieces like a roll-top bath. For the floors, instead of using conventional black and white chequered tiles, go for grey and offwhite to create a subtle contrast.’

Elaine Penhaul, Owner of Lemon and Lime Interiors

Window treatments

‘Shutters are an ideal choice as they not only offer optimum privacy and lighting control but provide an elegant finishing touch with their rectangular slats and traditional visual appeal. Opt for white as this versatile shade will complement any interior without dominating the entire space.’

Neil Makinson, Head of E-commerce at Swift Direct Blinds

Hot stuff

‘Once you’ve settled on a suite, focus on finding a periodappropriate radiator or towel rail. While this may sound like an insignificant change, a modern panel radiator in a traditional space can quickly break the vintage illusion – we strongly recommend switching yours out for a classic heater.’

George Holland, Bathroom Design Expert at Victorian Plumbing

Based on a traditional Victorian tub, a slipper bath provides support for your back and a long satisfying soak. Place it in the centre of the room so it can be admired from all angles Tiverton freestanding slipper bath in heat-retaining high-grade acrylic, £650, Bathrooms To Love Floral glass jar with lid, from £14, Rockett St George Glass soap dish, £1, Pep & Co at Poundland

As an alternative to a conventional rack, this handy wire caddy hooks over the side of a roll-top bath Bilton bath caddy in Blackened Bronze, £72, Rowen & Wren from Not On The High Street Closely resembling ceramic tiling, this patterned floor is made from durable vinyl, suitable for use with underfloor heating and features a waterresistant top layer Starfloor Retro Indigo luxury vinyl tiles, £34.99 per sq m, Carpetright With its generous proportions and pedestal that conceals the pipes, this basin is both good-looking and functional, and sits effortlessly in a vintage-style bathroom Dorchester 625mm three taphole square basin, £332; pedestal, £206, both Heritage Bathrooms All the family will find these shapely lever taps easy to use – and they’re great value, too Cherwell hot and cold basin taps in chrome finish, £34.99 for the pair, Bathroom Mountain Add impact to a monochrome scheme by papering walls above dado height in this striking two-tone print – a little goes a long way Plumage wallpaper in Charcoal and Cream, £85 per roll, Woodchip & Magnolia Oxford two tap-hole 610mm basin and chrome washstand, £260, Wickes

Tier-on-tier shutters, each made up of a top and bottom panel that can be opened independently, will maximise privacy while letting in plenty of light Hampton hardwood shutters in White, from £58.99, Swift Direct Blinds Get the best of both worlds with this smart shower, which is crafted in solid brass and includes a rainfall head, hand shower, riser rail and anti-scald technology Milano Elizabeth traditional exposed thermostatic shower in Brushed Gold, £439.99, Big Bathroom Shop Luxury cotton towels in Duck Egg Blue, from £3, Secret Linen Store Transform a compact bathroom with a back-to-wall roll-top that has all the elegance of a freestanding bath while taking up no more room than a built-in model Admiral acrylic roll-top bath with height adjustable ball and claw feet, £469.95, Victorian Plumbing Ribbed glass wall lights cast an inviting glow – just make sure they’re IP44 rated to protect against splashes when fitted within 60cm of the basin or side of the bath tub Antique Brass IP44 swan neck wall fittings, £80 each; smaller Aquila glass shades, £63 each, both Pooky

Create a pretty backdrop with delicately patterned tiles for a statement bath. These are from a collection inspired by National Trust locations and portray the spring flowers at Glendurgan Garden in Cornwall Glendurgan Wild Flower ceramic tiles, £54 per sq m, Sarsen Stone Group Show off a high ceiling – and your excellent taste – with a high-level WC that comes complete with ornamental brackets and a chain flush Oxford high level pan, cistern and oak-effect soft-close seat, £465; a similar low level model is also available, from £310, both Wickes Savoy traditional towel radiator, £239.95, Victorian Plumbing Wall-mounted extendable mirror, £22.99, Studio Shaker-style built-in furniture is a sensible storage solution if you prefer the cistern and pipework to be concealed, and can be mixed with matching freestanding and wall-mounted pieces Roseberry timber furniture in Peacock Blue, from £255, Utopia This floral vinyl flooring boasts impeccable credentials as it’s based on historic fabric samples and looks wonderful paired with neutral walls Eve II Green vinyl floor tiles, £52 per sq m, from the Gawthorpe Collection at For the Floor and More Matt emulsion in Marlott and Ortun, £50 for 2.5L, both Cox & Cox