![]() If your original tiles have long gone missing and you can’t pin down what first appeared on your walls, you can almost never go wrong with a plain white bathroom. White 3×6 subway tiles matched with a white pedestal or wall-mounted sink are period appropriate to any home built between 19 (6×6 tiles were sometimes used as well). White tiles made the dirt easier to see, and thus eradicate. The turn-of-the-century fad for all-white bathrooms was borne out of the Victorian notion that dirt harbored germs. The good news for anyone living in any style of home built in the early 20th century is that the current popularity of subway tiles, specifically white ones, fits your home. The master bath in A 1912 house designed by Addison Mizner sports a classic white subway tile wainscot. Isn’t that what old-house ownership is about? 1900-1920: Classic White Tile And for 10 years I’ve resisted, trying to better understand and appreciate my original bathrooms. For 10 years, everyone has told me to rip out all of the tile and put in something gorgeous, spa-like, contemporary, and sleek. My two 1940s bathrooms, which can only be described as “early gas station,” have white 4×4 square ceramic tile around each of their tubs-how boring can you get? But I’ve learned to love the simplicity of my white tiles, Art Deco tubs, and leaky snub-nosed sink. And as any devotee of old houses knows, tiles matched to the era of the house will never go out of style, unlike modern “updates” that are in fashion today but will appear dated 10 years from now.Ĭonsider original tile to be part of the bones of the house, and learn to appreciate what you’ve got. This is rash for bathrooms built during the 20th century, many of which are functional and quirkily attractive to this day. But some become insecure in the face of nonstop advice doled out by real-estate agents, renovation contractors, and even preservation societies-that bathrooms are fair game for updating, no matter what the time period of the house. Original bathroom tile should be a delight to the old-house enthusiast. ![]() ![]() A bathroom in a 1928 American Standard catalog is radiant with brightly colored tile.
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